8 Luxury US Hotels with Over-the-Top Thanksgiving Offerings to Book Right Now

Coastal Georgia might not seem like the most obvious choice for Thanksgiving festivities, but there’s something about visiting Sea Island in November that can fill even the biggest of skeptics with some autumnal cheer. Dripping in southern charm, The Cloister at Sea Island, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, attracts most visitors to its beach during the summer months, but the hotel’s quiet ambience in fall makes it ideal for a Thanksgiving vacation that will feel as intimate and personal as it would in your own home. The resort’s multi-bedroom suites and cottages are perfect for families big and small, and Sea Island’s jam-packed schedule of holiday offerings ensures there’s an activity for everyone, be it a falconry hawk walk, clay pigeon shooting, a round of golf on the hotel’s seaside PGA course, or a turkey trot. The Cloister will host Thanksgiving feasts at each of its restaurants, so you can opt for traditional, family-style fare in The Georgian Room (closed for the season but opening its doors for an exclusive Thanksgiving event), an Italian take on the classics at Tavola, or homestyle favorites at the oceanfront Southern Tide.

Located less than an hour from New York City in southern Connecticut, GrayBarns is coated in history and the sort of rustic charm that Thanksgiving dreams are made of. With an Inn, Tavern, and Mercantile, the property sits on the Silvermine River, which once served as a village meeting place, artist outpost, and stagecoach stop. What is now GrayBarns started as a small, 19th-century textile factory before becoming a speakeasy in the 1920s, and eventually a classic country inn. The hotel even served as Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s honeymoon destination of choice. GrayBarns boasts six character-filled king suites that feature classic details with contemporary luxuries at the Inn, three studio mercantile apartments directly across the street, and an iconic four-bedroom millhouse in what was once the textile mill. For Thanksgiving, the renowned Tavern will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu that includes heritage turkey with sourdough stuffing, apple-cider-roasted beets, and pumpkin cheesecake. Guests can spend the weekend lounging on the property or taking part in outdoor activities, like fishing, hiking, and biking, and those looking for more of an adventure can journey to the nearby Philip Johnson Glass House or Grace Farms.

Tucked into the hills of Santa Barbara’s American Riviera, the Belmond El Encanto, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, is a secluded sanctuary that’s known for its Meditteranean design and unparalleled views of the coastline. With seven acres of lucious gardens, ponds, and wildlife, and cottages dotted throughout, the Southern California retreat is just an hour and a half from bustling Los Angeles and is an idyllic escape year-round and especially for Thanksgiving. With the recent launch of the hotel’s Exclusive Places offering, families and large groups can gather in completely private settings, with the choice of two, three, and four-bedroom residences, where you can wine, dine, and relax with just your loved ones. For Exclusive Places guests, the culinary team will coordinate an al fresco Thanksgiving feast with all the classics to be enjoyed on your private terrace, while others can dig into the Thanksgiving menu on the El Encanto Dining Terrace overlooking the Pacific.

Perched atop 20,000 acres of coastal marshland along South Carolina’s May River, the Montage Palmetto Bluff, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, is a classic escape. The resort is home to more than 200 rooms and village homes with 50 spacious cottages that pay homage to the region’s rich history with gas fireplaces, sweeping porches, and pine floors and can serve as private hideaways or spaces for the whole family. For Thanksgiving weekend, the hotel is offering a complete itinerary to make the holiday as fun and memorable as possible, with a turkey trot, Gratitude Yoga, and a Gobble Gobble Shoot Out included. For a Thanksgiving feast, the Montage Palmetto Bluff invites guests to gather on their Village Green for the ultimate meal, or choose the Turkey To Go option to feed up to eight in the comfort of your own accommodations. Book the Home at Moreland deal, perfect for large families, and you’ll receive a stay at a Moreland Village Home for four or more nights, a $300 nightly resort credit, four bicycles and a four-seater golf cart for use during your stay, and a personal s’mores kit.

Located in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort sits atop 2,000 acres of woodsy paradise. With several different forms of accommodation, from lavish rooms at the European-inspired Chateau Lafayette, craftsman suites at Falling Rock, and rustic rooms at The Lodge, to two-bedroom townhomes and private estates, there’s truly something for everyone at the resort. Thanksgiving weekend at Nemacolin is no exception, with movie nights, train rides, a turkey trot, and bowling on the calendar. And since Thanksgiving is the unofficial start to the holiday season, Nemacolin will offer holiday workshops, breakfast with Santa, and the first of the weekly Christmas-themed Light Up Nights. Guests can enjoy Thanksgiving meals at any of the resort’s four restaurants, where classic seasonal dishes, like slow-roasted turkey and mashed sweet potatoes, will be served alongside modern additions, like waffles and poached pear.

There’s no shortage of legendary hotels in LA, but there’s perhaps none more famous for its effortless, golden-age elegance and air of exclusivity than Hotel Bel-Air, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property. Nestled in the storied Bel-Air Estates neighborhood next to Beverly Hills and Westwood, the nearly 100-year-old property has played host to the likes of Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Paul Newman, Grace Kelly, and countless other Hollywood stars; it was even the setting for Marilyn Monroe’s last Vogue photoshoot just weeks before her death. Now, just beyond its fabled gates, Hotel Bel-Air’s holiday magic is unfolding for visitors near and far to enjoy. With a score of newly concocted seasonal dishes and drinks, the resort will offer an indulgent al fresco Thanksgiving menu at its acclaimed Wolfgang Puck restaurant, and guests can book the Festive Season package, which includes luxury accommodations for two, a $100 daily breakfast credit, a $100 hotel credit, and welcome drinks. When you’re not filling up on delectable bites, the property’s 12 acres boasts tropical gardens, a swan lake, a first-class spa, an art exhibit, and more for you to explore. 

Just an hour and a half from downtown Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, is set alongside 30 acres of lakeside shoreline and has endless rows of Georgia pine trees and grass right in its backyard. Following a multi-million dollar transformation, the hotel reopened earlier this year with fully renovated rooms, cottages, and amenities, all perfect for guests celebrating Thanksgiving with family or friends. Groups can stay in The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds’ two- or three-bedroom cottages or opt for the expansive three-floor Lake House and enjoy an in-room holiday meal prepared specially by the chef. Guests can also head to any of the property’s four restaurants, where delicious Thanksgiving brunches and dinners will be on offer throughout the day. After your feast, you can burn off the turkey and pie on one of the resort’s five golf courses, canoeing, kayaking, or fishing on the lake, or hiking nearby trails.

For those looking to escape the cold weather and spend Thanksgiving by the pool, look no further than The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. One of the southwest’s most acclaimed destinations, the resort underwent a recent renovation to reveal contemporary rooms, suites, and casitas that are in and of the surrounding Sonoran Desert, and its unparalleled views of Camelback Mountain, first-class spa, renowned dining, and leading golf courses make the property worthy of a visit all on their own. Now through December 24, The Phoenician has its Color of Luxury offering, where you can get excellent rates for the whole family, and the Family Excursions package makes it easier than ever to add a second room for the kids. Thanksgiving meals will be on the menu at The Phoenician Tavern, J&G Steakhouse, and Mowry & Cotton, as well as in the hotel’s private banquet rooms, so you can make your Turkey Day feast as exclusive as you’d like.