Spoilt for choice

Christmas is a season of love, togetherness and sharing. It is a time to sit back, spend time with loved ones, make merry and toast to a new year, writes Njoki Chege

What are your earliest memories of Christmas? Is it the new outfit or the indulgence in special meals that hardly came by throughout the year?

Christmas is finally here, a time of thanksgiving and sharing with family and friends. It is a special time to reflect on the year that has been and the year that is yet to come.

There are tonnes of activities available for you and your family this Christmas; from travelling out of town to a holiday destination, to visiting relatives upcountry and even entertaining guests at your own home.

This year’s Christmas is especially a busy one as the country is abuzz with political activity and campaigns with elections being around the corner.

According to Monicah Nyambura Ndungu, the managing director of Siri Zetu Travel Kenya, the most popular holiday destinations this year include Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, South Coast and Mount Kenya region.

Popular destinations

The Mount Kenya region, Monicah notes, has become popular with destinations such as Sweet Waters, Naro Moru, Mount Kenya Safari Club and Tafaria Castle and Country Lodge taking centre stage.

Families have taken the idea of cottages seriously, as they are a cheaper and more flexible option compared to the conventional hotel rooms. They have taken advantage of the increasingly  popular holiday apartments at the Coast, which are more spacious and flexible — families do not have to put up with hotel food, as they are able to whip their own meals.

Some hotels in the coastal city have taken their services a notch higher by introducing a dhow cruise, where families can enjoy a quiet and scenic lunch or dinner while on the cruise.

Since many people are expected to head to the Coast this year, you can definitely expect crazy traffic, including human traffic, all over the coastal city.

In the Rift Valley, holiday destinations Nakuru and Naivasha  that are suitable for holidaymakers on a low budget are fully booked.

There will also be families that won’t be going away on holiday, entertaining or being hosted anywhere. This is a great opportunity for them to explore the various offers that several five star hotels and classic restaurants within their towns have this Christmas.

Hotel dinner or lunch

“This season, I have seen families enquiring for a Christmas lunch or dinner at various city hotels. Hotels have taken this seriously and many have special family offers and activities this season,” says Monicah.

If you fall under this category, then your work is already cut out for you, as you are spoilt for choice in hotels with outdoor activities suitable for your family. Some hotels have a Christmas and a New Year’s package that includes meals and accommodation, in case you do not want to drive home after having one too many.

Picnic in the park

Christmas around town could actually be more fun than you ever imagined because there are other options besides lunch or dinner at a hotel. If you are not the hotel/restaurant type, why not surprise your family to the local game parks for a game drive and a picnic? This is a great option for people on a low budget.

“Another option is taking a drive to a place like Nanyuki, have a bite and drive back to the city on the same day,” Monicah advises.

A pleasant surprise drive out of town is cheaper as the only costs you will incur are fuel and food. The beauty of it is that you can drive back on the same day.

If you are jittery about driving out of town, why not do it around town? If you are in Nairobi, there are endless nyama choma joints in areas like Thika, Kitengela, Magadi Road and the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.

Barbeque

Or you could just call up a few friends and family, entertain them to a barbeque and drinks in your house, and who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of a whole new Christmas tradition!

In this year’s Christmas edition, Eve Woman sought to find out what four women would be up to.