With the holidays just around the corner, everyone is beginning to get in the festive spirit and what better way to fuel that energy than with truly over-the-top holiday decor and offerings!
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale certainly knows how to celebrate the holidays, starting off with the unveiling of the property’s iconic life-size Gingerbread House. Complete with hot cocoa and desserts - along with cocktails for the adults - families can enjoy these holiday treats while taking in the festivities. For the first time ever, one family looking for an over-the-top holiday experience can book the Fully Wrapped: The Ultimate Christmas Experience package, available to book from December 24-26. Come Christmas morning after spending the night in an Ocean View 3-bedroom suite, the lucky family will head to the lobby where their life-size gingerbread house awaits with a decadent Christmas breakfast and presents from Santa! Santa will make a visit to the family’s breakfast bearing gifts for all, with a photographer in attendance to capture this truly special Christmas experience. Personalized presents including a custom pair of Adidas Sneakers, an American Girl Doll and more will also be gifted to the parents and children by the hotel. Following the morning festivities, the family will be gifted a pool cabana for the day, complete with the perfect cabana attire provided by Island Company. To capture all of these special moments, the hotel’s Photography Concierge will take photos during the families Christmas experience and gift them with a beautiful hardback photo album, so they may truly remember this Christmas forever.
Jumeirah Vittaveli | Maldives
For this year’s holidays, Jumeirah Vittaveli is hosting of entertainers, magicians and acrobats will make their entry in the Maldives, promising a circus-themed celebration. Jumeirah Vittaveli will celebrate a traditional tree lighting ceremony – another much anticipated surprise given the outstanding creations from previous years, such as the Underwater Coral Tree and the Floating and Glowing recycled Bicycle Tree. On Christmas Eve, December 24, guests can join the Silent Night gala dinner, decorated in sparkling gold. The next day, Santa Claus will stop by the island to entertain children and guests young at heart. Watch out to see if he makes his entry by jet ski, catamaran or maybe he will parasail through the air onto the white sandy shores. On New Year’s Eve, festivities will be even more exciting, with a host of entertainers, another lavish gala dinner, and of course the spectacular fireworks to ring in the New Year! A DJ will entertain guests until early morning and a lavish brunch spread will await latecomers for a healthy start to the new year.
A Christmas Legend at Hotel del Coronado | San Diego, Calif.
For 14 years, The Del has welcomed the holidays with great fanfare by bringing a little wintertime fun to sunny Southern California. Starting Thanksgiving Day, the Windsor Lawn transforms into a beautiful beachfront ice rink where skaters, young and old, can glide across the ice with the ocean and The Del’s iconic turret as striking backdrops. This year, the skating scene has been elevated to a new level with a brand new VIP lounge area and special skate experience with gold medalist Tara Lipinski on Saturday, December 15. New to the experience, 16 cozy fire pits and luxury lounges trim the rink on an elevated platform, so guests can relax, sipping holiday cheer like cocoa or spiked coffee drinks, while nibbling gourmet bites, and taking in skating and sunset views. Individual lounge areas seat four to six people and can be reserved for $200 or $300 for 90 minutes, with complimentary coffee and cocoa. Guests can either pre-order from an à la cart menu or select items at the table, while enjoying the festive rink-side spectacle of lights, laughter and ‘A Christmas Legenda’ holiday-themed fun featuring vintage-inspired decor and a two story lobby Christmas tree.
Jumeirah Frankfurt | Frankfurt, Germany
For those looking to celebrate the festive season in pure luxury, Jumeirah Frankfurt is the perfect place to go. Explore the Christmas markets on the hotel’s doorstep and enjoy a ‘Winter Wonderland’ kitchen party, Jumeirah Frankfurt is pulling out all the stops to make this year’s Christmas extra special. Visit Jumeirah Frankfurt with the Christmas Market Package which includes an enchanting 3-course festive dinner, breakfast at the Signature Restaurant Max on One Grillroom, an overnight stay and a special festive surprise from just €259 for two guests in a double room. The Winter Wonderland Kitchen Party is priced separately at €129 per person (inclusive of all food and beverages).
Washington School House | Park City, Utah
Park City’s luxury twelve-room boutique hotel, Washington School House (WSH) offers an ideal setting located walking distance to Main Street’s finest restaurants, galleries, adventure, nightlife and more, perfect for a holiday getaway. Washington School House allows guests to enjoy the beauty of a true winter wonderland whether that’s building a snowman and sledding or staying nestled in the intimate and cozy space of the hotel. Washington School House offers a perfectly appointed tree with crystals dangling and the scent of pine and feeling of Christmas cheer fills the house.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island | Amelia Island, FL
This holiday season, the World’s Largest Gingerbread Pirate Ship returns to the Lobby at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. This culinary masterpiece is made with over 600 pieces of gingerbread and adorned with sculpted pirates with colorful fondant clothing and a chocolate cannon and cannonballs. The "S.S. Amelia Gingerbread Pirate Ship," which undoubtedly makes the perfect backdrop for this year’s holiday photo, will be on display from the end of November until the end of December.
Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego, CA
Located in North County San Diego, Rancho Bernardo Inn is full of Christmas cheer, and there's never a dull moment during the holidays! Enjoy the Inn’s December Days & Nights with caroling, photos with Santa, cookie decorating for kids, storytelling, exploring Christmas Tree Row (approx. 8 full size Christmas trees decorated to the hilt), an outdoor Christmas light show, a life-size gingerbread house constructed in the lobby, homemade by Pastry Chef Margaret Carvallo, festive refreshments and more! The Inn will be offering December Days and Nights from Thursday December 20 to Saturday December 22, 2018 from 5-8 p.m, and the festive holiday decor can be enjoyed by all throughout the month of December.
Inn at Dos Brisas | Washington, TX
This luxury Relais & Châteaux ranch estate is located on 313 acres of pristine meadows, and with only 9 Spanish-inspired haciendas and casitas, this is true a home-away-from-home for the holiday season. The property embodies the Christmas spirit in all aspects, elegantly decorating the estate to make guests feel as if it were their own holiday ranch house, from Christmas trees in every room, to special lighting and ornaments that adorn the interiors. Especially guests staying in 1 of the 5 stand-alone haciendas, who can entertain the family on the outdoor patios by the private plunge pools, drink hot chocolate by the fire, or open presents by the Christmas trees.
