Like a fanfare of trumpets on a dead quiet night or red lipstick worn with an all-black ensemble, holiday decor captures the attention. Strings of pulsating lights, trees festooned with colored balls, blue and gold showcased menorahs lit for the night, Santas in thrones, beribboned gifts stacked all catawampus, these are the wonders of holiday bedazzlement. Swiftly conveying us into the season, holiday decorations alter our moods as surely as a glass of Bollinger. I’ll never forget walking through the ornate front doors of The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel in early December 2020. Disconnected from my usual Christmas fervor (thank you pandemic), I’d not expected frippery and trimmings. But one step into this French Quarter grand dame’s Waldorf Wonderland lobby walkway, I was surrounded by the hotel’s quintessential display of 112,000 lights, 1600 feet of garland 4,000 glass ornaments, gingerbread sculpture, and North Pole-themed spectacles. It was exhilarating — and I felt so grateful for this hotel’s holiday gift of sparkly cheer. With teddy bear tea ceremonies for kids and holiday libations at the Sazerac Bar, The Roosevelt during the holidays, continues to offer hope and enchantment.
Ready to be wowed and uplifted this year by holiday decorations and seasonal activities? We’ve got the skinny.
Scottish Highlands
For anyone who has ever dreamed of stepping into a holiday storybook, Christmas at The Fife Arms delivers the magic in true Highland style. Think snow-dusted peaks, roaring fires, and Victorian-era decorations crafted from locally foraged greenery — all set against the fairytale backdrop of Braemar village. From December 24–27, 2026, guests are invited to embrace centuries-old traditions and festive indulgence with The Fife Arms’ signature Christmas package. The three-night celebration begins with a special afternoon tea on Christmas Eve before the Cairngorm Reindeer Parade winds through the village. Later, guests gather around the fire pit for roasted chestnuts, create their own ornaments for the hotel’s Christmas trees, and take part in ancient Yuletide rituals like burning birch twig bundles in the courtyard. Between wintry walks through Cairngorms National Park and visits to the village’s festive markets, guests can retreat to Bertie’s Whisky Bar — stocked with more than 500 bottles — or unwind with a treatment at the Albamhor Spa, inspired by the wild landscapes of the Highlands.
Aspen Meadows Resort, Colorado
You’ll want to go just for the holiday village with burros dressed in Christmas outfits. But, you’ll also love the outdoor bar with steaming hot cocoa and mulled wine, the lobby brimming with gingerbread displays, sleigh rides, holiday movies, and cookie decorating that this sprawling resort offers up among 40 acres in Aspen’s West End. The retreat also proudly celebrates all eight nights of Hanukkah. As the sun sets, each evening at 5 pm, guests and locals alike can gather to light the menorah and savor delectable latkes crafted by the kitchen. Leaders from the Aspen Jewish Congregation and Aspen Chabad House take turns conducting the candle-lighting rituals.
Four Seasons Hotels
This storied brand with outposts around the world goes all out for the holidays, each property expressing itself uniquely and with elan. At Beverly Hills, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, the party lasts all season long with a richly festooned lobby setting the scene and exterior red and green awnings acting as a portal for the fete. From a holiday boutique in the Wilshire Wing offering branded items, beauty products, and house-made treats to a nightly Hanukkah menorah lighting with a local rabbi and kosher cookies, the Beverly Wilshire brings December to a grand finale with a New Year’s Eve party in THE Blvd, among other culinary offerings.
While most people seek out the biggest parties in town, especially in Texas where things are purportedly bigger to begin with, Four Seasons Hotel Houston takes a minimal and more exclusive approach—albeit one with maximalist tendencies. At Bandista, the hotel’s diminutive speakeasy (which boasts only 20 sought-after seats and serves astonishingly creative cocktails), a veritable holiday extravaganza awaits the few lucky enough to get a reservation. Outside the speakeasy confines, hotel guests can hug the huge teddy bear, pose by the tree, indulge in holiday-themed spa treatments at the Spa (peppermint pampering) or nosh at Santa’s gingerbread workshop.
Willard InterContinental Washington DC
Head to the fabled Willard InterContinental Washington DC, the capital’s historic home-away-from-home for the holidays. You’ll not only walk in the sparkly shoes of dignitaries, celebutantes, and presidents, but have the opportunity to listen to the hotel’s nighty choir of carolers — a capital city highlight during festive season. In the grandiloquent Beaux Arts-inspired lobby, hung wreathes, shimmering lights, and draped ribbons ensure the ideal backdrop for photos beside the impressive Christmas tree. Take afternoon tea in the Willard’s stately Peacock Alley or book the hotel’s sought-after Christmas brunch, a tradition beloved by locals.
