It’s the most wonderful time of the year again — the time of year when the sun goes down early, the scent of hot cocoa and peppermint fills the air, warm sweaters keep you cozy and you realize it’s definitely time for a vacation.
If you’re looking for a true winter escape, where the falling snow is magic and not an inconvenience, you’re in luck. From luxurious ski resorts where hitting the slopes is only half the fun to glass igloos with views of the northern lights, this roundup of our favorite places for a true winter vacation has you covered.
Just don’t forget to pack your warmest coat and mittens.
Mohonk Mountain House: New York
MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE
If you thought castles plucked straight out of a fairy tale were reserved for Europe or Walt Disney World, it’s time to head to New Paltz, New York, for a very special hotel. At the all-inclusive Mohonk Mountain House, you’ll enjoy three square meals a day (plus afternoon tea and cookies), including elegant seated options with waitstaff.
But what really makes the journey to this European-like escape is the natural beauty around the historic building. During the winter months, guests can snowshoe, go cross-country skiing or take a winter hike to enjoy the Hudson Valley blanketed with snow. For a little more fun, the resort also offers snow tubing and ice skating, all of which are included in the price of the stay. Finish the day off cuddled up near your in-room fireplace and you might just wonder if your life is a movie.
Rates at Mohonk Mountain House start around $600 a night for double occupancy during the winter months, but keep in mind that rates include all of your food.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Jackson Hole: Wyoming
Jackson Hole’s Four Seasons Resort and Residences property delivers five-star elegance amidst some of America’s most rugged peaks, beloved ski runs and awe-inspiring wildlife in nearby Grand Teton National Park.
Featuring ski-in/ski-out access to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the property has 155 guest rooms, suites and resort residences geared toward a range of travelers, from families to solo visitors to couples. Aside from world-class skiing and snowboarding, join in on wildlife tours and snowshoeing with in-house partner Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris. The property can also arrange sleigh riding excursions to the Elk Refuge, snowmobiling to Yellowstone and a dip in Astoria Hot Springs. Teton Village offers ice skating throughout the season and snow tubing is available at nearby Snow King Resort.
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Onsite, guests can make use of the year-round heated pool and three whirlpools, perfect for apres and taking in sweeping views of the dramatic Rendezvous Mountain. Complimentary s’mores are available poolside every afternoon, or visit the hot chocolate cart for a la carte gourmet hot chocolate to order. The Spa draws in those focused on wellness, with 15 treatment rooms. Book a steakhouse dinner at Westbank Grill and then pop by the 80 Proof speakeasy for a nightcap after the day’s adventures.
Rates at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole start at $1,145 per night. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
Montage Big Sky: Montana
MONTAGE BIG SKY
Montana’s Montage Big Sky resort is open year-round but was made to kick a winter vacation into overdrive. Located in Big Sky near the Spanish Peaks mountains and just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park (yes, winter safaris are available), guests here can enjoy thousands of acres of ski-in, ski-out access at Big Sky Resort and other winter sports such as snow biking, snowshoeing and cross-country and Nordic skiing.
Of course, hitting the slopes is only half the fun — even when you take advantage of private sessions with renowned skier Dan Egan. The resort has a luxury spa offering a variety of treatments, plus an indoor pool to relax in. At Cortina, the resort’s northern Italian restaurant, enjoy handmade pasta and oven-roasted pizzas. To warm up at the end of the day, listen to live music next to a fireplace with an expertly crafted cocktail in hand at the rustic-chic bar, Alpenglow.
Rates at Montage Big Sky start around $1,844 per night, before taxes, for a Deluxe Vista View King room. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe: California
RITZ-CARLTON LAKE TAHOE
Out on the West Coast, winter is at its best around Lake Tahoe, and The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe might be its shining jewel. At this luxurious resort, you’ll find all the best winter activities, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and even snowmobiling. In fact, the resort is a great place for the whole family, as it can help you get your winter sport newbies enrolled in skiing or snowboarding lessons.
Inside, away from the snow and cold, you can relax in the resort’s 17,000-square-foot spa, which offers a heated outdoor lap pool, a dry-heat lodge, whirlpool tubs, rainforest showers and a eucalyptus steam room. Other must-dos include dining on local, seasonal ingredients at Manzanita and grabbing a cocktail near the fireplace at The Living Room Bar. To get into town for ice skating, shopping and more restaurants, just hop on the intermountain gondola.
Rates at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe start at $505 or 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Related: 17 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book on points
Forestis: Italy
Nestled on a mountaintop opposite the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, Forestis is a secluded well-being retreat offering unparalleled views of one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. From its elevated perch, the property showcases the Dolomites’ striking beauty — a dramatic interplay of jagged, towering rock formations and snow-laden forests and valleys that transform into a tranquil winter wonderland under a blanket of sparkling snow.
Designed as a sanctuary for guests to reconnect with nature and themselves, Forestis centers its experience around the Dolomites’ four elements: clear water, pure air, abundant sunshine and an immaculate alpine climate. This unique convergence of natural phenomena creates an ideal setting for healing and renewal.
