<p>Taking a well deserved (at least I think so) break from Christmas cleaning/decorating/shopping and prepping for out of town family to visit and share Christmas dinner at my house, I started daydreaming (as I sit on the couch, feet on the coffee table) about Christmas in the Bahamas (or someplace similar) where no Christmas gifts are exchanged. Your immediate family, and possibly in-laws and cousins if you get along, stay in a beach front hotel, sleep late, eat out, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, laying out by the pool and no stress. Christmas eve service at the local church in flip flops and tank tops. Here’s where the distant wavy view of everything sharpens up and I’m back to reality. I thought I’d check and see if any of the families on CC have done this and what their experience were good, bad, or indifferent. Seriously considering something other than the traditional Christmas next year. Any thoughts and ideas appreciated.</p>
<p>We did that with Hawaii in 2001. Father and stepmother rented a big house and all the step siblings/siblings and our kids were invited. We did a gift draw ahead of time so you only needed to buy one gift. It was really an amazing vacation.</p>
<p>Our family usually goes away over Christmas break but the norm was always to leave the 26th. However, now that the children are older we have actually gone away before Christmas twice in the last 4 years. One was to an island destination, and the other was to a ski destination. Both worked out very well. Everyone agreed that the ski destination was more festive and in the spirit of the holiday. To be honest, it was very nice having all the decorations done for you - the hotels/condos really do up their common areas for the holiday season. There were roaring fires and Christmas trees everywhere you looked. So yes, while we won’t do it every year, it is a nice change of pace!</p>
<p>threeofthree- My mind has been wandering in the same direction as yours! I haven’t broached the subject to my DH yet, but I’d love a Christmas away type of vacation. Some destinations I’ve been pondering: Paris, Puerto Rico, Canadian Rockies (Banff?), London?
Unfortunately my wandering imagination is not very cost-conscious. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Sounds fabulous to me!</p>
<p>Canadian Rockies is a dream - I went on a CR tour in 1980 when I lived in Dallas (summer of 1980 40 days over 100 degrees and JR was shot) - it was gorgeous, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper stayhing in all the old Canadian Pacific Hotels (owned by Fairmont) - would love to go there for Christmas but I can imagine it would be too pricey for me and then I’d be stressed about the $'s. Living in the southeast now, the Caribbean is fairly inexpensive to get to and often have specials at 4 star hotels. I’ll probably wait until after I’ve put up the Christmas decorations to broach the subject with my husband - he’s not so tired (wonder why)…he’s out to dinner with DS13 and then off to see Lincoln while I finish getting everything ready (and read CC).</p>
<p>Christmas day and for the week, we’ll be in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic</p>
<p>I was just looking at that DocT - an all inclusive resort. My son will be in the DR spring break on a mission trip - will be a different experience at Christmas. Think I’ll print the info to discuss on 12/26.</p>
<p>You read my mind! As the kids get older, the fun sort of leaks out of Christmas. We went away last year skiing for Christmas, but it wasn’t the same opening presents in a hotel room, and the skiing wasn’t great. </p>
<p>Lately, I’ve been thinking: next year I want to wake up in Rome on Christmas day. A place where the true meaning of Christmas is all around you. Bethlehem would work too. I am so done with all this commercialism and the let down after everyone’s ripped off the wrapping paper.</p>
<p>Last year, we rented a house in Baja California Sur. In prior years, we’ve gone to our vacation house in the Laurentians, to Canmore (stayed with a friend) and skiied Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, Puerta Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende and Michoacan (see the butterfiles at El Rosario, the treat of a lifetime), Manzanillo, and probably other places that aren’t coming to mind. In some cases we rented apartments or houses. In others, hotels. But, we don’t celebrate Christmas – we do the Chinese food and movies thing – so I can’t say if we were missing much (actually, I think it is safe to say that we have never gone to a Chinese restaurant in Mexico.)</p>
<p>Anyway, DocT, take a look at Canmore and a few other areas near Banff/Lake Louise. There are hotels that supply buses to the ski places and it seems like a reasonable deal compared to US resorts. And lift tickets and maybe rentals are part of the package. The rent in Canmore was free for us, but then we didn’t get a break on lift tickets. We liked Sunshine Village better than Lake Louise, but both are fabulous.</p>
<p>This year, we are staying home so ShawSon can work on his thesis and last year, I think we flew to Mexico after Christmas (I remember going to the Chinese restaurant) but were definitely there for New Year’s.</p>
<p>We did Hawaii last year. Memorable. Visited the local church, which had mass half in English, half in Hawaiian…and Very welcoming. Instead of gifts to schlep over there,
(hey, the trip was their gift!) all four of us had 1/2 hour and a limit of $10 for each person…at the International Village. Gifts included a tiki man bottle opener, a Hawaiian print skirt, a calendar of Hawaiian swimsuit beauties, a beach towel…
great fun had by all!</p>
<p>We flew to Jamaica on Easter Sunday a few years ago. Just the 4 of us. Great holiday. No pressure, just relaxation & together time.</p>
<p>We usually stay home for Christmas. This Christmas is not a time for us to do our usual Christmas celebration. My wife, daughter and I could not stay here and really had to get away.</p>
<p>We did it years ago in St. Thomas when the kids were 15 and 8. Everything was open because of the cruise ships, but not too many tourists once you were away from the port. We rented a car and did a different beach every day. Best part was Christmas lunch on a gorgeous beach at a picnic table with a roasted chicken, fresh fruit, and deli snacks from a local grocery store.</p>