When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more delightful than walking inside a hotel that’s been decked out in holiday cheer. And while any run-of-the-mill property can toss some garland on the reception desk, there are special places that go out of their way to make travelers’ season bright.
The following 20 hotels from around the globe gift their guests with exquisite decorations, themed meals and a festive events calendar.
Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
Red rocks and pinyon pines set the scene for a packed winter itinerary at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star desert beauty. Ice skate in Boynton Canyon, listen to Mrs. Claus’ stories, participate in holiday cooking and cocktail classes, make seasonal crafts, go stargazing, eat fireside s’mores with Santa, try the Birds of Prey Experience and see Sedona on helicopter tours. Nearby sister property Mii amo provides even more fun: take luminaria-lit labyrinth walks, welcome the winter solstice and manifest your New Year’s goals at the crystal grotto.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
You expect a property sitting in the shadows of Epcot to have Christmas spirit, but the things this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort does are magical. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the pool (Holly Jolly Poolside Cabana), the spa (Bowls Will Be Singing Vibrational Sound Therapy), the kid’s club (holiday karaoke), the restaurants (Ravello’s Christmas Day buffet) or the new Epilogue speakeasy (seasonal cocktails), a St. Nick-approved activity is happening.
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, Japan
Even if mountainous Nikko National Park isn’t blanketed with powder, this Four-Star getaway on Lake Chuzenji will be covered in holiday spirit. Amid the property’s serene landscape and stunning architecture, you’ll find everything from bauble-covered bonsai trees to a holiday menu curated by renowned chef Kanji Kobayashi. And when it’s time to say hello to 2025, do so with the First Sunrise ceremony and a New Year’s feast stuffed with the local flavors of the Tochigi prefecture.
Domus Zamittello, Malta
Malta may not be the first place that comes to mind when you envision a picturesque Christmas scene, but a stay at this 16th-century palazzo could change that. Best known for its baroque elegance, the boutique property slips into something a bit jollier this time of year. Republic Street, the road the hotel sits on, sparkles with thousands of lights and a Christmas tree made out of Mdina glass baubles. Nativity cribs, mass choirs and festive foods around the island also help make unforgettable Maltese memories.
Coquillade Provence, French Riviera
Enjoy a holiday escape on the enchanting grounds of this former 11th-century hamlet. On December 1, meet Santa, join Christmas workshops and take horse-drawn carriage rides. Visit throughout the season for the Five-Star hotel’s dinners with special musical performances and multi-course gourmet Christmas meals. Then ring in 2025 at Coquillade Provence with a circus-themed party featuring contortionists, jugglers, artists and caricaturists that culminates with a fireworks display.
While this Middle East masterpiece presents guests with all the traditional trimmings and a bedazzled tree that soars to the sky, the posh palace also has a holiday event calendar that’s stuffed with themed afternoon teas, a life-sized gingerbread house and a Sola Jazz Lounge playing seasonal Sinatra tunes. And we haven’t even mentioned the eight-piece band performing at the Raffles Royal Masquerade Ball on December 31.
Mokara Hotel & Spa, San Antonio
This Four-Star hotel transforms into a dazzling winter wonderland with more than 100,000 lights. From December 4 to 23, you can also enjoy a festive view of boats filled with carolers parading down the San Antonio River from your guest room window. Feel even more merry and bright by doing any last-minute shopping at the Holiday Art Market just a 10-minute walk from Mokara.
Consider the $120 million renovations of the Five-Star hotel an early Christmas gift. This reimagined beachside getaway features three pools, outdoor restaurants, a half-mile stretch of private beach and a holiday events calendar so busy you’ll need an elf assistant to keep up with it. The annual Christmas tree lighting, a Winter Solstice Yoga Festival and storytelling with Santa Claus highlight the holiday fun in the Florida sun.
Hotel Hershey, Hershey, Pennsylvania
A stay at the Four-Star Hotel Hershey allows families to make extra sweet memories. Overnight guests who visit through January 1 will receive tickets to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, the festive rendition of Pennsylvania’s beloved theme park. As a part of the attraction’s Yuletide makeover, the place is illuminated by 5 million dazzling lights, visited by nine live reindeer and decorated with the signature Kisses Christmas tree.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu
Envision a tranquil winter morning, with snowflakes softly blanketing a 1,200-year-old Kyoto temple. This dreamy setting is a reality at The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu. The Four-Star treasure mixes the holidays (Christmas-themed meals, vibrant lights) and history (UNESCO World Heritage Site the Kiyomizu Temple is a short walk away) in glorious fashion. Weekly geisha performances at the nearby Yasaka Pagoda only add to the unique stay.
