What's your favourite city to celebrate Xmas?

[First_Flyer]

What's your favourite city to celebrate Xmas? And why? For me, it's London. You really get "feel" of Christmas there

[9V-SIA]

Anywhere cold, with snow, is good for me.

White Christmases are magical.

Unexpectedly, Tokyo does Christmas better than London IMHO..

[KeithMEL]

What's your favourite city to celebrate Xmas? And why? For me, it's London. You really get "feel" of Christmas there

Which is why I love December shopping in London. Hope to make it back for Boxing Day sales someday.

[Kiwi]

Anywhere cold, with snow, is good for me.

White Christmases are magical.

I'm still yet to have a proper white christmas despite being in Canada and northern Europe for it a number of years. I just get cold, dark and gray with no snow.

[Lobster]

Well as I am a complete Bah Humbug my favourite place to spend christmas is anywhere which does not celebrate christmas.

[SQflyergirl]

London at ChristmasTIME is lovely. London on Christmas day is a PITA. I remember sitting in my friend's house last year in Roehampton with limited bus service, no tube service.... depressing

[Kyo]

You think that's bad? I paid for 2 HEX First Class one-way tix last year and they decided not to run on Christmas Day (after our SQ flight was delayed 4 hours, no less).

And did HEX offer a refund? Nope. We got re-routed to a bus that we had to pay an additional 12 quid each for.

Lovely.

[9V-JKL]

Wherever the family is. We had an extended family Christmas in Korea back in 2007.

[jjpb3]

I agree with SQFG: London on Christmas Day is a downer, unless you're one for solitude or your family is from here. The run-up is nice, as well as the post-Christmas sales.

For nostalgic reasons, Christmas in Manila for me is unmatchable.

[SQflyergirl]

For nostalgic reasons, Christmas in Manila for me is unmatchable.

It's not really Christmas in Manila that does it for you is it? It's really the fact that it's Christmas with your loved ones

It could be in timbuktu for all it mattered - but if you've got family around, it'll always be nice.

This year, I'll spend the latter part of the day with the golden goose.......... alone

[jjpb3]

It's not really Christmas in Manila that does it for you is it? It's really the fact that it's Christmas with your loved ones

It could be in timbuktu for all it mattered - but if you've got family around, it'll always be nice.

Actually, it is in large part about being back in the Philippines (really Manila, as I hardly venture outside -- which will change this coming Christmas ). If, for example, my loved ones all moved to Singapore, I'd want, ideally, at least a day to soak in the atmosphere of a Filipino Christmas, and then join them in Singapore.

People in Manila are just more smiley, less irritable, and more gracious at Christmas season (which begins early at Advent and ends late at Three Kings Day). There's a balance struck between the relentless commercialism of gift-buying and the joy at the spiritual significance of the birth of Christ. I just haven't found that anywhere else in my travels. Probably just a personal feeling, as the presence of family accentuates the spiritual side: I guess there is a synergy between the Philippines (the parol, the Christmas specialties [e.g., puto bumbong], the feast at Christmas Eve, the gift-giving at the stroke at midnight) and being with loved ones. I do know that my brother in Singapore and I have spent Christmas together, and we've looked at each other and said, "This would feel better in Manila."

You're right, though: the fact that many of my loved ones are in Manila amplifies the meaning of the occasion.

[KeithMEL]

Wherever the family is.

+1. Totally.

[SQflyergirl]

Actually, it is in large part about being back in the Philippines (really Manila, as I hardly venture outside -- which will change this coming Christmas ). If, for example, my loved ones all moved to Singapore, I'd want, ideally, at least a day to soak in the atmosphere of a Filipino Christmas, and then join them in Singapore.

People in Manila are just more smiley, less irritable, and more gracious at Christmas season (which begins early at Advent and ends late at Three Kings Day). There's a balance struck between the relentless commercialism of gift-buying and the joy at the spiritual significance of the birth of Christ. I just haven't found that anywhere else in my travels. Probably just a personal feeling, as the presence of family accentuates the spiritual side: I guess there is a synergy between the Philippines (the parol, the Christmas specialties [e.g., puto bumbong], the feast at Christmas Eve, the gift-giving at the stroke at midnight) and being with loved ones. I do know that my brother in Singapore and I have spent Christmas together, and we've looked at each other and said, "This would feel better in Manila."

You're right, though: the fact that many of my loved ones are in Manila amplifies the meaning of the occasion.

Fair enough Lots more happening than where I usually am. I guess in the absence of traditions/activities - I tend to fall back to where the family is

[Kiwi]

You think that's bad? I paid for 2 HEX First Class one-way tix last year and they decided not to run on Christmas Day (after our SQ flight was delayed 4 hours, no less).

And did HEX offer a refund? Nope. We got re-routed to a bus that we had to pay an additional 12 quid each for.

Lovely.

That wasn't just last year. The HEX and tube are never running on Christmas Day - was that info not on their website?

It is one reason I arranged my schedule to avoid UK on Christmas Day this year. My plans may be undone if BA strike happens from Boxing Day onwards.

[Kyo]

Yes - It was on their website but a variety of factors led to the booking being made.

1) I'd booked it whilst just departing from the Taj Resort & Spa at Male (the boat was already waiting to go to the airport), it was a last-minute 'final' decision after 3) below
2) I'd been following a direct link through NH's 'partner discount that someone had provided (supposed to have saved me quite a few quid when in fact it became the opposite)
3) Addison Lee (I called) said their discount rates didn't apply on Christmas Day
4) It was my first visit to London, and hence my first ever HEX booking
5) The HEX booking engine processed the booking (WHY would they even sell tickets for a day the train's not even running for goodness' sake?!)
6) The notice that the HEX and tube are not running on Christmas is only on the main page - once again, refer to 5) above
7) The First Class 'aura' of the ticket seemed to suggest that everything would go smoothly or we ought to at least be well looked after

A mini 'perfect storm' of factors, if you will.

I still can't believe they allowed that ticket to be sold on a day they don't even run. That's just common sense!!!