Christmas Planning Guide – Holiday Booking Trends
Top Ten Christmas Destinations 2007"
- Calista Avery, Editorial Review Author
Why You Should Start Planning Your Winter Holiday Now 
The Scene:
It happens every year, a dreaded telephone call to the places like Hotel Jerome in Aspen inquiring about five coveted nights between December 22nd and December 25th – better known as the Christmas Getaway. But what was once a October practice is moving back earlier and earlier every year, with Christmas rooms selling-out as early as July for coveted destinations like St. Bart's, Aspen and St. Moritz. After calling around to more than ten different hotel chains, here are 10 festive tips for landing that coveted holiday room.
1. Think outside of the box. With Christmas falling on a Tuesday in 2007, try booking a room between the 21st and 26th instead of the usual Christmas week between December 24th and 30th. Room rates usually increase around the 23rd, meaning that you'll also save a stocking-full of cash.
2. Avoid the chains. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek increases its room rates by over 80% during the holiday period while local boutique hotels like Kimpton's Sky Hotel increase by no more than 20%. While facilities and services are not really comparable, upgrade to a better room category with the money saved.
3. Bundle it up. If you absolutely must stay at a luxury chain, inquire about special promotions like the "Ski Package" offered by Four Seasons Whistler. While rooms rates rise to $875 CAD ($750 USD) during the holiday period, special ski incentives that include two lift tickets and full breakfast is a mere $50 CAD ($42) more per night.
4. O' Come All Ye Faithful. While basic room categories almost double during the peak holiday season, upgraded suites tend fluctuate a lot less. Try getting a larger group together and renting larger two or even three bedroom suites. Residence Clubs like Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons tend to have an ample supply given good resorts sales and new openings.
5. Cheap Currencies. Instead of hitting the slops of Gstaad or Courchevel, take a sun-vacation and fly south toward more affordable South American economies. While taking advantage of Argentina's devaluation and Brazil ramped inflation may not sound very festive, you will be supporting local economies in need of foreign tourism while getting a toasty tropical tan.
6. One-of-a-kind gems. It may sound ridiculous, but one-of-a-kind and privately owned hotels tend to raise their rates a lot less during the holiday season than corporately-owned chains. Hotel Quintessence in Quebec's Mount Tremblant offers all-suite accommodations during the holiday season at a mere 10% premium (suites go from $699 CAD to $749 CAD) verses the nearby Fairmont Tremblant that nearly doubles rates ($299 CAD to $599 CAD) and requires a five-night stay.
7. Be a Trendsetter. It hardly a novel idea, albeit acceptably fabulous, to spend Christmas week in Verbier or St. Croix. Instead of the well-populated standards, try to discover new and less-populated destinations like skiing in Sochi, Russia (Home of the 2014 Olympics) or a beach vacation in Buzios, Brazil that's all but abandoned during the holidays.
8. Gites and Villas. It may sound provincial, but renting a French Gites during the holiday season is surprisingly affordable, utterly charming, and quite convenient given the travel time. For those looking for more sun or something more glamorous, villa rentals in the South of France are deeply discounted during off-season with last minute availability that's surprising.
9. Go to the Source. Sites like Ownerdirect.com offer premium vacation rentals with low fees and surprisingly good selection of luxury homes. With a variety of destinations and options, study the photos closely and coordinate details with the owner, as many of these fees are paid in advance and non-refundable.
10. Just Use Them. After accumulating all those hard to use American Express and Delta miles, perhaps a more practical alternative would be to use the miles for hotel stays. With fewer blackout dates and sky-high holiday rates, a one-night stay at a Starwood or Luxury Collection property may be a better value than a round-trip airline ticket.
- Calista Avery, Editorial Review Author
Why You Should Start Planning Your Winter Holiday Now
The Scene:
It happens every year, a dreaded telephone call to the places like Hotel Jerome in Aspen inquiring about five coveted nights between December 22nd and December 25th – better known as the Christmas Getaway. But what was once a October practice is moving back earlier and earlier every year, with Christmas rooms selling-out as early as July for coveted destinations like St. Bart's, Aspen and St. Moritz. After calling around to more than ten different hotel chains, here are 10 festive tips for landing that coveted holiday room.
1. Think outside of the box. With Christmas falling on a Tuesday in 2007, try booking a room between the 21st and 26th instead of the usual Christmas week between December 24th and 30th. Room rates usually increase around the 23rd, meaning that you'll also save a stocking-full of cash.
2. Avoid the chains. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek increases its room rates by over 80% during the holiday period while local boutique hotels like Kimpton's Sky Hotel increase by no more than 20%. While facilities and services are not really comparable, upgrade to a better room category with the money saved.
3. Bundle it up. If you absolutely must stay at a luxury chain, inquire about special promotions like the "Ski Package" offered by Four Seasons Whistler. While rooms rates rise to $875 CAD ($750 USD) during the holiday period, special ski incentives that include two lift tickets and full breakfast is a mere $50 CAD ($42) more per night.
4. O' Come All Ye Faithful. While basic room categories almost double during the peak holiday season, upgraded suites tend fluctuate a lot less. Try getting a larger group together and renting larger two or even three bedroom suites. Residence Clubs like Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons tend to have an ample supply given good resorts sales and new openings.
5. Cheap Currencies. Instead of hitting the slops of Gstaad or Courchevel, take a sun-vacation and fly south toward more affordable South American economies. While taking advantage of Argentina's devaluation and Brazil ramped inflation may not sound very festive, you will be supporting local economies in need of foreign tourism while getting a toasty tropical tan.
6. One-of-a-kind gems. It may sound ridiculous, but one-of-a-kind and privately owned hotels tend to raise their rates a lot less during the holiday season than corporately-owned chains. Hotel Quintessence in Quebec's Mount Tremblant offers all-suite accommodations during the holiday season at a mere 10% premium (suites go from $699 CAD to $749 CAD) verses the nearby Fairmont Tremblant that nearly doubles rates ($299 CAD to $599 CAD) and requires a five-night stay.
7. Be a Trendsetter. It hardly a novel idea, albeit acceptably fabulous, to spend Christmas week in Verbier or St. Croix. Instead of the well-populated standards, try to discover new and less-populated destinations like skiing in Sochi, Russia (Home of the 2014 Olympics) or a beach vacation in Buzios, Brazil that's all but abandoned during the holidays.
8. Gites and Villas. It may sound provincial, but renting a French Gites during the holiday season is surprisingly affordable, utterly charming, and quite convenient given the travel time. For those looking for more sun or something more glamorous, villa rentals in the South of France are deeply discounted during off-season with last minute availability that's surprising.
9. Go to the Source. Sites like Ownerdirect.com offer premium vacation rentals with low fees and surprisingly good selection of luxury homes. With a variety of destinations and options, study the photos closely and coordinate details with the owner, as many of these fees are paid in advance and non-refundable.
10. Just Use Them. After accumulating all those hard to use American Express and Delta miles, perhaps a more practical alternative would be to use the miles for hotel stays. With fewer blackout dates and sky-high holiday rates, a one-night stay at a Starwood or Luxury Collection property may be a better value than a round-trip airline ticket.
posted by Wayan-Inne at
11:20 AM
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