This festive season, look beyond the presents that can be wrapped and placed beneath the tree, and give someone you love a journey to look forward to.

For parents who deserve a few days away, partners dreaming of their next escape, families looking for time together or friends who would rather collect memories than things, travel can be one of the most personal gifts of all. The experience begins from the moment the destination is revealed, continues through the planning and anticipation, and lasts long after everyone has returned home.

Across the world, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts offers destinations that can be matched to the person receiving the gift. Think Christmas beneath the lights of Paris, festive days spent exploring London, snowy winter mornings in Toronto, barefoot afternoons beside the Indian Ocean in Mauritius or a family escape in the Abu Dhabi sunshine.

With the festive travel season approaching, now is the time to start planning. This year, rather than wondering what to buy someone who has everything, perhaps the better question is: where would they love to go?

For the One Who Dreams of Christmas in Paris: Shangri-La Paris

There are few cities quite as romantic as Paris, but come December, the French capital takes on a character entirely of its own. From mid-November, the city begins to light up for the festive season. The Champs-Élysées glows after dark, Place Vendôme and Avenue Montaigne are illuminated, Christmas markets appear across the capital and the windows of Paris’s famous department stores become attractions in themselves. Spend the morning browsing the wooden chalets of the city’s Christmas markets, stop for a hot chocolate and wander beneath the lights as evening falls.

At the centre of the trip is Shangri-La Paris, occupying the former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte in the 16th arrondissement. Holding both Palace distinction and Monument Historique status, the hotel brings a sense of Parisian history to the stay, while many of its rooms and suites look directly towards the Eiffel Tower and River Seine.

Inside, French heritage meets the Asian roots of Shangri-La. Days can begin slowly over breakfast before heading out into the city, followed by an afternoon at Chi, The Spa or time beside its 17-metre indoor swimming pool. Evenings can unfold over French dining at Maison Roland, Chinese cuisine at Shang Palace or drinks at Le Bar Botaniste before returning to a room overlooking one of the world’s most recognisable skylines.

Come December, the hotel itself becomes part of the Christmas experience, with festive décor, seasonal dining, afternoon tea and French pâtisserie adding to the sense of occasion.

For the person who has always wanted to see Paris at Christmas, it is a gift of lights, markets, long lunches and winter walks, with the Eiffel Tower waiting outside the window.

A Moment of Calm at Chi, The Spa

For someone already in Paris, a few hours at Chi, The Spa offers a different kind of Christmas gift. Set within the former stables of Prince Roland Bonaparte’s residence, the spa brings together Shangri-La’s Asian approach to wellbeing with its Parisian Palace setting. At its heart is a 17-metre swimming pool flooded with natural light, alongside a hammam and green terrace, while treatments range from massages and body treatments to facials. Gift cards are also available, making it an experience that can be placed beneath the tree without having to plan an entire trip.

December stays at Shangri-La Paris start from EUR 1,466 per room, per night.

For the One Who Loves Christmas in the City: Shangri-La The Shard, London

London in December is made for those who love being right in the middle of the festive season. Regent Street’s angels light up the West End, Covent Garden is dressed for Christmas, Trafalgar Square welcomes its annual Christmas tree, and the city’s theatres, shops and winter markets make even a simple day out feel distinctly festive. Spend the morning Christmas shopping through Mayfair and the West End, stop at one of the city’s festive markets, catch an afternoon performance, or simply walk through London as the lights come on in the early evening.

Back at Shangri-La The Shard, London, the city can be experienced from an entirely different perspective. Soaring 125 metres above the capital, the hotel offers panoramic views stretching across London, with Borough Market, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the River Thames all within easy reach. Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows keep the city firmly in view, from its rooms and suites to the hotel’s restaurants and bars.

After a day in the city, guests can return for dinner at TĪNG or drinks at GŎNG, before waking up to London stretching out below. During the festive season, seasonal dining and Christmas treats add to the experience, all enjoyed against the backdrop of the London skyline.

For someone who loves the energy of London at Christmas, it is a few days of festive shopping, theatre, winter walks and evenings above the city.

A Seat at the Chef’s Table, High Above London

For someone already in London, turn dinner into the gift itself with the Chef’s Table at TĪNG. Set on the 35th floor of The Shard and positioned beside the kitchen pass, the intimate table gives just six to eight guests a front-row view of the culinary team at work, all against the backdrop of the London skyline. A bespoke seasonal tasting menu unfolds throughout the evening, with selected courses finished tableside and the option to add sommelier-selected wine pairings. Starting from GBP 148 per person, it is a gift designed to be shared – whether for a family gathering, a group of friends or simply an excuse to bring everyone around one table over the festive season.

December stays at Shangri-La The Shard, London start from GBP 600 per room, per night.

