Image courtesy of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection
‘Tis the season for holiday travel. And if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that the early bird gets the worm. Now is the time to book your holiday travel, whether you’re in search of a classic Caribbean sojourn or a cozy getaway closer to home.
Read on for several hotels within driving (or train-ing) distance of NYC, Boston, SF and LA, plus a few warm-weather escapes South of the Border. And, all hotels mentioned have availability for the upcoming holiday season.
Domestic hotels to escape to this holiday season
Image courtesy of The Langham, Boston
A short car or train ride can take you somewhere magical. Some of my favorite hotels are within a few hours' drive or train ride from a major city. Translation? Less stress, less travel and more time to enjoy a true vacation.
From NYC
Image courtesy of Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection
NYC can get hectic during the holidays. Luckily, a few countryside hotels make for easy getaways. Troutbeck, a historic Hudson Valley estate once frequented by the likes of Thoreau and Emerson, is cozy and charming — with farm-to-table cuisine to boot.
Fora Perks at Troutbeck:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Craving more Hudson Valley? Consider Wildflower Farms, where rustic-chic cabins and cottages dot 140 idyllic acres of natural beauty. And don't miss the spa, a wellness oasis that draws its inspiration from — what else? — Mother Nature.
Fora Perks at Wildflower Farms:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
From Boston
Image courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
If you're in Boston, opt for Rhode Island, whose quintessential New England charm never disappoints. Watch Hill's dramatic Ocean House still has some availability this holiday season, as does Newport's Castle Hill Inn, where you can stay in a restored 19th-century mansion, or in cottages by the beach.
Fora Perks at Ocean House:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Castle Hill Inn:
Welcome amenity.
Breakfast daily.
But sometimes a staycation is the way to go. For all trips starting between Sunday, November 19th and Saturday, November 25th at The Langham, Boston, Fora travelers will receive a guaranteed upgrade and a special seasonal amenity.
Fora Perks at The Langham, Boston:
When you book Langham with a Fora Advisor, you will enjoy exclusive Preferred Partner amenities. Reach out to learn more.
From San Francisco
Image courtesy of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection
In NorCal, I love Napa Valley for an easy-to-get-to destination. (Napa is a short plane ride away from LA, and a quick drive from SF.) I especially love Auberge's Stanly Ranch, where standalone cottages and cabins put a five-star spin on a warm farmhouse style. Another Napa favorite is the Andaz Napa, right in the heart of Downtown.
Fora Perks at Stanly Ranch:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Andaz Napa:
$50 hotel / resort credit.
Welcome amenity.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & early check-in whenever possible.
From Los Angeles
Image courtesy of Malibu Beach Inn
Sometimes it's difficult to tell where LA ends and Malibu begins, but the latter is, in fact, its own city. I love Malibu's beaches, restaurants, hotels (of course) and chill vibes. LA locals looking for a break should head straight to Malibu Beach Inn, a 47-room art-filled hideaway.
Fora Perks at Malibu Beach Inn:
$100 food / beverage credit.
$80 daily breakfast credit.
Upgrade & early check-in whenever possible.
Looking for something further from home? Head south to somewhere warm
Image courtesy of Turtle Bay Resort
I'm dreaming of lots of sun, sand and relaxation, whether in a beachfront villa or a tropical resort. Get ready for your holiday stress to melt away.
The Caribbean
Image courtesy of Rock House
The Caribbean is always a good idea, especially when two of my favorite Turks and Caicos resorts — Rock House and The Shore Club — have much-coveted holiday availability. Another favorite, the Relais & Châteaux stunner Calabash Hotel, in Grenada, also has a few rooms available.
Caribbean villas are great options for the holidays. Fora's partners at Jumby Bay Villas are offering a fourth-night-free promotion, and my friends over at Ici & La, in St. Barth's, also have several luxe villas to choose from.
Fora Perks at The Shore Club:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Calabash Hotel:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Mexico
Image courtesy of NIZUC Resort & Spa
Over in Mexico, there's availability at Cancún's sleek NIZUC Resort & Spa, and at the unbelievable 10-room Casa Chablé, located in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fora Perks at NIZUC Resort & Spa:
Complimentary hydrothermal therapy session for two.
Complimentary one-way private airport transfer.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Hawai'i
Image courtesy of Turtle Bay Resort
For a secluded Hawai'ian getaway with a vibrant local spirit, breezy accommodations and A+ activities (surf lessons from a pro, helicopter rides), Turtle Bay Resort, on Oahu's North Shore, is the obvious choice.
Fora Perks at Turtle Bay Resort:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Welcome amenity.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade whenever possible.
Colombia
Barichara, Colombia
If you've been thinking about that bucket-list getaway, the time to book is now. Colombia is looking particularly inviting, especially since Casa Yahri, a delightful boutique hotel in the cobblestoned town of Barichara, is offering limited-time exclusive rates and traveler perks (nightly hotel credit, anyone?).