Back in 2018, Scott Dixon decided he’d rather be soaking up the Spanish sun on Christmas Day than his usual turkey dinner for one in his Edinburgh home. And this year is no different.
The consumer expert, from the Scottish capital, has spent the day in Benidorm for the last three years, with Covid disrupting his 2020 plans.
Now, he said he wouldn’t look back.
For many, Christmas is a stressful time of year – whether it stems from purchasing gifts, hosting, cooking on the 25th, or the financial hit that comes with the festive season.
It can also be difficult for those who don’t have close family to share it with, such as Mr Dixon.
Although this means he was spending very little money, it is worth the £780 he pays for a month’s accommodation in the popular resort, he said.
Since his first visit, he has become so enthralled with Spain, he went for nearly three months last year. Luckily, he can work remotely.
He told The i Paper: “This was a bit too long but the weather was incredible with temperatures generally between 18 and 24 degrees. It’s quite the contrast to the UK.
“I’m just spending a month this year and going alone but you never really feel alone in Benidorm as it’s such a friendly resort.
“I’ve got to know a few people who live there and go on holiday at the same time as me, so there’s always someone to pass the time with and watch the world go by.”
Mr Dixon is staying in a one-bedroom apartment 450 metres from the beach including all bills, Wi-Fi and a television.
He managed to find the deal after speaking to a local estate agent who was recommended to him by someone he met out there a few years ago.
He added: “Spending Christmas and winter abroad for me is a no-brainer.
“You don’t need much spending money as the best things in life in Spain are free – fresh air, sunshine, warmth, nice beaches to relax on and walks along the promenades. Even a bus ride to another town for a few hours only costs £1.30.”
He doesn’t spend much on food and drink when he’s away either, he said, with a three-course meal with half a bottle of wine typically costing around £8.50.
While he’s away, he will be keeping the heating on in his house in Scotland for two hours a night to “keep the chill off”, but said this won’t cost much and he doesn’t have a mortgage or rent to worry about so can afford it.
Dana Raer, who works in public relations, is spending Christmas in a remote area just outside of Stockholm, Sweden, for the second year in a row.
The 25-year-old, originally from Romania, has budgeted around £500 for her two-week trip with her boyfriend and his family.
She said: “We’ll stay in a lovely cabin and enjoy plenty of traditional activities like cross-country skiing and spotting wildlife.
“Last year, I saw deer, bunnies, and even foxes when drinking my morning coffee from the cabin. Honestly, there is no better way to relax and get in the Christmas spirit.
“There’s nothing that brings more inner peace than being in a remote area in Sweden, surrounded by wilderness.”
If in London, she would have spent around £200 on a “special event” over the festive season or on a nice dinner with friends.
“London is unlikely to see any snow, but Stockholm already has some, and I’m so excited for a proper white Christmas. Plus, spending my boyfriend’s birthday, which is on Christmas Eve, with his family makes the trip even more meaningful.”
Ms Raer and her boyfriend have booked one-way tickets for around £100 and will be staying with his family so they have no accommodation costs.
The rest of her budget will likely be spent on New Year’s Eve, she said, on dinner at a nice restaurant and a club afterwards.
According to O2, an estimated six million Brits said they will be heading abroad this Christmas. This is an increase from the two million who spent the big day outside of the UK last year, its data revealed.
Mother of two, Francesca Harris, is spending her Christmas Day on the slopes.
She is heading to Les Arcs, France with her husband and children – 10-year-old Josh and 8-year-old Ruby.
Speaking to The i Paper, she said it was her husband’s idea to go away for Christmas – he’s wanted to for years but she was never keen.
“I gave in this year and I’m more excited for Christmas than ever before. Honestly, we wanted to get away for a week and give the kids an experience,” she said.
She added: “However, as it’s got closer and closer, I have become more and more grateful that I don’t need to organise Christmas lunch and host everyone.
“I usually host every year and love every part of it, but being able to just relax this year is so exciting.”
Ms Harris, who works in interior design and lives in Beckenham, Kent, said she would spend around £400 on food and drink for entertaining and extra gifts she would have bought.
She added the family are spending more than they usually would this year but they see it as a big holiday so they said they don’t mind splashing out.
Her sister-in-law will be joining them with her family, the children are booked into ski school every day and they have Christmas dinner booked at a local restaurant.
She added: “On Christmas Eve, there is a big Christmas parade in the place we are staying so we are really looking forward to that too. We decided about a year ago that this was what we wanted to do, and we booked it at the beginning of the year.
“The rest of the family are really pleased for us and can’t wait for the kids to learn how to ski.”
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