You could also just enjoy the trip and do the gift thing when you get back home. A second Christmas! My parents did that with us when we traveled for the holidays. We got gifts from family, etc. while away and, so they didn't have to haul all of ours out of town, we just had "our" Christmas the day we returned. Something to look forward to!

We gave DD iPhone 7 for Christmas but wanted few odds and ends that she needs under the tree or in her stocking. She's 14.5 but we still act like it's Santa's presents
That's a good idea about bringing a small tree. We have a 3-footer that might fit. We are bringing a lot of smoked meat and all kinds of Texas goodies. I bought half of H-E-B

@brightlights
We did that a lot when DD was younger and hubs worked abroad. We had Christmas whenever he came home.

@TXNS_fan You don't necessarily need a tree to give gifts. Depending on where you are going (I'm assuming from the word "they" - that it is to family....maybe ask them if they'd mind you putting up a little tree when you get there. All the ideas above sound wonderful though.

@TheCatsMeow
I know I don't NEED a tree. Nobody
needs the tree or stockings. I would like it though... We never had Christmas away from home, so I'm just wondering how other people do it.
All our lives we've been putting the presents under the tree. We didn't always have a fireplace with the stockings but we always had a tree, ever since I remember myself and I want my DD to be able to say that she always had a tree

@TXNS_fan Oh I know; didn't mean it to sound like that - sorry. But you didn't give a lot of info, so I wasn't sure how to state all that - should have just kept it zipped.

Our first time in a hotel was last year. It sucked. This year will be the same. We always traveled to family and had a tree. Last year was a little different. Dad died and we had the awkwardness of not knowing what to do. My suggestion is to bring a tree etc if that is a tradition. You don't want to wish you did. It was rough but this year we are prepared. We know this is not home and we will be having a different chrristmas. We will not compare it to the one at home.
We will have room service in our pj's and play in our room until it is time to visit family.

@TheCatsMeow
It's OK, I didn't mean it that way either

I'm at a loss on this one. I couldn't imagine Christmas day without a tree, and trips at holiday time are out until such time as our grands are all old enough to understand the trip might be the gift. There are so few years to get to enjoy the spirit of Santa magic that I don't want to miss even one. Our youngest is 8 and this may be the last year that she truly believes!

@TXNS_fanOne year when we spent almost 2 weeks out of town for Christmas, my parents didn't do a tree at home (decided there was no point)...throughout the trip, I guess my mom started feeling super guilty about it. When we pulled up in the driveway, my parents told us to wait in the car (something about how they had to grab something, then we were going to get ice cream). About 10 minutes later, she came out and told us to come in. We walk into the living and there is my dad...on his knees with a gigantic green lawn/trash bag over him and little ornaments pierced all over the bag, wrapped gifts underneath him. Best. Christmas. Ever. ❤I could never not have a tree.

@lana7018
Oh I hope it's not. I distinctly remember learning about Santa. I was in 3rd grade; 8.5 years old. Glenn Wilson. Cried for days.

I think our DD believed in Santa until she was 10 or 11. We've never admitted it though. We still bake cookies and leave milk and carrots

@TXNS_fan :I still haven't admitted it!

@brightlights
Me neither
When she says I want this or that for Cmas I say "You just have to write a letter to Santa and hopefully if you were good he'll bring it

@TheCatsMeow - I remember when I found out I was devastated and it took the fun out of Christmas for me for a year or two. She will be in 3rd grade next year, and it seems around that time kids at school get them convinced it can't be possible. She's pretty smart and is starting to wonder now how he could be at so many houses in such a short time.