Three Fabulous Ways to Do Festive

Plus Three More Bright Ideas You'll Love

By Tiffany Figueiredo

The magic of leaving home for the holidays is the chance to reimagine what the season can be. And honestly? After this year, couldn’t we all use a reset like that? If you’ve been quietly dreaming of a festive escape, this is your moment. Get in touch now while we still have options that will make the season feel truly unforgettable.

01. Festive By The Sea

There’s something quietly rebellious about celebrating Christmas with sand between your toes. In the Maldives, overwater villas become private sanctuaries floating above gin-clear lagoons. Your morning routine? Snorkeling before breakfast. Your evening plan? Champagne as the sun melts into the horizon. The Seychelles deliver the same blissful ease, where world-class chefs handle your holiday feast while the Indian Ocean provides the only soundtrack you need. It’s a universe away from family squabbles and kitchen stress.

For families, Hawaii perfects the balance between five-star service and laid-back island warmth, while Caribbean and Mexican resorts anticipate your every need before you even think to ask. Holiday magic doesn’t require twinkling lights when you have turquoise seas, trade winds, and bare feet on warm sand. Sometimes the most memorable December is the one that feels effortlessly, blissfully simple.

02. Holiday On Safari

Imagine waking in your tent suite as the bush stirs to life, with the Big Five providing the morning spectacle and sundowners replacing the eggnog. Safaris at this time of year carry their own rhythm: lantern-lit paths after dinner, fireside stories, and skies bright with more stars than any holiday lights could match.

We design safaris that work beautifully for every age, with shorter drives, guides who captivate kids, and pool time between outings. Families share the wonder of spotting leopards at dawn, while couples find romance in the quiet vastness. Whether in South Africa, Botswana, or Kenya, a safari turns the holidays into a season of wild celebration.

03. Cities That Sparkle

Some cities are at their absolute best in November and December. Paris becomes a winter jewel box, where afternoons unfold under the stained-glass dome of Galeries Lafayette and evenings end with champagne at the George V. New York feels electric with snow dusting Central Park, Lincoln Center’s winter season in full swing, and those hard-to-get shopping appointments we manage to secure.

London sets a different tone altogether, all festive polish and old-world charm. Think ballet at Covent Garden, tea at Claridge’s, ice-skating beneath the soaring arches of the Natural History Museum. These cities don’t just mark the holidays, they perform them, turning every street corner into a glittering stage.

Three More Magical Ways to Holiday Away

04. Alpine White Christmas

For anyone who dreams in snow, the Alps are the ultimate stage set. Zermatt’s car-free village charms as much as it impresses, while Courchevel 1850 turns après-ski into high art. The chalets we reserve become private mountain kingdoms, where raclette is served fireside and Champagne flows before the sun clears the peaks.

05. European Fairytales

Few traditions capture the essence of the season like Europe’s Christmas markets. Vienna sparkles with festive squares, Salzburg feels like a living snow globe, and Strasbourg’s medieval streets glow with garlands and light. The most effortless way to see several? A luxury river cruise along the Danube or Rhine, where every stop offers a new market and fresh memories.

06. Desert Glow

Santa Fe feels built for the season, its adobe rooftops lined with glowing luminarias and air scented with piñon smoke. Scottsdale serves up warm desert holidays, where palm-lined resorts offer tennis and golf, while kids stay entertained. Along the coast, Southern California and Baja add their own sparkle, with celebrations that move poolside as the Pacific stretches endlessly ahead.

Rewrite Your Holiday Story