Recently in Luxury Collection Category

Being home for the holidays is a blessing, but I've recently discovered that spending Christmas in another country, where the customs are a little bit different, can be culturally exhilarating. Palma de Mallorca is one of those enchanting locales where the season starts early. Throughout the month of December and well into January, the streets of this tiny Mediterranean city become illuminated with magical displays of colorful lights, and myriad nativity scenes, which include some of the oldest in Spain.

Palma's two main squares, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza de Espana both host traditional Christmas Markets that feature roasted chestnuts, angelic choirs, a local sweet made of nuts called "turron", and all sorts of gifts including intricate hand-cut paper decorations known as "neules."

Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is a memorable event. Whether you attend a service at the impressive Basilica of St. Francis, or one of the smaller neighborhood churches, you'll witness the haunting song of La Sibil, an ancient custom that dates back to Moorish times, sung by a local girl. During all this spirited frenzy, don't forget to enjoy a quiet moment on your balcony and look out upon the twinkling city in the distance. The majestic Castillo Hotel Son Vida, Mallorca, part of Starwood's Luxury Collection, is offering a holiday package that includes a gala Christmas dinner.

[image via mallorcaweb.com]

Like most European cities, Geneva embraces the holiday season with Christmas markets and holiday-themed events, but one major December festival commemorates something else entirely. The Fête de l'Escalade (Feast of the Scaling) honors the city's victory over Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy in 1602, and while it might not be as familiar as the city's Christmas rituals, some residents take it very seriously indeed. As for the name, Escalade refers to the surprise nighttime attack by the Duke's troops, who attempted to "scale" the city's walls with ladders and put the town under the Duke's control. The townspeople fought back mightily and repelled the invaders, maintaining their sovereignty. Now, more than 400 years after the historic event, costumed reenactors participate in a three-hour torchlight parade in the city's old town, while onlookers enjoy a confectionery version of vegetable soup. Why confectionery soup? According to legend, Mère Royaume dispatched of an invading soldier by dumping a cauldron of hot vegetable soup on him from her window. Hey, whatever works. The three-day festival occurs on the weekend closest to December 11, and is convenient to the Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

I love it when a city takes pride in its past to maintains its distinct, historical look. When that special section of a city also happens to house a haven of beautiful shops and restaurants, even better. About halfway between the Sheraton Crescent Hotel, and the Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa, over 100 antiques shops and specialty stores line an easily stroll-able section of Historic Downtown Glendale.

On one side of the neighborhood, a charming area called Caitlin Court is full of quaint 1920s homes. Adorable bungalows with shuttered windows and pretty front porches have been transformed into shops like Miracle Haven, which carries jewelry, baby blankets, handbags, jams, soaps, and more, all made by local artists. On the other side, Old Towne's brick sidewalks are lit by old fashioned gaslights. Antiques shops like Apple Tree and A Mad Hatter's have been named as some of the nation's best.

Winter is one of the best times to visit Downtown Glendale because the neighborhood dons its fantastic holiday garb. During the weekend of November 28, the district becomes illuminated with over a million tiny lights, kicking off a holiday season that includes horse-drawn carriage rides, a winter wonderland village for the kids, and visits with Santa.