If you're not content curling up in front of the fire this Christmas, there are scores of tempting offers to have you packing your suitcase for a cracking surprise.

Holiday Place, one of the UK's top independent tour operators, is underpinning local traditions on exciting sunshine packages that make Christmas abroad extra special.

Embrace the colourful Caribbean culture by sampling a festive holiday getaway sharing unusual but memorable experiences of this spectacularly stunning region.

For example, the lovely island of St Kitts has a Yuletide carnival that turns into one huge party with music and dancing in the streets.

It highlights calypso music, steel bands, a drum-and-fife corps, masquerade masks, children's dancing troupes, clowns and string bands.

Festive foods include black pudding, goat water, conchs, roti and great local drinks too.

A one-week stay at the beautiful Sugar Bay Resort on the beach at Frigate Bay, just 15 minutes from the airport, costs £869 per person, room-only, and includes flights and UK departure taxes.

Parang music is an important part of Christmas in Trinidad. Groups of four to six singers with their instruments go from house to house playing and singing tunes passed down from their Hispanic American ancestors.

Located on the Leeward side of Tobago, nestled on five acres of oceanfront landscaped grounds, the three-star Tropikist hotel has a one-week stay departing from London Gatwick from £959 per person, room-only.

The Dominican Republic is fast becoming the number one destination for many long-haul travellers and Christmas Day lunch is staged on December 24 - when most Brits are still preparing for the festivities.

The three-star, all-inclusive Paraiso Del Sol resort offers one of the best value holidays to the Caribbean during the Christmas season.

A 14-night stay departing from various UK airports costs £1,349 per person, all-inclusive and includes flights, UK departure taxes and the services of a rep.

Meantime, Christmas Day in Barbados is a day for feasting on unusual dishes. Among the favourites are jug-jug, green peas with rice, baked ham, fish, pepperpot, yam pie, candies sweet potatoes, plantain and conkies.

The award-winning Coconut Court Beach Hotel is a friendly, family-run, three-star with a distinct Caribbean flavour and a commitment to service.

A one-week stay departing with BWIA from London Heathrow costs £1,459 per person, room-only and includes flights, UK departure taxes and the services of a rep.

Departures for all these holidays are from December 16 to 31, and prices are subject to availability. Book through The Holiday Place on 020-7644-1793 or: www.theholidayplace.

co.uk l Hungary's Christmas celebrations remain traditional, with a variety of colourful events, markets and concerts.

Budapest is particularly beautiful during the Christmas season, with the fairy tale architecture accentuated by the hundreds of twinkling lights.

Visitors can explore the contrasting areas of Buda' and Pest', divided by the waters of the River Danube, but the best place to enjoy the full effect of these sights is the summit of Gellert Hill, with its wonderful panoramic views.

Budapest's Christmas Market takes place this year from November 26, the beginning of Advent, to December 24 at Vrsmarty Square.

The square is filled with cottage-style wooden stalls offering traditionally hand-crafted and original Christmas gifts, mulled wine, apricot brandy and Hungarian sweets and cakes, backed by music.

Blue Water Holidays has a five-star River Danube Christmas Market Cruise - an ideal way to explore the winter wonderlands while travelling in style on a luxury floating hotel.

The eight-day trip from Passau in Germany ends in Budapest. Prices start at £899 per person, and include flights, seven nights aboard the cruise ship, meals, guided tours and trips. Contact Blue Water Holidays on 01756-693609 or: www.bluewater holidays.com.

Travel for the Arts focuses on the culture and arts with evenings at the Hungarian State Opera, sightseeing, visits to the Christmas market, museum trips and theatre performances.

This year, the programme offered at the beautiful Opera House includes La Traviata and a new production of Xerxes, favourites of Cosi fan tutte and Carmen, and of course the Christmas-time highlight, the Nutcracker.

A four-night break costs £895, with return flights, accommodation at the K&K Opera Hotel, tickets to two operas, guided sightseeing excursions and several meals. Contact Travel for the Arts on 020-8799-8350 or: www.TravelfortheArts.com.

l The hugely popular Flight Centre has a winter break in Berlin to get you into the Christmas mood by shopping in one of its many Christmas markets.

A three-night break costs from £258 per person including return flights with British Airways from Heathrow and bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Tiergarten Hotel from now until the end of December 2005.

For further information call Flight Centre on 0870-499-0042 or click on: www.flightcentre.co.uk.

It offers a wide range of short breaks across Europe and the Far East, subject to availability, with regional airport departures priced from £70. It can arrange hotels and car hire too.