We have all seen these holiday movie/tv shows where the family "skips Christmas" and goes on a giant family vacation, anyone actually done this?

All of the children in my family are now in their mid twenties with no kids. When we were all talking about how much we spend (as far as decorations, gifts, dinners, parties) we came up with the possible idea of just skipping it all one year and going on a vacation instead. Has anyone done this and if so, how would you recommend convincing some fairly old fashioned parents?