If you haven't booked your Christmas or New Year's vacation yet, you're not alone. We still have clients contacting us now to arrange holiday travel, and we're noticing something surprising: there is still a reasonable amount of availability at some of the most popular Christmas and New Year's destinations.
You have left it late, particularly if you want to travel over New Year's Eve, but you haven't necessarily left it too late. We're currently checking Christmas and New Year availability across Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean, and there are some excellent options still out there.
Rosewood Baha Mar still has availability over Christmas through December 27. Rosewood Mayakoba has availability over Christmas and New Year. Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, my favorite resort in Mexico, still has some exceptional suites and villas available, including accommodations with large private pools, cliffside locations and ocean views. And if you've specifically left New Year's Eve late, there are other ways to approach it, including a Caribbean yacht sailing departing December 28.
The Same Hotel Rates, With Extra Benefits
One important point before we get into where we'd go: our hotel and resort rates are always the same price as booking directly, and we don't charge a booking fee.
Through our preferred relationships with many of the hotels in this guide, your stay can include benefits such as:
- Daily breakfast for two
- $100 or $200 hotel or resort credit
- Welcome amenities
- Early check-in and late checkout, when available
- Additional hotel-specific benefits
At Four Seasons, we book through Four Seasons Preferred Partner. We also have preferred relationships with Rosewood, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Leading Hotels of the World and many independent luxury hotels through Virtuoso.
You still pay the hotel directly. When a card is required, you enter it through the hotel's secure payment or authorization system. We never see or handle your card details.
Every booking also has access to our Guest Experience team, who work directly with the hotel before arrival to:
- Add preferences and celebration details
- Reconfirm special requests
- Help with airport transfers
- Assist with restaurant, spa and festive arrangements
- Work directly with the hotel before you arrive
One thing we wouldn't sell you on over Christmas and New Year is an upgrade. Hotels can be running at or close to full occupancy, so while an upgrade is always nice if one becomes available, book the room or suite you'll be happy staying in.
Same hotel, same rate as booking direct, with additional benefits and our service at no extra cost.
Is It Too Late to Book Christmas 2026?
No, but availability is now very uneven. One resort might be completely sold out for New Year's Eve while another excellent hotel nearby still has rooms. A resort may have nothing from December 27 through January 3 but plenty of options if you travel for Christmas and return home on December 27. Room type also makes a big difference. Standard rooms may be gone while suites, residences and villas remain available.
At this point, we wouldn't start by choosing one hotel. Start with your dates, departure city, number of travelers and approximate hotel budget, then look at where the best remaining options are. For travelers looking for warm weather without flying halfway around the world, we'd concentrate on Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
Where We're Still Finding Christmas 2026 Availability
Availability checked September 26, 2026. Availability can change quickly.
Rosewood Baha Mar: An Easy Caribbean Christmas
One of the biggest surprises is Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, where we're still finding availability over Christmas through December 27. That makes it particularly interesting if you want to spend Christmas somewhere warm but don't need to stay through New Year's Eve.
One of Baha Mar's biggest advantages is how easy it is to reach from the United States, particularly from Florida and the East Coast. Rosewood sits within the larger Baha Mar development, so families have access to a huge selection of restaurants, pools and activities while still staying at a high-end Rosewood resort.
Best for: Families, couples and an easy Caribbean Christmas. Airport: Nassau (NAS). What we're seeing: Christmas availability through December 27.
If you can travel for Christmas and return before New Year, this is one of the first Caribbean options we'd check.
Rosewood Mayakoba: Christmas and New Year Are Still Possible
This surprised us even more. Rosewood Mayakoba still has availability spanning Christmas and New Year, which is particularly interesting because New Year's Eve is where a festive hotel search usually becomes much harder.
More importantly, you're not choosing Rosewood Mayakoba because it's what's left. It's one of the best luxury resorts on the Riviera Maya at any time of year. The resort is spread between lagoons, mangroves and the Caribbean Sea, with suites and villas offering plenty of space for couples, families and multigenerational trips. Rosewood also puts on extensive Christmas and New Year programming, so there's plenty happening without needing to leave Mayakoba.
Best for: Families, couples and travelers wanting to be away for both holidays. Airport: Cancun (CUN). What we're seeing: Availability across Christmas and New Year.
For someone contacting us now and saying, "We want a great resort in Mexico and need both Christmas and New Year's Eve," this would be high on our list.
