Christmas Vacation (or how not to buy presents)

Christmas is now roughly six weeks away, and if you are like me, you are racking your brain thinking of how you can avoid buying gifts. It's not that I am averse to gift gifting when someone has their heart set on something special; but I am not keen to waste money on gifts that the 14 year old neither needs nor wants just for the sake of putting wrapped boxes under the tree. Nor will I remortgage the house to fulfill the wish list of the 18 year old. What's the solution? A Christmas vacation of course!!

 If the days are growing cooler and the sun is setting earlier, you may be dreaming of a tropical getaway. Sand beats snow any day; consider an all-inclusive trip to a Caribbean island. There is something to be said for waking up Christmas morning to the sound of the waves crashing and the birds singing, particularly if it is followed by an all you can eat breakfast buffet. In years past, we have watched Santa zoom by on a motorboat, and seen him arrive by donkey, and even one year with camels in tow. You never know what surprises your hotel might have dreamt up. 

Of course it is expensive to travel over the Christmas holidays. Any time the kids are out of school is high season. Try travelling right on Christmas day for somewhat cheaper packages, and if you are giving in to the temptation of bringing gifts with you (Why? Is the vacation not enough?), remember to leave all packages unwrapped for customs. Over the years, we have begun to cheat a little. Instead of travelling right over Christmas, we make sure we have the trip planned in time for Christmas. Wrap up some e-tickets, throw some goggles and sunscreen in the stockings, gum for the plane and a trashy magazine or two, and you are good to go! My favourite Christmas was the year I wrapped trip clues for Christmas. The first child was mystified to unwrap a wooden letter "U". The next child unwrapped an "R". The next gift was a small toy plane, then a number "2" and the last gift was luggage tags for Disney World. "U R flying 2 Disney World!" Hokey but fun!

This year, we are really pushing it. Merry Christmas kids, you are going to Italy! In July. Well, some things are worth waiting for, aren't they?