Our attention to the places to be this winter arrived as temperatures drop. We’ve rounded up our favourite destinations that are currently open for 2021 and beyond where to spend your winter vacation for a much-deserved escape somewhere inspiring and serene.
Between December and March we are sure you’re looking for a cozy snowy chalet where you can sip après ski cocktails by a roaring fire, a Caribbean island where you can relax with a beach read or a far-flung destination with adventures to satisfy every member of your family.
From new resorts in the French Alps to the adventure in Costa Rica here below some inspiring reasons why you should start planning your next winter escape.
Contact Haute Retreats or your Trip Designer to start planning winter vacations for this year and the future. Beloved destinations like the ones below are booking up quickly. Our team can match you with the accommodations and activities that are right for you and provide information on coronavirus travel safety, destinations that are open to travel, Covid-19 hotel policies, transportation options, private villas and charters and more.
Winter Holidays for Skiing in Europe: The Alps
This winter, skiers and snow bunnies should escape to the Alps (French, Swiss or Austria with a private villa rental or a stay at one of our favorite resorts. Of particular note in this area are Chalet Ottavia in Val d’Isere and Chalet Odette in Courchevel 1850, two stunning chalets that are nestled on the French Alps, and offer unparalleled access to seven world-class ski resorts—including Val d’Isѐre, Sainte Foy, Tignes, Les Arcs and La Rosiѐre—which can be reached in less than an hour by car or by helicopter (we offer a heli-skiing program is unparalleled). Both properties are designed for full buyouts with family or friends, with Ottavia and its 6 bedrooms and Odette with its 9 bedrooms. Other amenities include a media room, an indoor freshwater pool, a hot tub, sauna and steam room.
Related: The Best Ski Chalets for skiing in Europe
Chalet Odette – French Alps
Chalet Odette | 9 BR | Courchevel 1850 Chalet | Haute Retreats
Winter Vacations for Sun and Beaches Lovers: The Caribbean
Easy warm-weather getaways for families, friends couples, the Caribbean, is an amazing destinations thanks to its powdery white-sand beaches, warm turquoise waters and pampering resorts—but every island has its own atmosphere and specialties. For a jet-set scene, St. Barth’s is not to be missed—with top villas including Villa Epicure is one of the largest and most original villas on the island, just outside is the extensive deck with the 66′ long, heated infinity pool. With just a 3.5-hour direct flight from New York, travelers looking for a more romantic, secluded atmosphere should visit Turks & Caicos, where they can retreat into the private pavilions at the sleek and serene Amanyara (which offers open-air pavilion rooms with direct ocean access, as well as free-standing villas with infinity pools) or the exclusive villas at COMO Parrot Cay, while Beach Enclave offers separate accommodations and pools to keep both couples and families happy. Another top family-friendly option, also accessible via direct flights from the U.S., is St Martin (from Boston and Chicago) offers friendly atmosphere and top-notch amenities and amazing beachfront villas—while the island’s amazing resort La Samanna Villas guarantee personalized service and a host of activities (including waterskiing, snorkeling, kayaking, tennis and more) that are well-suited to families with older children.
Related: Luxury Caribbean Villas with Private Chef
Epicure | 7 BR | St Barts Villas | Haute Retreats
Villa Epicure St Barts
Winter Vacations for Nature and Wellness: Guatemala and Costa Rica
The Central American nations of Guatemala and Costa Rica are home to lush jungles, white-sand beaches and azure seas that protect astounding biodiversity. Here, ancient ways of life survive in modern culture, emphasizing a spiritual harmony with Mother Earth—known in Costa Rica as “pura vida”—that manifests itself in a plethora of outdoor activities that will get your blood pumping and a holistic, nature-based approach to healing, nutrition and wellness. Creating a haven for true disconnection and restoration, in some of the most luxurious villas and also locations ffer intimate, outdoor-centric settings, with just a few standalone accommodations and mindfulness, beauty, spa, adventure and fitness programs.
Villa Puesta del Sol Costa Rica Villas
Winter Holidays for Wine Lovers: Croatia and the American Destinations
For wine lovers seeking new experiences, Croatia’s northwestern region of Istria should be next on your list. In addition to producing a wide variety of wines (including Malvasia, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Teran, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera and Syrah), the region is home to a truly impressive food scene (particularly celebrated for its truffles), with noted restaurants ranging from the Slow Food establishment Toklarija, which is housed in a medieval olive mill, to Monte, the first restaurant in Croatia to receive a Michelin star. If you desire to explore beyond Istria’s rolling hills and medieval towns, the region also has the added benefit of direct access to the Adriatic, with seaside spots like Rovinj drawing insiders, thanks to art gallery-lined streets, a growing number of luxury hotels and, of course, plenty of wine bars. If you’re planning to remain within the U.S. this winter, Napa Valley is always a great choice, with its wineries and great landscapes.
St Helena Estate | Napa Valley
Winter Vacations for Reconnecting Safari: Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Open to adventure travellers or who is seeking for a peak experience, these destinations are always great for the soul including Singita most luxurious accommodation, reporting some of the most vibrant wildlife activity that the reserves have seen in years, thanks to a decreased human presence.
For a classic safari experience, with few other travelers and a renewed sense of meaning, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe can be combined or enjoyed on their own for a romantic or family-friendly winter vacation. Even though this year has seemed to drag forever, these are probably the best places where to reconnect with nature-
Related: A guide to alluring South Sri Lanka
Winter Vacations for Foodies and Trendsetters: Mexico
Hacienda del Mar | 15 BR | Riviera Maya Villas | Haute Retreats
South America is beginning to reopen—and for foodies and design lovers who are hungry for stimulation, now is the perfect time to start planning your next winter vacation. Mexico City, Lima and Bogotá are home to five of 2019’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants—we can also arrange special-access tours of highlights like Mexico City’s Anthropology Museum. For a quieter escape that is no less exceptional when it comes to cuisine, crafts and luxury villas. If you are not ready to travel to urban areas, Mexico‘s mountain and beach regions are home to indulgent, spacious resorts where you can hide away for a week, like the One&Only Palmilla or the Chable —or one of the beautiful villas located in Riviera Maya.
Winter Holidays Ultimate Indulgers: Morocco
Marrakech is a shopaholic’s dream, where you can pick up everything from latticed lanterns and Berber kilim rugs to argan oil, leather bags, kaftans, glassware, ceramics, slippers and one-of-a-kind furniture. For ultimate indulgers, Amanjena or villa La Brillante are the best places where to stay.
Related: 5 New Beachfront Luxury Villas on Palm Jumeirah Dubai
Contact Haute Retreats or email your Trip Designer to start planning winter vacations for this year and the future. Beloved destinations like the ones listed here are booking up quickly, due to increased re-booking policies. Our team can match you with the accommodations and activities that are right for you and provide information on coronavirus travel safety, destinations that are open to travel, Covid-19 hotel policies, transportation options, private villas and charters and more.
