Nothing says “happy holidays” like an extravagant Christmas display. Hoteliers know this. That’s why every winter hotels across the country get dressed in their holiday best, with twinkly lights and holly wreaths and maybe a reindeer lawn ornament or two. But only a handful of hotels truly go all out. From stories-high Christmas trees to beachfront ice skating rinks, these 18 US holiday hotels take seasonal cheer to a whole new level.
We hope you love these holiday hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Hotel del Coronado
Photo: Hotel del Coronado
San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado has become an unlikely holiday destination, thanks to the oceanfront ice rink the hotel sets up every winter. Activities like starlight holiday movie screenings and Jingle Roast s’mores sessions around private bonfires help sell the idea of a California Christmas. But Christmas dinner is where the hotel really shines, with a grand buffet in the Crown and Coronet Rooms. There’s also a Roaring ‘20s-themed New Year’s Eve Gala here, for those who want to keep the festivities going.
Hotel del Coronado: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Lone Mountain Ranch
Photo: Lone Mountain Ranch
For a Montana Christmas, head to Lone Mountain Ranch, where you can explore the resort’s 50-plus miles of carefully maintained woodland trails on a backcountry Nordic skiing excursion. The ranch is also a short distance from the Big Sky slopes and offers a transportation service, making it easy to access the slopes, with over 5,700 skiable acres. Back at the ranch, you can take a sleigh ride dinner, a Lone Mountain Ranch tradition for over 35 years. You’ll be whisked away on a horse-drawn sleigh ride under a starlit sky to the historic North Fork Cabin, where you are treated to a delicious Montana prime rib and live entertainment. Lone Mountain Ranch provides a truly magical Christmas experience, bringing together the beauty of Montana with the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Whether you’re seeking outdoor snow adventures, seasonal culinary delights, or a cozy cabin retreat, the resort offers an unforgettable experience for the entire family.
Lone Mountain Ranch: 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Backland Luxury Camping
Photo: Backland Luxury Camping
Camping at Christmas time sounds like an oxymoron to me, but I’m a die-hard white Christmas girl. If you’re looking for something a little different, you might want to consider a stay at the luxury eco-resort Backland Luxury Camping in Northern Arizona. This year, the resort is coupling the glamping experience with the fun package “Deck Your Tent,” where you’ll be able to decorate your tent, enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, canes, nightly s’mores, Christmas crafts, and relax at the resort in full holiday swing. It’s also a great time for stargazing, and Backland’s location is unbeatable. You can even use the resort’s on-site telescope to explore the light pollution-free night sky.
Backland Luxury Camping: 6929 E Rosilda Spgs Rd, Williams, AZ 86046
Ocean Casino Resort
Photo: Ocean Casino Resort
Awarded the best casino resort in Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort takes Christmas seriously. You’ll find holiday decor at every turn and even be able to hang out with the big man himself at Santa’s Hideaway. From December, the experience transports guests from the well-known Atlantic City Boardwalk to the North Pole. After that, you can head to the holiday pop-up experience at the Jingle Bell Bar to sip festive-themed cocktails and enjoy entertainment. It’s recommended that you book in advance for a chance to meet Santa Clause, as he’s in high demand at this time of year.
Ocean Casino Resort: 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Lotte New York Palace
Photo: Lotte New York Palace
The Lotte is one of the most famous Christmas hotels in New York City. During the holiday season, locals and guests admire the opulent decorations, the iconic Palace Christmas Tree, and the outdoor Winter Bar. If you’re traveling with family, your children will cherish the stay for years to come. They can post a personalized letter in the oversized North Pole mailbox to Santa, and he’ll magically respond with a reply that will arrive in your room.
