Christmas & New Year

The countdown to 2008 has begun but there is still time to ensure you see in the New Year in style. Whether you are looking for a sophisticated evening with great food and drink or to dance the night away to a live band - look no further than Bristol.

Eight tones of fireworks, over 100,000 people, 4 days of festivities, a 40-foot long wooden longboat, 25 bands, one gun shot, 500 mad swimmers, and 40 huge monsters with a combined height of over 100 metres tall. It can only be Edinburgh at Hogmanay and you can still be part of it.

The Western Lake District is providing an answer to post-Christmas Day melancholy midst the holly by laying on some real treats for those heading to this stunningly beautiful area, both over the festive season and in Spring 2008.

It seems the meaning of Christmas is changing. Gone are the days of sitting round the log fire at home with the ones you love; now it’s about avoiding crowds and catching some rays! A survey of over 8000 ebookers.com customers showed that 1 in 4 of us will be going abroad this Christmas instead of spending it at home.

Visitlondon.com, London's official website for visitors, is launching its Christmas in London campaign with information on what's happening around London over the festive period as well as a number of new competitions and games.

Need to find the perfect gift for the adventure seeker in your life but haven’t had time to shop? G.A.P Adventures, a world leader in the adventure travel industry, recommends the top 10 last minute travel holiday gifts for friends and loved ones. G.A.P Adventures helps redefine holiday gift-giving this year, offering experiential journeys to take the place of traditional packages for loved ones.

Record numbers of Brits will be doing their Christmas shopping abroad this year to find unusual gifts and soak up the festive atmosphere in some of the world’s most stunning cities.

Forest Ice at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre has kicked-off its seasonal run in style with more than 500 people taking to the rink in the first two days. Sandy Balls near Fordingbridge introduced the covered synthetic rink for the first time this year.

Winter breaks are becoming increasingly popular, and at DFDS Seaways the choice is vast. So why not book a trip today and explore Amsterdam on a two night city cruise break from Newcastle.

DFDS Seaways has New Year all wrapped up. No need to worry about slaving over the stove for a dinner party, queue in the rain for taxis or worry about trying to find a baby sitter.

North Devon’s Downe Health Spa is offering the perfect last minute Christmas presents for those wanting to treat someone special in their life – a range of gift certificates for therapies, treatments and Pamper Days and Pamper Breaks starting from as little as £35.

Let Thistle Hotels take the stress out of party planning this Christmas with their gift wrapped party nights, guaranteed to put the sparkle in any celebration.

Eastbourne Bandstand will be packed with more than 4,000 revellers as the traditional Christmas and Boxing Day concerts return to the south coast with fantastic festive entertainment, and it’s all for free.

Leading ferry operator Stena Line is offering holidaymakers the chance to experience a more exciting New Year’s Eve this year, the Dutch way. The Hook of Holland is situated conveniently near Holland’s capital, Amsterdam, which is just under an hour and a half away, making it easy for party goers to experience the wonders of Amsterdam, a fantastically vibrant city which really comes alive on New Year’s Eve.

Reindeer post, podcasts from Santa and little people under the floorboards - what's happening in the Western Lake District this year? Having already won the hearts of the nation by having Britain's favourite view, the Western Lake District is now going flat out to provide 2007's favourite Christmas do, with some wonderful options that provide twists on the traditional festive experience.

Christmas shopping in Glasgow is the most satisfying in Britain outside London, according to new research from Yellow Pages, which identifies the best UK regions for retail therapy.

Tis the season to be jolly and Chester has every reason to celebrate after being voted Great Britain’s number one place to be this Christmas. The search, led by Best Western Hotels, revealed the ancient Roman settlement, nestled on the Welsh borders in Cheshire, is Great Britain’s favourite festive destination.

After the stress and rich food during the weeks leading up to Christmas, a 50 minute flight across the channel to Brittany situated on the west coast of France can restore your body and mind.

Destination Milton Keynes (DMK), the organisation charged with promoting a collective voice for tourism within the new city of Milton Keynes, has unveiled a calendar of events that will take place in and around the city throughout the festive period.

