DECEMBER is drawing closer – and with the festive season fully upon us, it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Eve.
Plenty of cosy cottages and plush hotels across the UK still have availability – but be quick.
Sophie Swietochowski has the top staycation spots to ring in the new year, from huge homes for large groups to romantic escapes by the sea.
A BIG BEACH BASH
YOU can save a whopping £1,327 on 12 Beachdown, a modern holiday home in the Devonshire coastal village of Challaborough if you book quickly.
It’s geared up for big groups with room for ten people in four bedrooms and plenty to keep you entertained, including an outdoor jacuzzi and full-sized pool table.
The highlight of the place, though, is the maze of decking outside, with stairs leading up to a grassy terrace dotted with beanbags, making it the perfect spot for watching the sun set beyond the ocean.
A small sandy beach is a short walk away or you can make the 30-minute drive to Salcombe, home to Salcombe Gin Distillery and The Ferry Inn, a pub with unbeatable views of the bay.
Seven nights’ self-catering at 12 Beachdown is from £197.20pp, based on ten sharing.
For more details see sykescottages.co.uk.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL FUN
FOR those after a one-night fizz-fuelled escape, Hotel Du Vin is offering New Year’s Eve packages at 19 of its properties across the country.
The package includes a three-course dinner with a glass of bubbly, an overnight stay and brekkie the next morning.
If it’s a city break that takes your fancy, Hotel du Vin Birmingham is slap bang in the centre, a two-minute walk from Snow Hill station with bustling nightlife on its doorstep.
For a quieter escape, head to the charming Hotel du Vin Harrogate in North Yorkshire, where the roll-top baths and Chesterfield sofas feel fitting in the historic town.
New Year’s Eve packages start from £375 for dinner, champagne, breakfast and an overnight stay.
See hotelduvin.com.
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GO GLAMPING
YOUNG ones, older generations and even the dog will be kept endlessly entertained at the Love2Stay glamping site in the Welsh village of Caersws, which is fully immersed in nature.
Activity lovers will be able to paddleboard and kayak, plus there’s archery, an indoor swimming pool and children’s play area, as well as a spa for those who fancy a bit of a pamper.
The standout aspect of this place is the beautiful setting, which means a New Year’s walk is definitely on the cards, with mixed-ability trails that suit little ones and dogs as well as the more experienced hiker.
Spend the night in a renovated barn, woodland lodge or shepherd’s hut.
Or there’s the six-person Hillside Cabins which come with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and decking featuring a swinging egg chair.
Prices from £125 per night, based on up to six sharing.
See love2stay.co.uk.
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ROMANTIC AND COSY
FANCY cosying up in a teeny holiday home on the Whitby coast for a week-long detox?
The romantic and aptly named Dinky Cottage is exactly the spot for that, with just enough room for a double bed (accessible via a ladder), a breakfast bar, small kitchenette and a modern bathroom (oh, and a dog, too!).
The best thing about it, though, is its location right on the mouth of the River Esk, with pubs, shops and attractions just a few steps from your front door.
Wave goodbye to 2024 with freshly battered fish from the local chippy, then burn it off by climbing the 199 steps up to the famous and dramatic abbey, which partly inspired the novel Dracula.
There’s usually a pretty spectacular fireworks display at the beach on December 31, too.
Seven nights’ self-catering costs £232.50pp.
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PARTY AT BUTLIN’S
BUTLIN’S will be throwing a mega party at each of its three resorts — Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis — to say farewell to the year.
There’ll be live music, family shows and an epic New Year’s Day fireworks display to kick off January 1 in style.
That’s on top of the normal entertainment such as fairground rides, swimming pools and a growing list of restaurant choices that will please even the fussiest eaters (think family favourites burgers, pizzas and salads).
Football, softplay and painting sessions are included in the price, but for a little extra kids can have a go at laser tag, a mini-driving school or get stuck into the fun at PlayXperience, exclusive to Bognor Regis, with virtual reality games, shuffleboard and more.
Three-night New Year’s Eve breaks cost from £340 for a family of four sharing a two-bedroom apartment.
See butlins.com.
