CHRISTMAS is here again. And with a constant soundtrack of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas and trips into town becoming an inevitable battle against bags it is very difficult to avoid.

But for anyone who has become disillusioned by the routine of shopping and office parties, Germany's Christmas markets aim to make the magic of Christmas return.

Sipping mulled wine by braziers among the smell of sugared almonds and stollen more than appealed to me, but I wondered whether Germany was really capable of reigniting a magical childhood Christmas glow.

Happily, my doubts were unfounded.

As a guest of Railbookers, an independent specialist travel company, my journey to the biggest of the Christmas Markets, set in the heart of Germany's business capital Frankfurt, was by train.

Within minutes of my arrival, it was clear how Germany had achieved its reputation for being the country that does Christmas the best, as St Nicholas appeared with a sack of chocolates and sweets to hand out to tourists, children and commuters.

I stayed at the oldest hotel in Germany, the Steigenberger Hotel Frankfurter Hof, which was ideally right in the city centre and, entering the deluxe room, it was clear why various celebrities have chosen the hotel in the past.

A double bed, a dining area, flat screen TV, mini bar and an en suite were all included.

The Christmas market tour began with a ride on the traditional, two-storey carousel.

To the German residents the markets are not just for shopping but for socialising, with people meeting family or friends for drinks and a meal. The result is an infectious atmosphere of Christmas cheer.

But the real surprise was the quality and variety of gifts on sale at the more than 200 stalls.

This was the first of three Christmas Markets that the four day trip included. Aschaffenburg was the second and the third was in Brussels.

With a wealth of history, shopping and traditional German eateries hidden between its skyscrapers, Frankfurt had plenty to offer.

In Seligenstadt and Aschaffenburg, which are both within a half-hour drive of Frankfurt, the history is even more apparent.

Unlike Frankfurt, which was largely destroyed during the Second World War, Seligenstadt still has its original buildings, including Benedictine Abbey.

Meanwhile Aschaffenburg Castle contains quirky artifacts like cork models of the Taj Mahal and Roman Coliseum.

Spending one night in Brussels at the Hilton, a walking tour, organised by Tourism Flanders-Brussels, revealed as much of the city and its history as is physically possible in just a few hours.

Ending the trip at the mile long markets in Brussels led to a rediscovery of the Christmas cheer found in Germany.

And as battles with bags and office parties became a distant memories, I was left with just one question – Mariah who?