As the days shorten and cold temperatures set in, many of us start reaching for our passports.
While some argue that winter is an invitation to stay in, we at Elite Traveler think the chilly season provides the perfect excuse to trade gray skies for sea, sand and sunshine.
This year has delivered plenty of reasons to book a getaway, as new luxury openings across the US, Caribbean and Dubai promise to deliver that much-needed dose of Vitamin D. Whether you're looking for a private island escape or an urban city retreat, these are the best new hotels for winter sun.
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Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
Naples, FloridaOnce renowned as Palm Beach’s quieter cousin, Naples is currently having a moment, with an exciting new Four Seasons opening leading the charge.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, is due to open in late 2025, so winter guests will be some of the first through the door. The new opening is a reimagining of the coast’s family-owned grand dame, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.
For those who want permission to do nothing, the hotel’s sugar-white beach beckons, with attentive Four Seasons service at your beck and call. Or, if you’re looking to explore the coast, paddleboards, kayaks and the hotel’s two 34-ft Hinckley picnic boats offer the opportunity to venture towards Sanibel and Marco Island. This is also a great spot for fishing, with experts on hand to guide you through the mangrove-lined backwaters and Naples Bay.
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Peter Island, British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands, CaribbeanIf you're looking for something a touch more tropical, the British Virgin Islands benefit from dry weather and ample sunshine year round, with a particularly dry season through the winter months. And for that secluded, castaway feel, look no further than Peter Island, a recently reopened private island resort.
Even after a seven year makeover, the hotel retains an intimate, authentic feel, with just 52 guestrooms, all overlooking Deadman's Beach. The hotel has access to five beaches, with plenty of watersports available. Try your hand at e-foiling, or for something more laid back, there's canoeing and sailing. A teeming reef encourages fishing and snokeling, too.
Two revamped signature villas encourage you to bring along all the family. Our pick is Falcon's Next, a picture-perfect six-bedroom villa with an infinity pool and waterfall, alongside an expansive terrace for al fresco dining and a nanny's quarters, should you be bringing little ones.
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Rock Villa, Bequia Beach Hotel, St Vincent & the Grenadines
Bequia, The Grenadines, CaribbeanFor a touch of peace and privacy, take a trip to one of the Caribbean's lesser-frequented islands. Bequia, is one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean, despite being the second largest in St Vincent and the Grenadines, measuring just seven square miles, with a population of around 5,000.
Tropical activities are aplenty. Take a dip with the island's wild hawksbill turtles or follow winding hiking trails to one of the Caribbean's most impressive viewpoints, where you can spot Mustique, Baliceax, Isle De Quatre and Battowia in the distance. And should this tiny castaway destination not feel secluded enough, the isle's luxury hotel, Bequia Beach Hotel, is opening a boutique property, Rock Villa, just a third of a mile from the resort.
The eight room hotel will open November 2025 as a quiet, adults-only retreat, which can be experienced as the island's most exclusive boutique hotel, or its largest villa, when booked in its entirety. As the name suggests, the hotel is built into the rock face, overhanging Bequia's Friendship Beach, and looks out over Petit Nevis and Mustique. Once checked in, make sure to book a trip aboard the hotel's schooner, Friendship Rose, and take a trip to Petit Tabac, a palm-fringed island featured in Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Rosewood Mandarina
Riviera Nayarit, MexicoRosewood opened its fourth hotel in Mexico in May this year, an all-suite hotel on the Pacific Coast. While its other locations sit on pristine, resort-heavy coastlines, Riviera Nayarit is Mexico at its most rugged, and arguably most beautiful, with jungle, mountain and rumbling coastline all on your doorstep.
A major highlight of the new opening is its private polo and equestrian club, which encourages riders of all levels to explore Mandarina's trails, take lessons, or participate in weekend polo matches and international competitions. Adventure continues on land with a jungle course featuring a treetop zip-line and rainforest challenge course, alongside mountain biking and archery, as well as tennis and pickleball for those who prefer more grounded pursuits.
While the weather in the region is consistent year-round, winter is an ideal time to visit as it marks the start of humpback whale season. The hotel's concierge are on hand to organise customizable boat trips, of all kinds and sizes, for private diving lessons, snorkeling, fishing with local experts from El Monteón or exploring the hidden beaches of nearby Islas Marietas National Park.
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Nekajui Peninsula Papagayo, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Guanacaste, Costa RicaFor coastal beauty, adventure and wildlife in equal measure, Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened in February on the protected lands of Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste, joining the likes of Four Seasons and Andaz along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
As this is one of the most biodiverse destinations on earth, you'll be staying amongst an impressive wealth of wildlife, including howler and white-faced monkeys, coatis and, if lucky, a passing jaguar. Guests also have access to Peninsula Papagayo's experiences, including SurfX surf school, a selection of watersports and an 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature course and Explorers Outfit provides zip-lining and a canopy ropes course across the 250-acre Palmares Preserve.
If, to put it simply, chilling is more your thing, venture across the hotel's hanging bridge to the 27,000-sq-ft Nimbu Spa, home to an infinity hydrotherapy pool, as well as cold plunges, saunas, steam rooms and ocean-facing treatment rooms. In the afternoon, head down to the beach via the hotel's funicular, and enjoy sunset cocktails at the tented treehouse bar.
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Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai
DubaiFor something a little, or a lot, more urban, there's Dubai. Love it or hate it, the city boasts comfortable winter temperatures, along with a world-class dining scene and the luxury hotels to match. Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai is one of the city's latest additions, opening in October 2025. The luxury hotel will occupy Wasl Tower, a twisting skyscraper on Sheikh Zayed Road.
True to the indulgent nature of Dubai, the hotel has everything you could want, and more. There's a two-story spa, with a state-of-the-art gym and rooftop lap pool, with views extending over the Arabian Gulf. Ten culinary destinations means when deciding a cuisine you're spoiled for choice and, should you choose to check-in in style, a rooftop helipad allows for seamless arrivals.
The location also places you right in the thick of it, nearby Dubai Mall, Dubai fountain and the Burj Khalifa.