St. Julien Hotel and Spa, Boulder, Colorado
Boulder makes for a perfect December escape, and this Four-Star beauty puts you in a prime downtown address. Here, you’ll find plenty of fun traditions to keep you busy, including the beloved gingerbread tea, a jazzy rendition of tunes from A Charlie Brown Christmas (December 7, 14 and 20) and a candlelit Christmas dinner at Jill’s Restaurant.
Paws Up Montana
Winter adventure awaits at this Four-Star hideaway. Explore the resort’s 100 miles of trails sprawled across 37,000 acres of pristine Montana wilderness by dog sled, horseback, downhill ski or snow tube before gathering around the nightly campfire to share stories over s’mores. During the holidays, you’ll not only find a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in your luxurious cabin, but you’ll encounter a gingerbread house-making contest, live entertainment and much more on the agenda.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona
If you seek warmth this holiday season, look no further than this Five-Star desert retreat. This hotel features breathtaking scenery, a luxurious Five-Star spa and an exciting array of festive activities. Be the talk of the group chat with pictures of you crafting a tasty mezcal-spiked hot chocolate in a mixology class, decorating a cactus-shaped cake with the hotel’s pastry chef and celebrating Christmas Eve with a four-course dinner at Four-Star CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar.
Ashford Castle, Ireland
This Five-Star 800-plus-year-old castle on the shores of Lough Corrib looks like a fairytale, especially in December, when snow covers its grounds, and the grand interiors get festooned with garland and other holiday décor. See it during the festive afternoon tea with views of the lake. When you’ve had your fill, partake in year-round activities like falconry, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, movies in the cinema and games in the billiards room.
Rosewood Baha Mar, The Bahamas
If you prefer water adventures, sign up for the Four-Star hotel’s new Ocean Guardian Experience. You’ll explore the Bahamas underwater during a boating excursion with local dive guide/filmmaker André Musgrove and the Perry Institute for Marine Science’s (PIMS) reef specialist. It includes a snorkel visit to the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden and a stop where you might spot turtles and stingrays. Some proceeds will support PIMS’ Reef Rescue Network, a Caribbean coalition dedicated to coral restoration.
Embrace the holiday spirit with the Five-Star hotel’s Velveteen Rabbit Experience, which includes a bunny-themed Astra brunch, followed by an ODC/Dance performance of The Velveteen Rabbit across the street at the Blue Shield of California Theater and a photo with the cast afterward. Savor more spirit with 12 days of holiday cocktails (like a spiced maple bourbon fizz), a holiday tea (featuring a chocolate reindeer tart with edible antlers) and the Bloody Mary Day Breakfast, which toasts National Bloody Mary Day and New Year’s Day with a flight.
Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, Telluride, Colorado
Embark on an adrenaline-fueled winter adventure at this Five-Star ski-in, ski-out resort. General manager Bryan Woody recommends the private scenic aerial tour of snow-dusted Arches and Canyonlands national parks that the Madeline offers daily. Or explore the stunning terrain another way: try heli-skiing the backcountry of the Uncompahgre National Forest. Back at the hotel, you’ll enjoy its Western winter wonderland theme with cheerful décor from hatmaker Nick Fouquet.
The Inn at Leola Village, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is the kind of place that would be the perfect backdrop for one of those light-hearted holiday movies. We’re talking peaceful farms, quaint shops and adorable inns. This Four-Star countryside getaway does its part to set the scene further with hanging stockings, generous tinsel strands all about and some seasonal flavors at Osteria Avanti.
With events such as Chicago Botanic Garden’s Lightscape, Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights and meals at Macy’s Walnut Room, the Windy City makes no secret how it feels about December 25. This Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hot spot shows its fondness for the festivities, too, with elegant decorations throughout the hotel and a few specialty dishes at Tavern on Rush. Thompson Chicago can also be your New Year’s Eve headquarters, seeing as how it’s only 1.5 miles from the Navy Pier fireworks.
