Snow or Sun: Winter Getaways for Everyone

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to take a winter getaway!

We encourage wellness travel 365 days a year, but there’s something even more special about jet-setting around this particular time, as winter getaways can span anywhere from vacationing with family for the holidays to welcoming a New Year in a healthy way.

Whether the slopes are your thing, or you prefer sand, whether frolicking in the snow sounds fun or basking in the sun is where it’s at, we share winter escape ideas to suit every traveler.

Winter Getaways in the Snow

Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, St. Moritz – St. Moritz, Switzerland
This five-star hotel neighbors the Mauritius Spring and resides opposite a cable car station, giving you prime access to the area’s ski runs (the Hahnensee run ends in front of the property). Following time on the slopes, head to the hotel spa’s sauna experiences circuit; here, you can divide time among the bio, herbal, rock, and Finnish saunas.

Six Senses Spa Gstaad – Gstaad, Switzerland
What could be more of a winter wonderland than a sleek, chateau-inspired retreat in the presence of the magnificent Alps? Alpine-style luxury is what you’ll find at The Alpina Gstaad in the Berner Oberland of southwestern Switzerland, along with a Six Senses Spa with a salt cave, hot/cold plunge pools, and a hammam room.

Sonnenalp Hotel – Vail, Colorado
Sonnenalp Hotel, in the center of Vail Village, close to Vail and Beaver Creek, gives winter enthusiasts one more reason to visit: The hotel, its ski guides, and four-time Olympian and FIS Alpine Ski World Cup winner Sarah Schleper will lead a “Ski Safari” experience this February and March. The excursion affords skiers the chance to ski three of Colorado’s top ski resorts over a three-day timeframe.

The Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff, Alberta, Canada
Snow lovers will love this fact: The Banff area provides one of Canada’s longest skiing seasons; skiers are welcome to the Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise areas from November until May. Après-ski relaxation can be had at Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs, where healing mineral hydrotherapy options beckon those with weary muscles.

Winter Getaways in the Sun

Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso – Athens, Greece
A private sandy beach, a thalassotherapy wellness center, and mild winters: Yes, please! You’ll find it at Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso in the center of the Athenian Riviera.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Goodbye winter, aloha Hawaii! Mauna Kea, on heavenly Kohala Coast, appears to have it all: the beautiful Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara, 11 seaside tennis courts, and an award-winning golf course. Check out the hotel’s current “Winter Escape Free Nights & Breakfast” promotion, where you’ll receive a fifth night free, plus daily breakfast buffet for two.

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama – Tenerife, Spain
If dreary winter weather is dragging you down, heading to this Canary Islands hotel might be just the thing needed to get you out of that winter slump. The Moorish-inspired property is located on the Guía de Isora coast of Tenerife, aka the island of “Eternal Spring,” said to offer more hours of sunshine than any other part of Spain (botanical-infused spa treatments, two Michelin-star restaurants, and a 72-par Dave Thomas-designed golf course don’t hurt either).

Windjammer Landing – Castries, Saint Lucia
Windjammer Landing is ideal for snowbirds; the property in Labrelotte Bay lends itself to “barefoot luxury,” embodying a casually elegant Caribbean vibe and endorsing wellness objectives like holistic aqua activities, paddle yoga, and a white-sand beach.

Stoked to learn more about wellness travel or searching for your winter getaway? Get more ideas here!