If you're looking for a great place to spend time with the family or friends this Christmas, you'll need somewhere with room for everyone.  Blue Chip Holidays has over 40 properties sleeping eight or more with availability over Christmas week. You could stay in a wooden-clad eco beach house in Porthtowan from under £90 per person, or have festivities in a former fort on the Isle of Wight. 

1. Save £285 on Christmas Week in Cornwall -  Under £90pp
Bag a bargain and put more money into the present pot when you book a week for eight in Porthtowan this Christmas.  Choose from the four-star 17 Gannel, 19 Garras, 20 Bodannon, or the appropriately named 18 Ding Dong, and book the week from just £664.  A week over New Year's Eve can be booked from £1,151.

Set within a unique collection of eco-homes close to Porthtowan Beach, these beautifully finished natural wood clad properties each have open plan living, kitchen and dining areas making them perfect for group gatherings and festive feasts.  Each has four bedrooms, en suite shower rooms, a family bathroom and private terraces within five minutes of the beach.  www.bluechipholidays.co.uk /0844 7044987. 

2. Festivities in a former fort on the Isle of Wight - Under £180pp
Stay in a stylish hidden Hill Fort on the Isle of Wight this Christmas from £1,396 for the week or from £988 for three nights.  Built in 1863 Golden Hill Fort's imposing fortified structure rises sixty meters above the North West coast, giving it dramatic views of the Solent, the English Channel and surrounding countryside.  Hidden by a grassy moat that disguises the structure as a hill, this secret fort houses The Well House, a luxurious five-star property for eight.
 
With impressive brick barrel ceilings, large airy rooms and a one off illuminated, glass covered well in the master-bedroom en suite, this unusual property provides a great place to stay this Christmas.  It comes with four bedrooms, a very well-equipped kitchen and an open plan living and dining area illuminated by mood lighting.   www.bluechipholidays.co.uk /0844 7044987.

For families travelling with children the Isle of Wight Steam Train runs its annual Santa Express from 20-24 December.  You can enjoy a 10-mile round trip through the Island's winter countryside followed by live Christmas music, a bustling Christmas market, Christmas gardens, a fairground, and magic shows just for the kids.  Tickets for adults cost £16 while children's tickets cost £12 and infant's tickets cost £10. http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/ 

3. Christmas in The South Hams from under £170pp
Delight in Devon this Christmas staying at Wells Park Barn, a beautiful five-star, four bedroom barn for eight set within the rural charm of Stoke Fleming. 

Situated in a quiet courtyard this former dairy barn has been finished to an exceptionally high standard retaining exposed beams, vaulted ceilings and a lovely oak staircase. It's just a short walk from the popular Green Dragon Pub, the local post office and village store, and is only a short drive to Dartmouth, which always puts on a great range of Christmas events, activities, celebrations and seasonal shopping experiences. Seven nights over Christmas are available from £1,303.  Three nights can be booked from £922.  www.bluechipholidays.co.uk /0844 7044987.

4. Seasonal celebrations in Scarborough – Under £270pp
Enjoy Christmas in Yorkshire staying in a beautifully converted five-star former threshing barn close to Robin Hood Bay and Scarborough. Sleeping ten Sycamore Cottage comes with its own hot tub, table tennis table and pool table, an outdoor swing and slide, and four acres of pretty woodland. Christmas week can be booked from under £270 per person costing £2,677 for the week. 

As well as original features such as exposed stone walls, beautiful beams, wooden floors and slate tiled floors, this attractive reverse-level barn comes with an impressive open plan living room and dining room. It has an exceptionally well equipped kitchen with breakfast bar separated from the dining area by attractive oak panelling.  It also has five bedrooms, each beautifully finished, offering three rooms with double beds, and two with twins.  Three nights over Christmas can be booked from £1,884. www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 08447044987.

5. Christmas by the Cornish coast from under £250pp in a house with a grand piano, home cinema, garden pizza oven, art studio, and beach Higher Close, which nestles in the quiet village of Mawgan Porth, is a sumptuous five-star Cornish coastal escape for eight with seasonal surprises around every corner. 

As well as its own art studio and garden pizza oven, this beautifully finished house comes with a baby grand piano for Christmas crooning, a home cinema for Christmas classics, and a footpath that leads directly to the nearby beach.

The house has artistic touches throughout and sweeping sea views from its balconies and terraces.  Inside, the house is stylish, open and airy, with a large living room, a very well equipped kitchen with Aga, and a pretty dining area. 

Its four en suite bedrooms each have flatscreen TVs and access to either the furnished balconies or bi-folding doors that lead on to the terrace.  For the kids there's even a bedroom that comes with a Nintendo Wii console with games, a drum kit, guitar and microphone. Higher Close can be booked for a week at Christmas from £1,966.  www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 08447044987.

6. Escape to a Victorian villa overlooking a pretty Christmas creek.  Under £240pp
Batson House, a four-star Victorian Villa overlooking a beautiful creek close to Salcombe, South Devon, is a great place to escape to with friends and family this Christmas. Sleeping 12 the house is set in its own grounds and is only a short walk from the popular Fortescue Inn. 

The house has a large living room with a pretty wood-burning stove, two large and comfy sofas, armchairs and an entertainment package featuring a flatscreen Smart TV with Freesat, CD player and radio.

Across the hallway is the large open plan kitchen and dining room, which has direct access to the pretty gardens and views across Batson Creek. The dining table seats up to twelve. Upstairs are six generous bedrooms, two of which have king-size beds.

Outside is a charming walled front garden with a patio. To the rear of the property is a large rear garden with plenty of space to romp around in.  A week over Christmas or New Year's Eve can be booked from £2,878.  www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 08447044987.

