It may seem an obvious choice when it comes to Christmas getaways but perhaps the reason it is so popular at this time of year, aside from the fact that there is more snow, is that it is extremely fun and couldn't be more Christmas themed if it tried. And if the snow, log cabins and roaring fires aren't enough to make you merry by themselves, most resorts offer skiing lessons from beginners level up to advanced so you'll be gliding down the mountains surrounded by picturesque views in no time. And if that still doesn't make you merry then how about an apres ski?

There are many ski resorts to choose from in the French Alps and some hotels start from just 20 euros per night and flights with budget airlines start from around £40.

And if you don't fancy spending Christmas in France, there's always Austria, Norway, Switzerland and many other countries to take your pick from.