Head abroad for the Christmas shopping

A trip to any city or town centre in the UK at any point after mid-November is nothing short of hell on Earth.

Fighting among the crowds of stressed-out mothers battling against each other to get the 'must-have' toy and, even worse, having to endure the same old dozen songs in every shop you go into, makes the internet-shopping option only too attractive.

However, there is an alternative I couldn't recommend highly enough.

While Britain seems to be unable to cope with the stresses and pressures of the festive season, over in continental Europe, they seem to have the right idea, namely that Christmas is supposed to be all about having a good time and enjoying life.

Just a two hour cheap flight from the UK yet, at this time of year, seemingly a million miles away, the Austrian capital of Vienna is nothing short of a genuine winter wonderland.

Rather than the American-style shopping malls which seem to be increasingly dominating the UK these days, in Vienna the best action takes place at the several outdoor Christmas Markets.

Pick of the bunch are undoubtedly the classic market on Rathausplatz - as the name suggests, the varied stalls are all located in the shadow of the imposing Town Hall – as well as the Culture and Christmas Market in from of the Schonbrunn Palace and the traditional Old Viennese Christmas Market in the Freyburg area.

Pleasant though they all are, for me shopping is, ultimately, still shopping, so I decided to draw the line at the Radhausplatz.

Dating back to 1298 when the King Albrecht I granted the people of the city the right to hold a December market, or Krippenmarkt, visitors are now greeted with hundreds of local traders selling all manner of home-made and original festive gifts.

The already-handsome square is tastefully decorated for Christmas, though the highlight for kids of all ages is surely the Christkindl Express train which carries passengers around the stalls, giving parents the opportunity to slip off to one of the 200 booths selling hot punch.

Of course, a trip to Vienna spent just shopping is simply criminal, however magical the market experience may be.

This is a city after all which is home to some of the world's finest high culture, be it a night at the opera of a trip to one of the magnificent concert halls to take in a show by a renowned orchestra or choir.

Even if all the money has been blown on gifts for people back home, simply strolling around the wide boulevards of Vienna and taking in its breathtaking architecture is an unforgettable experience, provided, that is, that you make sure you pack your warmest clothes.

Just make sure you save enough to cover any excess baggage charges you will inevitably clock up on the return trip and have a decent travel insurance policy in place for any accidents on the ice.