Comfort and joy

Stuffing turkeys, roasting the perfect potatoes and schlepping from one set of in-laws to another: is the thought of Christmas Day filling you with just a bit of dread already? Fear not. There are a raft of hotel getaways that will take all the stress out of the festivities for you, writes Jessie Collins

Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

Newpark Hotel in the heart of Kilkenny must rate as one of the most family-friendly set ups out there, with relaxed dining options and an overall laid-back attitude to little ones that goes a long way to help reduce parental stress. Their Christmas package is, unsurprisingly, very family-orientated too, with structured pricing that reflects different ages and stages.

The package: choose from either a two-, three- or four-night package ...