Cottages, canals, cars and more: Five Christmas retreats await
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Even without the snow, Schloss Roxburghe’s stunning Scottish setting is Christmas card perfect. The five-star beauty sits in Kelso, in the Scottish Borders, making it a dreamy festive hideaway. With an award-winning outdoor spa, great food and walks galore in the 300-acre country estate, the cosy spot has availability over Christmas and New Year’s. Choose from hotel rooms or a dog-friendly self-catering cottage. Stays from £350 per night (approx €400) with luxurious two-night festive stays on offer (arrivals 23rd or 24th December; subject to availability). And if you can’t make Christmas, pop it on your list for 2026.
Calling all last-minute shoppers! The Fitzwilliam, Dublin, has a dreamy shopping package ready to help you fly through that gift list with ease. Spend a day Christmas shopping in Dublin (the hotel is at the top of Grafton Street) and when you return, hand over your purchases to the fabulous Christmas Concierge whose team will beautifully gift wrap all your presents while you enjoy their luxe decor, cosy vibes and warm hospitality. You shop, they wrap, and with a late check-out after a lazy breakfast, you’ll arrive home relaxed rather than stressed. From €359 per night.
Captain’s Choice’s 2026 itineraries will delight those with deep wanderlust and even deeper pockets. A hosted Italian road trip piques our interest, with up to 20 guests joining a self-drive supercar journey in late spring from Lake Como to the Amalfi Coast.
Guided by rally champion Lorenzo Granai and professional racetrack driver Fabio Mancini, they will bring expert insight to the trip, with tips on high-performance driving, and tales from their remarkable careers.
Luxury hotels and Michelin-starred dining are all included, along with the thrill of driving Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and other top-tier supercars through Italy’s dramatic landscapes. 11-day Milan-Naples trip, departs April 30, from £27,500pp (approx €31,450) and includes everything from point of departure.
Lanzarote offers sun and value at this time of year, along with excellent food and scenery. Book an eight-night stay at TUI SUNEO Ficus, a three-star adults-only complex in Costa Teguise, and start the year rested and relaxed. Just a 15-minute walk from Costa Teguise’s sand-swept coastline, your all-inclusive stay includes regular evening entertainment, live music, international buffet, and a pool.
Set on Lanzarote’s East coast of the Spanish island, you’re close to Costa Teguise’s five sandy beaches, all linked by a lengthy promenade, with swimming, water sports, restaurants, and bars close by, with cycling, golf, and day trips all simple to arrange. Depart January 7, all-inclusive basis from €729. Flights from Dublin to Lanzarote, plus 20kg luggage and transfers included.
The magical Canal du Midi has been snaking its way through the Languedoc for four centuries. To mark its 30th anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage Site, Emerald Star by Le Boat is offering 15% off 2026 bookings this month, with savings of up to €630 on seven-night holidays on Le Boat Canal du Midi cruises. From Toulouse to the Mediterranean, cruise along, stopping off to enjoy great food and wine, and explore medieval villages and ancient fortress towns. Discount is valid now until December 25, 2025.
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