7 Festive Hotels Bringing Major Sparkle This Season

Meghann Foye

Tue, November 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM UTC

3 min read

Hotels across the country are transforming into festive wonderlands with unique holiday experiences, from champagne sabering at The St. Regis Chicago to a life-size gingerbread streetcar at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
The Tampa EDITION features a Dali-inspired holiday tree with floating butterflies, while The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Arizona showcases a life-size gingerbread 4x4 parked in a candy-cactus garden.
Emeline in Charleston offers a shoppable Holiday Suite designed by Craig Conover, while Kingston Resorts in Myrtle Beach hosts a Christmas Village and a Humbug Suite for multigenerational merriment by the beach.

'Tis the season for twinkling lights, themed suites and a touch of pure holiday magic . Across the country, hotels and cities are transforming into festive wonderlands—and travel pros say these spots shine brightest. From gingerbread cars and Grinchy suites to champagne sabering and nostalgic movie moments, these are the sparkliest holiday stays Santa would totally approve of.

1) The St. Regis Chicago—Holiday Atelier & 12 Days of Sabrage

Champagne sabering, nightly—yes, really. The third-annual 12 Days of Sabragepops off inside the hotel's Holiday Atelier pop-up, pairing St. Regis ritual with Chicago sparkle. Expect chic gifts, collabs and Santa-led sabrage nights.

While you're there:Wander the Christkindlmarketat Daley Plazafor glühwein and ornaments, or head up Michigan Avenue for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which flips the switch on more than a million twinkle lights.

2) The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans—Life-Size Gingerbread Streetcar

An edible "streetcar named delight": the hotel's famous gingerbread streetcarrolls into the lobby each season, decked with local icons and sweet details—equal parts nostalgia and NOLA flair.
Around town:The French Quarterglows with gas-lamp garlands and carolers, while Celebration in the Oaksat City Park turns 25 acres into a glittering wonderland of oak trees wrapped in millions of lights.

3) The Tampa EDITION—Dalí Museum Festive Tree

A Dalí-inspired holiday tree with floating butterflies and Spanish touches, plus a signature cocktail benefiting the museum is a surreal showstopper. It's chic, artsy and very Florida-modern.
Beyond the lobby:The Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Parkbrings an open-air ice rink to downtown, while the Riverwalk Holiday Spectacularlights up the waterfront with boat parades and floating trees.

4) The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain (Arizona)— Gingerbread 4x4 & Cacti Candy

Only in the desert: a life-size gingerbread 4x4 parked in a candy-cactus garden steals the lobby scene, alongside festive dinners, cocoa crafts and stargazing.
In the region:Tucson's Winterhaven Festival of Lightshas been glowing for more than 70 years, and nearby Tombstone's Cowboy Christmasbrings old-west parades, carols and luminarias to the streets.

5) Emeline (Charleston, SC)—Sewing Down South Holiday Suite

A shoppable Holiday Suite dreamed up with Southern Charm 's Craig Conover, whose Nutcracker collection, pillows and cozy textiles bring his signature quirk to the holidays. Expect cocoa carts, stockings and Southern style with polish.
In Charleston:The Holiday Festival of Lightsat James Island County Park dazzles with three million lights, while downtown's King Streethosts candlelight shopping nights and carriage rides past the city's historic mansions.

6) Kingston Resorts (Myrtle Beach, SC)—Christmas Village & Humbug Suite

Snow zones, Santa Saturdays and the cheeky Humbug Suitemake for multigenerational merriment by the beach—and the green-themed whimsy comes complete with a bar credit and take-home gift.
Beyond the resort:Myrtle Beach's Nights of a Thousand Candlesat Brookgreen Gardens lights up the Lowcountry with more than two million candles, plus holiday markets and live jazz by the water.

7) Hilton Cleveland Downtown—Mr. Kringle Suite

A maximalist red-and-gold wonderland with trees, velvet bedding and merry décor—plus easy access to Cleveland's theater season and, for super-fans, overnights at the actual A Christmas Story house.
In the city:The Downtown Winterfestkicks off with fireworks and light shows, while Public Squareturns into a snow-globe scene with skating, cocoa stands and the glow of Playhouse Square's marquee lights. Seasonal shows like A Motown Christmas at Karamu House, the nation's oldest Black theatre, and A Christmas Carol at Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts complex outside Broadway, make the city shine.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.