Barnsley Resort, Photo Credit: Barnsley Resort
We’ve all been there on Christmas: Once all the presents are unwrapped, you find that you’re still coveting something that didn’t make it under the tree. Well, you can always remedy that if your New Year’s resolution is to treat yourself.
Consider this Forbes Travel Guide wish list as a good starting point if you’re a jet-setter, golf enthusiast or spa lover looking for that one special gift that Santa forgot in his bag.
Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo, Monaco
Picture this: You’ve checked into the luxurious Carré d’Or Suite in Monaco’s Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo. On the private terrace, you witness expansive, 180-degree views encompassing the Monte Carlo Casino, the opulent gardens and the Mediterranean Sea.
Your agenda for the day includes a private tour of the casino, a helicopter ride over the principality, a driving tour along the French Riviera’s iconic cliffside roads in an Aston Martin and a massage for two inside the privacy of your sumptuous suite.
As if that weren’t enough, you’ll enjoy a private, moonlit gourmet dinner on the terrace, followed by a night of gambling, complete with casino chips and cigars courtesy of the hotel. Sounds as sexy and mysterious as a James Bond movie, doesn’t it? That’s why it’s called the Goldeneye Experience.
Keswick Hall’s Fossett’s Restaurant, Photo Credit: Keswick Hall
Keswick Hall and Golf Club, Charlottesville, Virginia
Virginia may not be the first destination that jumps to mind for a winter getaway, but Charlottesville’s Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Keswick Hall — a turn-of-the-century mansion on 600 acres of lush grounds so gorgeous it could be the backdrop in a Merchant Ivory film — entices us with several overnight packages that are just too hard to pass up.
Depending on whether you book the Golf, Dining or Spa Experience, your retreat awaits in one of 48 elegantly furnished rooms or suites, and with golf for two at Pete Dye’s award-winning Full Cry course, a $125 credit toward a gourmet meal at Fossett’s Restaurant or a 60-minute couples massage, respectively.
The best part: packages can be combined so that you can taste all three experiences over the course of a long weekend.
Barnsley Resort, Adairsville, Georgia
For a fairytale-like escape to a charming English village without the jet lag, the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Barnsley Resort — the property is set on 3,300-acre grounds with its own beer garden, golf course, riding stables, hunting reserve and spa — is just the ticket.
Located just an hour north of Atlanta, this unique Southern resort offers a wealth of history and romance within a mini-community of 36 cottages, each with its own porch, wood-burning fireplace and copper, claw-foot bathtub.
A perfect segue into the after-Christmas calm, the Detox & De-Stress Spa Experience consists of cottage accommodations and a $50 spa credit that can be used toward services ranging from a 60-minute massage to a detoxifying seaweed wrap.
St. Julien Hotel & Spa, Boulder, Colorado
One of Colorado’s most notable culinary cities, Boulder also happens to boast one of the country’s most prominent beer scenes. If suds are your thing, you need to visit the Napa Valley of Beer, and one of the best ways to do it is to book the B is for Beer Boulder Brew package at Four-Star St. Julien.
Once you choose your room type, you’ll delight in a keg of cool perks, including a welcome amenity of local beers and two Avery pint glasses, a $50 daily food and beverage credit toward meals and a guided tour of the Avery Brewing Company, complete with pick-up and drop-off at the hotel.
The Edgewater, Madison, Wisconsin
Maybe you’re headed home and don’t want to bunk it in your old room. You might simply want to take advantage of the fact that almost all of the 200-plus rooms at this boutique property look directly onto Lake Mendota. Whatever the case, if your plans lead you toward Madison, Wisconsin, this historic waterfront property is where you should end up.
To make your stay in Badger Country all the more memorable, book the Home for the Holidays package for an overnight stay that features a bottle of wine to mark the occasion, breakfast for two at the hotel’s Statehouse restaurant and complimentary parking.
The Knickerbocker, Photo Credit: The Knickerbocker
The Knickerbocker, New York City
With an address like 6 Times Square, this recently re-imagined hotel puts you smack-dab in the middle of the bright lights of the Big Apple. Inside, however, the entire aesthetic is that of an urban oasis — soothing and sleek like an Armani boutique — with cool cream and gray tones that envelop you in refined opulence.
Prepare to be dazzled even further when you book the Winter Exclusive deal. Armed with two skate rentals, plan for a fun-filled afternoon zipping across the rink at Bryant Park’s Winter Village.
Follow it up with seasonal craft cocktails underneath the night sky at St. Cloud, The Knickerbocker’s rooftop bar and lounge overlooking Times Square.
Cap off your stay with breakfast for two at the trendy Jake’s @ The Knick, a delightful café tucked inside of the hotel.
The St. Regis San Francisco
Be it for family, cuisine or sights, it’s always a great time to visit San Francisco. Complement your Golden Gate Bridge walk and Mission District shopping with a stay at Five-Star The St. Regis San Francisco.
The property’s En Route to Excellence package is something you’ll never forget. Thanks to an exclusive partnership with legendary luxury British carmaker Bentley Motors, this signature deal ensures that you not only receive a glam room but a sweet ride, too.
Your experience begins with a booking through the property’s private Aficionado concierge desk, which will take care of all the arrangements. Once you arrive, a private butler will handle all the check-in details.
This way you can concentrate on more important things — like choosing which Bentley (a Bentley GT, Bentley GTC and Bentley Mulsanne) you’d like to be chauffeured around town in. After that, the world is your oyster. Sit back and revel in plush luxury.
Of course, if you’d like to get behind the wheel and experience the vehicle’s exceptional handling and power for yourself, you can do that as well.
An official Bentley gift, complimentary parking and breakfast for two at the Grill are added perks that drive home how exceptional this package is.