7. Christmas in Cawsand, Cornwall. Save £433

Enjoy Christmas by the sea in the enchanting Cornish coastal village of Cawsand and save £433 on a week at My View, a stunning five-bedroom seaside house that boasts an indoor pool, spa, sauna, games room, pool table and a state-of-the-art entertainment system, including flat screen TVs in the bathrooms. 

Perfect for large family gatherings My View has some of the best sea views in Devon, taking in the dramatic Rame Peninsular coast and Plymouth Sound from its windows and a choice of three balconies. Inside, the property has fabulous contemporary styling, a cosy wood burning stove for the long winter nights, a large and well finished kitchen, and an impressive dining area for festive feasts.

Perched above the beach in the historic village of Cawsand, My View is just a short walk from a fabulous a selection of warm winter village pubs, romantic narrow streets and pretty colour-washed cottages and shops.  It's also close to the South West coast path, which runs through the village and the Mount Edgcumbe estate to Cremyll in one direction and to the glorious sandy beach of Whitsand Bay in the other direction.  A week at My View this Christmas can be booked from £2,589, down from £3,022. www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 08447044987.

8. Christmas week in Whitsand Bay, South Cornwall, from under £190pp
Book 3 and 4 Fish Cellars together and twelve of you can enjoy Christmas week in these beautiful four-star eco-friendly beach houses that are clad in the original stone of a former 400 year old fish cellar. 

Situated in the small historic village of Portwrinkle on the South East coast of Cornwall each has waterfront balconies, under floor heating and allocated parking.  Breathtaking views of South Cornwall's year-round dog-friendly Whitsand Bay make this a great destination for families, friends and pets who enjoy beach walks, swims in the sea and digging in the sand. 

Add to that the South West Coast Path, which is just 50 metres away and it's easy to see why Fish Cellars provides the perfect pet-focused holiday home for Christmas.  It's also close to the award winning Bay Restaurant; a superb eatery that uses only locally sourced produce.  Alternatively, the traditional Finnygook Inn is within a 10 minute walk.

3 and 4 Fish Cellars sleep twelve together and can be booked for Christmas week from £2,234.   Separately, they cost £1,117 for a week over Christmas or New Year's Eve. www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 0844 7044987.  

9.  Christmas in Hope Cove, South Devon - Under £200pp
Sheltered in a nook of the coast of South Devon, Hope Cove is a beautiful place to spend Christmas.  Its sandy beach is backed by rocky cliffs and the villages of Inner and Outer Hope where you'll find the Hope and Anchor Pub, renowned for its food and beer.  Nearby is Sunny Corner Cottage just a short walk from the centre of the village and its charming thatched cottages.
 
Sunny Corner Cottage, which sleeps eight in four bedrooms, is available from just over £200 per person for Christmas week. It has a large and airy living and dining area with enchanting rural views looking out over woodland and rolling hills.  It also has an impressive entertainment system including an HD TV, Bluray DVD player, CD player and a BOSE iPod docking station.

Outside is a large decking area and garden with plenty of room to roam. Christmas week can be booked from £1,613, as can seven nights including New Year's Eve. Three nights over either Christmas Day or New Year's Eve can be booked from £1,140 www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 0844 7044987.  

10. Lord it up in a Georgian retreat close to South Devon's coast this Christmas – Under £400pp
If you're looking to escape to a life of luxury, where indulgence intertwines beautifully with traditional countryside living, then the five-star Spriddlestone Barton near Wembury could be your perfect Christmas retreat.

This handsome Georgian home for eight comes with two living rooms and a library. It has a wood burning stove, decorative fire places and French doors that open up on to the patio and gardens. It has a beautifully finished kitchen with Aga, electric ovens, and two temperature controlled fridges for red and white wines.  It also has a separate dining room for festive feasts.  Upstairs, there are four beautiful bedrooms including one with a separate baby room, and there are five bathrooms, four of which are en suite.

Nearby is the maritime city of Plymouth, while the pretty estuary villages of Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers are just a short drive away. For foodies Tanners Restaurant, which is owned and run by the celebrity chef Tanner brothers, is always very popular. For fans of Masterchef the 2012 professionals winner, Anton Piotrowsk, has his higher regarded    Treby Arms nearby in the village of Sparkwell. Christmas or New Year week at Spriddlestone Barton can be booked from £2,878 www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 0844 7044987.  

-Ends-

For further Blue Chip Holidays information, contact Ewan Davy on 01803 881025 or 07792 625645. Email: ewan@bluechipholidays.co.uk  

For bookings call 0844 7044987 or visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk

-Ends-

Editor's notes:
 
For bookings call 0844 7044987 or visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk 
 
Set up in 2000, Blue Chip Holidays has become a leading force in high quality self catering with over 1,000 properties across Yorkshire, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, Sussex, Hampshire and The Isle of Wight. 

Ranging from Devon cottages and Cornish retreats to luxury self catering coastal houses, apartments and barn conversions, Blue Chip Holidays aims to provide a wide selection of stunning self catering properties to suit all tastes.  The collection includes pet friendly accommodation, family friendly accommodation, child friendly accommodation, accessible accommodation and more unusual properties such as converted chapels, eco retreats, and even sumptuous reclaimed shipwrecks.
 
Many properties have a range of onsite facilities such as pools, hot tubs, indoor games rooms, gyms, and children's play rooms.  Each is chosen for its stunning location, amazing coastal or rural views or hi-spec interior, and each is reviewed to ensure they meet the high standard set by Blue Chip Holidays, accredited by VisitEngland.