Nutracker-inspired Afternoon Tea at Raffles London at OWO. (Photo by Ben Pipe for Raffles Hotel London at OWO)

Peak Season Promos: Holiday Packages for Last-Minute Getaways

Nutracker-inspired Afternoon Tea at Raffles London at OWO. (Photo by Ben Pipe for Raffles Hotel London at OWO)
 
 

The stockings aren’t the only things that need stuffing this holiday season; read on to fill your clients’ itineraries with last-minute getaway packages that promise both luxury and value.

AmaWaterways’ Latin Touch Holidays

HOLIDAYS
AmaWaterways Latin Touch Christmas cruise. (Photo by AmaWaterways)

AmaWaterways is expanding its Latin Touch program in 2025 with a new Swiss Alps & Rhine & Castle Christmas cruise. This eight-day journey, departing from Basel on Dec. 15, 2025, caters to Spanish-speaking travelers. The cruise, aboard the 162-passenger AmaVenita, visits Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands, featuring Christmas markets in each port.

The cruise offers bilingual services, including a Spanish-speaking Cruise Manager, daily tours, and onboard communications. Latin-inspired entertainment and Zumba classes are also included. Prices start at $4,198 per person for a twin balcony stateroom.

Highlights include the Cologne Cathedral Market, Baden-Baden’s Marche de Noel and Heidelberg’s Marktplatz. Excursions range from a three-country walking tour to wine tasting in Rüdesheim. The AmaVenita provides amenities like balcony staterooms, a sun-deck pool, complimentary bicycles and regional cuisine.

A 3-night pre-cruise Lake Como extension is available for $1,650 per person.

For more information, visit amawaterways.com.

Hyatt Hotels Giveaway

Living room at the 2-Bedroom Ocean Front Suite at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.

You’ll want to share this with your clients: Hyatt Hotels in Hawaii is running a 12 Nights of Hyatt Resorts in Hawaii Giveaway promotion. The prize includes 12 complimentary nights for two at four Hyatt properties: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa and Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.

Winners will receive three nights at each resort with daily breakfast included. The contest is open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. To enter, participants must follow the Instagram accounts of the four resorts (@AndazMaui, @HyattMaui, @GrandHyattKauai, and @HyattRegencyWaikiki), like the giveaway post and tag a travel partner in the comments. Sharing the post to their story provides an additional entry.

The random selection will occur on December 6, and the winner will be notified via direct message on Instagram. The prize must be redeemed by Dec. 31, 2025.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Motu Mahana, PGC’s own private islet off the coast of Taha’a.

Paul Gauguin Cruises has launched its Best Gift, Ever offer for the holiday season. Through Jan. 3, 2025, guests can save up to $2,900 per person on select 2025 voyages, in addition to existing 30 percent Bonus Savings.

Travel advisors can earn a $250 gift card for each new deposited booking. The offer applies to various itineraries, including 7-night Tahiti & Society Islands cruises, 14-night voyages to Cook Islands, Tonga, and Fiji, and extended 20-night journeys from Fiji to Bali.

The 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin features modern amenities, spacious staterooms, and exceptional cuisine. It’s designed to navigate South Pacific lagoons, offering immersive shore excursions and a focus on sustainability.

Use promo code XMAS24 when booking.

For more information, visit pgcruises.com.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts

Holiday characters at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts is hosting its annual Holiday Extravaganza through Jan. 14, 2025, at its Riviera Maya and Punta Cana properties.

At Riviera Maya, guests can enjoy a holiday-themed Pajama Jam character breakfast. Club Nick offers activities like gingerbread decorating and ornament crafting. The Dreams of Christmas evening show and Santa’s visit add to the festivities. New Year’s Eve features a party at Plaza Orange with live performances and fireworks. Le Spatula transforms into a winter-themed space on Christmas Eve and serves a New Year’s Day brunch.

Punta Cana kicks off with a Great Tree Lighting ceremony. Activities include Spongebob pineapple decorating contests and ornament-making at Club Nick. The resort features holiday sand sculptures and offers family photo opportunities. Christmas Eve includes letter writing to Santa, snowball fights and cookie decorating, followed by a Gala Dinner. Christmas Day brings Santa’s arrival and a special brunch. The year concludes with a New Year’s Gala Dinner and celebration.

For more information, visit karismahotels.com.

Margaritaville Island Reserve Resorts

The famous Margaritaville 5 O’Clock Pool Bar.

