How to give a holiday alert with hotmail?

1. Login into Windows Live Hotmail account & goto inbox.
2. Click on Options > More Options (at extreme right).

3. Click “Send automated vacation replies” under option “Manage your account”.

4. Type message that will be sent to incoming email contacts during your vacation period. Auto Reply messages are not sent for email that land in your Junk folder.

By default, auto reply is only sent for email IDs in your contacts. You can turn this option by unchecking it at the bottom and send auto reply message to every email received in your inbox during vacation. When you are back from vacation, remember to turn OFF this feature.

>select options in hotmail
>from drop down menu select more options
>click on "Send automated vacation replies"
>type your message
>click save and there you go

Edit: there is an option to reply to people in your contact book only by ticking the "Only reply to your contacts" checkbox

1. Login into Windows Live Hotmail account & goto inbox.
2. Click on Options > More Options (at extreme right).

3. Click “Send automated vacation replies” under option “Manage your account”.

4. Type message that will be sent to incoming email contacts during your vacation period. Auto Reply messages are not sent for email that land in your Junk folder.

By default, auto reply is only sent for email IDs in your contacts. You can turn this option by unchecking it at the bottom and send auto reply message to every email received in your inbox during vacation. When you are back from vacation, remember to turn OFF this feature.