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo: My Favorite Resort in Mexico
If I were choosing personally, I'd look very closely at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo. I've stayed here, and it's my favorite resort in Mexico.
Tamarindo sits on Mexico's Pacific coast within a huge private nature reserve. It feels completely different from Cabo or Cancun. You're surrounded by nature, ocean and an enormous amount of space, but there's still plenty going on. The resort puts together a jam-packed schedule of activities over the festive period, which is particularly good for families who want more than just a week around the pool.
We're seeing cliffside and ocean-view accommodations with large private pools, some around 40 feet long, still available over the holiday period. These aren't rooms we'd recommend simply because everything else has gone. For a family or group that would otherwise need two or three hotel rooms, the villas are particularly interesting. You get considerably more living space and privacy while retaining the restaurants, beaches, pools and service of Four Seasons.
The resort is more involved to reach than Cancun or Cabo. Manzanillo is the closest practical commercial airport for most guests, but the remoteness is part of what makes Tamarindo so good.
Best for: Families, couples and groups wanting somewhere secluded. Airport: Manzanillo (ZLO). What we're seeing: Excellent suites and villas over Christmas and New Year.
Mexico for Christmas and New Year 2026
If someone contacted us today with no Christmas plans, Mexico would probably be the first country we'd search. The reason is choice. Mexico has an enormous concentration of luxury beach resorts, good air access from the United States and several completely different destinations to consider.
Punta Mita
Punta Mita remains one of our favorite options for families. It's on Mexico's Pacific coast north of Puerto Vallarta and combines relatively easy airport access with excellent resorts and a large selection of private residences.
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and St Regis Punta Mita are particularly good for families, with two beaches, multiple pools, golf and extensive activities for children and teenagers. For larger families, the residences and villas can also be much easier than trying to secure several hotel rooms over Christmas.
Fly into: Puerto Vallarta (PVR). Best for: Families and multigenerational trips.
Los Cabos
Cabo is another destination we'd search early, particularly for travelers from California, Arizona and Texas. The big advantage is the number of excellent hotels. At the top end you have Las Ventanas al Paraíso, One&Only Palmilla, Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Montage Los Cabos, Chileno Bay Resort and two Four Seasons resorts. If one hotel is full, that doesn't necessarily mean Cabo is.
One thing to remember is that not every beach in Los Cabos is swimmable. If being able to swim directly from the beach is important to you, tell us before we start looking.
Fly into: Los Cabos (SJD). Best for: Couples, families and travelers from the western US.
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya is particularly convenient from the East Coast, Texas and Midwest. Cancun has extensive US air service, and there is a huge selection of resorts along the coast.
At the luxury end, we'd consider Rosewood Mayakoba, Maroma, A Belmond Hotel and Hotel Esencia, among others. Right now, Rosewood Mayakoba's availability across Christmas and New Year makes it particularly interesting.
Riviera Maya is also somewhere we'd look if all-inclusive is important. Mexico has more options at the luxury end of the all-inclusive market than much of the Caribbean.
Fly into: Cancun (CUN). Best for: Families, couples and travelers prioritizing easy air access.
The Caribbean: Where We'd Look Now
The Honest Truth About St. Barths
If you're only now starting to look at St. Barths for Christmas and New Year, the honest answer is that you've probably left it too late. St. Barths is one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean over the holidays, particularly around New Year's Eve, and many repeat guests book far in advance.
We can always check for cancellations, but we wouldn't build your entire vacation around hoping something appears. Instead, we'd ask what you wanted from St. Barths. If it's a smaller Caribbean island, excellent beaches, good restaurants and high-end hotels, there are alternatives.
Try Anguilla Instead
Anguilla isn't quite booked out for Christmas yet. At the top end, we'd look at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla and Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel.
Cap Juluca in particular is all about the beach. The whitewashed resort stretches along Maundays Bay, and if your idea of Christmas is walking straight from your room onto the sand, it's a compelling alternative. Anguilla also works well for travelers who want a smaller, quieter Caribbean island rather than a large resort development.
If St. Barths is sold out, we wouldn't consider Anguilla a consolation prize.
Want Luxury All-Inclusive? Look at Jumby Bay
Another option we're watching is Jumby Bay Island in Antigua, where we're still seeing availability over Christmas through December 27.
