Driving Away For Christmas

There’s no place like home. Especially at Christmas… right?

Well, unless your family are from the Tesco/John Lewis/Marks and Spencer adverts then no actually. In fact, Christmas at home can often be extremely stressful, with each year families across the country secretly wishing they could go away during the festive period.

The only snag with this is that hotels often hike their prices up if you choose to spend your Christmas with them, and you miss out on all the little things that make Christmas unique at your home. This is why I suggest something completely different: driving away for Christmas in a motorhome.

Motorhome and caravan holidays have become increasingly popular with the UK public recently, especially as they are cheap and you get the freedom to do and see whatever you want. You can also make your motorhome holiday completely personal by cooking the meals you like, making your own itinerary and bringing all your favourite home comforts.

Even if you don’t own a motorhome, these days you can find a great deal on hiring a model that comes complete with washing facilities, built-in kitchens, digital televisions and enough space to keep everyone happy. Or, if you want something a little bit different you could hire out a vintage VW campervan, although if you have a large brood this is less practical.

Imagine spending Christmas day waking up with your family, surrounded by the great outdoors, with the excitement of being somewhere other than your own home yet the freedom to enjoy yourself like you were. Opening presents and eating Christmas breakfast in your pyjamas can still be done (unlike in a hotel), and then you can head out to experience some festive activities (rarely realised while at home).

Another great thing about going away for a Christmas motorhome holiday is that you can invite all your family – however they won’t be in the same room as you the whole time. In fact, they will have their own motorhome and their own space so they can enjoy themselves as they please. It also means there won’t be that awkward moment where you want someone to leave but they have fallen asleep on your sofa.

Organising a family trip in a motorhome is actually relatively easy too, especially compared to getting everyone round your house for Christmas dinner on time. Once you’ve decided the location and hired a motorhome, all you need to do is plan what you want to do and see on your holiday. This is a great way to experience all the tourist attractions the UK has to offer which you have previously overlooked.

When was the last time you went to an English castle, a Scottish mountain or the Welsh coastline? If it’s longer than you remember then Christmas is the time to visit, and you could even head to a major city and experience their festive events. Hogmanay is world famous, and for many only a couple of hours drive away, but have you ever experienced it? Probably not. It’s more likely you spent last New Year’s Eve sat on the sofa eating left overs and watching everyone else having fun on the TV.

This is one of the great things about going away during Christmas in a motorhome with your family: you actually get to experience all the amazing events and attractions the UK has to offer in the company of your loved ones. In fact, you can visit as many destinations as you like, as you can drive around from one place to another whenever you want. Kids want to go see Father Christmas? Easy. Fancy a walk through a forest? Done. Time for stop for lunch? Pick any restaurant you like. No more feeling trapped at home wishing that Christmas was as magical as you think it should be.

And for those of you on a tight budget you can have a memorable Christmas for less than you think. One of the biggest costs of a motorhome holiday is naturally the fuel, however if you make an itinerary of your trip you could find it’s more affordable than you first expected. If your wallet can stretch that little bit further you could even treat your family to something truly special such as going to Europe for a couple of days – just check your motorhome insurance policy covers this first!

For many of us, Christmas is a time to be celebrated, a special event that only comes once a year and should be treated as a reason to do something that brings your family closer. So why spend it doing the same old thing, in the same old place, with nothing to really remember except for a few gifts? Going away in a motorhome will be an experience you will never forget, and isn’t that what Christmas is all about?