From white sand beaches in Antigua and Bygone Era-style Christmas in Ireland, to a winter wonderland escape in Quebec, these cheerful hotels are eager to welcome back travelers seeking long awaited adventures over the holidays.
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City Holiday Happenings in Quebec City, a Storied Winter Wonderland
Unwrap the gift of a joyous holiday and spend Christmas at Auberge Saint-Antoine, a luxury boutique hotel set in the heart of Old Quebec City known for its rich history and Québecois hospitality. Each year, Quebec City lights up with festive cheer as powdered snow blankets the cobble stone streets for a storied winter wonderland. Auberge Saint-Antoine welcomes guests to experience a fairytale holiday with a wide range of beloved family festivities and winter activities. Journey back in time with a private guided story telling tour through Vieux-Quebec, discover authentic European Christmas markets at the Place de l’Hotel de Ville, and enjoy ice skating at Place D’Youville or an old-fashioned toboggan ride down the Dufferin Slide. Head back to the Auberge to sip on hot cocoa and mulled wine by the fireplace, as the little ones visit Santa Claus in the lobby and enjoy holiday movie screenings in the hotel’s private screening room. Christmas day dawns with a traditional holiday brunch featuring farm-to-fork bistronomic cuisine at Chez Muffy on December 25 & 26 for $55 per person. Valid for stays on December 24 and 25, The Christmas at Auberge package starts at $716 per night for two in a Comfort room with a celebratory five-course Christmas dinner at Chez Muffy, and breakfast. For additional information on Auberge Saint-Antoine’s Holiday Happenings, visit https://www.saint-antoine.com/holiday-season-at-the-auberge. Photos here. Taste before you travel with this hearty Orangetti Carbonara recipe from Chez Muffy.
Ballyfin, Ireland Celebrate a Traditional Irish Christmas in the Fashion of a Bygone Era
Take a step back in time to the lavish Regency period and experience a traditional Irish Christmas at Ballyfin, a five-star luxury country house hotel set on 614 acres at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the heart of Ireland. The historic estate features only twenty bedrooms, and a private one-bedroom Gardeners Cottage with lavish interiors decorated with Irish art and antiques. Ancient woods and rolling private grounds include a 28-acre lake, waterfalls, kitchen gardens, follies and grottoes. Guests will enjoy an indoor pool and spa, and quintessential country activities such as fishing, horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery, falconry, and horse drawn carriage rides. Perfect for couples, families and friends, Ballyfin provides an enchanting retreat from the modern age, immersing guests in old world luxury, romance, and tranquility, filled with the traditional holiday pleasures of mulled wine, minced pies, song and fun. Prices are based on a minimum three night stay and include food, beverage and house activities, starting at €1,545 per night double occupancy. Bring a taste of Ballyfin into your kitchen with this Mulled Apple Cider recipe. Holiday package details: https://www.ballyfin.com/download/107562. Images here.
Carlisle Bay, Antigua A Classic Caribbean Christmas at Carlisle Bay
Swap snow for white powdery sand and Caribbean holiday traditions this festive season at Carlisle Bay in Antigua. From December 21 through January 1, the family-friendly five-star resort will serve up a wish list-worthy schedule of holiday experiences for guests. The seasonal delights include cocktail parties, rum tastings, dance performances, beach cricket tournaments, poolside Christmas movie night, spa events and the best live music on the island. Parents and couples can get into the merriment with cocktail parties, steel drum bands, and a New Year’s Eve Gala at the Casino in Indigo On The Beach, ringing in the new year with fireworks on the beach. Meanwhile, children and families will revel in the spectacular Christmas tree lighting ceremony, an afternoon hobie cat regatta, Santa Claus’ landing, and pizza making classes. In theme with the latter, exquisite festive menus will be prepared by their culinary teams and served in the most spectacular settings, from a festive beach BBQ to Caribbean and Asian cooking demonstrations, wine and cheese pairings and a lazy January 1st brunch, your gustative experience will only but strengthen your replenished self to begin 2022 anew. Bring Antigua to your kitchen with the island’s original rum cake recipe.
Festive Rates: From $1,440 per night per accommodation; select holiday experiences available for an additional charge.
France Festivities from the Alps to Provence
Adventure in the North and Indulge in the South
For adventure seeking travelers, the Alps offer the ultimate in alpine exploration and there is no better way to ski this historic mountain range than from a helicopter and with IFMGA-certified Eleven Skiing guides. New for this winter season, Chalet Hibou and Chalet Pelerin will be offering a bespoke heli-skiing experience that is customized for each group. The chalets' proximity to the Italian border gives guests access to three premier heli-ski bases, with runs averaging 1,000 to 2,200 vertical meters. Add in exceptional chef-prepared French cuisine, well-appointed accommodations, and down-day activities, and you've got yourself a true Eleven Experience. On the other end of the spectrum, travelers are invited to indulge in a truffle hunting experience at Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in France’s Luberon Valley. Globetrotting gourmands will embark on a truffle journey including stops at famous truffle markets, La Truffe du Ventoux with seasoned truffle hunters Franck and Alexis Jaumard, and a truffle themed lunch at Domaine Jaumard. The experience culminates at Coquillade’s fine dining restaurant, Avelan, for an exclusive truffle tasting menu showcasing regional flavors with international classes for a gourmet trip around the world. The Truffle Hunting Experience is offered Thursday to Sunday from mid-November to mid-March at $1,607 for two people. Images here. Starting December 4 through December 25, Coquillade is offering a buffet of 13 Provencal deserts at Lalique Bar to showcase the seasonal traditions of Christmas.
The Ranch at Rock Creek Homestead Holidays in Montana
Find your homestead away from home in a luxury log cabin tucked into a pristine winter wonderland at The Ranch at Rock Creek. Discover the natural wonders as you enjoy over 20 included winter activities, including downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, hockey, horseback riding, target sports, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding and sleigh rides. Experience a week of festive events designed to make this a once-in-a-lifetime winter adventure for families, couples or groups of friends who want to escape the city for a stress-free and quintessential country Christmas at the world’s first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star guest ranch. All-inclusive rates start at $1,800 per night double occupancy including transportation, gear, guides, activities, food and beverage. Ride out the cold with the Ranch at Rock Creek’s Yule Mule recipe - a holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule. Holiday package details | NYE package details