Travellers looking for a unique winter escape should take advantage of a ‘four nights for the price three’ offer to Budapest launched by the Hungarian National Tourist Office this week.

Below are just a few examples of spa-themed holiday homes available to rent throughout the world on Holiday-Rentals.co.uk. With prices from around £60 per person per week, spa holiday rentals make a great alternative to pricey spa hotels, and also provide more space and privacy so guests can relax and unwind in total tranquillity.

Enjoy a Christmas or New Year break at Downe Cottages on the Hartland Peninsula in North Devon from just £158 per person for a four night break and just £237 for a week’s stay based on six sharing a three bedroom self catering cottage.

Eastbourne is offering an action-packed start to the New Year with a wealth of activities on its doorstep making it easy to kick start those new year resolutions and lose those extra Christmas pounds, from a peaceful walk through the countryside to a personalised fitness break.

Esprit Santa’s Lapland is offering snowy holidays to meet the `real’ Santa Claus in Lapland on Christmas Day, with departures from Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester, including return flights transfers, b&b accommodation, a snowmobile safari and private family meeting with Santa, reindeer and husky rides, with prices from £1495 for a family of four.

Clued up Christmas fans need to head to the South Lakes, in Cumbria over the coming weeks, to test out their skills of detection, meet up with Santa and enjoy some traditional Yuletide experiences, ranging from clog dancing, to crafts.

Enjoy a last minute getaway with English Heritage holiday cottages for a luxurious and relaxing Christmas or New Year break. Guests staying at the holiday cottages for Christmas Day will be treated to a Marks & Spencer 'Sumptuous Selections' Hamper worth £99. Each cottage will be tastefully decorated with a John Lewis pre-lit Christmas tree.

Hotelopia, the online hotel booking specialist is officially reducing the pressure of where to spend Christmas by offering hundreds of free peak season hotel nights for December 25th in a selection of European destinations (arguing relatives, not included).

If the expense and extravagance of New Year celebrations make you want to run and hide, then visit Holidaylettings.co.uk to book yourself a festive getaway and welcome in the New Year refreshed and raring to go.

Christmas is well and truly on its way, and where else will the festive season be given a more rousing welcome than down at ‘Santaland’ in Wookey Hole Caves, now one of Britain’s leading entertainment destinations.

Marigot Marina Village is celebrating a Creole Christmas with special events every weekend through the festive season. The fun starts on December 1 with local schoolchildren decorating Christmas Trees and local songwriter Aagee Simpson turning on the lights.

The historic, four star Old Government House Hotel in the heart of vibrant St Peter Port, Guernsey is offering special Christmas packages for two sharing a King Room from £236 for two nights B&B including use of the hotel’s Revolution Health Club and Spa.

With the distant sound of sleigh bells ringing and the arrival of crisp winter mornings Christmas is soon approaching. To celebrate Christmas cheer English Heritage has organised a range of festive events across the country at some of its most spectacular sites.

Everybody’s favourite chap, Santa Claus, will be staging live podcasts from his home in the Arctic Circle and from the beach in Madagascar this year. The genial gentleman will be making it his mission to personally congratulate children who have grouped together, in beautiful Bassenthwaite, in the Western Lake District, to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas with their friends and schoolmates.

Those who are yet to book their Christmas holiday need not fear as Holiday-Rentals.co.uk still has plenty to offer. Whether it’s some winter sunshine, something for the culture vultures or a city break, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk has it all.

UK visitors to Singapore this festive season won’t miss out on their traditional Christmas celebrations. Instead they will have the added benefit of celebrating Christmas with all the trimmings – and more - in the balmy heat of tropical Singapore.

Eurolines is gearing up for a rush of travellers making a festive trip to friends and family. This year the international scheduled coach operator is running scores more coaches to its most popular destinations. On Friday 21st December, Eurolines busiest day, it will have twice as many as usual leaving from Victoria Coach Station in London.

