There is something slightly strange about that week between Christmas and New Year, isn’t there? Christmas Day has been and gone, the leftovers are slowly disappearing, nobody really knows what day it is and you’re starting to wonder whether you can face another day of entertaining the kids at home.
Which is where Twixmas comes in.
If you’ve not come across the term before, Twixmas is the increasingly popular name for the period between Christmas and New Year. Travelling at this time of year can be expensive, but it can also be a brilliant opportunity for a family break, particularly if you have some annual leave or a school holiday to play with. You can save money by extending your break being December 31st and into early January, when prices often come right down.
I’ve picked eight very different options where I’d consider going with our family over Twixmas, from the ultimate Christmas magic of Lapland to a luxury New Forest escape and a dose of winter sun in Tenerife.
1. Best for belated Christmas magic: Lapland
If you want to squeeze just a little more magic out of Christmas, Lapland is hard to beat.
Best for: Christmas magic
I’d stay: 3-4 nights
Good to know: Book well ahead. Christmas and New Year are among the most popular times to visit and the best family accommodation can disappear quickly.
While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Lapland for everyone, if you have children who are still at the perfect age for the whole Father Christmas experience, a trip to Finnish Lapland between Christmas and New Year can feel like extending Christmas rather than starting another holiday.
Think snow-covered forests, husky rides, reindeer, snowy adventures and, of course, the possibility of meeting Santa.
There is something rather appealing about doing the big Lapland trip after Christmas too. You can spend Christmas at home, enjoy all the usual traditions and then head off for the big adventure once the chaos is over.
The biggest question I’d ask is whether your children are at the right age. Lapland is a serious investment for a family holiday, so I’d want to make sure the magic is going to be appreciated rather than spending thousands of pounds on a trip that your toddler won’t remember.
I’ve looked at this in much more detail in my guide to the best age for Lapland with kids, including the pros and cons of going with different ages.
2. Best family stay with childcare: Ulrichshof, Bavaria
If your ideal Twixmas holiday is one where the children have an amazing time and the parents actually get a break too, Ulrichshof in Bavaria is very high on my list. We cannot wait to visit next April!
Best for: Parents who want childcare as part of the holiday
I’d stay: 4-5 nights
Good to know: The 2026 Soulful Forest Christmas package runs until 30 December, so check the exact dates if you specifically want to be there for New Year’s Eve.
Ulrichshof is a luxury family resort in the Bavarian Forest where childcare is properly part of the holiday rather than an afterthought. They describe their playroom as nature and offer plenty of family activities, animals, play areas, plus indoor and outdoor pools and a spa. There really is plenty to keep children entertained, while parents get the slightly more unusual luxury of being able to enjoy some time to themselves.
Ulrichshof has a specific Christmas package running from 18-30th December 2026, with a minimum four-night stay. It includes festive experiences such as a Christmas Eve party, a present for the children and the option to have your own Christmas tree in your room.
The childcare is also a major reason I’d put it here. Ulrichshof’s offering is designed around families, with childcare included alongside its wider family facilities. So you could spend the morning playing in the snow or swimming with the kids, let them enjoy some time at the kids’ club, and actually sit down for a leisurely meal or make use of the spa.
And if you’re staying into New Year, Ulrichshof also has a festive New Year programme, making it much more than simply a Christmas hotel. For me, this is one of the most appealing types of Twixmas break: somewhere that feels completely magical for the kids but doesn’t mean the parents are on duty round the clock.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, check out my list of the best kinderhotels in Europe for options along a similar vibe.
3. Best for a luxury ski escape: Forsthofgut, Austria
If your idea of the perfect Twixmas break involves snow, skiing and a seriously good family hotel to retreat to afterwards, Forsthofgut in Leogang would be my recommendation.
Best for: A luxury family ski holiday
I’d stay: 4-7 nights
Good to know: The combination of skiing, childcare and excellent indoor facilities makes this a much easier option for mixed-age families.
This isn’t a basic ski hotel where the whole family disappears onto the mountain from breakfast until dinner. Forsthofgut has a huge amount to keep families occupied back at the hotel too. There’s daily professional childcare at Rocky’s Club from the age of two, the 3,500m² children’s farm and playground, and the waldSPA Family & Kids, which includes a children’s water world and a 70-metre water slide. It’s one of seven properties in our best kinderhotels in Austria guide, if you want to compare it against similar options.
Then there’s the skiing – which we’re sampling in January! The hotel is close to the lifts and has ski services and ski-school support, making it a much easier proposition for families than some of the more traditional ski hotels where getting everyone onto the mountain becomes an expedition in itself. There’s also a ski kindergarten for toddlers which I can’t wait to take R to.
