BootsnAll Travel Community

Having just suffered the second worst Christmas of my life (Douglas Coupland is right, "All Families Are Psychotic," or, mine, anyway), I decided I'm not going to stick around for Christmas anymore. I'm not even a Christian, though we do the cultural exchange of gifts and holiday tree and eat lots of food thing.

I don't get off a lot of days for the holiday (I'll probably just have Fri, Mon and Tues) and am saving my vacation days for larger trips, but does anyone have any good ideas for places I can go alone for a long weekend next Christmas? I already told my mother I'm not coming back to another holiday hell and she understands (I have crazy siblings) but I want to have a plan way early so people won't try to talk me out of leaving. Any ideas on where to go for a long Christmas weekend in 2007?

I'm sorry that you had a trying Christmas.

Many of us can totally relate, as we go through holiday hell as well. (Mama static is especially difficult!)

A local newspaper columnist wrote this helpful column and I suggest that we all read it, print it out and save a copy.

Next year, I plan to be as far away from my family as possible. Antarctica is sounding pretty good right about now.

Yeah, I think everyone can relate to that Christmas situation one way or another. I just spent a solo Christmas 3,000 miles away from my family so there was no acrimony, but no joy either.

Suggesting places would obviously depend on your budget and your interests. I spent Christmas Eve and Day two years ago on Caye Caulker in Belize. The beaches there suck, but the diving and snorkeling are excellent and everything is quite affordable once you get down there. At least diving and snorkeling are things you can do alone, but you'll meet people on your boat to chat with.

That giant reef extends all the way over to Mexico so there are many affordable holiday options in that region, and it's not crazy far from NYC for a long weekend.

Rawjer is right about the beaches in Caye Caulker. They do suck

I plan to go somewhere where they don't celebrate Christmas next year. I just am not a big supporter of the fake holiday.

I know, I know. Scrooge, Bah Humbug, sourpuss, hater...blah blah.

But I feel your pain. And I suggest you go somewhere far away, where Christmas is at least DIFFERENT from what you know. Guatemala's nice for it.

I love my family but this Christmas in Fethiye, Turkey is probably the calmest one I've ever had - and them too possibly!

I agree that chosing a place where it's not a holiday is a good strategy - first of all you won't need to watch everyone else celebrate, and second, you won't have to deal with everything being closed.

Turkey is great but damn it's cold.

I am sorry that you have had a rough time....I have had both a great time and an awful time both at the same time...

I have heard that Thailand is supposed to be great at Christmas

If you want to stay closer to home then why not try either Central America or Mexico?

Yes, I was leaning towards Central America or Mexico but am worried if I go many things will be shut down b/c of the holiday.

Static, your post (re Antartica) made me laugh. I've been so depressed since yesterday, so that, along with drinking some wine, has helped mellow me out a bit.

Cherie,

In case you are still thinking about this idea for next year, the holiday season is high season at the beach resorts or Mexico and Central America.

Caye Caulker, Belize is kind of a backpackers island (as opposed to a resort island) and it was fairly mellow on Christmas, but everything was open and all the tours and diving boats were in full effect. It might be like Vegas in that starting December 26th they get mobbed, but I was already gone.

The places with the large resorts are probably crammed with package tourists that time of year, but there are a lot of different options down there.

when all else fails, cherie, choose portland! theres a bootie contingent here that im sure could help you with some christmas cheer, and ahem high spirits (not the holy one, the strong drink kind)! consider it!