We love filling up the winter months with easy, restful weekend getaways that help us lean into the season—or forget about the dropping temperatures for a minute. The best way to do that is by locking in dates at some of the newest hotel openings close to home, that let us escape to somewhere new. From cool all-inclusives on the beach to a reimagined Florida Grande Dame, these are the latest hotel openings to help you beat the winter blues.
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The Virginian Lodge, Jackson, Wyoming
Where it’s located: The Virginian Lodge is less than a mile from the charming heart of downtown Jackson (with its cozy bars and restaurants, galleries, and surprisingly good vintage shopping), a short drive from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and a convenient jumping off point for exploring nearby Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Why we’re excited: Honestly, it doesn’t take too much to get us excited about this part of Wyoming with its wildly good winter skiing, excellent hiking and mountain biking in the summer and fall, and insane natural beauty, no matter the season. That said, we think this revamped 165-room mountain hotel is a pretty great reason to revisit Jackson. It channels the motor lodges of the 1960s and '70s with corridors of exterior-facing rooms and a sprawling courtyard pool. Its vibe skews groovy Western (sort of like the old TV shows Grizzly Adams and Little House on the Prairie; they’re supposed to set in the late 1800s yet somehow the 1970s still shines through): wood paneled walls hung with oil paintings of cowboys and the requisite amount of taxidermy, mauve carpets and a wagon wheel chandelier in the lobby. Sure, it’s a bit campy, but if there’s ever a place to embrace the wild west (through the lens of Elton John’s oversized rose-colored glasses), it’s here. The hotel is set to open in January 2022, and a little later in the spring, the now-shuttered Jackson institution Billy’s Burgers will find a new home at the lodge, along with The Saloon and Ginny’s Bottle Shop. From $159 per night
Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica
Where it's located: This first retreat in Central America from Auberge Resorts is set on 130 acres in the rainforest-covered Talamanca Mountains of Southeast Costa Rica. On the property you'll find plenty of tropical birdlife as well as coffee farms, horse stables, and access to jungle trails and El Rio, for river baths.
Why we're excited: Costa Rica has long been the pioneer of eco-tourism. And from Hacienda AltaGracia's 50 earthy-toned casitas—open since mid-November—guests can take it all in, from horseback rides through the jungle to picnics at the beautiful Mina Escondida waterfall with its natural swimming hole. But AltaGracia pushes it one step further, adding a wellness program that trumps all others in the area via their partnership with New York City–based well-being institute The Well. This includes hydrotherapy treatments from indoor pools looking out into the jungles and expert-led retreats on subjects like energy flow. In short, it may just be the most perfect fusion of wellness and nature coming out of the pandemic. From $1,550 per night, all inclusive
Modern Wing at The Drake, Toronto
Where it's located: You'll find the Drake in Toronto's hip West Queen West district, home to galleries, coffee shops, and boutiques, and walking distance from other prime Toronto 'hoods like Little Portugal and Kensington. The hotel has been a local favorite for almost two decades, hosting events and concerts and the addition of this new wing cements its spot as a neighborhood hub.
Why we're excited: Okay, so the Drake isn't exactly new. But when one of our long-time favorite hotels in Toronto adds a new wing that more than doubles its room count, we consider that a whole new reason to go. Consider the Modern Wing a show pony of local craftsmanship, with the look created collaboratively by the Drake's inhouse design team, DesignAgency and Diamond Schmitt Architects. The 32 rooms across five towering stories are a colorful play of textures and tones, from the bold wallpapers to the green-and-black tiling behind deep sinking tubs and access to all the common spaces loved by the neighborhood. It is the ideal spot for a weekend escape to enjoy Toronto as a local, and even better now that the borders with Canada have only been re-open for a few months. From $195 per night
The Boca Raton, Florida
Where it's located: Along 200 acres of coastline and lakefront, this sprawling, never-have-to-leave resort is a destination in itself with spas, private beaches, and new restaurants, straddling the ocean and harbor fronts of Boca Raton, less than an hour north of Miami and south of West Palm Beach.
Why we're excited: The original The Boca Raton practically turned southern Florida into a vacationers dreamland all on its own when it opened a century ago. This month, its latest iteration (revamped to the tune of $200 million) is primed to draw in a whole new generation. Anywhere Mario Carbone and crew open is somewhere we want to be, and his Major Food Group is taking over the F+B, with spots like The Flamingo Grill and outpost of New York's appetizing Sadelle's, with design by David Rockwell's Rockwell Group. There's a 50,000-square-foot spa and wellness emporium, new beach and pool clubs, and revamped guest suites with knock-out water views. Think of it as a timeless resort, reimagined for what we all seek in our vacations right now. From $425 per night
Short Stories Hotel, Los Angeles
Where it’s located: It’s on the border of Los Angeles and West Hollywood and a short walk (rare for this car-dependent town) to good shopping on 3rd Street and The Original Farmers Market. It’s also about equidistant to Downtown and Santa Monica—meaning, very centrally located.
Why we’re excited: This part of town has seen a wave of really great hotel openings recently including outposts from Edition, Thompson, and 1 Hotels. One of the things we like about Short Stories, opening in early 2022, is its small size; with only 66 rooms (about a third of the size of the big brands in the area) it’s a true boutique property that feels intimate and laid back. The breezy SoCal vibes keep coming in the form of a leafy garden courtyard with an alfresco lounge and a sweet pool area where we could see ourselves sunbathing with a Paloma in hand after an afternoon at LACMA. Rooms are unfussy—lots of white—but with very smart design touches like marble pillar bedside lamps, graphic black-and-white terrazzo sinks in the bathrooms, and art work by L.A.–based painter Kenton Nelson. From $400 per night
O2 Beach Club & Spa
Where it’s located: The resort is in Barbados’ St. Lawrence Gap neighborhood in the fun-loving, restaurant-heavy parish on the island’s southern shore and a very easy 10-minute taxi ride from the airport.
Why we’re excited: For starters, Barbados is exactly the sort of warm weather, warm water destination that winter daydreams are made of—especially with direct flights from cities along the East Coast including New York and D.C. But what we really love about this island is that there is so much more to do than just lounge on a beach: there’s excellent hiking, great surfing, charming towns, and some of the best food in the region. This new all-inclusive resort, with 130 cheery rooms by Caribbean-based designer Michelle Leotaud (including a number of adults-only suites) is an excellent home base for exploring the island. It faces Dover Beach, which has one of the island’s most consistent, beginner-level surf breaks (and is feet from Barry’s Surf School for rentals and lessons) and is surrounded by low-key outdoor restaurants and bars. But if you’re the more the fly-and-flop sort—and seriously, no judgments—the resort has enough variety that you’ll feel zero remorse in staying put, including six different dining options, pool and beachfront loungers, and a lovely spa. The fact that it's all inclusive means you don’t have to fret over bills and tips, or, importantly, where to stash your wallet when in your bikini. From $899 per night, all inclusive
