Rethink the Winter Vacation & Plan a Winter Getaway

Winter doesn’t have to be the off-season! It’s just a different kind of getaway. Snowy destinations offer a chance to slow down, get cozy, and vacation at a gentle pace.

So many of us (me included!) think of vacations as a strictly summer adventure — maybe it’s because it lines up with time off school. We soak up the sunshine, get outdoors, and prefer to sit on the water somewhere warm.

But thinking about a vacation when the temperature drops and the prospect of snow is on the horizon is actually exciting.

A winter getaway can be an invitation to slow down, unplug and enjoy the simple pleasures of travel. Stroll snow-covered streets, enjoy cozy cafés, fireside evenings, crisp morning walks and a hotel room that feels especially inviting when there’s a winter wonderland outside.

Could it be that the best time to get away isn’t when the sun is shining, but when the snow is falling?

Here are my top hotel tips for a Winter Vacation. And some destination recommendations while I’m at it.

1. Winter Village Hotels: where snow is a part of the experience. Potential Agenda:

• Picture a snow-covered downtown or historic neighborhood
• Frozen lakes and rivers
• Reading at a cafe or book store
• Taking a slow walk through the town
• Visiting winter farmers markets
• HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
  • Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza in St Louis. The beautiful Central West End neighborhood where it sits is completely winterized each year with beautiful decor, trees, and shopfronts. The hotel has three onsite restaurants, a Gingerbread display, Carolers on the weekends, and even a completely decorated North Pole themed hotel room.
  • Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore. The hotel is outfitted in beautiful holiday decorations, offers a whirlpool, dry sauna, indoor pool, and massages. The inner harbor Christmas Village is right across the street, transforming the West Shore Park into European wonderland. Really, lots of Baltimore neighborhoods go all-out for the holiday season: The East Harbor has Merryland and the Peninsula has Candycane Corner. Hampden turns into Miracle on 34th Street and Fell’s Point has an Old Tyme Christmas. For some adventure, take a walk over to the outdoor ice rink for wintry fun.

2. Mountain-view hotels. Potential activities include:

• Enjoying views of snow-capped mountains
• Scenic drives through the forest
• Going skiing
• Getting cozy with food and drinks
• Taking a scenic drive
• RECOMMENDED HOTELS:
  • Sonesta Denver Downtown. Located right in the middle of Downtown Denver, many of the hotel’s rooms have a view of the Mountains. There is a local shuttle that can take you to Vail for a day of skiing or exploring the Mountain. The drive is a beautiful one, too!
  • Sonesta ES Suites Flagstaff. Seek out snow, mountains, quiet trails and cozy accommodations in a true alpine environment at roughly 7,000 feet. Flagstaff gets real snow, has pine forests and mountain scenery.

3. Remote or Peaceful hotels. Here’s a day in the life:

• Sleep in
• Take advantage of relaxation amenities onsite
• Order room service
• Read by the window
• RECOMMENDED HOTELS:
  • Royal Sonesta Yorkville Toronto. Right in the heart of Yorkville on the Mink Mile / Culture Corridor. The hotel offers onsite Afternoon tea, outdoor dining in Winter igloos, saunas, an indoor pool, and onsite massage studio. It’s an easy stroll to boutiques, museums, and ballet.
  • Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor is nestled between the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic National Park. In winter, the Olympic Mountains can provide that dramatic snowy-mountain backdrop, while the hotel is in a much quieter coastal town rather than a major city. Olympic National Park has a plethora of hiking trails and skiing. You’ll also find great local wineries for some relaxed tastings, or you can head downtown to explore the shops, restaurants, and beautiful waterfront views.

4. Winter Adventure Hotels: You don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy a snowy destination. Activities include:

• Winter hiking
• snow shoeing
• Ice fishing
• cross country skiing
• Sledding
• RECOMMENDED HOTELS:
  • Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown. Go ice skating, explore frozen river and lakes, take a stroll through gorgeous snowy and urban paths, or embrace the local sauna and thermal culture. Snowboard, cross-country ski, snow-shoe, sled or tube nearby. A main attraction in the winter is the Great Northern Festival – you won’t want to miss it. The hotel offers easy access to the Skyway should you want to visit some attractions by foot, and there’s a cozy onsite restaurant for a delicious meal.
  • Pocono Mountain Villas MOD Collection by Sonesta. The property has its own White Lightning winter snow tubing, and it’s near Shawnee Mountain for skiing and tubing. Pocono Mountain Villas resort offers the ideal balance of outdoor adventure and laid-back comfort.

5. Winter Culinary Destination hotels. Eat your way through the vacation!

• Tucked-in restaurants and diners
• Snow-draped cities
• Coffee and pastries
• Seasonal cocktails
• RECOMMENDED HOTELS
  • Sonesta Columbus Downtown. The hotel is smack dab in the middle of Downtown near dozens of award-winning restaurants, holiday popup bars, and cozy cafes. Columbus is a foodie city recognized as having one of the best culinary scenes by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, AFAR and Food & Wine. The hotel also happens to be walkable to winter festivals and events, if that’s your style. Stay the night in a cozy Loft room with a view of the city.
  • The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown. It’s right on the Chicago River and within walking distance of Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue, the Riverwalk and the Magnificent Mile (Chicago attraction staples!) The hotel has panoramic skyline/river views and floor-to-ceiling windows, too. But it’s also a super close distance to top foody destinations with multiple Michelin restaurants nearby. Plus, you gotta try Chicago-style deep dish pizza on a cold day – such a comforting and cozy meal.

Wherever your Winter vacation takes you, make the hotel a part of the experience. In summertime, sometimes the hotel can feel like the place you return to between adventures. In the winter, it can be a part of the cozy nature of the trip. Picture sitting next to a cozy lobby fireplace, relaxing in a hot tub, hitting up the spa, leisurely dining at an onsite restaurant, snuggling up to a movie in a plush bed, and enjoying wintry views right from your room.

So give Winter a chance! A vacation doesn’t have to escape the cold. It could lead to embracing it.