Avoid festive faux pas and swap snow for sunshine with leading family villa holiday provider SPL Villas’ expert advice on festive escapes.
The most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a tangled string of fairy lights without a little forward planning. For many families, Christmas cards now come in the form of boarding passes, as Brits are increasingly swapping frosty mornings for sun-soaked escapes – but while a holiday abroad sounds idyllic, it can also pile on the pressure for parents and planners.
Sam Willan, family travel expert at SPL Villas, says: “Typically, our customers are opting for Madeira, the Algarve and Cyprus where it’s naturally going to be warmer than the UK over Christmas. These options offer a nice range of price points, with villas in Madeira offering that slightly more luxury feel with average booking value being £5,480 for the week of 20 December. The average booking value for Cyprus is £1,600, so a much more affordable option. Somewhat in the middle we have the Algarve at £2,650 over the Christmas week.”
“For a Christmas away from home, a sprinkle of festive preparation makes all the difference in helping to keep spirits bright and the holiday stress firmly on ice.”
Read on for Sam’s nuggets of wisdom for ensuring a jolly Christmas away from home.
Decide on rooms in advance
Making sure that your guests have enough bedrooms in the villa is key to avoid arguments and discomfort. Multi-generational holidays are amazing, but they work best when everyone has their own space. No space to unwind among the hubbub of charades, evening merriment, and Christmas tunes can easily turn a relative from a jolly Saint Nick-like character into a Scrooge or a Grinch.
For large families and lively kids, prioritising properties with multiple rooms or even separate annexes is the secret to peace on earth.
Forgo the British Christmas roast and opt for local delicacies
When it comes to food, don’t try to recreate a frosty British Christmas in the sunshine. Embrace the local flavours, as it’s often cheaper and far more conducive to festive enjoyment to tuck into regional dishes than sweating over a full roast in mild temperatures.
Although prior booking will be essential – so don’t wait! – many local restaurants will be open on Christmas day, serving local dishes like jamón ibérico, hard cheeses and suckling pig in Spain, or Christopsomo bread and melomakarona (honey cookies) enjoyed in Greece and Cyprus.
Organise a grocery delivery to beat a supermarket rush
While many restaurants will open, it’s safe to assume that all supermarkets will be closed on Christmas Day and the same on Christmas Eve, or at least operating on reduced hours. Don’t delay arranging grocery delivery in advance – many villa holiday operators have pre-established relationships with local food providers meaning you arrive to a fully stocked fridge.
Embrace the change
The magic of a holiday Christmas is also in the differences. Swap snow for sand and stockings for swimsuits. A beach walk on Christmas morning or a toast with local wine can be just as merry as mince pies by the fire, with these moments becoming the unique stories you’ll treasure long after the tinsel is packed away.
Remember that flexibility is the gift that keeps on giving. Things might not go exactly as they do at home, and that’s the point. Embrace the quirks and focus on making memories rather than chasing perfection.
For more information about Villacation™s, visit splvillas.com.
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About SPL Villas:
Founded in 2017, by Sandra and Peter Linnell, SPL Villas is the package villa holiday specialist for modern families. Offering ATOL and ABTOT protected villa and flight packages with a wide range of carriers and flights from UK airports, SPL Villas provides tailored, flexible villa experiences across a portfolio of 1,500 handpicked, premium properties across Southern Europe and the United States.
A seamless online booking process allows travellers full autonomy when organising their holiday, with expert advice from the SPL Villas team just a phone call away if required.
Committed to guest experience, SPL Villas offers a concierge service for continued support post-transaction with airport transfers, airport experience enhancements, and even in-destination private chefs and guides.
For more information, visit: splvillas.com