Margaritaville Island Reserve Resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean have planned numerous festive holiday experiences. At Riviera Maya, the adults-only property, Christmas Eve includes special dinner menus and seasonal cocktails, while Christmas Day brings Santa’s arrival and a foam pool party. The New Year’s Eve celebration offers live entertainment and fireworks.

Riviera Cancun kicks off mid-December events, including a tree-lighting ceremony and holiday-themed culinary offerings. Christmas Eve features a 5-course dinner and festive bars. Christmas Day includes brunch and Santa’s beachfront arrival. New Year’s Eve promises a carnival-style party with acrobats and fireworks.

Cap Cana’s Christmas Eve and Day events include special menus, Santa’s visit, and a foam party. The resort rings in 2025 with an international food display and beachfront champagne toast.

For more information, visit margaritaville.com/stay.

Raffles London at The OWO

English National Ballet display at Raffles Hotel London at OWO. (Photo by Ben Pipe for Raffles Hotel London at OWO)

Raffles London at The OWO has prepared a Nutcracker-themed festive season in collaboration with the English National Ballet. The hotel displays original costumes from the ballet, including the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu adorned with 400 hand-sewn Swarovski crystals.

Your clients can enjoy Nutcracker-inspired experiences such as themed Afternoon Tea and cocktails. Michelin-starred Chef Mauro Colagreco presents special menus at Saison and his eponymous restaurant for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The Spy Bar will host a New Year’s Eve celebration featuring vinyl records and Louis Roederer champagne.

The Nutcracker Nights package includes tickets to the ballet’s new production. Room rates start from $1,152 per person. Festive dining options range from $50 for a two-course pre-theater menu to $329 per person for New Year’s Eve at Mauro Colagreco. The Spy Bar New Year’s Eve celebration is priced at $445 per person.

For more information, visit raffles.com/london.

Tropicana Los Cabos

Tropicana Los Cabos.

The newly opened Tropicana Los Cabos, situated in the historic downtown, has put together several events for the holidays. Executive Chef Christopher Bernal has curated special dinner menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. El Patio restaurant will host a Christmas Feast on Dec. 24 and 25, featuring grilled pork with apple and date puree and apple strudel. New Year’s Eve celebrations include a four-course tasting menu from 8:00 PM to midnight, with dishes like shallot pie and braised short rib or the “Catch of the Day” with Oaxacan mole.

The Artistic Oasis Package, starting at $1,805 for two guests and three nights, includes a Courtyard King Room, daily breakfast, airport transfers, an art experience and a culinary class. With a 20 percent discount, this package is bookable through Dec. 15 for stays through Jan. 31, 2025.

For more information, visit tropicana-cabo.com.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia, has an exclusive chocolate experience this holiday season. From Dec. 28, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025, Swiss chocolatier Elias Laderach will host masterclasses and sensory experiences at the resort’s new Cocoa Mill workshop.

The program includes a two-hour chocolate-making masterclass from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1, priced at $250 per person. On Jan. 2 and 3, Laderach will lead an evening sensory experience and in-depth chocolate tasting for $75 per person.

The resort’s location near the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pitons adds to its appeal. It combines luxury accommodations with gourmet activities.

For more information, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

Visit Williamsburg

Artisan glass-blown ornament crafted by John Shelton for Williamsburg’s holiday event.

Visit Williamsburg and the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce have introduced a free mobile-exclusive Historic Holiday Pass for the 2024-2025 winter season. Running through January 2, this digital initiative aims to boost local business traffic and enhance visitor engagement. Users can check in at participating businesses, access discounts and earn rewards while exploring Williamsburg’s offerings.

The pass encourages local shopping and community exploration through a gamified experience. After five check-ins, users can choose between a premium artisan glass-blown ornament crafted by John Shelton or a holiday t-shirt as a reward.

For more information, visit visitwilliamsburg.com.

Holidays @ The Fifty Sonesta New York

Holidays
The Fifty Sonesta’s nostalgic Holiday Suite. (Photo by Sonesta International Hotels)

The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York has opened its The Merry & Bright Holiday Suite for the festive season, created in collaboration with National Tree Company. Designed by Cassia Maher, this one-bedroom suite offers your clients a 90s-inspired winter experience. The accommodation features three private terraces adorned with holiday decor, and the suite is filled with cheerful trimmings from National Tree Company, including artificial trees, lights, wreaths and ornaments. Special touches like stockings by the fireplace, candy canes and festive linens enhance the ambiance. A vintage TV with a VHS player, stocked with 90s holiday classics, adds to the retro feel. Guests can use a Polaroid camera to capture memories, with photos displayed on the suite’s trees. Holiday treats include Swiss Miss hot cocoa and Royal Dansk cookies, while the welcome amenity features 90s favorites like Push Pops and Fruit Roll-Ups.

