Can anyone tell me if you stay at the Lodge during Christmas if the individual rooms have any Christmas decoration? If not, does anyone have suggestions on easy ways to make it feel christmas-y by getting decorations locally? My family and my extended family will be there the week of Christmas and I want our room to feel like Christmas for my 10 year old....
Thanks!

Read the dollar store thread for ideas.

Go to Seasons of Williamsburg. It's not far from the Lodge.
They have beautiful things for Christmas.

http://www.theseasonsofwilliamsburg.com/index.html

There are several Target and Walmart stores in Williamsburg where you can buy all your Christmas decoration needs. The individual rooms at the Lodge will not be decorated for Christmas.

Christmas decorations are already on the shelves. They will be completely picked over by Christmas week.

Perhaps you & your child could choose some of your family decorations or shop together now for some things to decorate your hotel room. Pack one of the those USPS flat rate shipping boxes and send it to the hotel ahead of your visit. We spent the holidays away one year and did this. We also did some crafts together in the hotel room -- paper chains and glitter stars (I'm sure the hotel loved us for all that glitter). Everyone had a special stocking that year -- we wrapped the stocking gifts and sent them ahead. We even did the reindeer food and cookies & milk for Santa using hotel stuff. It all went pretty well -- not the same as Christmas as home but it's a holiday memory we still talk about.

Colonial Williamsburg, the Wmbg Inn and Wmbg Lodge public spaces will be dressed to the nines for the holidays and all of that will be within walking distance for you at the Lodge. You should definitely call CW now and inquire about children's activities for the holidays b/c they definitely have them and tickets are usually required. The Inn does an afternoon tea for children over the holidays and the Lodge has done a breakfast or a tea with Santa.

While you are thinking ahead, consider bringing some bills to give fat tips to the people who have to work on Christmas so you and your family can enjoy it.

Don't just leave cash for the person who cleans your room. Leave her a Christmas card with cash in it, but write a nice note of thanks as well. I guarantee it will be appreciated.

The wait staff and the people who take care of your children will appreciate thanks as well as cash, though I don't think I would give them a card.

I think the craft idea with the 10 yr old is great.

When we were little we had a cabin in the mountains where we celebrated Christmas one year. There was so much snow we had to hike in because the roads were impassable. My mom made a paper tree from green construction paper and taped it to the back of the door. We made paper chains and strung popcorn for the decorations. To this day it is one of my most memorable Christmases.

You'll be in Colonial Williamsburg so it would be fun to do decorate as the Colonists would. Buy a few oranges at the grocery store and decorate them with whole cloves. They'll make the room smell wonderful. Buy a pineapple and put it in the room. I'm sure you'll get inspired after you walk DoG St and check out all the wreaths.

http://www.history.org/almanack/life...ecorations.cfm

Buy a couple of nice ornaments in one of the shops on Merchants Square or the Christmas Mouse on Richmond Rd. and keep them as a souvenir of your stay. Things may be picked over but you could also find some great bargains.

<You'll be in Colonial Williamsburg so it would be fun to do decorate as the Colonists would. >

What a great idea!

We really enjoyed our visit to CW. Liked that no 'modern' electricity was allowed to be seen through the windows in town. Really felt like you did step back in time.

I echo Birdie's great ideas. The aromas in Williamsburg during the holidays are wonderful. I don't think the specialty shops will be picked over for Christmas decorations.