Break out the mistletoe and eggnog –the most wonderful time of the year is once again around the corner! And for those about to embark upon a yuletide vacation away from home, we’ve listed the merriest hotels around the globe guaranteed to get anyone into the holiday spirit:
Hotel del Coronado, A Curio Collection by Hilton, San Diego, USA
This historic hotel featured one of the world’s first electrically-lighted outdoor Christmas trees back in 1904! And the property’s holiday celebrations have only further flourished as the decades have passed – today, the hotel features a unique beachside skating rink, decadent yuletide buffets and a Christmas theatrical production. Parents can even arrange for one of Santa’s elves to visit their little ones with a treat and a bedtime story!
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta, Canada
This cozy Canadian mountain escape has long been a favourite amongst those seeking a true “White Christmas” experience. The luxury lodge’s festivities include scavenger hunts, Karaoke, carolling, tobogganing, ice-skating, bingo and outdoor bonfires (for the making of S’Mores, naturally). Santa Claus himself would feel at home here.
Galway Bay Hotel, Ireland
From mulled wine to homemade mince pies, this welcoming Irish inn knows how to do the holidays right. On Christmas Day, Saint Nick pays a visit after brunch and hands out gifts to all the guests (provided they’ve been good) and later in the evening, the bar lights a roaring fire as live music plays on.
The Inn at Christmas Place, Tennessee, USA
Nestled within the small mountain resort town of Pigeon Forge, this snug retreat is teeming with holiday cheer all year long. Boasting a singing Santa, wreath-laden rooms and German clocks that chime Christmas carols, it’s an extravaganza of all things jolly.
Kilworth House Hotel and Theatre, Leicestershire, England
For those seeking out a Downton Abbey-type of Christmas, this English country estate is sure to do the trick. Decked with ornate seasonal decorations and surrounded by frosted woodlands, the Victorian-style Kilworth House Hotel and Theatre is sure to make anyone feel like a lord or lady. And the resort’s Christmas menu ain’t too shabby either – dry mulled spiced rare beef, honey and chestnut-glazed pork cutlet and Christmas pudding with rum and raisin ice cream are just a few of the options on offer.
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Florida, USA
Scrooge himself wouldn’t be able to resist this dazzling Christmas hub – the over-the-top holiday entertainment at this hotel has made news around the world and is planned nearly a year in advance. Imagine a jaw-dropping 54-foot-tall Christmas tree, more than two million twinkling lights, a Christmassy DreamWorks Experience with Shrek and the gang, live stage shows and two-million pounds of hand-carved ice monuments… We dare anyone to say “Bah, Humbug” to that!
The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, USA
The beloved holiday displays at this iconic Southern hotel have been a tradition since the 1930s and include lavish Christmas trees, canopies of white birch branches and piles of poinsettias. A 6-foot by 12-foot gingerbread village with an actual revolving carousel delights the young and old alike while a traditional teddy bear tea hosts storytellers, trumpeters and even Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
