Your Holiday Home Away From Home: Top 3 Hotels for a Cozy SoCal Staycation
- By: Amanda Coscarelli
These Southern California hotels remind us that you don’t have to go far for a luxurious holiday. With beachfront views, festive feasts and cozy accommodations, you’ll be dreaming of a white-sand Christmas for years to come.
Sorry Michael Buble, but I won’t be home for Christmas. I’ll be spending the holiday season sipping poolside margaritas and cozying up with room service in bed. This year, ditch the same old tradition and spend the holidays at a dreamy destination with your loved ones or gift yourself a solo stay-cay and ring in the new year with a renewal massage. Skip the stressful holiday cooking and enjoy curated feasts and signature holiday cocktails with sweeping views. Whether you’re looking for a cozy Christmas feast, or a festive afternoon tea, these hotels offer the best of the season with a little something for everyone.
Hotel Maya, Long Beach
Twixmas Overnight Package (Dec 26–30) from $209
Twixmas – the quiet, magical stretch between Christmas and New Year’s – is the perfect time to unwind, reset, and savor a slower pace before the year ends. Guests can escape to Hotel Maya, Long Beach’s only waterfront lifestyle resort, and enjoy special Twixmas rates from $209 plus complimentary parking.
Christmas Dinner (Dec 25) $110+ per person
Fuego at Hotel Maya: Enjoy a festive three-course menu featuring a choice of Wild Mushroom Soup or a bright Persimmon & Citrus Salad; entrées including Maple Leaf Duck Breast, Local White Seabass, Herb-Crusted Prime Rib, or Herb Gnocchi; and desserts like a classic Yule Log Cake or Coconut Snowball.
New Year’s Eve Dinner (Dec 31) $125+ per person
Fuego at Hotel Maya: Ring in the new year with a celebratory four-course menu featuring starters like Dungeness Crab Risotto or Ahi Tuna Tataki; second-course options of Cognac Lobster Bisque or a crisp winter salad; entrées including Filet Mignon Au Poivre, Barbacoa-Spiced New Zealand Lamb Rack, Chipotle Miso Chilean Seabass, or House-Made Pappardelle with black truffle; and desserts such as Mocha Mousse or Lemon Cheesecake.
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
A Very Merry Sinatra Christmas (Dec 20)
The Grand Ballroom: Guests are invited to join for a festive evening of Sinatra’s greatest holiday hits, produced by Concerts Under the Stars. Attendees can enjoy a full bar and light bites during the show, along with pre-show dinner at The Set (reservations recommended). This is a family-friendly event, with guests under 18 required to be accompanied by an adult.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec 24, 25)
The Set: Guests can enjoy a coastal-inspired holiday dinner with entrées like Roasted Prime Rib with mashed potatoes, Crispy Chili Salmon with jasmine rice pilaf, and Seared Chicken Breast with smashed fingerlings. Sides include Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom & Blue Cheese Risotto, and Winter Salad. For dessert: Apple Galette, Carrot Cake, or the decadent Wave Breaker Brownie Sundae.
New Year’s Eve (Dec 31)
The Set: Ring in the New Year with highlights from Roasted Prime Rib, Crispy Chili Salmon, and Seared Chicken Breast, paired with sides like Roasted Broccolini, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, and the colorful Winter Salad. Dessert options include Apple Galette, decadent Carrot Cake, and the indulgent Brownie Sundae.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Winter Wellness
Winter Wellness offers guests a chance to unwind and destress from the holiday season. Available at eforea spa, those looking for a seasonal escape can enjoy massages and treatments like the deeply nourishing and aromatic full-body Ultimate Renewal Ritual Massage and Spice Body Scrub, a rejuvenating Winter Skin Revival Facial, or the Cozy Glow Express, a spice fig manicure and pedicure that will bring a cozy warmth of winter.
Sips and Dining
At Holiday Odysea, guests can immerse themselves in the magic of the season with sweeping views of the bay, festive vibes, and expertly crafted holiday-themed cocktails.
Thanksgiving Dinner (Nov 27) and Christmas Dinner (Dec 24, 25) at Hudson & Nash feature a seasonal spread of savory and sweet holiday favorites for memorable meals with friends and family.
Guests can keep the cheer going with Holiday Libations, offered daily in December, including options such as Chestnut Campfire, Tennessee Tidings, or a French Toast White Chocolate Russian.
Holiday Villages at the Bayfront (Nov 14-Dec 8)
Father Joe’s Villages: Guests are welcome to view exquisitely decorated Christmas trees and discover the impact Father Joe’s Villages has year-round in preventing and ending homelessness in San Diego.