I also like it for Twixmas because you don’t have to ski all day, every day. If the children have had enough of the slopes, you’ve got pools, the spa, childcare and all those hotel facilities to fall back on. And that’s probably the biggest reason I’d choose somewhere like Forsthofgut for a family ski holiday: you’re booking a brilliant family hotel as well as a ski destination.
4. Best budget-friendly European escape: Center Parcs Europe
If you’re looking for something easier, more affordable and that still feels like you’ve actually gone away, I’d look at Center Parcs Europe. You can get that cosy winter-in-the-forest feeling without needing a busy itinerary, which may be exactly what Santa ordered! If lodges aren’t quite your thing, our roundup of Center Parcs alternatives covers similar UK holiday parks worth a look too.
Best for: A lower-cost European family escape
I’d stay: 3-4 nights
Good to know: Compare the parks carefully before booking. The facilities, location and overall experience vary considerably.
You’ve got your own lodge, woodland walks, swimming at Aqua Mundo and plenty of activities on site. If the weather is rubbish, you don’t have to spend the day traipsing around a European city with wet children because there is plenty to do indoors.
Center Parcs has specifically built its festive programme around this period too. Its current 2026/27 calendar includes New Year celebrations from 27th December 2026 to 2nd January 2027, alongside its winter and festive activities.
I’ve previously found some really good-value options at the European parks, particularly compared with some of the more traditional Christmas and New Year family hotels. Prices obviously depend hugely on the park, dates and accommodation, but if you are flexible about where you go, I wouldn’t assume that a European Twixmas break has to cost a fortune.
The other advantage is that it works brilliantly with younger children. You can cook in your lodge if you don’t fancy another restaurant meal, spend an hour at the pool and then retreat for a cosy evening without having to organise a full day’s sightseeing.
I’ve compared the different European parks in my guide below, because they are not all equal and some are much better suited to families than others.
5. Best UK Twixmas escape: Chewton Glen
If the thought of airports between Christmas and New Year fills you with dread, you really don’t need to leave the UK. For a luxurious family escape, I’d look at Chewton Glen in the New Forest, which also tops my roundup of the best luxury family hotels in the UK.
Best for: A UK country-house Twixmas
I’d stay: 2-3 nights
Good to know: This is a much easier short break than driving to a remote coastal destination, particularly if you’re travelling with young children.
I’ve deliberately chosen a New Forest country-house hotel rather than a coastal family hotel for this list. A beautiful seaside hotel can sound idyllic in July but feels rather different when you’re standing outside in horizontal rain on Boxing Day.
Chewton Glen is much more suited to a winter escape, with its New Forest setting, spa, swimming pool and family facilities. It also has a dedicated Twixmas proposition, which the hotel describes as an opportunity to extend the festivities, with walks around the estate, time in the spa and the chance to simply slow down after Christmas.
There are also family activities at the Beehive, so children have somewhere to burn off some energy while parents get a little downtime.
And if you want to see in the New Year rather than head home on 30th December, Chewton Glen has a New Year’s House Party running from 31st December 2026 to 2nd January 2027, with festive celebrations and dining.
6. Best for winter sun: Tenerife
If your idea of Twixmas is less “snow-covered forest” and more “where can we find some sunshine?”, Tenerife is one of the easiest options from the UK.
Best for: Escaping the British winter
I’d stay: 5-7 nights
Good to know: Pick your base carefully. Tenerife is a very different proposition depending on where you stay, so I’d prioritise somewhere with good family facilities rather than simply choosing the cheapest resort.
You won’t get guaranteed tropical heat, but Tenerife’s winter climate is one of the reasons it is such a popular year-round destination with average temperatures around 23°C.
You can swim, visit the beach, go to the zoo or water park, and explore the island – there are enough family-friendly things to do that you can be as active or lazy as you like. I’ve written up our itinerary and guide to visiting Tenerife with kids, including the areas I’d choose for a family holiday. We LOVED our stay at The Ritz Carlton Abama – you can read our detailed review.
7. Best festive city break: Salzburg
A European city break sounds like an obvious Twixmas choice, but there is one big catch: Christmas markets don’t necessarily continue after Christmas. If you’re going specifically for that festive atmosphere, you need to check the dates carefully.
Best for: A festive European city break after Christmas
I’d stay: 2-3 nights
Good to know: Salzburg’s main Christkindlmarkt continuing into January is one of the reasons it makes this list.
