Warning; The C word, but suggestions welcome.

Depends on your budget and length of stay.

Okay thanks GG I have been looking at Jet2, 7 day breaks in Madeira. c£1000. It didn't look particularly appealing. More like a travelling salesman hotel than for someone who enjoys a lively, festive environment.
I care less about the 5* Hotel than I do about a pleasant place to visit.
It doesn't need to be overseas.

Have you thought about Cyprus?

Constantinou Bros Hotels are very friendly, 7 nights from 20/12 are coming up under €1000

We have stayed at Athena Beach with family and Suites on our own, can vouch for friendly staff, good food, entertainment,cleanliness and facilities

Maybe some where with some sort of gentle ( or not!) activity.
Bread making, bird watching, knit your own scatter cushion.

Grammaretto I have only been to Reid’s and Cliff Bay on Madeira, think they are rather pricey in bed Christmas and New Year.

A cruise!
You would have everything you desire.
Companionship
Delicious food
Entertainment
Activities
Shows
Lectures
Warm weather

What’s not to like!

You could stay in a lovely hotel for about four days around Christmas, plenty of nice places in this country and Warner hotels have entertainment in the evenings and activities during the day.

I have been attracted by ads for hotels in the Lake Disrict currently trending on Facebook.
There are about 4 different hotels but all must be in the same group/ ownership as the programme from Christmas Eve to the day after Boxing Day and the menues are the same.
Prices range from £999 to £799 per person depending on the hotel size.
I am attracted but my family want me to spend it with them.
At 88 I think they think any Christmas could be my last !!!

StripeyGran

Maybe some where with some sort of gentle ( or not!) activity.
Bread making, bird watching, knit your own scatter cushion.

Oooh, this is more appealing!

That sounds interesting.
Where are these being offered?

I've no idea!
Better than "entertainment" and "shows" in my opinion.
Awkward for us this year though as have to consider my mother-in-law too.

We once spent 3 nights in a hotel in Beverley, N Yorkshire. Our girls were primary school. GPs were not impressed but we still went - and it was magical! The residents were of all ages, and all were catered for in terms of food, entertainment, Santa's visit and a coach to the fabulous Parish Church for midnight mass.

On Boxing Day there were various activities/trips out after breakfast (we went on a guided tour of the lovely town), with music and dancing for all ages after the evening meal and home after breakfast the day after. Not cheap but the little touches (glass of wine with meals, Champage toast etc) made it good value for us all.

Pardon me Madmeg. I'm glad to you enjoyed your time in lovely Beverley, but I must point out it is in East Yorkshire, not North Yorkshire.

Can I suggest HF Holidays. They were primarily a walking holiday group but have widened their scope now to other activities.

It’s really hard to describe what it’s like. A kind of get together, where there is a shared interest, walking, crafting, music and people get together but with your own space if you want it. Meals are on communal tables so the whole thing is very sociable.

They have their own Country houses for stays so the staff are also invested in the whole ethos of the group

The walking ones have walks at three levels and I’m now at the gentle stroll😬 and still really enjoy them. They do sell it v quickly so definitely not too soon for the C word!

Grammaretto

That sounds interesting.
Where are these being offered?

I can't recommend a place unfortunately but I'm pretty sure such things exist. Personally I would flounder about without some sort of focus/ community.

onetraveller.co.uk

Might need to remortgage your home though.

Pet sitting?

I’d look at a short cruise,too. At Christmas they are good but you would need to get a wriggle on in booking now.

You could go to a non Christian country to avoid the big C altogether. I did one year and it was great. Unfortunately, where I went is no longer safe to go.

I wouldn't mind going abroad but think closer to home would suit me better. I'm definitely looking into the HF holidays Lathyrus.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

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Everywhere, home or abroad, will be more expensive at that time of the year.
However, I would say go on a no-fly cruise from Southampton to somewhere sunny (maybe the Canaries).

There will be lots of other solo passengers and you can choose whether or not you want company, be fed and entertained and not have to lift a finger.

Done it a few times and it's easy and bliss.
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Have you looked at the Singles companies, Just You, One Traveller, Saga etc they offer many alternatives for Christmas and New Year.

We’re booked to spend Xmas and New Year in sunny Lanzarote like we’ve done these past few years since the pandemic. We stay in a German Hotel part of the Seaside Collection and have been at various other times of the year. Located on the beach on the outskirts of Puerto del Carmen, usually meet up with the same crowd. Lovely waking up on Xmas Day to a steady 25c. Gala Dinner in the evening preceded by a cocktail party.

A singleton friend of mine enjoyed a river cruise over last Christmas. I think she is off again this year.

A few years ago we stayed in Madeira over Christmas. The hotel (4 star) put on a brilliant Christmas buffet for a reasonable price. Unfortunately very few people partook, so there was little atmosphere. I guess the staff got to take home the food for their Christmas dinners!

Not sure if everwhere else celebrates Christmas as we do in UK. You may need to check out local habits for where you're looking abroad. Havent checked weatger at Xmas but how about Chanel Islands. Cyprus will be warm and has a lot of British residents so Christmas may be a "thing" there, Mallorca too.