The Merry & Bright Holiday Suite is available for stays through Jan. 6, 2025, with rates starting at $449 per night. The package includes daily European Continental breakfast for up to four guests in the hotel’s second-floor Club Room. Book using the promo code MERRY.

For more information, visit affinia.com.

Greydon House

Federal Suite, Greydon House. (Photo by Greydon House)

Greydon House, a Roman and Williams-designed hotel on Nantucket, has seen an increased interest in off-season travel, so it’s put together a list of unique island experiences to enjoy during the winter.

The 50th annual Nantucket Stroll, scheduled for Dec. 6-8, 2024, transforms the island into a holiday destination. Seasonal restaurants reopen, offering visitors a chance to explore the Downtown Historic District and witness the Main Street Christmas tree lighting. The Maria Mitchell Association will host a Deck The Wharf celebration featuring champagne and local cuisine.

Greydon House’s library, reminiscent of Nantucket’s whaling era, provides a cozy retreat for your clients. The collection includes Jacques Cousteau’s ocean adventures and photographic books of American gardens.

Nantucket’s minimal light pollution, 30 miles offshore, creates ideal stargazing conditions. The Maria Mitchell Association’s Loines Observatory offers public telescope access on select evenings, with Greydon House arranging private viewings. The Geminids meteor shower peak is expected Dec. 13-14.

Of note: There are direct flights to Nantucket from Boston or New York via Delta, JetBlue, Tradewind and Cape Air. JetBlue fares typically decrease by at least $200 in the off-season. Alternatively, a one-hour ferry service operates from Hyannis on Cape Cod.

For more information, visit greydonhouse.com.

The Driskill Hotel

Holiday Tea. (Photo by Driskill Hotel)

The Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin offers a central location for holiday experiences. Situated near the 2nd Street shopping district, it provides easy access to local events like the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Holiday Sing-Along and Stroll on Dec. 7 and Christmas films at Paramount Theatre. The 138-year-old hotel maintains several holiday traditions, including a tree-lighting ceremony and Holiday Tea.

The hotel’s lobby features a 16-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree under a Tiffany-style stained glass dome. The annual tree lighting event, scheduled for Dec. 6, includes live music, a champagne toast and Santa Claus. New this year is a lobby champagne bar, open daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. throughout December, offering Piper Heidsieck selections.

The Driskill’s Holiday Tea, held on Dec. 8, 15 and 21, includes seasonal treats, tea blends, live music, family portraits and a Santa appearance. The Holidays at The Driskill package offers in-room treats, cocktails and a souvenir ornament.

For more information, visit driskillhotel.com.

La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel

Beach at La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel.

American Airlines is introducing a weekly Saturday flight between JFK and St. Martin’s Princess Juliana International Airport starting Dec. 7. La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel on the island’s French side, offers recently renovated 3- and 4-bedroom villas.

The property has established an on-site apiary that produces local honey, which has led to the creation of new bee-themed wellness experiences set to launch in January 2025. A notable offering is “bee watching,” where your clients, dressed in beekeeper suits, can observe bee activity from an elevated structure.

For more information, visit belmond.com.

The White Elephant Hotel

Harborview room. (Photo by The White Elephant Nantucket)

Nantucket offers a unique winter experience, particularly during its annual Christmas Stroll from Dec. 6-8. This year marks the event’s 50th anniversary, featuring decorated storefronts, lit trees along cobblestone streets and Santa’s arrival via Coast Guard vessel.

The White Elephant Hotel, near downtown, reopens specifically for this event. They’re offering a special package for the Stroll weekend, including a 20 percent discount on 3-night stays in Harborview Suites or 2-night stays in Two Bedroom Residences between Dec. 5 – 9. The package also includes Festival of Trees tickets, Nantucket Stroll-themed accessories and champagne.

Book using promo code STROLL24.

For more information, visit whitelephantnantucket.com

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau

Two-bedroom Sunset Suite. (Photo by Margaritaville Resorts)

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau has a range of holiday events and activities for the 2024-2025 season. The resort is introducing Party at The Pointe, a new event series starting in late 2024, featuring food trucks, local vendors and live music on select Fridays.

