This season, opt for a far-flung adventure that defines a true "bucket list" holiday. From the overwater bungalows of the Maldives and the spiritual peaks of Bali, to the dramatic, wine-soaked landscapes of Chile and the vibrant, two-ocean paradise of Panama, we've curated the ultimate holiday travel guide. These destinations offer more than just a getaway- they offer transformative experiences that readers have been dreaming of for years.
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape | Buahan, Bali (pictured) – To Connect with Nature at an Intimate Adults-Only Retreat
Buahan offers a festive season celebration focused on harmony with nature, culture, and community, transforming moments into meaningful acts that honor the land and local traditions. Guests can book a Festive Escape Package which includes daily meals, a New Year's Eve Gala Dinner, and a unique Water Blessing Soul Freedom Journey. Additionally, travelers can enjoy a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 7-course dining experience, featuring locally-sourced ingredients, traditional cooking methods, and enriching cultural performances and activities.
JOALI | Maldives - The Joy of Creative Living Meets the Joy of Weightlessness
From December 20 - January 10, these private island resorts welcome travelers to celebrate with world-class dining, transformative wellness experiences, and joyful creativity.
Wharekauhau Country Estate | Palliser Bay, New Zealand — For a Secluded OTT Holiday Trip on 3,000 Acres of Coastal Farmland
Considered one of New Zealand’s (and the world’s) most luxurious hideaways, Wharekauhau offers an unforgettable farm stay experience on a 3,000-acre working sheep station atop the dramatic clifftops of Palliser Bay. Over the festive season, guests can enjoy Wellington’s best classic high tea service, embark on the estate’s Chef in the Wild private dining experience featuring a four-course feast cooked over open flames at a clifftop camp, and explore nearby Wairarapa vineyards during harvest celebrations. Add in stargazing within New Zealand’s largest dark-sky reserve, ATV rides across the black sand, and long golden evenings for coastal hikes, and Wharekauhau becomes an unforgettable bucket-list holiday retreat.
The Palms | Turks and Caicos; Perfect for a Multi-Generational Family Holiday
Nestled on award-winning Grace Bay Beach, The Palms has been a Caribbean icon since 2005 and recently completed an $18 million renovation, including a new pool deck, refreshed guest rooms, and the island’s only Mexican restaurant. Over the holidays, guests can decorate their own trees or light a menorah in-room, take photos with Santa arriving by boat on Christmas Day, and enjoy the property’s 18-foot lobby Christmas tree. With curated island activities, award-winning dining, and the 25,000-square-foot spa, The Palms offers an idyllic holiday escape for families, couples, and groups seeking a luxurious, festive retreat.
The Shore Club | Turks and Caicos; Ideal for Couples Looking for an Exclusive Holiday Retreat
Located on iconic Long Bay Beach, The Shore Club features 106 ocean-view suites, six private six-bedroom villas, four pools, a naturally-inspired Dune Spa, five globally-inspired dining venues, and five bars. Guests can celebrate the holidays by decking out in-room trees, lighting menorahs, enjoying Santa’s Christmas Day arrival via jetski, and taking in the property’s 18-foot lobby Christmas tree. With pristine private grounds, water sports, and elegant dining, The Shore Club offers families and couples a festive island getaway combining luxury, fun, and unforgettable holiday moments.
JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro | Copacabana, Brazil — Ring in the New Year with Rio’s legendary Réveillon Celebrations
Few New Year’s Eve experiences rival Rio’s legendary Réveillon, and the JW Marriott puts you right on Copacabana Beach at the center of it all. From early evening, more than two million people fill the sand, dressing fully in white to symbolize peace and a fresh start. Many carry roses or small candles to place in the surf as offerings to Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian sea goddess, before midnight strikes. At the first boom of the countdown, the sky erupts in a 15-minute firework display that lights the Atlantic from end to end while samba bands and DJs keep the celebration going until dawn. Guests of the JW Marriott can book the hotel’s own New Year’s Eve experiences: the lavish Carioca Dinner with a full buffet and open bar, or the Wayana Rooftop Party featuring live music and DJ sets until 3am, giving guests an unrivaled front-row seat to Rio’s most unforgettable night.
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago | Santiago, Chile — Celebrate the Holidays with Andean Views and Chilean Traditions
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago sits minutes from the Maipo Valley wine country and within sight of the Andes, giving guests easy access to both the city’s holiday atmosphere and day trips to vineyards and mountain towns. Each December the hotel hosts a family baking workshop with pastry chef Teresita Hamilton, where parents and children decorate Christmas cookies and make classic Chilean treats like pan de Pascua fruitcake and the spiced milk punch cola de mono. The lobby is dressed with a floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree and seasonal floral displays, and the hotel’s restaurants serve Christmas Eve dinners that pair local seafood and slow-roasted meats with Maipo Valley wines. Guests often spend a day visiting nearby wineries for harvest-season tastings or take a guided excursion into the Andes for hiking or skiing if early snow remains. Seasonal spa treatments use native botanicals such as rosehip oil, a Chilean staple, offering local touchpoints to the festivities.