Jumby Bay is all-inclusive, but this is very different from the huge all-inclusive resorts people sometimes picture. It's a private island reached by boat from Antigua, with no cars and only resort guests and residents on the island. Food and drinks are included, which is particularly appealing over Christmas when resort dining can add considerably to the final cost of a family vacation.
Best for: Families, couples and multigenerational groups wanting luxury all-inclusive. Airport: Antigua (ANU), followed by the resort boat. What we're seeing: Christmas availability through December 27.
This is exactly why we wouldn't abandon the Caribbean simply because St. Barths is full.
Left New Year's Eve Late? Consider a Yacht
New Year's Eve is much harder than Christmas itself, but there are still some interesting options if you're open to spending it at sea rather than at one resort.
Four Seasons Yachts has a seven-night Grand Caribbean featuring Nevis & Exuma Sound sailing aboard Four Seasons I from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It departs from Sint Maarten and finishes in Miami, with Antigua, Nevis and the Bahamas along the way.
This is the inaugural season for Four Seasons Yachts, and with just 95 suites, it's a very different experience from a large cruise ship. Every suite has a private terrace, and there are larger connecting and multi-bedroom options for families.
There's also The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's ILMA, with a seven-night Caribbean sailing departing San Juan on December 28, 2026. The itinerary includes Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Lucia, Bequia and Canouan before returning to San Juan. When we checked on September 26, fares were showing from $11,400 USD, subject to change and availability.
Both solve a particular problem for late bookers. Instead of trying to find seven consecutive nights at one of the Caribbean's most sought-after resorts over New Year, you can spend the week moving between several islands.
You could even combine Christmas on land with New Year at sea. Spend Christmas at Rosewood Baha Mar or Jumby Bay, where we're currently seeing availability through December 27, then continue to Sint Maarten for Four Seasons I or San Juan for ILMA.
For someone contacting us now saying, "We've left New Year's late but still want to do something exceptional in the Caribbean," we'd be looking seriously at both.
Hawaii for Christmas 2026
For travelers from the western United States, Hawaii should absolutely be part of the search. Flights are straightforward from several major US cities, there's no international border for US travelers, and you have some of the country's best resorts.
Maui
For a first Hawaii vacation, Maui remains one of our favorite choices. Wailea has an excellent concentration of luxury resorts, including Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Andaz Maui and Fairmont Kea Lani.
I've stayed at Four Seasons Maui, and I wouldn't get too caught up in paying for the most expensive view category. I'd happily stay in a Mountain View or Garden View room. You're in Maui. You're going to spend your days around the pools, at Wailea Beach and exploring the island. Some of the more expensive Ocean View rooms primarily give you that view from the balcony.
When booking this late, I'd rather get into Four Seasons in a lower room category than spend heavily simply to secure an ocean view.
Fly into: Maui (OGG). Best for: Families, couples and first-time Hawaii visitors.
The Big Island
The Big Island works particularly well if you want a resort-centered vacation. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is one of Hawaii's standout family resorts, with enough restaurants, pools, activities and golf that you don't need to spend every day driving around the island. It's particularly good for multigenerational families.
Fly into: Kona (KOA). Best for: Families, golfers and longer resort stays.
Lanai: Decompress Before 2027
Lanai is where we'd look for something completely different. Four Seasons has two resorts on the island, and they offer two very different versions of Hawaii.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai sits above Hulopoe Bay and gives you the traditional resort experience of beach, pools and ocean views. But one property our clients are loving at the moment is Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort.
Sensei is inland rather than on the beach. It's adults-only and surrounded by gardens, with the focus on wellness, spa treatments, movement, food and slowing down. For someone who has had a hectic 2026, it's one of our favorite ideas for the holidays. Go there to sleep, spend time in the spa, eat well and decompress before 2027 begins.
Lanai is also particularly interesting right now because our clients can receive complimentary round-trip flights between Honolulu and Lanai on eligible Four Seasons stays. We also have an extended set of Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits available on eligible Lanai bookings, while our rates remain the same as booking directly with Four Seasons.
If Sensei sounds too wellness-focused, Four Seasons Resort Lanai gives you the beach alternative on the same island.
Best for: Sensei for adults wanting wellness and a quieter end to the year; Four Seasons Resort Lanai for a traditional luxury Hawaii vacation. Getting there: Honolulu (HNL), then Lanai. Current benefit: Complimentary HNL-Lanai flights on eligible stays, plus our additional Preferred Partner benefits.
