Skip the seasonal stress and washing-up with our round-up of great residential packages

Anantara The Marker

Anantara The Marker

Despite the murmurings of purse strings being tightened and budgets depleting, Christmas hotel breaks – where people check into hotels, and pay handsomely to be wined and dined over the holiday – seem to be as popular as ever.

And while availability is slightly better this year, the big hitters are still hot tickets, with some of the priciest options (including five-star resorts Ballyfin, Adare Manor and Ashford Castle) selling out months ago.