From hidden gems in the Swiss Alps, to a homestead holiday in Montana, and colorful cultural traditions in French Polynesia, each resort offers a bespoke holiday experience highlighting its unique destinations.
Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne Unveils Hidden Gems Holiday Happenings (Lucerne, Switzerland)
Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Bürgenstock Resort is offering an array of luxurious experiences to celebrate the holiday season. From an AMRA sapphire-infused body ritual and 111Skin black diamond facial, Swarovski x Rosenthal crystal afternoon tea and gourmet fondues at the 16th-century Simmentaler Stube, and joyful family festivities, the resort offers a range of ‘Hidden Gems’ this holiday season. Guests can participate in a variety of masterclasses, including wreath making with expert florists, festive cookie baking with Pâtissier of the Year Damián Carini, and a Christmas cocktail class led by top mixologists. Families can enjoy a private chocolate-making class with the resort’s master chocolatier, while wine and whiskey lovers can join tasting sessions in the resort's walled wine cellar or a whiskey and cigar pairing. The resort also offers special events like the Celtic Christmas with live Irish folk music, a ‘Diamonds in the Sky’ New Year’s Eve party, and a Silent Light Tree unveiling, an artistic installation designed by Tord Boontje and the late Alexander McQueen, adorned with shimmering Swarovski crystals. Additional information is available in the Festive Season brochure
HOMESTEAD Holidays at The Ranch at Rock Creek (Philipsburg, Montana)
Start a new tradition on 6,600 acres of rugged Montana wilderness on the outskirts of Philipsburg. The Festive weeks of December 21 - 27, 2024 and December 28, 2024-January 3, 2025 offers a balance of Montana’s natural winter wonders with the quintessential comforts of a country holiday. Families and couples revel in a stress-free holiday where transportation, gear, guides and over 20 activities, such as downhill skiing and snowboarding , cross-country skiing, ice skating, hockey, horseback riding, target sports, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and sledding are included. Revitalize yourself in the The Spa at Rock Creek and relax in one-of-a-kind accommodations. Celebrations at the world’s first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and Relais & Chateaux Guest Ranch always feature elegant farm-to-table dining and lifelong memories. A full itinerary may be found here.
Celebrate Polynesian Culture This Festive Season at The Brando (Tetiaroa, French Polynesia)
This holiday season, The Brando welcomes guests for a privileged Christmas, where the enchantment of the festive season is adorned with the colors and scents of Tetiaroa. In the heart of this Polynesian sanctuary, guests will be carried away by ‘un Rêve Enchanté’. Celebrating the holidays at The Brando features a tropical touch, in an idyllic setting where vacation magic takes on a unique Tahitian flavor, imbued with gentleness and serenity, to create long lasting memories. Festive events this year include a coconut relay race, the game of Pita’a Ha’ari, a gingerbread workshop, a fruit porter race, Santa sand painting, a Tahitian raw fish worship, pareu painting, Polynesian performances, visits from Santa Claus, a tamanu target throw, and more. Every moment at The Brando is an invitation to relax and escape, to offer guests an unforgettable stay. Between carefully prepared gourmet delights, Polynesian tradition workshops and moments of absolute well-being, guests will experience an enchanted interlude, where time seems to stand still. For more details and a daily schedule for festive season at The Brando, see the brochure HERE.
A Festive Caribbean Adventure at Golden Rock Resort (St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean)
Indulge your inner explorer at the eco-resort set on 40-acres with panoramic ocean views. During festive week, Golden Rock Resort will host a slew of events, from stunning fireworks, champagne receptions, three-course prix fixe dinners, letters to Santa, sushi masterclasses and sunset cruises. As a present for their guests, the resort will also offer 40% off the best available rates through the end of the year, including Christmas and New Year’s. In between holiday activities, escape to their on-site facilities including a PADI dive center (opened 2024), a 17-hole mini golf course, pickle and padel courts, two swimming pools, and a 20,000 square foot greenhouse with herbs and produce for the two restaurants. Beyond the resort, hike the dormant volcano, take a tour of the Old Town or dive/snorkel in the marine park with 36 sites.
Seaside Season’s Greetings at Chablé Maroma (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Chablé Maroma, a five-star resort set between a tropical jungle and the sparkling sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline, announces its 2024 festive program blending cultural, wellness, and family-friendly activities that highlight both traditional and contemporary experiences. The schedule includes workshops such as honey of prosperity from the Mexico’s Melipona Bees, crafting piñatas and kites, making gingerbread cookies, and weaving hammocks. Reflect on 2024 and set new intentions for the coming year with the the gratitude Temazcal ceremony, or head to the beach for sound healing, full moon bathing and star gazing experiences. Guests can partake in traditional Mexican festivities like the Christmas posada, and the resort hosts unique experiences such as a coral adoption, sandcastle sculpting, ancestral legends, outdoor movie screenings and more. Culinary highlights feature cooking classes on local chi-chi recipes, barbecues, and special Christmas and New Year's dinners.
