Christmas breaks
FESTIVE FUN FOR SINGLES
This time of year doesn’t have to be the loneliest if you’re on your own – book a festive break with Solos Holidays and share the season with up to 50 other single people, as well as the Solos tour leader. The company offers a number of venues in the UK.
For example, a threenight Christmas break, staying at the four-star Northampton Marriott Hotel, kicks off with an afternoon ten-pin bowling trip, followed by an evening dinner dance. Christmas Day fun features a traditional lunch and evening quiz. Then there’s pantomime on Boxing Day afternoon, and a formal ball in the evening. The break costs from £425 per person (with twin or double room for single use), including breakfast and dinner with a half-bottle of wine each evening.
0844-371 8860, www.solosholidays.co.uk
END THE YEAR IN PARADISE
The glorious Maldives is one of the world’s best fly-and- flop destinations if all you want for Christmas is some luxurious relaxation. Velassaru is a stunning resort on a triangular-shaped coral island known for its fine beaches, turquoise lagoon and coconut groves, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Male, where you will land. The beachside deluxe bungalows have a private terrace and are designed in a contemporary style.
The resort offers snorkelling and diving on the house reef, wind surfing, tennis, catamaran sailing and shing, and there’s a great in nity pool and over-water spa. Turquoise Holidays has seven nights B&B in a deluxe bungalow at Velassaru Maldives from £2,649 per person including daily breakfast, Christmas Eve dinner, speedboat transfers and flights with Etihad from London Heathrow.
01494-678400, www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk
YULE BE A PART OF IT IN NEW YORK
The Big Apple is even more exciting at Christmas time, and Western & Oriental is offering a five-night holiday staying at the four-star Dream Downtown Hotel between the trendy Meatpacking District and charming Chelsea. After seeing the Rockefeller Center’s huge Christmas tree and shopping for presents in Manhattan, enjoy views of the city skyline from your hotel or even a dip in the heated outdoor pool.
The break, departing on 23 December, costs from £1,239 per person, room only, including BA flights but not transfers.
020-7666 1234, www.westernoriental.com
SNOW PLACE LIKE FINLAND
For a snowy Christmas escape, travel 300km north of the Arctic Circle to the Muotka Wilderness Lodge in Finnish Lapland. Departing on 21 and 22 December, the six-night trip costs from £1,707 per person, including flights between Heathrow and Ivalo via Helsinki, transfers, full board, snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm, aurora hunt husky safari, snow shoeing, skiing tour to the taiga forest and snowmobiling.
On Christmas Eve you can help search for a perfect Christmas tree, and those young at heart will love Santa’s visit after a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.
01737-214291, www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
This time of year doesn’t have to be the loneliest if you’re on your own – book a festive break with Solos Holidays and share the season with up to 50 other single people, as well as the Solos tour leader. The company offers a number of venues in the UK.
For example, a threenight Christmas break, staying at the four-star Northampton Marriott Hotel, kicks off with an afternoon ten-pin bowling trip, followed by an evening dinner dance. Christmas Day fun features a traditional lunch and evening quiz. Then there’s pantomime on Boxing Day afternoon, and a formal ball in the evening. The break costs from £425 per person (with twin or double room for single use), including breakfast and dinner with a half-bottle of wine each evening.
0844-371 8860, www.solosholidays.co.uk
END THE YEAR IN PARADISE
The glorious Maldives is one of the world’s best fly-and- flop destinations if all you want for Christmas is some luxurious relaxation. Velassaru is a stunning resort on a triangular-shaped coral island known for its fine beaches, turquoise lagoon and coconut groves, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Male, where you will land. The beachside deluxe bungalows have a private terrace and are designed in a contemporary style.
The resort offers snorkelling and diving on the house reef, wind surfing, tennis, catamaran sailing and shing, and there’s a great in nity pool and over-water spa. Turquoise Holidays has seven nights B&B in a deluxe bungalow at Velassaru Maldives from £2,649 per person including daily breakfast, Christmas Eve dinner, speedboat transfers and flights with Etihad from London Heathrow.
01494-678400, www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk
YULE BE A PART OF IT IN NEW YORK
The Big Apple is even more exciting at Christmas time, and Western & Oriental is offering a five-night holiday staying at the four-star Dream Downtown Hotel between the trendy Meatpacking District and charming Chelsea. After seeing the Rockefeller Center’s huge Christmas tree and shopping for presents in Manhattan, enjoy views of the city skyline from your hotel or even a dip in the heated outdoor pool.
The break, departing on 23 December, costs from £1,239 per person, room only, including BA flights but not transfers.
020-7666 1234, www.westernoriental.com
SNOW PLACE LIKE FINLAND
For a snowy Christmas escape, travel 300km north of the Arctic Circle to the Muotka Wilderness Lodge in Finnish Lapland. Departing on 21 and 22 December, the six-night trip costs from £1,707 per person, including flights between Heathrow and Ivalo via Helsinki, transfers, full board, snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm, aurora hunt husky safari, snow shoeing, skiing tour to the taiga forest and snowmobiling.
On Christmas Eve you can help search for a perfect Christmas tree, and those young at heart will love Santa’s visit after a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.
01737-214291, www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk