Bah humbug, it's that time of year again. Eating too much, drinking too much and having too much contact with family, plus a beating when it comes to the bank account. A recent survey shows that Londoners spend an average of £973 on Christmas, including gifts, food, drink and all the extras that entails. In some regions the amount is lower (£752 in Scotland, £803 in East Anglia), but for many families the bill will be even higher.
But if it doesn't sound too Scrooge-esque, does Christmas really justify spending that much money? Does the family need those expensive gifts, the flowing fizz, the luxurious crackers, the enormous turkey and all those endless bells and whistles? Wouldn't everyone be happier if they reined it in a little? Finally, think about what else you could do with the money when it comes to a different kind of break in 2024.
Granted, £973 won't buy you a luxury holiday in high season, but at other times of the year there are plenty of fantastic holidays to be booked for this amount of money. It could be a few evenings with dinner, bed and breakfast in a British spa hotel, or a stay with the whole family in a cozy cottage in Wales. Or perhaps a chance to enjoy the sights on a weekend break to Paris, or even some early season sunshine in the Balearic Islands. You could also invest your money in New Year's resolutions and challenge yourself on a creative course in West Sussex.
It's not too late to lower your party budget. Send fewer cards, choose a smaller tree, cut back on gifts, cut back on stockings and limit your culinary costs. Let the bells ring, not the cash registers. Chances are you won't even notice the difference when it comes to cheerfulness and cheerfulness - and if that means you can afford an extra break in 2024, then surely it's worth it?
So spend that € 973 on a holiday: we have selected a selection of top holidays that cost ten euros, exactly that:
£963: Spring break in Paris
Maximize the Christmas spirit by planning a spring flight to Paris in May. Enjoy the prospect of strolling the grand boulevards and gardens in the early sunshine and people-watching from a street-side café table. Window shop along the Champs Élysées, walk from Place de la Concorde through the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre and pre-book tickets for the upcoming 'Inventing Impressionism' exhibition at the Orsay Museum.
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Book this: Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) offers a three-night stay at the four-star Maison Malesherbes on Place Saint Augustin from £963 b&b for two people, including train travel, departing from St Pancras on May 10.
£966: Family holiday in Wales
Forgo the presents and instead give your family the gift of a half-yearly February break in a spectacular corner of Britain, for bracing walks and board games by the fire. Choose one of the Landmark Trust's many characterful family homes, including Stockwell Farm in Powys, a century-old stone farmhouse with far-reaching views over the Radnor countryside. The scenic Offa's Dyke walking area is close by and the towns of Hay-on-Wye and Llandrindod Wells are a 15-minute drive away.
Book this: Landmark Trust (01628 825925; Landmarktrust.org.uk) is offering stays at Stockwell Farm, for six people, from £966 for a seven-night rental, from February 9 to 16.
£970: spa hotel in Norfolk
Curb the Christmas cuisine and treat yourself to a wonderful half-board break at Congham Hall near Kings Lynn in West Norfolk, where the nightly rate includes a full English breakfast and three-course dinner. With 31 rooms spread across the main house and courtyard, this relaxed Georgian house also offers its own Secret Garden Spa with a swimming pool, hot tub and a range of treatments. Local excursions include the royal family at Sandringham, the 18th-century Houghton Hall, the shopping town of Burnham Market and the vast sandy beaches of Norfolk.
Book this: Congham Hall (01485 600250; conghamhallhotel.co.uk) offers three nights from £840 half board for two people sharing a standard room. Add to that a half day spa package for £130. Based on a weekday or weekend stay before March 31st.
£982: Sunshine in the Balearic Islands
Weather the worst of December's winter chill by looking forward to the prospect of a sunny getaway in June, financed with the money you saved at Christmas. Head to Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca's northeastern seaside resort, with its pretty bay surrounded by the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains and its promenade and marina lined with simple bars and restaurants, for a week of water sports, walking or lazing by the pool.
Book this: Tui (0203 451 2688; tui.co.uk) offers a seven-night stay at the four-star Club Del Sol Aparthotel in Puerto Pollensa from £982 B&B per person, based on two people sharing a junior suite with balcony or terrace, including flights and transfers, departing on June 20.
£984: Creativity in West Sussex
Spend your Christmas money on an inspiring residential course at West Dean College near Chichester in West Sussex. Part of the West Dean Estate on the edge of the South Downs, it offers classes in a wide range of arts and crafts, including painting, photography, jewelery making, sculpture and basketry, aimed at all levels from beginner to expert. Accommodation is available in the main house or in the adjacent old rectory - and the food comes from produce largely grown on site.
Book this: West Dean (01243 818 300; westdean.ac.uk) offers a four-day silver jewelery making course for £545. Add a four-night stay at the college for £439 half board, on an exclusive use basis of a standard room with private bathroom, from January 14 to 18.
