Mr Cook says people are friendlier at Christmas

But there is one man who will definitely not be joining them.

Former foreign secretary Robin Cook has struck a blow for those who prefer their home comforts to a tropical beach or ski-slope, claiming Christmas is the best time of the year to be in Britain.

Writing in a diary column in the London Evening Standard, Mr Cook said: "I have always regarded it as unpatriotic to go abroad for Christmas.

"Unfortunately, I once propounded my thesis that you cannot trust a man who leaves the country for Christmas to Sir Richard Wilson, the Cabinet Secretary, at his last engagement before he left for Gatwick to do just that.

"I had never before heard my private secretary seized with a coughing fit loud enough to drown out the end of my sentence."

'Guaranteed snow'

Explaining his theory, Mr Cook added: "Why leave Britain when its people are at their nicest?

"For one weekend in the year even strangers will say hello to you in the street.

"At any other time they would be reported as suspicious characters for being so friendly."

Last year, 1.8m UK citizens left the UK during the festive period - and the figure is expected to be even higher this year.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: "Every year there is a new record. The majority of people go away with their families. It is not a "bah, humbug" thing.

"A lot of people go somewhere where there is guaranteed snow.

"Others go for the opposite reason, in search of the sun.

"Some people want to avoid Christmas, but the majority just want to escape to a warmer climate. Most parts of the world now celebrate Christmas."

Here are some of your comments:

I am not surprised everyone is going abroad this Christmas, we have managed to ban binge drinking, decorations, Nativity plays, Christmas office parties, and Santa's grotto. I'm booking my ticket today, I've had enough of this country. It's a joke
Bob, Milton Keynes

While your turkey is stewing 13 hours on gas mark 2 and your relatives are fighting over musical socks, there is nothing more English than a rainy grey Xmas. If you go away you would miss all that.
Kate Fyfe, Ashford Kent

He's so wrong - this country is a consumer rip off, too PC and too nanny state like. It doesn't even feel like Christmas any more. Cook is a well off the mark.
Brian Couzens, Kent

Christmas is best in Britain. I am living in Taiwan but I am from Wales. This is my first Christmas away from the UK and my family. I would love to be home as no other country is better than Britain for Christmas. It's a special time of year and your family Christmas Dinner should be treasured. Britain is fab. Don't leave behind for a holiday abroad! Bah humbug to those who do!
Lisa Breakspear, Taiwan

I can think of no better reason to avoid Britain at Christmas than the thought that Robin Cook might approach me if I was there.
Michael Fay, Road Town, Tortola

Drunks fighting, police everywhere, gross materialism and greed on every corner, dreadful mindless music, television to sap the spirit ... I'm off to dance in the desert and enjoy the friendship of lovely people from all round the world. Go on then England - tempt me back!
Martin Eddington, Surrey

As always, Mr Cook makes perfect sense. Let's hope Blair's eventual replacement returns him to the Labour front bench.
Martin Hoscik, London, UK

I couldn't give a fiddlers what he thinks but I'd vote for Labour in the next election if they banned all mention of Christmas until 1 December. I saw my first 2004 Christmas tree at the beginning of October. It's farcical and it's not a big surprise that consumer spending is down - we're all too jaded to shop.
Barbara, London

Christmas is less about location and more about spending time with the people you love. I'm spending this Christmas 3,500 miles away from my family. It will be very tough.
David, David, New York, USA

What complete and utter nonsense. Robin Cook may be blessed with an MPs job where he can jet off on holiday at the earliest opportunity. However, most people do not have this luxury. If you do not have family this is one of the few opportunities to have time out of the country - a time when employers don't worry about allowing staff to have leave. Cook is arrogant in the extreme to say this. Shows that he doesn't have a clue how the average person with 22 days annual leave feels.
Jonathan, London

Oh of course.... who would want to switch a dull, grey, wet and cold winters day locked in your home watching yearly repeats of Christmas specials with the sand and sun soaked beaches from around the world relaxing with the family and being with the ones you love without having to wear "that" jumper. Get a life Mr. Cook! Pathetic!
Dk, London

If you aren't celebrating Christmas there is very little to do in the UK apart from watch dreadful television. At least if you are at a ski resort or on a beach you can enjoy your holiday. Why should people of other faiths be forced to celebrate Christmas? After all, it is meant to be a Christian festival.
Judie, Cambridge, UK

I would love to go away for Christmas - to any country that still recognises and respects the religion that is responsible for the Season.
Richard, Billericay, UK

Well here I am doing exactly what Mr Cook doesn't advocate. I'm sitting here in temperatures of 30 degrees, and can hear the warm waves lashing against the white sandy beach. The wind rustling in the coconut palms. I have just got my PADI certificate, and I will spend the next three weeks sunbathing, swimming in the warm crystal waters, going to beaches with monkeys, dancing on the beach, and scuba diving. Why would I give that up to spend xmas and new year in the great shiver and shop with everyone else? Darn right I came here to skip xmas!
Steve Jaques, Phi Phi Island, Thailand

Not sure I'd go so far as 'unpatriotic' but given what a bun fight international travel is at the best of times it's debatable how relaxing Christmas abroad would really be. Mince pies, Morecambe and Wise repeats and a steady drizzle. Ah....
Lorraine, St Albans, UK

Why not supply people leaving the country with the 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special, cold turkey sandwiches, woollen socks and a recording of some squabbling relatives, so that they can take the British Christmas away with them?
Craig Kennedy, Cardiff, Wales

How can Robin Cook say it is unpatriotic to be out of the UK at Xmas. His party and government are responsible for the gradual dismantling of our institutions and traditions. What a nerve!
John, Reading

Two years ago I went to Australia for Xmas and New Year. No turkey, rain or family squabbles, just barbied prawns, sun, sand, sea and the friendliest people on God's earth. Hell, sheer hell...
Sally, Southampton, UK

Robin Cook's remarks were obviously made in a light-hearted manner and I'm surprised they've provoked such a backlash of feeling here. Each to their own, I say: Good luck celebrating the festive season however, and wherever, you want to!
Claire, London