When talking about Xmas plans it seems that more and more people we know are escaping the traditional family Christmas.

For some, Christmas at home surrounded by loved ones and participating in the holiday chaos is something they crave and look forward to for months in the lead up… and then there’s the rest of us.

We’ve often fantasised about packing up and heading somewhere, just the two of us, for Christmas.

The reality for us however is that by Christmas, all we want to do is actually be at home!

Lots of people travel “as a family” for Christmas but all that really does is move your entire Christmas to a different location.

What about those who head away without family for a different kind of holiday experience?

If you’re a young couple without kids or empty nesters in that period before grandkids or like us, a couple of any age without kids, this might just be the sweet spot for you.

Cruising for Christmas seems to top a lot of people’s lists.

Admittedly it sounds good.

You still get all the feels of Christmas without having to cook, or clean or host or travel around the countryside all day.

You do still get the chaos of the Christmas meals though (just with strangers instead of family).

Then there are the snow chasers.

The people seeking that Northern Hemisphere traditional holiday movie white Christmas, whether it be in north America or Europe.

We think that everyone should have the chance to experience one of these in their lifetime.

Eating a Christmas roast dinner without sweating bullets is a magical experience.

Of course, there are also the people who are travelling to escape Christmas altogether.

A fly and flop tropical holiday really fits the bill here.

Leave before Christmas Eve and come back after New Year’s and it will be like the holiday season never happened (although you are likely to still have the holiday credit card debt, just for cocktails and massages rather than toys and random gift cards).

Wherever you are we wish you a fantastic holiday season and, if Santa is reading this, we are a size seven nights in the Cook Islands.

For more lifestyle stories:

• Sort it at Stockland Green Hills this Christmas
• Adam and Belinda MacDougall: Paying it forward
• New stores, festive activities: Christmas at Charlestown Square

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