The best alternative Christmas trips 2003

The best alternative Christmas trips 2003
by Nikki Racklin
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/travel/seasonal/

Christmas is all about family and friends, but who says you have to spend yet another 25th December hearing all about Aunt Edna's hip operation? If you're tired of the same old Christmas routine, it's time to get away.

Whether you want to warm up in southern climes or huddle close in a grand castle, you can make this holiday what you want - with family, a gaggle of girlfriends or even on your own. Here, we've rounded up some of the best alternative spots for a Merry Christmas.
The spot: Umbria, Italy

Ideal for: Women travelling solo in search of mid-winter tranquillity
To combine tradition with a bit of well-earned solitude, visit Umbria in central Italy, and stay at the Albergo i Ginepri, an elegant hotel set amid 100 acres of green valleys. Choose between panoramic suites, farmhouse rooms, apartments or a 'suite grande' with its own sauna to put paid to any winter chills. Sample delicious Tuscan and Umbrian cuisine at the farmhouse restaurant, let tensions ease away at the nearby thermal baths, and check out the largest Christmas tree in the world at nearby Gubbio for your festive fix.

Prices range from 72.50 euros for a panoramic suite, or 129.50 euros for a 'suite grande'.

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