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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