JW Marriott Panama | Panama City, Panama — Tropical Christmas feasts and a high-energy New Year’s Eve on the bay
Overlooking the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, the JW Marriott Panama sits minutes from the historic Casco Viejo and its Christmas light displays and waterfront fireworks. In December, MASI Restaurant hosts a Christmas Special Dinner on Dec 10–12 and 17–19 with Panamanian classics like tamales de Navidad, roast pork, and rum fruitcake alongside a glass of sparkling wine. Christmas Eve brings live music, an open sparkling-wine bar, and carving stations, while Christmas Day features a buffet brunch with kids’ activities and a visit from Santa. On Dec 31, MASI and Tejas stage gala dinners with premium open bar and live entertainment, perfectly timed for the midnight fireworks over the bay and the citywide celebrations that fill Casco Viejo’s plazas until dawn.
FORESTIS | Dolomites, Italy: The Ultimate Winter Wonderland Escape
FORESTIS is an ultra-luxury mountaintop refuge that redefines the winter wonderland experience, offering guests a sanctuary of relaxation, rejuvenation, and natural healing inspired by the four pure elements of the Dolomites: clear water, crisp air, abundant sunshine, and a mild alpine climate. Perched directly across from the UNESCO World Heritage peaks with ski-in, ski-out access, this eco-lodge is the ideal place to cozy up for the holidays while embracing breathtaking views and restorative tranquility. Just down the mountain, the storybook town of Brixen comes alive with its enchanting Christmas Market in Cathedral Square, where snow-dusted wooden huts, twinkling lights, mulled wine, and handcrafted treasures capture the spirit of the season, making FORESTIS the perfect base for experiencing both alpine serenity and festive holiday charm.
Eden Roc Cap Cana | Cap Cana, DR Caribbean Elegance and Festive Magic
Over the festive season, the resort transforms into a holiday wonderland, beginning with sparkling cocktail receptions and carolers at the Eden Roc Beach Club and continuing with whimsical sandcastle competitions, Christmas storytelling, and magical encounters with Santa. Highlights include masterclasses in Bûche de Noël and Struffoli desserts, oceanside Christmas dinners, festive tastings of Champagne, tequila, rum, and sake, and immersive culinary journeys through Tuscany, Capri, and Dominican heritage dishes. The resort’s signature Christmas Gala and Christmas #Kidchella deliver unforgettable experiences for adults and children alike, while New Year’s Eve comes alive with the Allegria Gala, oceanside celebrations, live music, and sunset cocktails. With luxurious wellness offerings and endless family-friendly activities, every moment at Eden Roc Cap Cana during the holidays is a luxurious celebration of Caribbean elegance and festive magic.
Canouan Estate | Canouan Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ultra-luxe Villas made Perfect for Families
Canouan is the Grenadines’ best-kept secret – a five-square-mile island where untamed nature and extreme luxury coexist, with only three properties under the Canouan Estate umbrella: Soho Beach House Canouan, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, and Canouan Estate Resort & Villas. This design is the very definition of exclusivity – an intimate sanctuary where the entire island accommodates a maximum of just 300 guests, ensuring a truly personal experience and ultimate destination for families to bond over the holidays. Bring the holiday spirit to Canouan (without the cold!) to sprawling, butler-serviced villas at Canouan Estate Resort & Villas or elegant hillside villas at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, ensuring ample space for the full family’s celebrations. The experience is perfected by an “invisible key,” granting guests full access to amenities across all three properties on the island, allowing a combination of private movements and group experiences, from serene spa treatments at one resort to the vibrant beach club at another.
The Cove Eleuthera | Bahamas An Off-the-Beaten-Path Hideaway
Nestled between two white sand coves on the secluded island of Eleuthera, The Cove Eleuthera is a place unlike any other. Just beyond the narrowest point on earth, this off-the-beaten-path hideaway makes you feel like you’ve washed ashore on your own private Caribbean island, creating an unforgettable holiday getaway for families looking to bond and enjoy moments of connection. This holiday season, The Cove is thrilled to welcome guests for a slew of festivities, including:
Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa | Roatán, Honduras Bay Islands: A Combination of Wellness and Adventure
Set along the pristine West Bay Beach with direct access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa is the ultimate Caribbean escape for the holiday season. Guests can enjoy festive programming ranging from live jazz nights, Havana-inspired parties, and family-friendly activities to gourmet experiences like a Guest Chef Series dinner, Christmas feasts, and a spectacular New Year’s Eve gala. The resort’s Kao Kamasa Spa also embraces the spirit of the season with special holiday shopping events, full moon yoga, floating sound baths, and exclusive festive treatments, offering guests a restorative balance of celebration and wellness.
