It's never too early...to book your Christmas break

SAGA: It might sound odd, as we’ve been experiencing heatwaves here in the UK, but at what time of year do you think people should start thinking about their Christmas break?

Neil Cron: I would say it’s never too early. We used to offer UK Christmas holidays regularly until just before COVID, and we launched our brand new programme, The 12 Hotels of Christmas, in March. Next year we’ll start marketing it to people in January, when we’ll send out a brochure. Yes, that means Christmas will only just be over but then it’s still in people’s minds, and hopefully they enjoyed it so much they’ll want to make sure they book their favourite place to enjoy it again next time.

If you’re a solo traveller, it’s key to book sooner rather than later; Christmas is a great market for solo travellers but often spaces are limited, so my recommendation would always be to book as soon as you can, so you can get your first choice of destination. And the price won’t change whether you book in January, July or September.

SAGA: Why do you think a Christmas break in the UK has so much to recommend it, rather than going abroad?

NC: First and foremost, there’s more familiarity with the destinations. The ones we’re offering are likely to be places people might have visited before, and all the towns or cities are beautifully lit up for Christmas. When you arrive at the hotel, you might be greeted by a lovely, flickering log fire, but you’ll also see a gorgeously dressed Christmas tree, and you’ll be welcomed with a drink, getting you into the Christmas mood straight away.

The hotels we have chosen do a fantastic traditional Christmas lunch, which you’re unlikely to find abroad - and you won’t have any jetlag. And a huge bonus is that Saga cuts out so much of the travel stress, because of our chauffeur service. You’re picked up right from your front door and taken directly to your hotel. There’s no airport to deal with, no worries about delays or lost luggage; it’s simple and straightforward. Plus, all our hotels feature a Saga host, who is always on hand to make sure everyone has a wonderful time and to deal with any issues or queries, so all the guests have to do is relax.

Macdonald Leeming House Hotel

SAGA: How do you select the hotels in the UK Christmas breaks?

NC: My perfect Christmas hotel is country house-style from the Victorian or Edwardian era, which sits in its own landscaped grounds. But the most important thing is for guests to feel that each one has a lot of individual charm; They should have a strong character –log fires or four-poster beds are great. I like cosy restaurants rather than big, echoing open spaces, so that everyone can feel they’ve got their own intimate space for meals. I also try to look for different settings, whether it’s a more rural location, or in a town or city. This year we’ve got a few hotels in Scotland, including one in Peebles and one in Stirling, close to the Highlands, and our chauffeur service means these destinations are much more accessible than if you had to drive there. I also love classic British holiday destinations such as Torquay, Bournemouth, or Harrogate. All the hotels we feature are four-star.

SAGA: Tell us more about the highlights of rural and urban hotels at Christmas

NC: If you’re at a hotel in the centre of somewhere like Bournemouth, Harrogate, or St Helier, you’re really in the heart of things. Guests can walk around and soak up the festivities, the decorations, and even do some last-minute Christmas shopping (or get an early start on the Boxing Day sales). Rural-based hotels, such as in Ullswater and the New Forest, give you a great feeling of space, peace and quiet, and are perfect for winter walks, especially if it’s been snowing, when the scenery is magnificent. However, some people want a combination of both – to be near a town, but not in it. We have hotels near Chester, Tewkesbury and Whitchurch that are just a couple of miles away from the centre. You can pop in easily, but they’re set in a lovely, serene landscape, so you get the best of both worlds.

The Grand Hotel, Torquay

SAGA: What extras or other benefits do guests enjoy during a UK Christmas break with Saga?

NC: All these breaks are on a full-board basis, so guests have breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Trust me, no-one will go hungry! In fact, we try to balance it all with some lighter options, so if you have a big Christmas day lunch, dinner that evening might be a buffet, so you can eat as much or as little as you like. If you feel you can still fit more in, however, some of the hotels also offer afternoon tea. Then we ensure that there’s plenty of entertainment during the stay; there will be at least two nights of live music, so guests can dance if they want to, and our on-site Saga host will also arrange trivia quizzes. Everyone has one included excursion on each of these holidays. At the Macdonald Leeming House Hotel in the Lake District, for example, there will be a cruise around Ullswater on a steamer boat, while if you’re staying at the Forest Lodge Hotel in the New Forest, there’s a trip to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. One that gets a lot of attention is our Mystery Tour in Jersey, for guests at the Pomme d’Or Hotel in St Helier. We keep the details a close secret, but you wouldn’t believe the lengths some people go to to try and find out where it takes place.

SAGA: What other reasons might there be for someone to choose Saga for their UK Christmas break?

NC: I’d say definitely the high standard of service on offer, and also the attention to detail. I visit every single hotel before we confirm a partnership, to make sure that they understand what we’re aiming to offer and that they know what we’re about, so they can deliver the absolute best stay for our guests, from the welcome drink on arrival to the last day’s breakfast. But the main thing is that everything is perfectly organised so that from the moment you set off from home, you don’t have to worry about a thing.

SAGA: Looking ahead to next summer, what can you recommend if people want to do a slightly different kind of UK break?

NC: We offer University and College Holidays over the summer holidays, when the students have gone home. We’ve got four participating universities: the University of Essex in Colchester; the International College, Kings School, near Canterbury; the University of Chichester; and Falmouth University’s Penryn Campus. Because the student bedrooms are for solo occupancy, these are great breaks for solo travellers, who can socialise with fellow guests as much or as little as they choose. We always have our Saga host on site, who helps with advice on the local attractions and how to get there, and also provides entertainment from game nights to quizzes.