Looking Forward: 7 Unforgettable Winter Travel Itineraries

What’s your idea of a dream winter escape? While some crave the thrill of creating fresh tracks in the Swiss Alps or Aspen (above left, White Elephant Aspen), others fantasize about sinking into a hammock on a pink-sand Caribbean beach (above right, The Potlatch Club) or jetting off on a far-flung adventure to South America’s most captivating corners, like the Atacama Desert or Easter Island. Whatever your fantasy, we’ve rounded up seven unforgettable itineraries to inspire your next winter getaway.

When you’re in the depths of the winter blues, nothing lifts the spirit quite like a Caribbean beach escape. For one of the region’s most paradisical stretches, look no further than Potlatch Club, the mid-century Bahamian beach resort once beloved by Greta Garbo and Paul McCartney, and reborn in 2024 as Eleuthera’s first luxury boutique hotel. The wild, sliver-like island is home to more than 100 beaches scattered on its long-scalloped coastline; yet, guests of The Potlatch Club are just steps from a seven-mile stretch of pink sand where they can walk for hours without encountering another soul.

• Insider Tip: For the ultimate winter cure, book an ocean-facing villa or oceanfront cottage, some featuring private verandas and terraces, others with shoreline pavilions or gardens scented with jasmine and frangipani.

Prefer to pair toes-in-the-sand relaxation with a dash of adventure? Head to GoldenEye, the lush, 52-acre Jamaican estate where James Bond creator Ian Fleming penned his best-selling spy novels from the property’s famed waterfront villa (which turns 80 in 2026). Elsewhere on property, stroll along the 500-foot-long Low Cay Beach or learn to sail at Button Beach, home to a breezy open-air rum bar ideal for post-activity sips.

• Insider Tip: For Bond-worthy thrills, take your pick from a line-up of daily adventures: snorkeling, kayaking, turtle-watching, sailing, or stand-up paddleboarding in the sea or the resort’s vast protected saltwater lagoon (think of it as a 250-meter natural swimming pool!).

When the days grow short, head south of the equator where the South American summer offers a complete seasonal reset. Blending seamlessly with its red-rock surroundings in Chile’s Salt Mountains, Nayara Alto Atacama is an adobe-style oasis in the world’s driest desert, where the average temperature hovers around 27°C (81°F). The 42 rooms were dreamed up by Chilean interior designer Enrique Concha and feature large terraces with sizable daybeds, outdoor showers, and views of the towering red rocks and surrounding cactus gardens.

After a day of activities — say, mountain biking around the Devil’s Throat in the Salt Mountain Range, or hiking through the Sarapana Mountain Range — hit the sanctuary-like Puri spa where there are saunas, hot tubs, and outdoor mineral baths overlooking the valley.

• Insider Tip: The South American summer is one of the best times to see the stars in the Atacama, a designated dark sky reserve, so don’t forget to look up, and ideally from one of the newly added private stargazing terraces…

Lying more than two-thousand miles off the coast of Chile, Easter Island, meanwhile, is one of the most isolated and culturally significant places on the planet, known for its ancient stone Moai statues, rocky volcanic scenery, and land-before-time beauty. The summer is arguably the best time to go, with sunny days and warm seas (making easy work of scuba diving excursions to see the submerged moai), and the annual Tapati Rapa Nui Festival — the island’s biggest cultural celebration — featuring traditional canoe races, body painting, and the famed haka pei (sledding down a hill on banana tree trunks at 80 km/hour).

At the center of island life is the eco-retreat Nayara Hangaroa, the island’s only luxury hotel owned by a local family, and whose design channels the island’s energy and cultural riches, especially at the Manavai spa, inspired by an ancient Manavai dome and featuring treatments with pure Tahitian coconut oil and Tiare flowers.

• Insider Tip: Guests can embark on curated cultural experiences, such as visiting the ancient ceremonial village of Orongo, marveling at the Moai at Ahu Akivi, and exploring the volcanic quarry of Rano Raraku, where the statues were carved during the 12th-15th centuries.

For many travelers, a winter getaway is synonymous with hitting the slopes. This year, powder-hounds have their pick of standout winter escapes, such as the soon-to-open White Elephant Aspen, a 54-room hotel from the same group behind the iconic properties on New England’s Nantucket and in Palm Beach.

Located in Aspen’s bustling West End neighborhood, just steps from world-class shopping, Michelin-starred restaurants, and cultural hubs like the Aspen Institute and Harris Hall, the hotel also facilitates regular private shuttles to Aspen’s best slopes — offering guests the best of both worlds. The 54 rooms and suites exude an alpine luxury feel with Roman clay wall finishes, porcelain tile flooring, warm natural woods, and textural elements like horsehair and rustic stone mosaics.

• Insider Tip: Book a room with a private outdoor patio for taking in the fresh mountain air, or splurge on the three-bedroom Ajax Penthouse with a 1,600-square-foot balcony and glorious vistas of Ajax (the local name for Aspen Mountain).

In Switzerland, few sights are as legendary as the Matterhorn. For front-row views, stay at Schweizerhof Zermatt, a modern take on a traditional ski lodge, with 95 Alpine-chic rooms, cocoon-like interiors done up in fleece and leather, and a decadent spa and an indoor swimming pool. Sports gear is available to rent and an in-house ski expert can assist first-timers.

• Insider Tip: For families, the Kid’s Club has everything a child could dream of including arcade games, a climbing wall, and movie nights.

Also in the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is known for its panoramic Valais Valley views, 300 days of sunshine a year, and what’s said to be the purest air in the Alps. Its high-altitude slopes attract powderhounds who beeline for the Plaine Morte Glacier (located 3,000 meters above sea level!), while families delight in child-friendly activities, like the Etoile Bella Lui winter festival.

• Where to stay? Crans Ambassador offers ski-in/ski-out access in winter and hiking paths just 200 meters from the hotel. For apres-ski, enjoy mountain views, mulled wine, and Swiss specialities like raclette and fondue at the Lounge Bar 180°.
• Insider Tip: Spa Nescens (a sister of the acclaimed flagship at La Réserve Genève) offers a comprehensive focus on pampering, holistic well-being and post-sports treatments. There’s also a thoughtfully conceived treatment menu for kids, as well as a large heated indoor pool, a fitness center, and a sauna.