Over-the-Top Hotel Holidays

This holiday season, pack your favorite designer duffle and get your glam on with one of these extravagant luxury hotel experiences.

Japan’s beauty will be all aglow this holiday season at the newly opened Halekulani Okinawa, where guests can embark upon an exclusive Firefly Nature Discovery experience. Just before the sun goes down, participants will head to Yambaru National Park in the company of a private guide and naturalist, and board kayaks to paddle slowly through the waters surrounding a grove of mangroves where countless fireflies weave and dance through the darkness. Guests will also enjoy private transportation and dinner at the property’s signature restaurant SHIROUX.

Welcome in the New Year while celebrating at The Knickerbocker’s elite rooftop party in Manhattan. You’ll be about 150 feet away from that sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square Ball as it drops, and enjoy perks that include VIP party access, a dedicated butler, premium bottle service, gourmet hors d’oeuvres crafted by Chef Charlie Palmer, a midnight Champagne toast, live entertainment and snuggly hand warmers and velour throws to keep the chill at bay. Accommodations for the $150,000 experience are in one of The Knick’s four opulent Tribute Suites.

At Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, travelers hoping to put a tropical spin on their Thanksgiving celebration are in luck. A four-night stay in a serene Rose Hall Villa on the 400-acre beachside property comes with a floating holiday feast served in your private pool, rejuvenating therapies at Fern Tree Spa, your own golf cart for navigating the grounds, choice of oceanfront or garden views, and complimentary use of any available non-motorized water sport equipment. Included are kayaks, pedal boats, snorkeling and stand-up paddleboards, resort cycling tours, use of the fitness center, and access to the tennis and bocce ball courts. Plus, your own staff of butler, housekeeper and personal cook is on deck to handle your day today.

Montego Bay. Jamaica. Photo: Luckyphotographer | Dreamstime.com

If your idea of cozy is a personal fireplace butler, then book the Warmth & Wine getaway at the The Lowell in Manhattan, where actual wood-burning fireplaces are attended by Fireplace Butlers. That’s right: And you’ll also be treated to a sumptuous daily American breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, choice of newspaper, shoe shine, a bottle of wine, and a welcome beverage and personalized amenities delivered upon arrival. Your fireplace will stay crackling with two complimentary bundles of wood and your choice of preferred aroma so you can snuggle up and drift away to dream about breakfast.