5 Most Popular Hotels With the Best Christmas Ambiance

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:15 PM ET, Fri December 13, 2024

Christmas can be an especially fun time to travel and experience the spirit of the season in locations around the world.

From the Christmas markets across Europe and the Nordics to the lights and decorated storefronts in New York City, there’s a variety of ways to celebrate the holiday.

It’s a point that’s apparently not lost on globetrotters. According to new data released as part of Expedia’s Holiday Outlook, it seems Christmas travel is up 20 percent. In particular, year-over-year flight searches for Christmas travel are up, particularly for international Christmas travel.

For those looking to indulge in the spirit of the season with a stay at a fabulous and fully decked-out hotel, there are also some hotel favorites rising to the top of traveler searches.

Data from Hotels.com identifies the most festive hotels (and most searched for properties) for the month of December. Each of the hotels that made it onto the list are highly rated by travelers for the Christmas ambiance, per Hotels.com.

So which properties should be on your radar for a memorable Christmas getaway? Read on to get the inside scoop on some of the top-ranked hotels for Christmas from Hotels.com.

5 hotels with the best Christmas ambiance

The Plaza, New York, New York

While this property may be a budget buster with rooms starting a a very steep $1700/night, there is no better place to mark the season then the legendary and iconic Plaza. (Fans of the movie Home Alone will totally understand.)

Guest reviews on Hotels dot com describ the hotel as “The perfect place to experience NYC during the holidays.”
Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, Finland

Admittedly, a little further afield, but rooms can be had in Santa Claus Holiday Village in Finland from $750 per night. And really, what says Christmas better than a snowy, norther getaway?

Guests at the village can sign up for Santa meet-and-greets and reindeer rides. Searches for Rovaniemi, the hometown of Santa Claus, are up 65% on Hotels.com.
The Roosevelt, New Orleans, Lousiana

With rooms from $200 per night, not to mention the holiday teas, ceremonial tree lightings, and teddy bear-themed events, The Roosevelt in New Orleans is a perennial family favorite.

A New Orleans landmark, The Roosevelt is renowned for its stunning annual Christmas decorations, which include more than 100,000 lights and 4,000 glass ornaments sparkling in the grand lobby. There's also elegantly decorated rooms, a world-class spa, and fine dining options to enjoy at The Roosevelt. Added bonus: The hotel is just a short walk from the historic French Quarter.
The Ritz, Paris, France

Another option for the big spenders, rooms at The Ritz in Paris will set you back about $1800 per night. But here's what you can expect for that price: A hotel trimmed with dazzling décor, whimsical sledges, and poetry-adorned Christmas trees, all designed to bring Parisian magic to life. Additional highlights sparkling teddy bears, shimmering butterflies and beautiful flowers.

Gastronomic pleasures are also are a major draw at this hotel during the holiday season, per Hotels.com. Guests can feast on sumptuous brunches or a special Christmas Gourmet tea, featuring seasonal pastries like spiced cakes and madeleines filled with chestnut cream. Nearby, the Christmas markets along the Champs-Élysées and the stunning window displays at Galeries Lafayette offer even more Christmas magic Paris-style.

Known for being as opulent and glamorous during the festive season as you might imagine, searches for the Ritz Paris have seen a remarkable 670% increase in searches.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Arizona.

Back in the U.S. the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers a holiday extravangza of lights, rides and more with rooms starting at $500 per night.

During its holiday festival guests will experience a property decorated with more than 10 million lights, an outdoor ice rink, and a four-story tree, all creating a desert winter wonderland.