Pack your bags!
’Tis the season to be jolly — and to kick back in real style with an unforgettable, next-level vacation! It’s all about reveling in the flamboyance of the holiday season with no-expense-spared, extravagant luxury. These three sparkling destinations guarantee perfectly lavish breaks whether you're a couple, a family, or a group of besties.
BALI, INDONESIA
For warming winter sun, swaying palm trees, fabulous food, and fascinating local culture, Bali is hard to beat. While Seminyak and Canggu are full of fantastic eateries and nightlife, we suggest venturing a little bit further from the bustle by heading to Bali’s majestic southern Ungasan and Uluwatu shorelines. Here, you’ll be guaranteed a tranquil beachside escape that will reenergize you for a new year ahead.
Amidst a range of stellar places to stay, none beats the jaw-dropping Alila Villas Uluwatu. This Instagrammable spot has become a home away for global jetsetters thanks to airy private spaces, fabulous dining, a luxurious spa, and a 24-hour butler service. Planning New Year’s Eve? You can usher in 2023 at the resort’s clifftop restaurant CIRE. Under the southern stars, enjoy live music while dining on a special menu including butter-poached lobster paired with cocktails and free-flow champagne.
If you can pull yourself away from your luxurious abode to explore the island during your trip, embark on a day excursion to uncover the monkey forest, art museums, temples, and rice paddies of Ubud. For the active adventurer, the lush rainforests, epic waterfalls, and deep mountain valleys of the island’s central highlands are calling.
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
No place does Christmas quite like the US, and no place is more luxurious or extravagant than Los Angeles — particularly Beverly Hills, where the world’s rich and famous love to gather and create a truly unforgettable Christmas.
You'll need a base, and the ultimate in elegance is the Beverley Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a historical landmark, a true icon with world-class dining from Michelin-starred Chef Wolfgang Puck — and yes, it was also where the classic film Pretty Woman was shot.
We’d suggest the 4,000-square-foot Wilshire Presidential Suite, where old Hollywood glamour is perfectly decked out for the Christmas season. But another romantic option comes with a glamping experience in their legendary Veranda Suite, where a tent is illuminated with crystal chandeliers, a chef prepares an eight-course menu with caviar and Wagyu, followed by a dessert made with 24k gold and paired with vintage champagnes.
With LA right on your doorstep, choose from a helicopter tour over the famous Hollywood sign, exploring some of the world’s finest gourmet dining with wine lists to match, or maybe just kick back on a superyacht as you’re dazzled by a Pacific Ocean sunset.
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
For the Southern Hemisphere summer vibe, there’s always the incomparable beauty of New Zealand’s South Island, with the famed adventure travel capital of Queenstown as its beating heart. At Christmas, the mountains around Lake Wakatipu are filled with adrenaline seekers enjoying long sunny days and fresh alpine air.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel offers the height of luxury in its Penthouse, which features a stunning, expansive terrace with a spa pool and fireplace (in case of un-summery weather), as well as truly unbelievable views across the lake and mountain ranges beyond.
Whether you get your kicks out of mountain biking or kayaking, on a dirt bike or a bungee cord, Queenstown is sure to set your pulse racing. But there are also luxuriously laid-back ways to spend an amazing Christmas. Jet-boat tours and private lake cruises are exhilarating, but we love the idea of getting on board a private helicopter that whisks you through the dramatic Southern Alps, before you tantalize your taste buds in one of the region’s finest wineries. The Airbus H120 promises total luxury above the spectacular views — and some seriously enviable Instagram posts!
