Two years ago one D was living in Europe so other D and I met her in London on the 27th and skipped Xmas. London was the cheapest destination from N. America. But we flew to Spain on a discount airline from London where it was relatively warmer. It was a great holiday and I was thrilled to have missed the Christmas obligations. I’d do it every year if all the schedules matched up.
We were in Paris by the Eiffel tower on New Year 1999-2000.
We used to travel overseas on Thanksgiving week too.
Tried it last year and will not do it again. Texas was unusually cold and we got stranded there when AA tried to reduce the cost of their vacation system debacle by cancelling our flight due to “weather” as other flights continued to take off just fine. I much prefer to stay home and go another time. Prices were outrageous too.
Took S and DIL and G’son (5 then) to San Diego for a week and returned to our cities on Christmas Eve.
It was a wonderful break from the traditional holiday. G’son still talks about it.
I would only go somewhere that is a direct flight.
Our “vacations” between Christmas and New Years for a good 6 years for my kid between 3rd grade and 8th grade was spent in Las Vegas where he was competing in the annual big international chess tournament there with lots of money and rating points at stake. I’d feel so guilty at times, while my wife and I would go eat or watch a show, here is my kid slaving away with high stress for 6 hours a game.
I will say that Las Vegas between Dec 24 and Dec 29 is nice, not many people and the weather is nice and cool. Definitely always escaped before all the riffraff arrived for the New Years Eve parties.
My sister and her family now travel to Europe for Thanksgiving week. They started 6 years ago as their daughter was finishing her semester abroad. My sister teaches school but has that week off. Her son has been in college for the last 4 years (and again this year) but he happens to get it off too. They pick a city and do 6 days of touring and eating. Niece’s job allows her that week for vacation, and then lets her work from their office near her parent’s home for a couple weeks at Christmas.
Pretty nice.
Wow…if I was waffling, you all (well most) have convinced me that this could be a good idea! I don’t know if I’d want to go away every year, but after “doing” Christmas in a big way every year for the last 30, I think a break would be good. Now to think about where… I agree with @oregon101 that a direct flight is the way to go. I am going to head over to Google Flights and see what I can find on the map.
Thanks everyone!
I have also had good experiences with having been in Asia on several different years at Christmas. One year, I flew out on Christmas Day which meant Christmas Eve was celebrated as per usual at home with Mass at home church, etc. That worked well, airport was not terribly crowded and even TSA was moderately cheery.
Last year I really won the lottery. As I was enjoying 80 degree sunshine, I got an email from a cousin in the Midwest. He had awakened to -17 F degrees during the terrible cold spell the US experienced. I literally couldn’t imagine.
Someone mentioned traveling in early December which I have also done to several European cities. It generally is a down time for travelers ( no crowds) and the festive lights and decor are up. Highly recommend if that is an option.
Have fun!!!
We often do a short trip in early December and I agree - it’s a great time to travel. Minimal crowds, and decorations are up. But I am looking specifically to be away over the actual holiday otherwise I’ll still end up doing the whole Christmas shebang. 
One year instead of pre-Christmas parties, etc. we went to Las Vegas. We didn’t spend much time on the strip, but there’s great hiking nearby. We also went to Hoover Dam, and to Zion Natl park for an overnight. It was VERY inexpensive.
ETA - we were home for Christmas morning.
My kids loved skiing out West (we live in MA). For two years we took off during their school Christmas vacation and went to Deer Valley in Utah (Stein Ericksen Lodge). They loved it. The second year, my inlaws came out on the day after Christmas and stayed with us. They didn’t ski, but enjoyed the lodge.
Maybe consider some of the islands that got walloped by last year’s hurricanes? I know many could use the tourist dollars.
We’ve been away for four Christmases since 2004. Twice to the UK, twice to Southern California. We have family in both places. My husband and I have really enjoyed our UK trips; the CA trips, less so, but it is nice to escape the cold on the East Coast. There is so much to do in the UK, and it feels Christmasy there. California always involves so much driving and I personally just don’t like it there very much.
For all trips, we make efforts to be tourists and not just visit family. It’s very nice not to have to deal with all the palaver that goes into decorating and cooking. The kids infinitely prefer being home on Christmas Day, but I’m already plotting to go away over the holidays this coming Christmas. It will probably be to the UK again, as we are overdue a visit.
Disney twice but flew hone Christmas Day once and the 26th the 2nd time. We went to Paris in 2014 we had a blast, although were freezing, going up on the Eiffel Tower at 10pm Christmas Eve.
D and I didn’t 2 weeks over Christmas in London. Had an amazing time. Will never wonder whether traveling over the holidays is bad again. Loved the 25 years I spent with the traditional celebration but there are now other options.
We did get a $14 potted tree from Home Depot. It was a very ugly plant but held the lights and made
things cheerful enough. It was nice not to have a normal tree and all of the stuff that goes with it…
We went to Disneyland one Christmas when my sister and niece were visiting. No one seemed to want to ride the rides at (the newly opened at that time) California Adventure, so the kids enjoyed the rides with no lines and the fabulous Electrical Parade! Went to the main park and ran out of there as soon as we came… too crowded.
Also spent a couple of Christmas breaks in Hawaii… stayed long enough to watch fireworks at Ko Olina. It was great fun!
As far as the tree goes, I have a foot tall, $20 blinking led lights tree I got from Fiteworks at SeaTac while waiting for our flight. It travels to holiday destinations with us.
I have often vacationed during the holidays, usually leaving Thanksgiving Day with the kids for an extended Disney trip (the weekend is busy but the place is very slow the following week) and with another adult for a few days leaving on Christmas Day after the kids went to their fathers’ house. Flying on the actual holiday can be a huge bargain! One year my fiance and I went to Las Vegas on Xmas Day for five days. The weather was great, the crowds were super low and the hotel was really inexpensive (Planet Hollywood). I’m thinking about doing that again soon.
I’ve considered it, but never pulled the trigger. My kids still depend on me to “do” Christmas. And I do love the traditions of Christmas Eve and Christmas. My husband is a HUGE Christmas lover. You should see our house from Thanksgiving until New Years. But part of me would love to go do a river cruise or go to the caribbean. I have told the kids, if they’re ever not coming home from Christmas let us know, because we’d book a trip somewhere. Neither has boy/girl friends so it doesn’t look to be happening any time soon.
After my parents died we decided to do a few Christmas’s away. We have done Breckenridge, CO, Park City, UT and our favorite so far Sun Valley, Idaho! S17 snowboarded, husband and I shopped, relaxed and enjoyed watching the snow fall. It was wonderful! Last year we had Christmas with family and I actually missed being away.