Iconic City And Historic Luxury Hotels
These five properties lean on architecture and interior scale, grand lobbies, historic ballrooms, and design-led decor, rather than outdoor attractions.
| Hotel | Location | Signature holiday feature |
|---|
| Fairmont San Francisco | Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA | Two-story lobby gingerbread house built from thousands of pieces |
| The St. Regis Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | Rotating designer holiday tree collaboration each season |
| The Jefferson Hotel | Richmond, VA | Towering atrium trees and a standalone holiday afternoon tea |
| The Cloister at Sea Island | Sea Island, GA | Custom annual holiday theme with family gingerbread building |
| The Greenbrier | White Sulphur Springs, WV | Themed trees, live carolers, and a traditional yule log service |
Festive Family Resorts And Winter Wonderlands
These five properties go big on outdoor-scale attractions, ice rinks, light displays, and organized family activities, built for a multi-day holiday stay rather than a single festive dinner.
| Hotel | Location | Activities |
|---|
| Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | Scottsdale, AZ | Outdoor ice-skating rink; 120-foot sledding hill; lit-up enchanted plaza with a towering tree; large-scale LED light display |
| Hotel del Coronado | Coronado, CA | Oceanfront ice skating; holiday igloo dining on the beach; festive light displays along the property |
| Omni Grove Park Inn | Asheville, NC | National Gingerbread House Competition with structures on display for guests; fireside lounging by the property's historic stone fireplaces |
| Gaylord Hotels (Texan, Opryland & Rockies) | TX / TN / CO | "ICE!" block-ice sculpture exhibit; snow tubing; scheduled Santa visits; regional variations at each property |
| Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale, MO (Ozarks) | Guided holiday light tours; outdoor ice rink; Mrs. Claus breakfast event |
Best Hotels For Christmas, City By City
The top festive hotels for Christmas in major US cities, New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, combine grand decorations, seasonal menus, and holiday activities. For the best hotel for Christmas in New York, The Plaza Hotel leads the list with its holiday afternoon tea in The Palm Court and a Fifth Avenue location steps from Central Park. Here's how the rest breaks down city by city.
| City | Hotel | Price (from) | Rating | Category | Why it fits |
|---|
| New York City, NY | The Plaza Hotel | $1,777 | 4.5 (6.8K) | 5-star | Holiday afternoon tea in The Palm Court, steps from Central Park and Fifth Avenue shopping |
| New York City, NY | Lotte New York Palace | $611 | 4.4 (4.3K) | 5-star | One of the city's most recognized courtyard Christmas trees and festive holiday cocktails |
| Chicago, IL | The Peninsula Chicago | $644 | 4.7 (2.8K) | 5-star | Glowing lobby tree, outdoor skating rink on the terrace, and gingerbread displays |
| Chicago, IL | Swissôtel Chicago | $185 | 4.3 (6.5K) | 4-star | 41st-floor penthouse transformed into a dedicated holiday wonderland attraction |
| New Orleans, LA | The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel | $195 | 4.6 (6.3K) | 5-star | Block-long display of more than 112,000 lights through the grand lobby |
| Nashville, TN | Gaylord Opryland Resort | $372 | 4.5 (34.3K) | 4-star | Large-scale annual Christmas event with ice tubing, outdoor skating, and gingerbread house making |
| Los Angeles / Beverly Hills, CA | Fairmont Century Plaza | $362 | 4.5 (778) | 5-star | Private Alpine-inspired Swiss chalets on the outdoor terrace with fire pits and cheese fondue |
| Scottsdale, AZ | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | $259 | 4.6 (6.8K) | 5-star | Desert winter wonderland with an ice rink, s'mores fire pits, and millions of holiday lights |
Practical Planning Guide For A Christmas Or New Year Hotel Stay
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|
| Holiday programming dates | Most properties run their full decor and events from late November through New Year's Day, but marquee events like gingerbread competitions or ICE! exhibits often have their own separate start and end dates. |
| Minimum-stay requirements | Christmas week and New Year's Eve frequently carry a multi-night minimum at these properties, confirm the exact requirement directly with the hotel before you build a shorter itinerary around it. |
| Regional weather | Mountain and coastal properties on this list span very different climates, pack for actual conditions at the destination rather than assuming "winter" means the same thing everywhere. |
| Cancellation policy | Holiday-period bookings often carry stricter cancellation windows and non-refundable deposit terms than a standard stay. |
Insider Tips For Booking Before These Hotels Sell Out
Book six to nine months ahead: Christmas week and New Year's Eve at these properties routinely sell out well before the season starts, especially for suites and family-configured rooms.
Watch for early-access windows: Several of these hotels open holiday-specific packages, like a gingerbread workshop slot or a NYE dinner seating, to book separately and earlier than the room itself.
Consider a shoulder date: Arriving a few days before Christmas or staying through the first days of January often means the same decor and programming with a meaningfully better rate and easier availability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do these hotels decorate for both Christmas and New Year's?
Yes. Most run continuous holiday programming from late November through New Year's Day, so the decor and many events cover both occasions in a single stay.
2. How far in advance should I book a Christmas hotel stay?
Six to nine months ahead is a safe window for these properties, suites and family rooms are the first room types to sell out.
3. Are these hotels good for a family with young kids?
The resort-style properties, especially Gaylord Hotels, Big Cedar Lodge, and Omni Grove Park Inn, are built around family activities like tubing, gingerbread building, and Santa visits.
4. Do city hotels on this list have outdoor holiday activities too?
Less so. The city and historic hotels here focus on indoor spectacle, lobby decor, designer trees, and afternoon teas, rather than outdoor attractions.
5. Is it cheaper to visit right after Christmas instead of during the week itself?
Generally yes. The days between Christmas and New Year's, and just after January 1st, tend to carry lower rates while decor and most events are still running.
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