**Planning a Holiday Getaway: 15 Hotels for Christmas and New Year’s Vacations**
Planning a vacation between Christmas and New Year’s can be a challenge. With hotel and rental prices at their peak, many properties requiring weeklong or 10-night minimum stays, and rooms booking up fast, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry — we’ve compiled a list of 15 fantastic hotels in desirable destinations that still have availability for at least a few days between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. While minimum stay requirements vary, many of these hotels only ask for a two- or three-night commitment. And if you’re flexible, consider using this list for a trip in January, February, or early spring, when you can enjoy lower prices and fewer tourists during the shoulder season.
### Mendoza, Argentina
**For food lovers**
In the 1980s, Maita Barrenechea, founder of the Buenos Aires-based travel agency [Mai 10](https://www.mai10.com.ar/), helped open up Mendoza’s wineries to tourism. Today, more than 200 of the region’s 900 wineries welcome visitors, with many offering restaurants and stunning modern architecture. Top hotels include the [Vines Resort & Spa](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/business/international/american-develops-resort-to-share-the-argentina-he-loves.html) in the Uco Valley, home to chef Francis Mallmann’s renowned Siete Fuegos restaurant (from about $1,090 a night). Nearby, the family-owned [Casa de Uco](https://www.casadeuco.com/en/home-en/) offers vineyard views and a vegetable garden that supplies its kitchen (from about $750 a night). Closer to Mendoza city, [Finca Adalgisa](https://www.fincaadalgisa.com/) is a charming century-old farmhouse offering a pool, evening wine and tapas, and cooking classes (from about $450 a night).
### Marrakesh, Morocco
**For those seeking warmth and adventure**
Marrakesh in December offers mild weather, perfect for exploring its souks and gardens. At night, the city comes alive with holiday festivities, including live music and parties. Accommodation options range from grand hotels to intimate riads. Among the grand hotels, [La Mamounia](https://mamounia.com/en/) and [Royal Mansour](https://www.royalmansour.com/) stand out (from about $850 and $2,700 a night, respectively). For a more intimate experience, consider newer riads like [Rosemary](https://rosemarymarrakech.com/), designed by Belgian designer Laurence Leenaert (from about $315 a night), or the art-filled [IZZA](https://izza.com/) (from about $280 a night).
### Alesund, Norway
**For nature lovers and Christmas enthusiasts**
Alesund, one of Norway’s prettiest coastal towns, is especially magical during the holidays. “It’s not Christmas mania like Finnish Lapland, but more natural,” says Torunn Tronsvang, founder of [Up Norway](https://upnorway.com/). The hotel group 62 Nord offers several appealing properties, including the waterfront [Brosundet](https://www.brosundet.no/en) (from about $200 a night) and the fjord-side [Storfjord Hotel](https://storfjordhotel.com/en) (from about $545 a night). For a more remote experience, [Union Oye](https://www.unionoye.no/en/) is a luxurious 1891 half-timbered hotel located on a fjord, best reached by boat (from about $325 a night).
### Todos Santos, Mexico
**For sun-seekers craving a quiet New Year’s Eve**
Once a quiet surfer town, Todos Santos has evolved into a destination that draws tourists away from Los Cabos, 50 miles to the south. Despite its growth, the town retains its laid-back charm, with most places closing by 10 p.m. “You won’t find the clubs of Cabo here,” says Zachary Rabinor, founder of [Journey Mexico](https://www.journeymexico.com/). Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, and surfing, along with stunning ocean or desert views. [Villa Santa Cruz](https://villasantacruzbaja.com/) offers villas with rooftop hot tubs or glamping-style tents facing the ocean (from about $525 a night). For a more colorful experience, [Hotel San Cristobal](https://www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-san-cristobal) offers 1960s-inspired décor and beachside relaxation (from about $1,000 a night).
### The Dolomites, Italy
**For skiers who enjoy long lunches**
The Dolomites boast Europe’s largest ski network, with 12 interconnected resorts and 750 miles of trails. In December, many hotels require a five-night minimum stay, but the region’s festive atmosphere and Christmas markets make it worthwhile. Agustina Lagos Mármol, founder of [Dolomites Mountains](https://www.dolomitemountains.com/), recommends [Gardena Grödnerhof](https://www.gardena.it/en/) in Val Gardena for families, where 10 of the 64 rooms are two-bedroom suites (from $1,460 a night). For adults, the 62-room [Forestis](https://www.forestis.it/en) offers a serene retreat above Brixen (from about $1,190 a night). For a more intimate experience, [La Majun](https://www.lamajun.it/en/) in Alta Badia is a ski-in, ski-out hotel with just 38 rooms and a focus on Alpine cuisine (from about $540 a night). Come January, when minimum stay requirements drop, Lagos Mármol can arrange ski safaris with overnight stays in mountain refugios.
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Whether you’re planning a holiday escape or a quieter trip in the new year, these destinations offer a mix of luxury, adventure, and relaxation.
Source: nytimes.com