Make a break with tradition

Restored stately home Hartwell House (01296 747 444) in the Vale of Aylesbury has a three-night break from Christmas Eve for £900 per person full-board, including afternoon tea on Christmas Eve followed by carols and a candlelit dinner and use of the hotel's spa.

Ockenden Manor (01444 416 111) in Cuckfield, West Sussex - a Tudor house with gardens overlooking the South Downs - has a three- night (23 to 26 December) all-inclusive package (except Boxing Day lunch) for £495 per person, with carols on Christmas Eve.

Danesfield House (01628 891010) in Marlow has a two-night package for £395 per adult (children under 12 go free if they share parents' room), including champagne by the fire on Christmas Eve, gourmet dinner, traditional lunch, a dinner buffet in the evening and breakfast on Boxing Day. Father Christmas will visit with gifts for children.

The Priory Bay Hotel (01983 613 146) on the Isle of Wight has a four-night package from 22 or 23 December for £499 per adult half-board in a standard room (under-12s, £220 sharing parents' room), including champagne reception and four-course dinner on Christmas Eve.

Whizz up the M1 to Whitby, North Yorkshire, for bracing coast walks and rambles on the moors. Quayside Cottage sleeps two and has views of the harbour. Seven nights from 22 December cost £407; Sandglass and Turnerdale cottages each sleep six, £715. A tree, bottle of champagne and party pack are included. All have dishwashers. Shoreline Cottages (0113 289 3539).

Kick off Christmas day with a decent pint of Guinness. Mountain View House in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, a 120-year-old stone cottage, overlooks Mangerton mountain and is only a mile from the village pub. Sleeps up to six, £501 for seven nights, including return ferry crossing from Holyhead to Dublin for a car and five passengers. Available from 22 December. Country Cottages in Ireland (0870 585 1177).

In Monaco the hot, new Columbus Hotel (00 377 92 05 9222) has three nights for the price of two until 28 December - £240 per night B&B in a double room.

Nice's most famous Belle Epoque hotel, Le Grimaldi (00 33 493 16 00 24), has double rooms from around £50 per night until the end of December.

Five nights B&B at La Manga resort - tennis, golf and horse riding - with accommodation at the five-star Hyatt Regency hotel, cost £599 per adult (£329 per child sharing parents' room), including return flights from Gatwick on 22 December. Barwell Leisure (020 8786 3000).

Seven nights B&B at the five-star Venus Beach Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus cost £489 per person, including return flights from Gatwick, departing 21 December. Olympic Holidays (0870 429 4040).

Seven nights at ChaletHotel Le Fjord in Val D'Isèl;re cost £599 per person half-board, including unlimited wine with a three-course dinner on six nights and return flights from Gatwick. Depart 22 December. Direct Line Holidays (020 8239 3399).