Off-the-Beaten Track Holiday Destinations for Christmas and New Year

What kind of Christmas holiday are you dreaming of?

Rather than repeating the same old Christmas and New Year routine, why not try something uniquely refreshing at one of the world’s most luxurious, off-the-beaten-track hotels? From a private-beach retreat on a lesser-known Indonesian island to an adobe-built stargazers’ bolthole in the high-altitude deserts of Chile. It’s time for a merry adventure…

With Mr & Mrs Smith you’ll enjoy their best-price guarantee, as well as a little something extra on arrival at every hotel.
www.mrandmrssmith.com.

Not far from Phuket and yet securely hidden behind ancient ficus trees and 10 acres of trimmed and tailored tropical gardens, The Sarojin is a secluded boutique resort designed with the intention of satisfying your every wish and whim. This lavish hotel offers pampered privacy against a sumptuous, leafy backdrop. Choose one of the Pool Residences for their enormous onyx plunge pools sunk into the terrace – perfect for a late-night cocktail to celebrate Christmas beneath the stars. Whether you’re keen on scuba-diving, deep-sea fishing, or simply sightseeing, The Sarojin’s full-time ‘imaginer’ can put together a personalised itinerary for you, making yours an easy start to the New Year.

Smith extra: A 60-minute Thai massage for two people, to be taken within 48 hours of arrival.

Fringed by coruscating corals and lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean – could you get any further from your typical Christmas? Sal Salis is a remote, beachside bush camp nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park near Ningaloo Reef, where the closest you’ll come to a white Christmas is the white-sand shore. Sleep under canvas, dine under the stars and befriend peaceful manta rays and whale sharks on snorkelling expeditions. Perched on individual wooden platforms, these nine spacious tents with ensuites and a private deck out front offer a unique ‘wild bush luxury’ experience – be sure to keep a lookout for curious kangaroos.

Smith extra: One chilled bottle of sparkling Australian wine served with canapés on the guest’s own deck or at the beach deck (weather and other guest usage permitting).

With its clean lines blending seamlessly with the surrounding nature reserve, boutique hotel Explora Atacama is situated just outside the high-altitude Chilean village of San Pedro. Enjoy private access to the nearby local Putri hot springs or unwind in one of the four interconnecting outdoor swimming pools and two Jacuzzis, surrounded by natural grasses and dramatic desert plains. What better way to round off the year than in one of the hotel’s crescent-moon-shaped wicker sunloungers: a front row seat for the dramatic sunset that paints the Licancabur volcano a Santa-shaming red.

Smith extra: One 30-minute massage each.

How does Christmas sound in the middle of Spanish nowhere? Ramble through fields of olive trees, dine on a festive feast in a secluded courtyard, and feel like you’ve gone back to a seductive Christmas of old. To fully take in the serenity hidden in the rich history of Cortijo del Marqués, pick the El Mirador room, up a flight of stairs in the old tower, which sports a high-beam ceiling and a roll-top bath from which you can peep out over the Cortijo’s rooftops and surrounding hills via a wall-length window. To start the new year, try strolling through the Moorish architectural wonder of the nearby Alhambra.

Smith extra: A small bottle of cava in your room.

Take your Christmas to where no-one will find you: on one of Indonesia’s most unexplored islands. Nihi Sumba Island hotel is a luxury resort that is gentle on its tropical environment; the island is almost entirely preserved from urban development. The hotel’s jaw-dropping ocean views and pristine, crescent-shaped private beach provide the setting for a truly romantic Christmas escape. Leave the year behind by surfing the island’s world-renowned breaks or exploring the bush on horseback. Or tick off a New Year’s resolution by working on community projects in the local area.

Smith extra: A bottle of wine on arrival. SilverSmith and GoldSmith members receive a free room upgrade subject to availability; GoldSmith members also receive a 60-minute massage for each guest.