Being home for the holidays is lovely, of course: the familiar aromas, the cozy routines, the comfort of tradition. But being away? Now that’s where it can get interesting. Because you’ll always remember diving off a private pier at a billionaire’s resort in Panama; learning to waltz in a gilded Vienna ballroom; or exploring the holiday markets in the city of your dreams. But if the thought of missing turkey and all the fixings makes you pause — relax. Many of the world’s most remarkable hotels have the holiday feast covered, so you can savor your adventure without compromise. These are our top picks for where to stay if you choose to go away for the holidays this year.
Silversands Grand Anse
Location: Grenada, Caribbean
If you seek a holiday escape that balances sun, sophistication, and effortless luxury, Silversands Grand Anse in Grenada is the spot. The resort is adjacent to the beautiful, famed white sands of Grand Anse Beach. 43 airy suites and nine fabulous multi-bedroom villas (including beachfront sanctuaries and hillside retreats), feature sweeping Caribbean views. The infinity pool is the longest in the Caribbean at 100 meters. And of course, it stretches toward the sea. Dining options range from casual beachfront lunches to refined Asian-influenced dinners. Naturally, all are accented by rare rum tastings in the Puro lounge. (If you’re a collector, this is where you’ll want to settle in for a pre- or post-dinner ritual).
What makes this resort truly memorable are the experiences. You can snorkel among underwater sculptures, take a sunset cruise, or explore Grenada’s rugged coastline via ATV. Wellness options like yoga by the sea and spa treatments infused with local ingredients are restorative and ultra-relaxing. And, the spa’s hydro-suite, treatment rooms, and salon make it tempting to trade an excursion for a full day of pampering.
And yes, the holidays are fully celebrated here. The resort offers its Holiday Gathering Packages where guests can experience the Chef’s Holiday Spice Market and artisanal spiced chocolate tastings. A festive cocktail program features Grenada’s signature nutmeg. If you’re staying in a villa, consider an in-residence dinner with a private chef. You’ll savor the island’s flavors from the comfort of your own terrace. 
Rosewood Vienna
Location: Vienna, Austria
This one is for those who dream of a holiday steeped in Old World charm. Vienna always delivers its own kind of magic, especially during this time of year. The famed Christmas markets fill the city with glowing lights, the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. Rosewood Vienna puts you at the very heart of all of it. Set on Petersplatz in the city’s First District, the hotel pairs Belle Époque opulence with contemporary elegance. You’ll love the gilded ceilings, marble staircases, and top-floor views that stretch across the rooftops of the Austrian capital.
The hotel’s 99 rooms and suites are warm and luxuriously understated with brass accents, soft palettes, and handcrafted Austrian details. For added grandeur, book the Hoffmann House presidential suite. If you do splurge on a suite, order breakfast on the balcony at least once. Even in the cold, Vienna wrapped in winter light is worth the extra blanket. During festive season, the hotel comes alive with thoughtful details. Guests can sip spiced cocktails at the Festive Guglhupf Bar, send wax-sealed notes from the Holiday Postbox, or join children in the Ornament Studio to craft keepsakes. Neue Hoheit Brasserie hosts a four-course Christmas Eve dinner and an eight-course New Year’s Eve gala, complete with fireworks from the rooftop terrace.
But, here’s where your stay becomes truly magical: head to that terrace at dusk for one of the best skyline moments in Vienna. After exploring the nearby markets at Am Hof and Freyung and wandering through Rathausplatz or Schönbrunn Palace, treat yourself to the hotel’s signature guglhupf (a bundt-style cake that’s elevated for the holidays with seasonal spices). This is a retreat where history, celebration, and refined hospitality create perfect harmony, with loads of holiday sparkle for good measure.
Isla Secas
Location: Gulf of Chiriquí, Panama
If true escape from the holiday rush is your idea of paradise, then Islas Secas in Panama might be your perfect destination. The ultra-luxury, eco-retreat is set across a privately-owned archipelago of 14 volcanic islands in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Guests arrive by small plane, and it feels worlds away from anything familiar. The resort’s handful of casitas blend into the landscape. Each features sweeping ocean views, plunge pools, and open-air living spaces that make the most of the tropical setting. Outdoor showers and secluded decks make the casitas feel like private island homes.
The main pavilion serves as the heart of the resort, with an open-air restaurant. Daily menus are built around just-caught seafood and produce from the property’s gardens. Unhurried days unfold with coral reef diving, exploration of hidden coves by kayak, or spa treatments that draw on local botanicals. Evenings bring long, candlelit dinners featuring fresh-caught seafood and produce sourced from the property’s own gardens. Pair your meals with wines chosen by the resort’s sommelier.
During festive season, Islas Secas trades tinsel for nature’s own sparkle: sunset sails, beach bonfires, and private dining under the stars. The resort aims to personalize every celebration, so feel free to request your favorite holiday tune, or ask for a cookie-decorating session. Insider tip: book a casita on the western edge of the island for the most dramatic sunsets. And take advantage of the early-morning boat excursion, when wildlife sightings are at their best. For travelers seeking a truly off-the-grid celebration, this Panamanian paradise proves that the holidays don’t always need snow to feel magical.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Location: London, UK
London at Christmastime is pure theatre: Oxford Street blazes with lights and Mayfair’s stately façades are wrapped in garland. For those who wish to experience the season from a haven of calm, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair offers a sleek counterpoint to the opulence of its Hyde Park sibling. Newly opened on Hanover Square, the hotel blends London’s posh sophistication with the brand’s signature serenity.
