Santa on a Jet Ski?

These Hotels Make

Holiday Travel Fun

Let the stunning setting of this 108-room hotel, with its white Greco-Moorish buildings on an exclusive turquoise beach on Maundays Bay in Anguilla draw you in. And then, be blown away by the holiday line-up, with offerings from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Thanksgiving festivities start on the Tuesday before the big day, with rum tastings, spa specials, a family volleyball competition and more, with the highlight being a three-hour Thanksgiving feast.

The December celebrations begin on Dec. 21, kicking off two weeks of fun. What we love about these festivities is how much they incorporate Anguillan culture and holiday traditions: On Christmas Eve, hear steel pans and carols sung by the Children’s Choir, enjoy the daily Anguillan Grill BBQ at the beachside Cap Shack restaurant, and listen to the live Steel Band show as a “warm-up” to the New Year’s Eve party. Add to this a long list of offerings for every type of traveler—from champagne sunset cruises to an IronMan swim to daily kid-specific activities in the Explorers Club—and you have the makings of a truly captivating vacation.

Florence is spectacular any time of year, but now is your chance to experience the holidays in this historical Tuscan city from the comfort of the 45-room Villa San Michele. This year marks the first time the hotel has been open for the festive season and what’s planned is sure to impress: From Dec. 5 through 12, stock up on gifts at the “Art of Making” Christmas market featuring local and sustainable pieces, while on Dec. 7 enjoy Afternoon Tea with Dante, complete with poetry readings, in homage to the 700th (!!) anniversary of the writer’s death. There’s a Christmas lunch at the hotel’s Ristorante San Michele, along with a New Year’s Eve party and New Year’s Day toast to ring in 2022.  

And that’s just what’s happening in honor of the holidays. The hotel, which is housed in a former medieval monastery, offers lots more, including classes in pasta, pizza, and dessert-making at their cooking school, private dining experiences, like the one in their wine cellar, and museum visits—along with the entire city at your fingertips.

Immerse yourself in the unforgettable sights and sounds of the holiday season in Sicily, at Grand Hotel Timeo, in the pretty town of Taormina. With amazing views of Mount Etna and Naxos Bay and a moderate climate, even in December, you can enjoy outdoor activities both in town and at the historic 71-room property. For instance, an outdoor brunch is held on Saturdays on the terrace of the hotel’s Ristorante Timeo.

There are plenty of holiday-specific happenings as well, including a tree trimming with Sicilian ceramics and pastry classes on Sundays. (Example: Make a traditional Sicilian cassata) On Christmas Eve, gifts will be given out for kids, with brunch on Christmas Day. End the year on a sweet note, with a dinner, party and fireworks show—with Mount Etna in the background!—on NYE, followed by brunch on Jan 1. Other musts? Walk through the town to admire the holiday decorations and nativity scenes,  set in the picturesque churches and chapels of the historic centre, relax with a citrus-themed treatment at the spa, and be sure to have dinner at Otto Geleng, the intimate (just 16 seats) Michelin-star restaurant, headed by Executive Chef Roberto Toro.

While we love a stay at a Belmond property at any time of year, the expansive programs and itineraries they put together for the holidays provide the best of both worlds: The chance to relax and unwind in gorgeous hotels, while also celebrating all that local culture has to offer.