Lotte New York Palace: 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess — Scottsdale, Arizona
Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont Scottsdale
Every year the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess performs a Christmas miracle: It turns the Sonoran Desert into a winter wonderland. The transformation starts with over six million LED lights, 70,000 of which are threaded around a giant tree in the resort’s Enchanted Plaza. Next comes 6,000 square feet of actual ice in the shape of a desert skating rink, an alpine skate track and 120-foot sledding hill at The Village, and a s’mores-ready campfire in the Christmas tree forest. Even Santa makes an appearance for meet-and-greets.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: 7575 E Princess Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Tenaya at Yosemite
Photo: Tenaya at Yosemite
The crisp winter air and snow-blanketed landscape of Yosemite is magic. As the crowds dissipate in winter, the park turns into a winter wonderland. The off-season brings stillness and an opportunity to experience the landscape in a very different way than summertime. If you’re ready to bundle up, book a stay at Tenaya at Yosemite. Here, you can ski or snowboard at the legendary Badger Pass Ski Area or explore the beauty of Glacier Point on a cross-country skiing excursion. The resort also has an on-site outdoor skating rink and guided snowshoe flashlight hikes. Or gather around one of the many fire pits and craft delicious s’mores, or participate in holiday-themed workshops, including ornament decorating, Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunts, gingerbread decorating, and snow globe making. You can also ring in the New Year in style. The resort hosts a festive New Year’s Eve party with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment for adults and children.
Tenaya Lodge: 1122 CA-41, Fish Camp, CA 93623
Nemacolin
Photo: Nemacolin
This year, The Chateau at Nemacolin returned after extensive renovations. The Chateau was one of the most anticipated new hotels of 2024. A stay here will transport you to 18th-century France, and the estate transforms into a holiday wonderland in winter. This year’s festivities kick off on November 29 with the annual “Light Up Nemacolin” event. Over a million twinkling lights illuminate the resort, marking the beginning of the holiday season. Overnight guests and Nemacolin members can enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, and a sneak peek at Hardy’s Holiday Village. Inspired by European Christmas markets, Hardy’s Holiday Village is an epic fantasy world with dining, shopping, and entertainment. Guests can wander along snow-dusted paths brimming with festive cheer, shop at Hardy’s House of Ornaments and PJ’s Peppermint Emporium — a candy cane lover’s paradise — and hang out with the elves, who put on daily performances.
Nemacolin: 1001 Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA 15437
Taking a trip over the holidays? Check out Matador’s holiday accommodation guides:
Gaylord Opryland — Nashville, Tennessee
Photo: Courtesy of Gaylord Opryland
Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort promises a “country Christmas” with dozens of activities starting in November. Guests can try ice skating, ice tubing, or even ice bumper bars; hop in a horse-drawn carriage; cruise the resort’s Delta Atrium in a riverboat; and catch holiday dinner shows before enjoying the nightly tree lighting and caroling. With tons of kid-focused activities such as a Build-A-Bear workshop and Santa’s Spinner ride, Gaylord Opryland is particularly fun for families with little ones.
Gaylord Opryland: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
The Resort at Paws Up — Greenough, Montana
Photo: The Resort at Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up is offering a special “Montana Christmas” package this holiday season. The offer includes a five-night stay in a luxury vacation home, complete with your very own Christmas tree, plus entry into a gingerbread-house-building contest, a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, and a $500 resort gift card per person per stay. Meals and round-trip airport transfers are also included. On the ranch, guests have their pick of winter activities, from cross-country and downhill skiing to fat biking, snowmobiling, dog sledding, tubing, and skijoring, a sport that involves strapping on skis and being pulled by a horse or dog.
The Resort at Paws Up: 40060 Paws Up Rd, Greenough, Montana 59823
The Plaza Hotel — New York, New York
Photo: Courtesy of The Plaza — a Fairmont Managed Hotel
Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel is a New York City icon. Especially at Christmas. Second to Rockefeller Center’s Norway spruce, The Plaza decorates one of the city’s glitziest trees, which in the past has reached almost 20 feet tall, featured close to 1,000 ornaments, and had fun themes such as “Eloise” and “The Great Gatsby.” Gourmands will appreciate the holiday menus at the hotel’s fine-dining Palm Court restaurant, with a special Christmas Grand Buffet on the 25th.
