Wrapped up in adventure
anyone aged 25 years and over costs from £585 and includes wine with main meals. CONTACT: friendshiptravel.com, 0844 800 2770. FARTHER CHRISTMAS: If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you’re guaranteed plenty of the white stuff at postcard-pretty St Anton. It’s considered to be one of the world’s finest high-altitude alpine resorts.
And you can have a high time in stylish Kapall Mountain Lodge, named after one of the Tyrol peaks. There’s open-plan living and lovely dining areas with log fires to greet you after a day out on the slopes.
Chalet catering means you won’t be slaving over a hot stove. Meals, including a four-course ENJOY a proper Chrimbo in the snowy forests of the Lulea Archipelago in northern Sweden. E Explore on snowmobiles a and husky sleds, learn the S Swedish pastime of ice f fishing and search for the a aurora on twowo northern Christmas Day dinner, will be cooked by Inghams chalet hosts, who will also be serving up breakfast and afternoon tea. YULE PAY: A seven-night break arriving December 23 at the four-star Chalet Kapall starts at £699pp, saving £510pp, including return flights from Edinburgh to Innsbruck and transfers. CONTACT: inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays, 01483 791 114. FARTHER CHRISTMAS: If you are in search of a quiet, child-free Christmas, then check in to Thomson’s Sensimar Arona Gran and Spa.
Near Los Cristianos in the south of the island of Tenerife, the five-star luxury resort has stunning views of the sea and is strictly for grown-ups only. lights hunts by snowshoe and sled.The £1,935 price includes four nights’ full-board accommodation, activities, clothing, guides, instructors, transfers and flights, leaving December 22. See theaurorazone.com for more. It has two swimming pools, a bridge room and a bowling alley.
Sensimar prides itself on fine dining so be prepared for a dazzling Christmas Day dinner – a buffet feast catering for every taste, from beef, turkey and pork to giant prawns, steak, salmon and langoustines. No one is going hungry.
And if you’ve overindulged, Sensimar’s activity programme includes aerobics, aquafit and cardio fitness. There’s live entertainment in the evening or you take a 15-minute stroll into Los Cristianos for a drink at one of the bars. YULE PAY: Seven nights on half-board costs from 963pp, based on two adults sharing, including flights from Newcastle on December 20 and transfers. From £1,099pp flying from Manchester on December 21. CONTACT: thomson.co.uk, 0871 230 2555. WE are fans of going to the US for our Christmas shopping. Is it worth it this year given the weakened state of the pound? DONALD Trump’s victory helped the pound regain some value against the dollar and there are still bargains to be had in US stores, according to the Post Office.
It has done a survey together with travel firm Cheapflights to identify the best deals – and one deal is on Star Wars Lightsabers.
Ever popular, these toys are almost two-thirds cheaper in New York at £35 compared to £90 here.
All the big clothing labels are still cheaper than here as well.
But also consider the fun you will have in the US. Where is better to get ready for the festive period?