Christmas can creep up on you, but if you haven't finalised your plans just yet, don't panic! We've got some last-minute ideas that will suit every budget and give you a chance to make the festive season fantastic!

A taste of village life

What could be more relaxing than spending a few days with a group of friends in a well-equipped cottage in a beautiful part of Britain? Cottages4you has a wide choice to rent. Among their properties is one in the pretty village of Harbottle, with superb views over Harbottle Fells.

There are scenic walks in every direction and the stunning Northumberland coast is also within easy reach, as is the cosy local pub.

Your holiday: Seven nights at Woodbine Cottage in Harbottle with Cottages4you costs £613 (about £102 per person based on six sharing). Call 0870 192 1223 or visit www.cottages4you.com

A breath of fresh Ayr

A short break in a family-friendly hotel makes Christmas a breeze: no arguments about the washing-up, no worries about the lunch, and plenty of activities to keep the kids - and therefore the parents - happy.

The Station Hotel in Ayr is one of several Swallow Hotels offering festive stays, with great food, carol singing, family games and even line-dancing, plus time to explore Ayr and walk on the beach.

Your holiday: A four-night festive stay at the Station Hotel in Ayr, starting 23 December, costs £260 per person (twin share); under 12s half price. This includes accommodation with meals, entertainment and a visit from Santa. Call 01292 263268 or visit www.swallow-hotels.co.uk

Live it up in the country

Enjoy an indulgent Christmas at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel in the Welsh countryside. As well as the fabulous rooms, you'll also be spoiled with gourmet cooking and festive touches such as mulled wine, crackling log fires, traditional games and carol singers. There'll also be time to work off the mince pies with walks in the unspoilt surroundings.

Your holiday: A four-night break at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, starting 23 December, costs from £645 per person (twin share). This includes full-board accommodation in a garden view room, afternoon teas, cocktail reception, country-pursuits day and special gourmet evening with entertainment on Boxing Day. Call 01691 870692 or visit www.lakevyrnwy.com

Pampering for grown-ups

Swap turkey and tinsel for wine and spa treatments in sunny Lanzarote. Finca Malvasia offers stylish two-bedroom apartments in the middle of a working vineyard, with a stunning backdrop of volcanic mountains.

You can laze by the pool, sample the estate's award-winning wines or try something more active; everything from surfing to painting lessons can be arranged. For complete relaxation, there's also a spa where you can book massages or unwind with a yoga session.

Your holiday: A one-week stay at the Finca Malvasia, starting 19 December, costs from £171 per person, based on four sharing a two-bedroom apartment. Flights and car hire are extra. Call 00 34 928 173 460 or visit www.fincamalvasia.com

Viva Las Vegas

Giant glittering Christmas trees, fake snow and real reindeer; there's nothing quite like the glitz and strangeness of Las Vegas in the festive season.

The hotels along the neon-lit Strip offer everything from shows and rollercoasters to gondola rides in mini Venice. Eating out is a real treat, and with the pound's strength against the dollar you can afford the best.

Your holiday: Seven nights at the four-star Palms Casino Resort with Greenbee Direct Travel, starting 19 December, costs from £550 per person (twin share). This includes return flights from Heathrow and room-only accommodation. Car hire is not included, but can be added for around £17 a day. Visit www.greenbee.com

Tinsel in Transylvania

Enjoy an authentic Romanian Christmas in the foothills of the snow-clad Carpathian Mountains. The Machine House is a beautiful and historic six-roomed guesthouse surrounded by parkland and forest.

Fill it with your friends for a magical few days of visiting picturesque wooden villages for carol singing and mulled wine or sitting down to a traditional feast of pig, bacon and cabbage roll washed down with plum brandy.

Your holiday: Seven nights at the Machine House costs from £599 per person, based on 12 people sharing. This includes return flights from Heathrow, private transfers and breakfast. Call Black Tomato on 020 7610 9008 or visit www.blacktomato.co.uk

Underwater wonderland

Whether you dive, snorkel or just snooze in the sun, a holiday in Sharm el Sheikh is a great way to escape the cold weather at home.

This Red Sea resort is known for its dazzlingly white beaches, the rich blue of the sea and the amazing marine life beneath the waves. Book a diving or snorkelling course to appreciate the underwater scenery.

Your holiday: A seven-night festive break at the three-star Ocean Club with Explorers starts at £531 per person (twin share) for departures on 23 December. This includes return flights from Gatwick, transfers and breakfast. Call 0845 094 3367 or visit www.explorers.co.uk

Let it snow

Stay in a chic chalet in the Alps and you can spend all day working up an appetite on the slopes while someone else worries about the cooking.

And what great cooking it is; canapes and Kir Royale by the fire on Christmas Eve, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on Christmas morning and the full turkey extravaganza that evening.

Your holiday: Seven nights at Chalet Brenettes in Meribel with Snowline, departing 23 December, costs from £799 per person, based on eight sharing. This includes return BA flights from Gatwick, transfers and accommodation on a catered basis. Call 0844 557 3118 or visit www.snowline.co.uk

Party on down

Night owls love Barcelona for its bars, clubs and late-night eateries, so it's the perfect place for a lively Christmas with friends.

You can even do your last-minute shopping at the festive market next to the famous Sagrada Cathedral which runs until Christmas Eve. If you're keen on seeing the sights, most of them are open on Boxing Day.

Your holiday: Three nights at the three-star Sant Agusti Hotel with Cities Direct, departing 24 December, costs from £239 (twin share). This includes return flights from Manchester and breakfast; call for prices from other airports. Call on 01242 536900 or visit www.citiesdirect.co.uk

Dune roaming

Enjoy a break from the norm with a family trip to the sands of the Moroccan Sahara. Instead of watching TV, you could be riding camels, haggling in bustling souks and sleeping in the desert under the stars.

You'll also discover some of the customs of the local Tuaregs, including baking bread in the sand.

Your holiday: An eight-day Sahara Dune Adventure with Families Worldwide, departing 22 December, costs £849 (£729 for children 5-11yrs) plus a local payment of £100 per person. This includes return flights from London, transfers, all transport on tour, accommodation in hotels, tented auberge and desert camps with most meals, experienced guides, camels and mules. Call 0845 051 4567 or visit www.familiesworldwide.co.uk