The Plaza Hotel: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
The Cloister at Sea Island — Sea Island, Georgia
Photo: Courtesy of Sea Island
This five-star resort on a private island in Georgia goes all out for Christmas, from its elegant decorations to its roster of holiday events. This year’s kid-friendly festivities will include a Reindeer Dash Family Fun Run, storytime with Santa’s elves, and ornament-decorating workshops. Even the furry, four-legged members of your family are invited to get in on the fun at the annual Reindog Parade, costumes encouraged. Top it off with a big Christmas Eve dinner in the Cloister Ballroom, and it’ll be a holiday to remember.
The Cloister at Sea Island: 100 Cloister Dr, Sea Island, GA 31561
The Roosevelt — New Orleans, Louisiana
Photo: Hilton
It comes as no surprise that one of the grandest holiday hotels in New Orleans stages one of the most breathtaking Christmas displays. Walking through the lobby is an event in its own right, owing to more than 100,000 glittering lights, dozens of Christmas trees decorated with over 1,000 glass ornaments, over 1,500 feet of garland, and magical displays of birch boughs and wreaths. Don’t be surprised if you see non-guests lining up for selfies.
The Roosevelt: 130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112
Omni Mount Washington — New Hampshire
Photo: Courtesy of Omni Mount Washington Resort
Nestled in the White Mountains, Omni Mount Washington is a grand hotel that offers a classic New England Christmas experience. The hotel’s holiday decor and program of festive activities make it a favorite among families. If staying before December 25, the winter package includes the opportunity to hand-cut a Christmas tree to take home along with a homemade wreath.
Omni Mount Washington: 310 Mount Washington Hotel Rd, Bretton Woods, NH 03575
French Quarter Inn — Charleston, South Carolina
Photo: Courtesy of Charlestowne Hotels
The French Quarter Inn in Charleston offers a unique Southern twist on the holiday season. Think warm hospitality, charming decorations, and a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of a traditional Southern Christmas. Guests visiting during December can book the Sleigh Bell Suite. Decorated with garlands and mistletoe, the suite also features an in-room eggnog bar and classic holiday movie screenings. The hotel’s location is perfect, too. It’s within walking distance of prime shopping locations and popular attractions like the Gibbes Museum and the Nathaniel Russell House.
French Quarter Inn: 166 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
Mohonk Mountain House — New Paltz, New York
Photo: Courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House
This Victorian castle turned upstate New York resort does the holidays Dickens style. Beginning Christmas Eve, guests can participate in a host of yuletide fun, from decorating cookies and graham cracker houses to competing in a yule log scavenger hunt that kicks off with Christmas trivia. Mohonk Mountain House also makes it easy to enjoy the wintry Hudson Valley air. Think ice skating, Catskills snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing on 30-plus miles of groomed trails.
Mohonk Mountain House: 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561
The American Club
Photo: The American Club
Wisconsin’s picturesque landscapes make for a beautiful winter escape, and a stay at The American Club will create memories for a lifetime. The festivities centerpiece is Frozen Fairways, a magical winter wonderland on Kohler’s Blackwolf Run golf course. The sprawling outdoor venue offers a variety of activities to entertain guests of all ages. There’s an ice rink, curling, cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. After a day in the snow, you can enjoy a seasonal menu at the resort’s restaurant and then cuddle up by the fire with a hot chocolate.
The American Club: 419 Highland Dr, Kohler, WI 53044
The Greenbrier — White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Photo: The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, has been welcoming guests for the holidays since 1778. The hotel is famous for its mineral spa that incorporates the healing properties of the local sulfur springs, offering therapeutic and restorative treatments — a relaxing indulgence during the holiday season. The exterior view of the large white building, adorned with gardens, paints a picturesque winter wonderland scene during Christmas. Beyond the splendid accommodations, The Greenbrier provides an array of activities including exploring its 11,000 acres, a tree lighting ceremony with hot chocolate, caroling, and a festive scavenger Hunt. The Greenbrier’s reputation and breathtaking surroundings make it a great hotel for a memorable Christmas getaway. 
The Greenbrier: 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986