Christmas 2018

Go somewhere where Christmas is minimal and where the weather is kind.

I’d plump for Vietnam or Cambodia.

Or take a last minute cruise.

Closer to home the Algarve is lovely at that time of year.

The papers will soon, if they aren't already, be full of adverts for Christmas breaks. I suppose it depends on your budget.

If you don't want to go abroad, there are plenty of UK hotels which advertise Christmas breaks. Single and couple friends of mine have gone on them.

If you don't want to go away, have you got any friends to invite to your home on Christmas Day?

Thanks for suggestions, which are appreciated. I think our problem is that we can't make up our minds.. So far we have considered river cruises, European coach trips, long haul, British hotels. Everything is of course more expensive at Christmas. We have had an invite for Christmas lunch with friends, but I fancied doing something different.
We have considered Algarve, but I wondered if it would be too cold. Maybe we should think again, as we like Portugal.

The wind in the Algarve can be blustery and it does rain sometimes.
For many years now I have escaped the winter for three weeks in the Algarve. Different times from November through to February. One of the best was Christmas and New Year, sitting on the balcony, wine in hand, watching the sun go down before Christmas dinner.
It’s always been warm enough to go for a walk during the day with just a cardigan and to take it off when you sit in the sun!
Hope this helps

Yes thanks. I am now leaning towards The Algarve. Is there any particular place or hotel you liked?

Why not try Madeira for a change? It's still Portuguese but with a difference. Beautiful island too and hotels to suit all budgets.

Bit of a creature of habit. I always stay fairly close to Albufiera. One of the hotels along the cliff\beach so that I can stroll into town or take a walk along the beach from the hotel.

There’s a local bus service along the beach road that takes you to the main bus station and the wider world! I don’t drive while I’m there.

Thanks everyone. Madeira is somewhere I'd like to go, but I've heard it's best in spring for the flowers.
Neither of us can drive, so a good bus service in Albufeira would be useful.

There's flowers all year round in Madeira. Plus the fireworks festival. At New year.

You might want to take a look at Oura View. But there are lots of nice hotels all along the beach road.

Jane: Thanks for the tip, though we would definitely want to be back in the UK by NY.
Eglantine: Thanks for the hotel suggestion.

Thought I'd pop back to say in the end I wanted to go somewhere that felt "Christmassy" so we've booked a 6 night coach trip to the Moselle Valley.
Now considering a February break - husband is convinced that after Brexit the £ will be worthless and there'll be no flights so it may be our last chance to leave the UK - so will consider The Algarve or Madeira. Thanks for your input.