A Few Things to Know Before Booking Christmas This Late
New Year's Eve is considerably harder than Christmas. A resort may still have rooms December 20 to 27 but nothing from December 27 onward. New Year's can also bring longer minimum stays, higher rates, larger deposits, stricter cancellation conditions and mandatory dinners or celebrations. If you don't need to be away on December 31, tell us. That one change can open far more options.
Moving your dates by a day or two can help. Instead of telling us your children's school vacation runs December 19 through January 4 and asking us to search that entire period, tell us you can travel any seven nights within that window. Minimum-stay requirements can cause a resort to appear unavailable for one combination of dates but available for another.
Give us an approximate budget. There isn't a useful average cost for a luxury Christmas vacation. A couple needing one room and a family requiring a three-bedroom villa are shopping for completely different trips. Something as straightforward as "We're a family of four and would like to keep the hotel around $20,000 for seven nights" gives us enough to work with. If the budget doesn't fit what you're looking for, we'll tell you.
Tell us your children's ages and whether connecting rooms are essential. Connecting rooms can be among the hardest accommodations to find over Christmas because we aren't simply looking for two available rooms. We need two specific rooms that physically connect. For larger families, a two-, three- or four-bedroom residence or villa can sometimes work much better.
Don't wait for a last-minute deal if you already know you're traveling. The bigger risk now isn't that the hotel becomes slightly more expensive. It's that the accommodation you need disappears.
What If the Hotel You Want Is Sold Out?
Don't give up after the first search. We can look at different dates, room categories, suites, residences and nearby resorts. Festive inventory can also return when another guest cancels or reaches a deposit deadline, however this is getting a bit rare now as most of the final payments are done as we are nearly 90 days out from Christmas.
We have direct relationships with many of the hotels we book, so we can speak with them rather than relying entirely on a public booking engine. We can't create a room when a hotel is genuinely full, but there can be more options than repeatedly refreshing the hotel's website.
Frequently Asked Questions About Last-Minute Christmas Vacations
Is September too late to book Christmas 2026?
No. As of September 26, we're still finding luxury resort availability in Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. New Year's Eve is much tighter, but there are still options.
Where can I still book a luxury hotel for Christmas 2026?
We're currently seeing options including Rosewood Baha Mar through December 27, Rosewood Mayakoba across Christmas and New Year, and suites and villas at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo.
Where can I go if St. Barths is sold out?
Look at Anguilla if you want excellent beaches, a smaller Caribbean island and high-end resorts. Antigua is another option, particularly Jumby Bay for travelers wanting a luxury all-inclusive experience.
Can I still book New Year's Eve in the Caribbean?
Yes, but hotel availability is much tighter than over Christmas itself. A yacht can also be an alternative. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's ILMA currently has a seven-night Caribbean itinerary departing San Juan on December 28.
Is Mexico or the Caribbean better for a last-minute Christmas vacation?
Mexico generally gives us more resorts to search. The Caribbean can be particularly convenient from the East Coast. Your dates, budget, departure city and number of travelers will usually determine which works better.
Is Hawaii good for Christmas?
Yes. Maui and the Big Island are excellent for a traditional resort vacation. Lanai is a good alternative for something quieter, while Sensei Lanai is particularly interesting for adults wanting a wellness-focused end to the year.
Can I get complimentary flights to Lanai?
Eligible Four Seasons Lanai stays currently include complimentary round-trip flights between Honolulu and Lanai under the applicable offer. We can check whether your dates qualify.
Is booking through Clements Travel more expensive than booking directly?
No. Our hotel and resort rates are always the same price as booking directly, and we don't charge a hotel booking fee. Depending on the hotel and rate, we can also include benefits such as breakfast, hotel credits and other amenities at no additional cost.
Haven't Booked Christmas Yet? You're Not Alone
We're still receiving Christmas and New Year's inquiries, and we're still finding some surprisingly good options. There is less choice than there was six months ago, but Christmas 2026 is not sold out.
Don't assume you've missed your chance because the first hotel you searched has no rooms. Tell us where you're flying from, your dates, who is traveling and roughly what you'd like to spend on the hotel. We'll look at what's still available across Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean, compare the realistic options and tell you where we'd go.
Availability in this guide was checked September 26, 2026 and can change at any time.