Edinburgh’s infamous four-day Hogmanay celebrations are back with a bang and even bigger and better than ever, with the focus being a celebration of communities and families.

Departures on 8 December are the last opportunity to grab some bargain winter sun, leading online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com is advising travellers.

If just the thought of Christmas shopping leaves you in need of a holiday, then why not head to a destination billed as the next ‘New York’. With the pound currently stronger than ever before against the dollar, Hong Kong is the perfect choice for a long weekend of shopping. And this year, with low fare flights to Hong Kong, it doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Ever thought about learning how to surf? With around 500 000 enthusiasts in the UK alone, surf is one of the largest growing sports worldwide. Even stars like Cameron Diaz and Matthew McConaughey are aficionados of this truly exciting adventure sport.

Bringing in the bells is the biggest party of the year. And even though most people’s thoughts are on Christmas, Hogmanay party planners are already snapping up spots at their favourite venues to make sure the New Year is brought in with a bang.

Get ready for a magical month in Eastbourne as the town counts down the days to Christmas with plenty to do to keep all the family amused, from Christmas Magic shopping events to breathtaking ballet performances.

6 weeks to go until Christmas and the snow is falling in abundance in Santa’s Lapland home, where Esprit Santa’s Lapland has Christmas family trips to visit to the man himself from Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick.

Escape to the slopes this winter and bring in 2008 in style with an exceptional festive break with DFDS Seaways to Voss – the skiing metropolis of western Norway.

The exclusive resort of Lech in the Austrian Vorarlberg has long had a reputation for its special microclimate that makes it one of the most snow-sure resorts in the Alps.

The new Haven Holidays website (haven.com) has some fantastic early booking offers with up to 20% discount on school holiday dates and half price deals on Spring breaks if you book before the end of January. It also has videos of some of their holiday parks so you can see where you'd like to go.

Jet off to Bermuda this Christmas with new arrival, Zoom Airlines (flyzoom.com), and you’ll find all the festive traditions you know and love wrapped up in a balmy climate, pink sand beaches and tranquil turquoise waters. Add-on a few days in New York, less than two hours by air from Bermuda, and you have the ideal combination of festive fun and New Year revelling!

Leading online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com reveals that Britons are booking more long haul short-breaks before the Christmas break than ever before, with shopping destinations proving a big draw amongst travellers.

Christmas is fast approaching and the media and commercial frenzy is upon us. However, there are still those who are unsure of what to do this year –or even where to go. Coastandcountry.co.uk still have a number of luxury self catering properties from large seaside houses to cosy thatched cottages and stunning barn conversions with a range of unique features.

The hunt is on for Great Britain’s very own winter wonderland – fit for Father Christmas himself. Best Western, the largest group of independently owned and managed hotels, is scouring the nation to find the best tinsel towns – fun filled with festive cheer and the perfect places to spend Christmas in Great Britain.

Whether it’s seasonal singing, Christmas crafts or last minute shopping ideas, The National Forest has a bumper selection of events to whet the festive appetite.

For the second year running, the Canadian Tourism Commission joins as a partner of the Canary Wharf Ice Rink offering Londoners and Brits alike the finest facility for outdoor ice skating and entertainment in the Capital.

Specialists in stylish accommodation for families, Baby Friendly Boltholes has a selection of luxury cottages sleeping 4-12, across the UK and France, available over the Christmas and New Year period with prices from £773.

This winter why not escape to Norway and Holland on a short break from DFDS Seaways’ Winter Specials brochure.

Toy robots, canal boats and Peter Pan are all heading to Birmingham this festive season. The lights are twinkling and the city is ready for a packed programme of events, so pay a visit and celebrate Christmas in Birmingham!

So much about the Christmas build up gets under our skins, but one thing we all love is the traditional Christmas Market. Cities around Europe are notorious for their festive stalls stocked with gifts, crafts, comfort food and much more and Epoque Hotels has the perfect hotel to accompany a short break.