Holiday celebrations include a 12 Days of Christmas program with daily activities from Dec. 14-25. Christmas Day events feature Santa’s arrival and a Junkanoo parade. New Year’s Eve celebrations will include live entertainment, special menus, and fireworks.

The resort’s Tis The Season offer, available for bookings through Jan. 30, 2025, and stays through Jan. 31, 2025, includes a $5 donation to the Ranfurly Home for Children, a $25 resort credit and a 15 percent discount on the best available rate. The package includes access to Fins Up Water Park and other amenities. Travel advisors can book using the promo code WINTER.

For more information, visit margaritavilleresorts.com.

InterContinental New York Barclay

The Winter Chalet at the InterContinental New York Barclay. (Photo by InterContinental New York Barclay)

The InterContinental New York Barclay’s Winter Chalet has created a range of exclusive holiday packages. They cater to everyone from event planners to families. The i provides a festive venue for holiday events with curated drinks and meals. For families, the includes an in-room tent, blankets, games and treats. The Chalet Turndown and Suite Chalet packages elevate the guest experience with luxurious touches.

Beyond these offerings, the hotel hosts special events throughout December. The lobby features holiday choirs from Dec. 16-20, while the Barclay Salon hosts a gingerbread cookie decorating session on December 6 from 4-6 PM. Your clients can also enjoy a postcard station in the lobby and seasonal cocktails at The Parlour. These include options like the Campfire Espresso Martini and Maple Walnut Old Fashioned, adding to the winter ambiance.

For more information, visit icbarclay.com.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay

One-bedroom Pool Suite. (Photo by Rosewood Little Dix Bay)

Rosewood Little Dix Bay has a holiday season program running from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4. The resort offers activities for families and individuals seeking a festive Caribbean experience.

Your clients can participate in ornament-making workshops and the annual holiday pickleball tournament. The resort also offers Afternoon Tea services, Beach Hut events and watersports like the Kayak Safari to Savannah Bay.

Culinary highlights include an eggnog social with roasted chestnuts, a four-course Christmas Eve dinner with Caribbean-inspired dishes and a Boxing Day beach barbecue. Christmas Day offers a family-style menu with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

The Rosewood Explorers program for children includes movie nights and storytelling sessions at the on-site farm. The resort’s New Year’s Eve Rockefeller Gala celebrates its 60th anniversary with a special cocktail, buffet, desserts and live music from London band The Travelling Hands, followed by a DJ set.

For more information, visit rosewoodhotels.com.

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

ake Chuzenji View Suite. (Photo by The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko)

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is offering a range of holiday experiences this season, set against the serene backdrop of Oku-Nikko. Through December 25, guests can savor a unique Strawberry Stollen featuring Tochigi’s renowned strawberries. The hotel presents its inaugural Christmas dinner on Dec. 24 and 25, curated by Michelin-starred Chef Kanji Kobayashi at Lakehouse restaurant.

For those seeking a different culinary experience, The Japanese Restaurant offers a Christmas Teppanyaki dinner, showcasing premium ingredients like abalone and wagyu. Santa Claus will also make an appearance on Dec. 25 and 26, bringing gifts for young guests.

As the year turns, the hotel offers a New Year’s Kaiseki Dinner and an Osechi Breakfast on Jan. 1, 2025. Guests can participate in traditional Japanese New Year activities, including the bell-ringing ceremony at Chuzenji Temple, watching the first sunrise at Lake Yunoko, and visiting Futarasan Shrine Chugushi. A Nikko-bori woodcarving workshop on New Year’s Day provides a hands-on cultural experience.

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com.

Radisson Blu Aruba

Radisson Blu Aruba.

Radisson Blu Aruba is blending festive traditions with island flair this December. Guests are greeted with welcome drinks, including champagne for adults and local Ponche Crema eggnog for all, along with holiday treats. The resort’s seasonal program features ornament-making workshops on December 6 and 20, allowing guests to create personalized decorations.

On December 23, a poolside Pop Art Santa painting session caters to artists of all levels. The following day, families can participate in a holiday character hunt through the resort’s gardens, with prizes for those who find all the hidden figures. The evening of December 24 brings a holiday performance in the gardens, complete with dancers, magicians, and mimes, accompanied by seasonal music and complimentary snacks.

The festivities culminate on December 27 with a Glow Cocktail Party, where guests can mingle with the resort’s management team, enjoying drinks, canapés, and live entertainment. This array of events positions Radisson Blu Aruba as a prime location for creating holiday memories.

For more information, visit bluaruba.com.