Around one downtown hotel lobby in Toronto, you’ll find a cue of holiday kin. I’m in the Fairmont Royal York. Wherever you look, the buzz is electric. See kids dressed up. Doting moms smoothening out their rough edges—be it hairdos or tucking in shirts. Of course, the big deal is seeing Santa Claus.
It’s wonderful to see how hotels are zhuzhing up their lobbies in time for the holidays. No doubt, Santa is busy this Christmas! This festive season, six dazzling properties are spreading cheer in spectacular style. From tropical escapes to snowy dreams, here’s your ultimate guide to a holly, jolly hotel-hopping holiday!
Check rates online for Fairmont Royal York at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
All Aboard the Holiday Express
See a 20-foot-high Christmas tree light up the lobby of one of Canada’s grand railway hotels. The annual hotel tradition has been a seasonal city fave for years. This year, a Norway Spruce is decked out in 12,000 lights. It’s only footsteps from Toronto’s biggest commuter hub (Union Station). Linger in the lobby at the Fairmont Royal York, and then make your way to a new pop-up bar experience. Called “House of York,” find a cozy, intimate setting styled on a Canadian cabin in the woods. True vintage! Enjoy a tipple of carefully crafted cocktails/mocktails with plenty of spirits infused.
Check rates online for Fairmont Royal York at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Gold Glam and Bubbly
Did someone say Moët & Chandon at Saxon Hotel Villas and Spa? The luxe champagne house has created a special Moët & Chandon-themed Christmas tree in the lobby of this posh South African hospitality brand. Called “A Splash of Gold,” the Christmas tree’s unique gold and white ornaments glitter as high as the lobby chandelier. The luxe property located in the most desirable suburb in Jo’burg called Sandhurst celebrates in true style.
Check rates online for Saxon Hotel Villas and Spa at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Gingerbread Dreams Come True
Gingerbread has morphed into a new concept in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton sets the lobby mood immediately. Close your eyes. Now open them to see a feast. A grand gingerbread house is adorned with royal icing, candy, and lights. The stunning 9-foot-tall creation is a replica of the hotel.
Now, continue to marvel at the recently revamped Paintlind Lobby! A magnificent Christmas tree with twinkling lights and all the green garlands help set the mood.
Families can reserve the exclusive Santa Suite prepped to welcome Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. Enjoy cocoa bombs, a custom kit to decorate cookies for Santa Claus, and even postcards to the North Pole!
Check rates online for Amway Grand Plaza at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
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Tropical Tinsel Treats
Who needs snow when you’ve got retro-tiki Christmas vibes? At the Flamingo Resort & Spa in Sonoma County, California, the holidays come alive with rattan sleighs, palm trees decked in ornaments, and hibiscus garlands. You can try singing carols (or not) over at the Sippin’ Santa Holiday Cocktail Pop-Up. There’s a dash of surf-and-sleigh added to your festivities with tropical-themed cocktails. Kids and adults will revel in carolers, ornament crafting, and cookie decorating. And for a truly magical stay, there’s the Santa Suite. Kitted out with your own personal Christmas tree, a crackling fireplace, twinkling lights, and Sonoma-scented bath goodies, aren’t you ready to cozy up in your slice of tropical holiday heaven?
Check rates online for Flamingo Resort & Spa at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Highland Holiday Elegance
At Cameron Highlands Resort in Malaysia, their luxe Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is a hotly anticipated annual spectacle. The hotel decorates to the nines yearly, from giant, decorated Christmas trees to stockings hung by the fire, garlands with mistletoe, and more. Cameron Highlands transforms into a winter wonderland each holiday season.
But the fairytale doesn’t end at the decor. Guests can join the resident naturalist for a complimentary guided walk through lush greenery, savor the charm of an elegant English Afternoon Tea, or kick things up a notch with a cozy steamboat dinner. With its breezy tropical highland climate, Cameron Highlands is where luxury meets yuletide cheer—perfect for a chic, sunshine-filled holiday escape!
Check rates online for Cameron Highlands Resort at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Bethlehem’s Bliss
Nothing tops Christmas in the Christmas City—and Historic Hotel Bethlehem is the sparkling centerpiece of it all! Step into a holiday wonderland where generations of families have come to rekindle their childlike wonder. With over 35,000 twinkling lights, 25 uniquely decked-out Christmas trees, 36 festive wreaths, towering 7-foot toy soldiers, life-size Nutcrackers, and a gingerbread house modeled after the hotel itself, it’s a dazzling display that will make your heart skip a beat.
The holiday magic doesn’t end there! Bethlehem, PA, turns up the festive charm so much that Hallmark has chosen it as the backdrop for its iconic Christmas movies. Whether you’re strolling through the town or cozying up at the hotel, the spirit of the season surrounds you at every turn. It’s pure holiday bliss!
Check rates online for Historic Hotel Bethlehem at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Happy Holidays 🙂
(photo credits: Sam Santos/Fairmont Royal York; Rick O’Brien/Fairmont Royal York; Saxon Hotel Villa & Spa; Amway Grand Plaza; Ellian Raffoul/Flamingo Resort & Spa Resort; Cameron Highlands Resort; Hotel Bethlehem/Mark Makela)
