Sure, holiday gifts are always fun, but what if you can gift your BFF, boyfriend, girlfriend, or family member with a holiday trip instead? Manhattan is a great place to vacation, but there is so much else out there that can make for a great start to 2018 with the person or persons of your choosing! We have found some fabulous resorts, getaways, lodges and more that will make you give your loved one a huge hug after receiving this lovely “gift” from them.
Take a look at where we think you should go if you are in the mood for a little trip.
Après Scuba at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa: Perfect for an active family or group of friends that lives life with gusto, Après Scuba combines the thrill of a shark dive in one of the world’s top diving destinations with the ultimate chill – a spa day for four at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa’s award-winning SiSpa. The full-week package includes:
Six nights for up to four guests in a two-bedroom suite
Private baited shark dive with Jim Abernathy’s Scuba Adventures, including a three-tank dive, souvenir underwater photos and a packed lunch. Group must be scuba certified.
Chef-led tour to a local farm to gather fresh, sustainable produce for an outdoor Florida-inspired lunch at the resort prepared by Executive Chef Gustavo Calderon.
Local micro-brewery tour.
Spa day for four, including 50-minute HydraFacial, 110-minute Signature Massage, and Signature Manicure and Pedicure.
Four-hour 10-course Kitchen Table dining experience at 3800 Ocean with wine pairings, including commentary and inspiration behind each dish from the executive chef.
One In-suite Chef’s Champagne Breakfast.
The Singer Island resort features all-suite accommodations on a private, palm-fringed beach on Florida’s Gold Coast. Its Après Scuba package is priced at $15,000, inclusive of tax, parking, internet and resort fee. Make reservations online or call 561-340-1700.
Seaside Spa Escape at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa: Surprise a significant other, favorite couple, mother or brother, with an ocean-inspired Florida spa getaway. Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa is offering an Experience SiSpa package that includes a 50-minute spa treatment daily (excluding Hydrafacials), a 15-percent discount on spa merchandise, and a tropical fruit plate upon arrival in the guest’s room. The award-winning SiSpa features a full array of treatments inspired by the sea and just steps from the sand on Pompano Beach, midway between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. The package price starts at $214 per night. Use the promotional code SPA when making reservations online or by phone at 855-954-4683.
Bucket-List Pebble Beach Golf Getaway: Holiday gift buyers can treat the golfer on their list to a chance to play in the footsteps of the legends at Pebble Beach Resorts on California’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula. The resort’s Winter Stay and Play package includes two nights at The Inn at Spanish Bay or The Lodge at Pebble Beach, a round on Pebble Beach Golf Links, and a second round on a choice of The Links at Spanish Bay or Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The package also includes a $100 resort credit per package. Even better, guests who extend their stay to a third or fourth night enjoy 20% off the additional nights plus one additional complimentary round at Spanish Bay. Package rates start at $2,145 for the Inn and $2,495 at The Lodge and are valid Nov. 19, 2017 through March 31, 2018. The offer is also available for select accommodations at the brand-new Fairway One at The Lodge (excluding cottages; based on availability).
Perfectly Private Girls’ Getaway or Mancation at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa: Give the gift of togetherness with a stay for up to eight in Spa House, a new, four-bedroom private retreat at Arizona’s exclusive Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. The 3,500-square-foot home was conceived around the “whole mind and body” focus of the resort’s award-winning Sanctuary Spa. A dedicated spa concierge arranges highly specialized treatments by a Sensei in Residence, and fitness classes can be arranged in the home’s private movement studio. Spa House’s open-flow design — complete with a full kitchen, dining and living rooms, wrap-around patio, pool and lawn – makes it ideal for entertaining. December rates start at $2,400 per night for the house only. Groups as large as 16 can book Spa House together with four terrace suites in the same compound at $4,900 per night. Visit www.sanctuaryaz.com or call 855-245-2051.
Stay More, Play More at Whiteface Lodge: Few settings evoke a quintessential winter holiday more than the Adirondack-style Whiteface Lodge, tucked into the snow-blanketed woodlands of Lake Placid, New York. Every stay comes with suite accommodations complete with jetted tub and fireplace; full breakfast daily; warm, homemade cookies at turndown; nightly s’mores; and access to a wealth of resort amenities including ice skating rink and bowling. The enormous Christmas tree in the Lodge’s grand KANU dining room sets the tone for an unforgettable holiday season (click here to see a time-lapse video).
Even more memorable is the gift of a Stay More, Play More package, which includes a nightly credit that guests can apply to their choice of resort activities and products ($100, $150 or $200 for each night in a one-, two- or three-bedroom suite respectively). Credits can be applied to spa services, dining, BMW town car rentals, and retail items, enabling guests to custom-create their dream holiday getaway. Rates start at $548. Reserve at www.thewhitefacelodge.com or call 888-582-0505.
Vintage Martha’s Vineyard Stay: Introduce someone special to the quiet beauty of an off-season Martha’s Vineyard escape. In winter, the island loses its tourist crowds but none of its vintage charms. That charm factor is high at the historic Kelley House, one of the nation’s oldest hotels, which celebrated its 275th anniversary this year with a stylish guestroom renovation and a 27.5 percent discount on accommodations through Dec. 31. Kelley House’s Newes from America Pub is a great place to grab local fare in a warm and inviting setting. Package rates start at $80. For reservations, visit www.kelley-house.com or call 508-627-7900.