Press Release: Guarantee your kids a white Christmas
9 November 2004
Everyone’s dreaming of a White Christmas. Particularly if you’ve got children in tow.
But with bookmakers William Hill offering odds of 11/2 on one flake of snow to fall during the 24 hours of Christmas Day in London, Manchester, Cardiff or Glasgow, it’s just not that straightforward.
So here are ten adventurous ideas from takethefamily.com to ‘guarantee’ an alternative ‘White Christmas’ for you and your family – they all beat staying at home roasting your chestnuts on an open fire!
1. Igloo Building in Andorra - 8 days from £899 per adult. Departs 19 Dec.
You know what they say - the family that builds igloos together, stays together. Here, surrounded by the beauty of the Pyrenean landscape, you can have some real fun in the snow, including snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and – the ultimate – building your very own family-sized igloo. After all, there’s snow place like home.
2. Husky-Sledding in Finland. 7 days from £899 per adult. Departs 22 Dec.
From your farmhouse base (complete with sauna!) you and your family will embark on a series of snow-based activities - starting with cross-country skiing and a spot of ice fishing. Having mastered this, you then move on to snowshoeing – a fantastic way to get about in the white landscape. Then on to snowmobiling, which provides an exhilarating way of covering the ground in this icy wilderness. Plus snowboarding and dog-sledding with huskies. Incredible!
3. White Mountain Climbing in Morocco - 8 days from £639 per adult. Departs 26 Dec.
Less ho-ho-ho. More Morocco-co-co. Climb high enough in the Atlas Mountains and you’re virtually guaranteed a sight of the white stuff. Your journey begins in the atmospheric city of Fez, exploring its dazzling architecture and lively souks. Then on to imperial Meknes, the mountain-top pilgrimage centre of Moulay Idriss and the Roman remains of Volubilis. Heading into the desert you witness the raw beauty of the Sahara’s rolling sand dunes and trek with camels to sleep in an atmospheric Bedouin camp. Hey, beats the Eastenders Christmas Day special!
4. White House Viewing 7 nights over x-mas from under £700 per person.
George Bush has just secured four more years. Love him, hate him or just misunderestimate him, this is your chance to show your family what the USA and his fellow Americans are all about with a week in Washington at the family friendly Carlyle or Savoy Suite Hotels, including flights.
5. Snow White Hugging. 7 nights over x-mas in 4* Orlando from £960 per person
Make your darling daughter’s Christmas with this trip to Orlando and Disneyworld to see Snow White and prove you’re the most generous Mummy or Daddy of them all. Fly to Orlando and base yourself at the 4* Double Tree for less than £4000 for a family of four, including hire car. Or take your adrenalin-loving kid on the world’s greatest white-knuckle rides.
6. White Tusk Spotting – from £700 per person plus flights and ‘kitty’. Departs 17 Dec.
If you’ve had enough of seeing the Great Aunt at Christmas, what about a festive season spent spotting the mighty elephant instead with this 16 night trip to South Africa, including an extraordinary elephant safari. Christmas may come but once a year, but with beautiful beaches as well as bungee jumping, swimming, diving and canopy walks available, this sort of trip is once in a lifetime.
7. White-haired Grandparents join your skiing holiday for free. Departs 19 Dec.
Hear the magical words that can’t fail to bring a tear to the eye at Christmas: ‘Nana’s fallen over!’ Keep the grandparents off the strong stuff and on the white stuff with this amazing ski offer from Esprit, where two adults and two children stay at the Chalet Hotel Sapinière in Chamonix for just £1750. Plus up to 2 grandparents can join them free!
Other festive ski offers include: 7 nights for the price of six with Powder Byrne in Grindelwald, Zermatt, Courchevel and Klosters
8. The Lapland of Luxury – See the father of all Santas for £279 per person for the day. Dec 5th and 17th
Forget sitting on his knee at draughty school Christmas fetes. Say farewell to long, overpriced queues at department stores. Go and see the big bearded fella in his native habitat with this luxury day-trip to Lapland.
9. The White Sand Beaches of Zanzibar and more – 2 weeks for £1,425. Departs 18 Dec.
Everyone claims they love a traditional Christmas, but stretched out on the white beaches of Zanzibar having enjoyed an East African adventure, even the Queen's speech and over-cooked brussel sprouts begin to lose their festive appeal. As well as the beach, this 15-night family trip includes safaris and camping in Nakuru National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and a visit to a Masai Boma. Blimey! Put that in your stocking and smoke it.
10. Isle of Wight Christmas – from £45 per adult per night, between x-mas and New Year
OK not everyone can visit the slopes, the souks or the Spice Islands, but if the Isle of Wight feels more manageable, there’s still availability between Christmas and New Year at the Old Park Hotel. December 27-30. Prices from £45 per adult and £2 per night per year of age for children.
For booking and availability, visit www.takethefamily.com or call 0845 644 0216.
And have a merry Christmas.
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