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December is the perfect time to enjoy a short but sweet getaway. A weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of home will provide a welcome stress release and allow you to appreciate to build up to Christmas. You can also pick up some amazing, individual gifts, that you just won’t find on the British high street, for surprising your nearest and dearest with on the big day. Last minute holiday deals often represent great value for money, with most European destinations a mere hour or two hop away by plane. This means that you can start your weekend getaway after work on a Friday and return Sunday evening refreshed, renewed and laden down with fabulous festive gifts and treats. To find the best possible value for money, head to daily deals website D3ALS.co.uk, which will have all the latest and greatest last minute getaways listed for your convenience. Here’s my pick of December destinations: Barcelona This magical city has a fairytale feel that lends itself perfectly to the festive period. From the wondrous architecture of Catalan artist Antoni Gaudi, to the weird and wonderful street performers and living statues on Las Ramblas, there’s colour on every corner in Barcelona. However, this is also a city with a wickedly dark side, to be found in the winding labyrinth that is the city’s Gothic Quarter. Lose yourself among the gothic architecture for a day and discover some of Barcelona’s best individual boutiques and gift shops. When you need a break from shopping fortify yourself in an atmospheric café with a thick hot chocolate with crispy churros (long, thin doughnuts) for dipping. Like many European cities, Barcelona is host to a fabulous Christmas market, and the main one, Fira de Santa Llucia, stands in the shadow of the magnificent La Seu cathedral. Typically Spanish, this market is crammed with Catalan traditions, and hand-made toys, jewellery, ornaments and leather goods make great gift buys. Dusseldorf Of course, Germany is well known for its wonderful Christmas markets and the festivities in Dusseldorf are the best for my money. From the cute gingerbread houses near the Konigsalle shopping area, to the arts and crafts huts on the towns historic market place, Christmas takes over this city in a big way. For children, the Schadowplatz has a merry go round and special activities; whereas lovers of Christmas both old and young will be enchanted by the ‘little star market’ and the outdoor skating rink on the Gustaf Grundegens Platz. The German Christmas markets are so good that they are emulated the world over, but if you want to experience the real deal head to Dusseldorf this December for a festive treat to remember for a lifetime. Paris The City of Lights is especially beautiful in the run up to Christmas, when the trees of the Champs Elysees are strung with fairy lights from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. You can also see the Eiffel Tower in an even more spectacular state than usual, as it is illuminated in a stunning light show that can be seen for miles around. Of course, Paris doesn’t want to be left out when it comes to Christmas markets, and traditional huts and stalls selling everything from gingerbread to jewellery stretch the length of the Champs Elysees. Christmas market fayre aside, Paris is a fabulous shopping destination for stylish gifts that are sure to be cherished. Head to the department stores near the Opera Garnier and take in the magnificent window displays while picking up beautiful bits and bobs for under the tree. Prague Prague is a wonderful city in which to grab a few days of pre-Christmas relaxation, and is the most likely of the destinations listed to see snow during December. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are both crammed with traditional Christmas market stalls, food stands and even a stable full of Bethlehem animals! As far as Christmas trees go, the one erected in the Old Town Square is probably the most beautiful that I have seen on my travels, and is all the more special for the fact that it is brought from the Krkonose mountains in the North of the Czech Republic each year. A short trip to any of the above destinations provides the perfect opportunity to pick up interesting and unusual stocking fillers for your lucky loved ones. Make sure that you check out the best holiday deals at D3ALS.co.uk before you book your trip to ensure that you have maximum cash to splash at the Christmas markets. ABOUT THE AUTHOR The Article is written by Roxanne Wells at www.D3ALS.co.uk providing and aggregation of Daily Deals, Hotel Deals, Holiday Deals, Spa Deals including Holiday Deals. Visit http://www.D3ALS.co.uk for more information on www.D3ALS.co.uk Products & Services. Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit www.D3ALS.co.uk before you shop.
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