Looking to trade kitchen chaos for curated bliss? This is your insider playbook to spend this upcoming Thanksgiving somewhere extraordinary (beachfront, snow-dusted, or wrapped in city sparkle) but that still feels like a home away from home.
First things first: timing & strategy
Expect record crowds. Last year set all-time highs for Thanksgiving travel, and patterns hold: the busiest days are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Consider flying Mon/Tue early, on Thanksgiving Day itself, or returning Friday or Saturday to dodge the worst.
Festive Europe advantage. Major cities ignite holiday lights and Christmas markets from late November, creating a magical backdrop without December’s crush. (Berlin markets open around Nov 24, for example.)
Early-season ski bet. Many Rockies resorts target mid–late November openings; snow is variable, but town vibe + holiday programming still make it a win.
Parade views in NYC. If a bucket-list parade morning is the dream, reserve parade-route rooms, like New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Ave. These book far in advance.
Where to go (and our favorite places to stay)
Sun & Sea
St. Barts — Cheval Blanc; Eden Rock; Rosewood Le Guanahani. Why now: glam scene without peak pricing before late-Dec high season.
Turks & Caicos — Amanyara; COMO Parrot Cay; Grace Bay Club.
Anguilla — Cap Juluca (Belmond); Four Seasons Anguilla; Aurora Anguilla.
Bahamas (Nassau/Paradise Island) — The Ocean Club (Four Seasons); Rosewood Baha Mar; The Cove at Atlantis.
Los Cabos — Four Seasons Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol, Waldorf Astoria Pedregal; One&Only Palmilla; Chileno Bay (Auberge).
Riviera Nayarit — St. Regis Punta Mita, Four Seasons Punta Mita, Four Seasons Naviva, and Susurros del Corazón. In the Mandarina area: O&O Mandarina and Rosewood Mandarina.
Riviera Maya/Mayakoba — Rosewood Mayakoba; Belmond Maroma, Hotel Esencia, Grand Velas
Hawai‘i (Maui / Hawai‘i Island / O‘ahu) — Four Seasons Hualālai; FS Maui at Wailea; Halekulani; Mauna Lani (Auberge). November brings warm weather and lively but manageable visitor numbers versus December peaks.
City Spectacle & Festive Energy
New York City — Aman New York; The Plaza; The Mark; The Carlyle. For parade-week magic and world-class dining. (Book parade-view rooms found at Mandarin Oriental and The 1 Hotel Central Park a year in advance)
London — Claridge’s; The Connaught; Browns, Raffles OWO. Lights, shopping, theatre.
Paris — Ritz Paris; Cheval Blanc; Le Bristol. Festive windows + museums before December’s surge.
Munich (Markets begin late Nov) — Rosewood, The Charles, Mandarin Oriental
Mountains, Possible Snow-Early & Cozy-Luxe
Aspen — The Little Nell; St. Regis Aspen; Hotel Jerome (Auberge).
Vail/Beaver Creek — Four Seasons Vail; The Arrabelle; Park Hyatt Beaver Creek.
Deer Valley — Montage Deer Valley; St. Regis Deer Valley; Stein Eriksen Lodge.
Big sky - Montage and Newly opened One and Only Moonlight Basin (excited to get feedback from some lucky clients headed there this Thanksgiving). Ask us about pre opening promos
How we elevate your Thanksgiving
VIP inclusions via our preferred-partner status (upgrades, breakfast, resort credits, varies by property).
Reservation wrangling for holiday dining, spas, and kids’ clubs.
The right rooms (connecting, view, private pools), verified with the property, not just “requested.”
Ready to trade turkey for true R&R?
Tell us what kind of vibe you're going for this turkey season: island, alpine, or city-chic and we’ll hold the right rooms and tables before they disappear. Click here today to start making your reservations.