Almanac X Acron Prague
Storybook Prague, known for its mystical aura, doesn’t hold back during the holidays. Convivial Christmas stalls in Old Town and Wenceslas Square serve up sausages, chestnuts, and mulled wine. The Almanac X Alcron ups the ante with a decor concept by Czech designer Linda Pro in collaboration with Glassor Decor, a Czech design and glass-manufacturing company, known for their hand-blown glass—and in season artisanal glass ornaments. Behold a 12-foot tree in the lobby. It sparkles with hand-blown glass bows in powder pink and cream white, surrounded by a forest of smaller ribbon-trimmed potted trees dusted with artificial snow. Save time for a holiday styling session with fashion designer Lukáš Macháček to craft the ultimate party-season outfit, hands-on art workshops with Jan Bican to create personalized Christmas gifts, and gingerbread baking with chef Richard Bielik.
Kona Village, A Rosewood Hotel
While snow isn’t expected on the Big Island this year, Santa knows where to find guests celebrating among the palm trees and lava fields. Offering a range of local twists on traditional holiday activities created to please the whole extended family (or ohana in Hawaii), the soulful retreat with its Elvis Blue Hawaii vibes and characteristic architecture promises Mele Kalikimaka, the Hawaiian way. From gingerbread “hale” decorating contests to a seaside Christmas market with local artisans and a Santa’s workshop chock full of craft activities, Kona Village puts its own sunny spin on the holiday season.
La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich
Four festive Christmas markets bring out the glitterati in Zurich, Switzerland’s lakeside portal to some of Europe’s best ski resorts. Enjoy bauble-heavy Christmas trees around the city enlivened with Swarovski crystals or foil-wrapped chunks of Lindt chocolates. Take the children to the Märlitram, a festive streetcar helmed by Santa and his helpers. Matching the city’s celebratory ambience, La Réserve Eden au Lac is shrouded in tasteful holiday finery, showing every angle of the Philippe Starck renovated Belle Epoque mansion to its best advantage. Choose the hotel’s Christmas & Culture package (November 19 – December 23), which includes a two-hour guided tour of the city’s top Christmas markets.
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Waltzing distance from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in the historic Mitte District, majestic Hotel Adlon Kempinski honors the inner child and German ingenuity with playful holiday assemblages that star adorable stuffed animals by the beloved Steiff brand, accented by elements of local craftwork including characteristic wooden carousels from the Erzgebirge region. In the lobby, photo opps abound, whether beside the gigantic teddy bear or the sleigh complete with reindeer. A gospel choir croons tunes on Sundays throughout the season in the Lobby Bar & Lounge and atop the main entrance on Adlon’s notable balcony. Upon request, housekeeping will make you feel at home when they set up a bauble-laden tree in your suite.
Fairmont San Francisco
A holiday destination in itself, the lobby of this storied hotel showcases its annual, life-sized Gingerbread House, assiduously handcrafted by Chef Kevin Tanaka on November 22. Built from thousands of house-baked gingerbread bricks, adorned with more than a ton of royal icing and candy, the house’s unveiling on November 21 signals the start of the holiday season. Book the gingerbread mansion for a private holiday breakfast, tea, or dinner. A 23-foot Christmas tree, a rooftop holiday market, and chic Santa-themed suites for overnight stays seal the deal.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico
Head to the Yucatan for a jolly holiday. At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a posh all-inclusive Mexican retreat, celebrating guests can gather around the large central menorah for nightly candle lightings. The retreat offers a thoughtful collection of Hanukkah activities such as dreidel making, a Star of David-shaped cooking decorating, a Hanukkah-themed menu certified by the local Rabbi, and a special homemade pescatarian menu with latkes available on the buffet. The season of bliss also includes letters to Santa, en-suite Christmas trees, holiday crafts, and a traditional Mexican posada.
Caribe Royale Orlando
Forget Disneyworld, which lies just 10 minutes away. This resort is so entertaining that guests sometimes don’t leave the premises. Caribe Royale Orlando, an all-suite haven, has a buzzy pool scene, a 75-foot water slide, sports courts, and numerous restaurants, but it really goes whole hog during the holidays. Chocolate lovers will swoon over the collection of chocolate sculptures which depict North Pole express and Santa’s magical flight. You’ll sip cocoa at check-in, join menorah and Christmas tree lightings, participate in a hidden gnome hunt, decorate cookies, and have the chance to learn to make (and taste) your own chocolate holiday village.
Feature image courtesy, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel; Travel Curator may earn a commission from booking links on this page.