During winter, guests can enjoy rejuvenating spa treatments in rooms carved into the mountainside, or indulge in private spa offerings, including exclusive nighttime access to the pool and sauna and private sauna rituals. For a holistic winter retreat, guests are invited to savor “forest cuisine,” featuring seasonal ingredients sourced from nature and local farmers, and embark on exhilarating outdoor adventures including guided hiking and snowshoeing excursions with awe-inspiring mountain vistas, as well as direct ski-in, ski-out access from the Forestis ski room to the slopes via the Plose ski chairlift.
Rates at Forestis start at $430. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
Related: 11 great European destinations to visit in winter
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre: Iceland
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
If you want to catch the northern lights, it’s time to start planning a trip to Iceland in winter. To root your trip, why not spend a few nights at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre to see what the tiny island nation’s capital city has to offer?
This Canopy is in the heart of the city’s entertainment and shopping district, so it’s the perfect place to get cultured in a city that knows how to do winter really well — plus, you can earn and redeem Hilton Honors points here.
While Reykjavík has plenty to offer on its own, the hotel’s restaurant, Geiri Smart, attracts folks from all over. According to the restaurant, “There are no fixed rules, and we play it by ear depending on what our farmers have to offer at any given moment.”
So before you head off on an excursion searching for the wonders of the sky, stay here to enjoy the wonders of one of Europe’s coolest — figuratively and literally — cities.
Rates at Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre start at $235 or 59,000 Hilton Honors points.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort: Finland
HOTEL KAKSLAUTTANEN IGLOO VILLAGE
To take your winter vacation to the next level, why not stay in the most extreme winter accommodation available: an igloo?
At Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland, that’s totally possible — and also completely luxurious. Here, guests can choose from a number of different igloo types, but the glass igloos, with full views of the sky, are the best because they give guests the chance to catch the northern lights right from bed.
The resort also offers plenty of exciting adventures and activities for guests, including husky and reindeer safaris, excursions to find the aurora borealis, ice fishing, horseback riding and sleigh rides. Sure, getting to this remote part of Finland seems tricky, but there are flights to the area from Helsinki.
Rates at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland start at about $830 per night from August through April for a small glass igloo with two beds, a shower and a sauna.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: Canada
FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
If there’s a country that knows how to do winter right, it’s Canada. And at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, winter takes on a whole new level of grandeur.
Located on the shore of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, this iconic resort is tucked away in the Canadian Rockies near Victoria Glacier.
At the resort, winter activities abound, including skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, not to mention some off-site activities like ice climbing, snow tubing and treks to the nearby glaciers. Back on property, a luxury spa lets guests unwind and a heated indoor pool allows people to stretch their muscles with a swim. A number of can’t-miss restaurants, including a pub with decadent fondue, let people fill up and recharge for another day of snowy adventures or simply kicking back and taking in the beauty of it all.
Rates at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise start around $750. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program or the Accor Live Limitless program.
Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa: Massachusetts
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
If hitting the slopes or frolicking in the snow don’t quite fit your fancy, maybe it’s time to head to New England for a tranquil spa weekend at Miraval Berkshires, a popular wellness resort that’s also a great place to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points.
Here, guests can enjoy a mostly all-inclusive experience at an adults-only property that caters to those looking to recharge. Honestly, it’s the perfect place for parents to unwind after a busy holiday season spent playing Santa or entertaining in-laws. From a calming hot stone massage to deep meditation sessions, the resort offers a robust wellness experience designed to leave guests feeling relaxed and renewed after a visit. It also offers plenty of winter activities, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
If you need more convincing, see why TPG senior reporter Zach Griff gave the resort our highest badge of honor.
Rates at Miraval Berkshires start at $674 or 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night for single occupancy. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort: Colorado
ST. REGIS ASPEN
At The St. Regis Aspen Resort you’ll feel like a star walking into the luxury resort at the base of Aspen Mountain. What’s great about a winter trip to Aspen is that you’re able to combine the joys of winter sports and apres ski with the convenience of being in a popular resort town with fine dining, designer shopping and more.
At the resort, a ski valet helps guests with the equipment needed to hit one of the area’s four mountains for snowboarding or skiing, while a regular valet helps guests to a number of rustic-chic rooms and suites, including many with mountain views. Other winter activities include sleigh rides, dog sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing and even winter fly-fishing.
The perfect place for both skiers and those who’d rather stay off the mountain, The St. Regis Aspen also offers a spa, a 24-hour heated pool, hot tubs and a number of restaurants, including the opulent Velvet Buck, serving up “rustic mountain cuisine.”
Rates at The St. Regis Aspen Resort start at $783 or 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
The Plaza: New York
CAITLIN RIDDELL/THE POINTS GUY
Winter in New York City is simply spectacular, so if you’re going to visit, why not just go for the version you see on television and in the movies by booking a stay at The Plaza?
Arguably the city’s most iconic hotel, The Plaza gives you direct access to Central Park, which comes alive during a winter snowfall, and the luxury shops lining Fifth Avenue.
Inside the hotel, which is truly as grand as you would imagine, stately rooms feel like they’re fit for royalty and ballrooms and dining rooms drip with gold accents and shiny chandeliers. Not to mention, afternoon tea at The Palm Court will make you feel like royalty. If you’re traveling with kids, the Eloise Suite can make the winter magic all the more special with its pink-striped walls, neon sign and Betsy Johnson-designed interior.
Rates at The Plaza start at about $650 per night. Available to book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program or the Accor Live Limitless program.
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