With only 48 days left until Christmas, it’s time to think about your Christmas shopping. Take advantage of the current US$ exchange rate of $2.04 to the pound to stock up on some fantastic presents at discounted prices. Beat the last minute rush and venture further afield, with unbeatable deals from Flight Centre.

To celebrate the imminent arrival of the Nokia Flagship Store at 240 Regent Street, Nokia is sponsoring this year’s Regent Street Christmas lights. The unique illuminations, titled UNITY, have been designed to connect shoppers at the start of this year’s festive season. Built to respond to the movement of people in the street, for the first time people in the street will work together to turn on the world-renowned Regent Street Christmas lights.

Carnaby, famous for its astounding Christmas installations, brings another notable display this year from 14 November 2007. Designed by James Glancy Design the oversized and brightly coloured ‘paper chain’ installations, interlink through the main thoroughfare of Carnaby Street and connecting all twelve streets of the Carnaby area.

Get ready for some deluxe shopping, dining and relaxing in Copenhagen this December, as this city is particularly wonderful at Christmas time. The cool capital of Copenhagen is a great weekend destination for splashing out on hot Danish designer items, enjoying great gourmet experiences (the city boasts eight Michelin-starred restaurants) and for relaxation at a chic design or boutique hotel.

Colwyn Bay will be introducing the first real-ice rink in North Wales this winter, to add to the usual festive celebrations in Swansea and Cardiff.

There is nothing quite like that first moment every year when you start to feel a bit Christmassy. It could be the first card coming through the door, the advent calendars going on sale in Tesco, or the first time Band Aid gets played on the radio.

Experience the world famous Tivoli Gardens and fantastic Christmas markets in Copenhagen on a four or five night short break this festive season with DFDS Seaways.

This unique Christmas holiday break will be one to remember for years to come. Arrive in style at Zagreb where you will be transferred by a stretch limousine to the luxury five star Regent Esplanade Hotel. Once there, tuck the kids up in bed while you enjoy a relaxing massage followed by a candlelit dinner.

Plan a pre-Xmas shopping break in Italy and spend, spend, spend! Here are some options to tempt you: A week in Florence, five nights in Milan and a week in Bologna.

Eastbourne Bandstand will be packed with more than 4,000 revellers as the traditional Christmas and Boxing Day concerts return to the south coast with fantastic festive entertainment, and it’s all for free.

Give something back after the excesses of the festive season with a volunteer holiday (28th Jan – 6th Feb 2008, trip must be booked by 27th November) that lets you experience one of America’s most vibrant and colourful cities, as well help out on a volunteer project building homes for musicians who lost theirs during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Do you like getting in the festive spirit and enjoy a good party? Do you wish your holiday would last a bit longer? Then the Edinburgh Winter Festival is perfect for you because it’s six weeks of festive fun, culminating in the legendary Hogmanay street party!

Get ready for a magical month in Eastbourne as the town counts down the days to Christmas with plenty to do to keep all the family amused, from Christmas Magic shopping events to breathtaking ballet performances.

Are you dreaming of a white knuckle Christmas? Pleasure Beach, Blackpool will be transformed into a Winter Weekend wonderland this festive season with a generous helping of thrilling rollercoasters, a super selection of shops and restaurants and a sprinkling of Christmas cheer.

Visit Hong Kong this December as the city is transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the annual WinterFest celebrations between 30th November and 1st January 2008. With a host of special events taking place, Hong Kong is the ideal place to get into the festive spirit at the same time as grabbing some Christmas shopping bargains.

With the festive season on its way Interhome has some suggestions to make sure its guests have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! There are over 30,000 properties across Europe to choose from and holiday homes can be found in the most vibrant and lively cities to the most secluded and picturesque valleys.

A magical winter wonderland will be created for skaters at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre in the New Forest from December 1. The festive forest scene will be completed by an ice rink this winter and the attraction is set to be the icing on the Christmas cake for the popular holiday centre in Godshill near Fordingbridge.

Qantas Holidays has announced availability on their “Australia and Fiji Escape” itinerary, a two-week, two-centre holiday with departures possible on both 1st December and over Christmas, departing 12th December.