Salzburg’s famous Christkindlmarkt at Cathedral and Residenz Squares traditionally runs right through to 1 January, rather than packing up on Christmas Eve. The market also plays a role in Salzburg’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, with food and drink stalls around the Cathedral and festivities continuing into New Year’s Day.
Salzburg itself is also a lovely size for a family city break. You can wander through the old town, take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, visit the Christmas markets, warm up with hot chocolate and generally enjoy the city without feeling like you need to tick off 25 attractions in two days.
And if you have children who are into The Sound of Music, you’re probably going to have an especially easy sell on the destination.
The key thing is to think of this as a winter city break rather than a pre-Christmas Christmas-market trip. Some of the smaller Advent markets and Christmas events finish before Christmas Day, so I’d check the exact dates of anything you particularly want to visit. If you fancy pairing the city with a mountain stay, Moar Gut and Dachsteinkönig in our best kinderhotels in Austria guide are both within easy reach of Salzburg.
8. Best long-haul winter escape: Florida
And finally, if you’re lucky enough to have time for a longer break and want to go properly warm, Florida makes a lot of sense over Christmas and New Year. We went in December last year and it was quite the contrast to grey England, but festive decorations were plentiful to remind us of the time of year.
Best for: A big family winter adventure
I’d stay: 7-14 nights
Good to know: Christmas and New Year are peak travel dates, so this is definitely not the budget option. But if you have a longer school or work break, the weather makes it one of the most appealing long-haul options.
The weather is a big reason we love Florida, with its dry season running roughly from November to April, bringing lower humidity and less rainfall than the summer months. Southern Florida is also warmer than the northern part of the state during winter.
And you don’t have to spend the entire holiday at Disney, and in fact, we highly recommend the Florida Keys for families. December is one of the best times to visit the Keys, with Key West averaging around 25°C for daytime highs and 19°C overnight. The winter months also bring calmer, drier conditions that are good for getting out on the water and exploring.
The Keys give you a much slower pace, beaches, boat trips, wildlife and plenty of opportunities to simply enjoy being somewhere warm. For us, this was very appealing with a toddler!
If you’re travelling with little ones, I’d definitely factor in the flight and jet lag before deciding whether it’s worth it. But if you have a week or two available, Florida can make an incredible winter escape.
So, where would I actually choose for Twixmas?
It really depends on what you want from the break. If you want to keep Christmas going, I’d choose Lapland, but if you want a wintery break for all the family, I’d look at Ulrichshof, Forsthofgut or one of my other recommended kinderhotels. And if you’re trying to keep the cost down, I’d investigate Center Parcs Europe as a decent alternative.
For those with a longer break, Florida is a big adventure, particularly if you want some of that famous sunshine!
If Twixmas isn’t the school break you’re planning around, I’ve also put together similar roundups for October half term and Easter with a toddler.
If you’re thinking of travelling between Christmas and New Year, I’d book earlier than you might expect. Family-friendly hotels, ski resorts and the best-value flights can disappear quickly because this is one of the few periods when families can travel without taking lots of additional time off work or school.
Christmas markets, restaurants, attractions and kids’ clubs can all have different festive opening hours. That’s particularly important when you’re choosing a destination specifically for Twixmas rather than simply travelling during December.
Allie, Jack & R x
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FAQs: Twixmas holidays with kids
Twixmas is the increasingly popular name for the period between Christmas and New Year, roughly 27 to 30 December. It comes from “betwixt” Christmas and New Year, and has become shorthand for the odd, in-between week when normal routines are on hold.
Yes, it can be. Because it doesn’t require extra time off work or school on top of the Christmas holidays, it’s one of the few windows when families can get away without eating into annual leave. The trade-off is that prices and availability are still driven by peak-season demand, so I’d book well ahead.
It varies a lot by market. Some smaller Advent markets close on Christmas Eve, while others, like Salzburg’s Christkindlmarkt, run right through to 1 January and play into New Year’s Eve celebrations. I’d always check the exact dates for the specific market you want to visit before booking around it.
It can be, but it depends on your children’s ages. Lapland is a serious investment for a short trip, so I’d only go if your children are still at the age where the Father Christmas magic will genuinely land. I’ve covered this in more detail in my guide to the best age for Lapland with kids.
Beyond the usual price and availability checks, I’d specifically confirm what’s actually open. Christmas markets, restaurants, attractions and kids’ clubs can all run different festive opening hours, and some wind down before Christmas Day rather than after it, so it’s worth checking the exact dates for anything you’re planning around.