The property is deliberately intimate: just 50 rooms and suites, designed in jewel-tone palettes (emerald, maroon, turquoise) with hand-painted de Gournay silk magnolia wallpaper. Ask for a room that overlooks Hanover Square; the glow of the Christmas lights filtering through early in the morning is magical. Then, spend the day shopping along Bond Street or wandering through the holiday markets of nearby Covent Garden. Then, retreat to the sanctuary of the hotel’s spa, which features Mayfair’s longest indoor swimming pool (25 meters), vitality pools, and steam rooms. And, don’t forget to book the spa’s signature Korean-inspired treatment for an experience that’s as calm as the city is bright.
The hotel’s Festive Wonders program offers cooking classes, a welcome gift for children, and an afternoon tea. When it’s time to dine, you’re in for a treat: creative seasonal menus rotate between Akira Back’s Atrium Restaurant and Somssi by Jihun Kim, while the Hanover Bar serves elevated cocktails with views across the square. The “Winterhaus” concept, a Bavarian-inspired pop-up tucked into the courtyard, feels like a storybook chalet dropped right into the heart of Mayfair.
Claridge’s
Location: London, UK
Some hotels embody the holiday season itself, and Claridge’s is one of them. This art deco Mayfair icon is where tradition, glamour, and whimsy converge in the most spectacular way. Every December, the hotel unveils its now-legendary Christmas tree. It’s a show-stopping work of art, designed by a world-renowned fashion house or creative visionary. This year, it’s by Daniel Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Burberry. Beyond the famed tree, the hotel transforms into a festive haven. Its famed Foyer & Reading Room serves an exquisite Festive Afternoon Tea, complete with champagne, mince pies, and delicate pastries almost too pretty to eat.
Across its 269 rooms and suites, Claridge’s blends its celebrated heritage with modern elegance. Suites are designed by David Linley or Michelle Wu and come with generous sitting rooms, sculptural lighting, and 24-hour butler service. Insiders know to request a suite with a terrace for a private perch overlooking Mayfair’s holiday glow. Five floors below, the newly opened Claridge’s Spa is a Japanese-inspired escape. It features seven treatment rooms, a softly glowing pink-onyx steam room, and an electrolyte-rich pool that’s the perfect antidote to December’s energetic pace. Time a late-afternoon treatment so you emerge just as the lobby lights shift for evening. It’s one of the most charming moments in the hotel.
Evenings continue upstairs at Claridge’s Bar or The Fumoir, where vintage Champagnes and rare spirits set a celebratory vibe. Then, step out to wander Bond Street’s twinkling windows or listen to carols at St. James’s.
Baccarat Hotel
Location: New York City
A New York City holiday is a must, at least once. Shop windows twinkle, Fifth Avenue glows, and the crisp December air hums with anticipation. There’s no better way to experience it all than from Baccarat Hotel New York, where the hotel’s prismatic glass façade hints at the treasures within. This midtown gem features twelve stories of 114 rooms and suites, ranging from intimate pieds-à-terre to expansive signature suites. All are adorned with custom furnishings, plush four-poster beds, marble baths, and glittering crystal touches. Minibars are stocked with a red lacquered case. Each features eight Baccarat stemware options, proffered as delivery systems for the array of deluxe spirits. But if stirring or shaking are too much effort, simply press the “Champagne” dial on your bedside phone. A chilled bottle will appear nearly instantly at your door.
Holiday celebrations dazzle; a 10 foot high tree, designed by hotel florist Kenji Takenaka, takes center stage. It’s comprised of 1000 white ostrich feathers and if you look closely, you’ll spot a small red octagon, a subtle nod to the signature mark found on Baccarat crystal pieces. Tinsel Tea fills the Grand Salon with pastries, savory bites, and a soft glow from seventeen crystal chandeliers. Private Diamond Holiday Tea sessions are held in the sparkly Petit Salon. Thanksgiving à la Baccarat, Christmas Eve dinners, and New Year’s Eve “Crystal Countdown” parties elevate the season with champagne, and live entertainment.
Between your festive adventures, a visit to Spa de La Mer is a must. This subterranean sanctuary offers four treatment rooms, signature Miracle Broth rituals, and a heated pool with canopied day beds. A visit here makes it easy to unwind before or after shopping excursions or a night on the town. Amidst museum-quality artworks and soaring chandeliers is the hotel’s fantastical The Bar. Enjoy artfully crafted cocktails like the Instagram-worthy Baccarat Old Fashioned sweetened with house made Angostura cotton candy.
Other Articles You’ll Like
Where to Holiday It Up
Holiday Traditions Around the World
The Most Luxurious Christmas Gifts
FAQs
Q: How do I get to Grenada, Caribbean from NYC?
A: You can fly directly from New York City (JFK) to Grenada (Maurice Bishop International Airport, GND) in about 5 hours. JetBlue and Caribbean Airlines both operate nonstop routes.
Q: When is the Festive Afternoon Tea at Claridge’s on from, and when does it stop running?
A: Claridge’s Festive Afternoon Tea runs from late November until the end of December each year. For 2025, it is served from 28 November through 31 December in The Foyer & Reading Room.
Q: How far in advance do I need to book the Thanksgiving à la Baccarat at the Baccarat hotel in NYC?
A: You should book the Thanksgiving à la Baccarat at the Baccarat Hotel New York several weeks in advance — ideally 4 to 6 weeks before the holiday. Demand is extremely high because the experience coincides with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and reservations are limited.
