Holiday Travel · Fairmont Hotels
The 4 Fairmont Hotels Worth Booking This Holiday Season, From Santa’s Chalet to a Moonlit Banyan Tree
Fairmont’s “Wrapped in the Moment” season is all about slowing down together: crafts, fireside stories, festive cocktails and unplugged wellness. These four U.S. hotels make the most of it, from a San Diego canyon and Sonoma wine country to the Caribbean and New Orleans.
The best holiday memories are rarely about the gifts. They are about the afternoon you spent making ornaments together, the story read aloud by the fire, the drink you lingered over while the lobby glowed. That is the idea behind “Wrapped in the Moment,” Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ 2026 festive season, which invites guests to put the phone down, slow down and be present.
Programming spans Fairmont’s portfolio of more than 90 hotels, built around four themes: Mindful Craft Sessions, Fireside Story Time, Lobby Lounge Moments and Unplugged Wellness. We picked four U.S. properties that bring it to life in very different settings, each with a reason to book on its own.
The best holiday memories are rarely about the gifts.
At a Glance: 4 Fairmont Holiday Escapes
- Fairmont Grand Del Mar: Santa’s chalet and a Christmas Eve reading.
- Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa: a December 3 tree lighting in wine country.
- Fairmont El San Juan Hotel: moonlight meditation beneath the Banyan Tree.
- Fairmont New Orleans: holiday martinis and Bloody Marys at Café by Emeril.
1. Fairmont Grand Del Mar, San Diego, California
Here is what’s happening at Fairmont Grand Del Mar this season:
- Santa Claus visits Grand Social in his chalet, with festive photo opportunities and story time each day.
- On Christmas Eve, gather for a special reading of The Night Before Christmas.
- The Library at the Lobby Lounge sets out classic games and puzzles, including chess, backgammon and cribbage.
2. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma, California
Here is what’s happening at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa this season:
- Story Time with Mrs. Claus and Chardonnay Fairmont in the historic lobby.
- A Tree Lighting Celebration on December 3, as Santa Claus, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and El Verano School gather to light the property’s iconic Sycamore tree.
3. Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Here is what’s happening at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel this season:
- Ornament making, a hands-on holiday craft for all ages.
- Sound Therapy: Moonlight Meditation beneath the property’s iconic Banyan Tree, combining mantra meditation with sound healing.
- The Fa-La-La-La Facial, an unplugged seasonal treatment at the Well & Being Spa.
- Festive dining events and seasonal Puerto Rican-inspired menus at Caña by José Enrique.
4. Fairmont New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
Here is what’s happening at Fairmont New Orleans this season:
- Martinis, Marys & Mistletoe in the lobby at Café by Emeril: holiday martinis and Bloody Marys with inventive edible garnishes.
- Look for a gin martini with a stuffed olive trio, and Bloody Marys with Creole spice, pickled okra and Gulf shrimp.
- Reimagined Christmas cocktail classics, just in time for the holidays.
Holidays that give back
Fairmont’s festive season also supports Make-A-Wish through a multi-year global partnership that helps grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, with festive activations at participating properties, including the tree lighting at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.
How to book
Book directly with each hotel, and reserve the holiday experiences you want early; some are reserved for hotel guests and others welcome locals and visitors, so check each property for details.
Plan Your Holiday Getaway
Pick your setting, from canyon and wine country to the Caribbean and the French Quarter, and compare stays and flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fairmont’s “Wrapped in the Moment”?
“Wrapped in the Moment” is Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ 2026 festive season collection of guest experiences, built around four themes: Mindful Craft Sessions, Fireside Story Time, Lobby Lounge Moments and Unplugged Wellness.
What holiday events are at Fairmont Grand Del Mar?
Fairmont Grand Del Mar welcomes Santa Claus at Grand Social in his chalet, with daily photo opportunities and story time, a Christmas Eve reading of The Night Before Christmas, and classic games such as chess, backgammon and cribbage in the Library at the Lobby Lounge.
When is the tree lighting at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa?
The Tree Lighting Celebration at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa takes place on December 3, when Santa Claus, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and El Verano School gather to illuminate the property’s iconic Sycamore tree.
What is the Moonlight Meditation at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
Sound Therapy: Moonlight Meditation is a holiday wellness experience beneath the iconic Banyan Tree at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, combining mantra meditation with the vibrations of sound healing.
When did Fairmont New Orleans open?
Fairmont New Orleans opened on November 2, 2026, just in time for the holiday season, with Martinis, Marys & Mistletoe at Café by Emeril in the hotel lobby.
Are Fairmont holiday experiences only for hotel guests?
It depends on the property and the experience. Some festive offerings are reserved for hotel guests, while others welcome locals and visitors. Check with each hotel for booking details and availability.
How does Fairmont support Make-A-Wish during the holidays?
Fairmont is a global partner of Make-A-Wish, and festive activations at participating properties help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
This article may contain sponsored or partner content and affiliate links; see our Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure. Holiday programming, dates and availability are subject to change; confirm with each hotel.
