“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas“, and you have not made any holiday bookings yet, let alone taken out the Christmas tree from the storage. It has been a hard year that has now made an unexpected yet pleasant turn, and you are in the mood to get away, unwind, celebrate and enjoy the festive season. May your Quintessentially concierge be with you as you scramble to make last minute bookings.

As part of our contribution to you salvaging Christmas, we have listed our top 5 luxury festive holiday destinations for you to consider. Our diverse selection covers both local and international destinations that you can narrow down and swiftly book for your luxuriant December holidays. However, be ready to pay a premium and bear in mind, you are most likely to secure a hotel instead of a villa at this point.

1. The Sea – Western Cape Province – South Africa

Marina Village 25 Penthouse, Club Mykonos

The award-winning Western Cape Province remains one of South Africa’s gems when it comes to travel and tourism. From foraging the garden route and wine farms to diving into the deep blue sea, to luxury safari trips and enjoying the city’s nightlife, Western Cape, particularly Cape Town, will keep your itinerary booked and busy until January 2024. Some of the best restaurants that South Africa has to offer are in the Western Cape, so whether you are buying the local seafood to cook in your beach house or you are eating out with friends and family, you are guaranteed quality food with the freshest ingredients and spectacular wine.

We recommend: Book the Marina Village 25 Penthouse at Club Mykonos in Langebaan if you are looking for activities and fun in the sun. Book Scarborough, Plettenberg Bay or Mossel Bay’s Pinnacle Point if you are looking to spend quality time with friends and family and want to see some dolphins. For those who love fine dining, the beach and a cosmopolitan vibe, you can never go wrong with Clifton or Camps Bay.

2. The Savanna – Jao Camp – Okavango Delta – Botswana

Jao Camp is one of the most luxurious camps in the Okavango Delta with five suites and two villas. Each villa includes a private chef, guide, butler and a vehicle, adding to its ultra exclusive allure. As described by Wilderness Destinations, “Where the Earth meets river meets wetland, lies Jao.” The camp is surrounded by tall shady leadwood, African mangosteen and ebony trees. With its Balinese and African inspired decor and furnishings, be ready for an opulent African luxury experience.

In 2019, Wilderness Safaris appointed renowned South African architects Lesley Carstens and Silvio Rech to redesign Jao Camp and to create an eco-friendly award winning 21st-century lush paradise.

We recommend: Jao camp in Botswana is perfect for a couple’s getaway during the awkward days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. There are plenty of activities to partake in and an equally indulgent spa, so that you too, can lounge around like the animals in the beautiful African Savanna.

3. The Alps – Courchevel

Courchevel is located in the French Alps and is part of the three valleys that combined, form the world’s largest ski area. During the peak of ski season, expect to rub shoulders with celebrities, crowned heads and the uber rich going down the ski slopes during the day and enjoying the finest dining in the evening. The Beckhams, Leonardo Dicaprio and many more famous faces have been spotted in the French Alps.

Courchevel has a fantastic range of high-end hotels and luxury chalets, bars, an impressive list of Michelin star restaurants, stylish designer boutiques and a glamourous night life.

We recommend: Enjoy Christmas and usher in the New Year in luxury by booking a chalet with ONE Hotel Privé (Chalet Coquelicot or Chalet Blanchot) situated at the most coveted area, Courchevel 1850, for an unforgettable and scenic winter experience with your loved ones.

4. The City – New York, New York

Photo: Courtesy Rockerfeller Center

If you can’t imagine yourself at sea or on safari, and you are a city lover through and through, then New York is where you will need to be this Christmas. Witness in awe as the city transforms into a festive winter wonderland filled with extravagant holiday displays on Fifth Avenue, the elaborate Rockefeller Center Tree Lights and the natural high that only New York’s infectious atmosphere can provide. New York has a lot to offer during the festive season.

We recommend: For an elegant festive season, book into the lavish Baccarat Hotel. The epitome of Parisian luxury and decadence can now be found in the heart of New York. The prestigious fine crystal company has outdone itself with this five-star hotel that has soaring salons and 114 rooms and suites (furnished with Baccarat’s coveted amenities), each adorned with Baccarat crystal and the fiery crimson shade of Baccarat red.  After a full day of touring, shopping and dining in the city, you can retreat and recharge at the Baccarat Hotel’s Spa De La Mer (a first of its kind in the United States of America), with treatments from the incomparable luxury skincare brand, La Mer.

5. The Vibe – Dubai

Everything is bigger, bolder and more extravagant in Dubai. Christmas in Dubai is a luxury treat that offers a plethora of experiences that can keep the whole family busy. The sun is always shining, and the emirate is a hub for joyous residents and exhilarated travellers alike. The Christmas spirit is tangible in Dubai and the festivities do not end until the New Year.

We recommend: For a wholesome family experience, attend The Palm’s Christmas tree-lighting event, meet Santa at Ski Dubai, explore Madinat Jumeirah’s Festive Market and head to the desert for the authentic Emirati experience. If you are looking to celebrate and let your hair down, book into The Five Palm Jumeirah Hotel and be ready for the best beach club and pool side vibe that will have you on cloud 9 from 9 am in the morning until 3 am. Be ready to live in your swimsuit, enjoy the music and usher in the New Year with celebrity DJs and artists, connect with beautiful people and indulge in some delicious fruit platters to stay hydrated.