For the One Dreaming of a White Christmas: Shangri-La Toronto

For someone whose idea of Christmas comes with winter coats, crisp air and the possibility of waking up to snow, give them Toronto. Set in the heart of downtown, Shangri-La Toronto offers a warm base from which to experience the Canadian city in winter. Its 202 rooms and suites place guests within easy reach of Toronto’s cultural, shopping and dining destinations, while floor-to-ceiling windows look out across the city skyline.

Winter gives Toronto a completely different pace. Days can be spent wrapped up exploring the city before returning to the warmth of the hotel, settling into the Lobby Lounge or taking some time away at the spa. The hotel also has a 20-metre indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room – particularly welcome after a day outside.

Come December, the hotel itself becomes part of the Christmas experience, with festive décor and a grand Christmas tree setting the scene. Christmas treats, festive dining and evenings over drinks in the Lobby Lounge offer plenty of reasons to slow down and enjoy the season.

Toronto is for the person who does not want to escape winter, but wants to embrace it. Snowy days, cold mornings, warm interiors and the possibility of waking up on Christmas morning to a city turned white make the destination part of the gift itself.

An Afternoon in Toronto’s Living Room

For those already in Toronto, afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge offers something to enjoy together rather than unwrap. Described as the city’s “urban living room”, the space is filled with natural light from its two-storey windows, with large-scale artworks and sculptures alongside an Italian handcrafted Fazioli piano. Afternoon tea brings premium teas into the setting, offering a slower few hours in the heart of downtown and an easy experience to share during the festive season.

December stays at Shangri-La Toronto start from CAD 454 per room, per night.

For the One Who Would Rather Spend Christmas by the Sea: Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius 

For those who would choose the Indian Ocean over a white Christmas, Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius offers the chance to spend the festive season in completely different surroundings.

A Mauritian icon, the resort sits on the island’s secluded east coast, surrounded by turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, with ocean views from every room and suite. Some open directly onto the beach, while the Frangipani suites occupy their own islet, complete with a secluded stretch of sand and an adults-only swimming pool. For families and friends travelling together, the resort’s private villas offer even more space and privacy.

Days here are shaped by the water. Guests can sail across the lagoon, water-ski, paddleboard, snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat out over the reef, while tennis, padel and other activities offer plenty to do back on land. Golfers also have access to two 18-hole championship courses, including Île aux Cerfs Golf Club, set on its own island and designed by Bernhard Langer.

Then there is Ilot Mangénie, Shangri-La’s private island exclusively accessible to resort guests. Reached by boat, it offers secluded beaches, private cabanas and its own restaurant and bar, making it possible to disappear for an entire day away from the main resort.

Dining brings another side of Mauritius into the stay. Coco’s Beach House sits directly on the sand with a focus on seafood and Mauritian flavours, while Kushi offers Japanese dining, from sushi and omakase to teppanyaki. Chi, The Spa provides a quieter alternative, surrounded by the resort’s tropical setting. And come Christmas, the change of scenery is really the point. Instead of cold mornings and winter coats, the festive season unfolds between the beach and the ocean, with Christmas dining, island-inspired celebrations, Mauritian culture and time spent outdoors with family and friends.

For couples, families or anyone dreaming of escaping winter altogether, a stay at Shangri-La Le Touessrok is the gift itself: Christmas morning by the Indian Ocean, afternoons on a private island and a few days where shoes are very much optional.

December stays at Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius start from approximately EUR 658 per room, per night.

For the Family Who Wants Christmas in the Sun: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

For families looking to spend the festive season together somewhere warmer, gift them a few days beside the water in Abu Dhabi.

Set along the Khor Al Maqta waterway, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi brings together a resort setting, Arabian-inspired architecture and views towards Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The hotel’s 213 rooms and suites feature private balconies or terraces, while larger suites and villas provide plenty of space for families travelling together. Days can move between the private beach and pools, long lunches and time exploring the capital before returning to the resort as evening begins.

Traditional abras travel along the waterway connecting different parts of the Qaryat Al Beri complex, adding a distinct sense of place to the stay, while Abu Dhabi’s mild December weather means much of the trip can be spent outdoors.

As the festive season arrives, the hotel will mark the occasion with its tree-lighting ceremony, bringing one of Christmas’s most familiar traditions to the Abu Dhabi waterfront. Festive dining, afternoon tea and seasonal experiences add to the celebrations, while the contrast between Christmas traditions and days spent beside the water makes the destination particularly suited to families looking for winter sun.

For an additional gift, an afternoon tea or treatment at Chi, The Spa can be enjoyed as an experience of its own, while time aboard one of the traditional abras offers something distinctly connected to the property and its waterfront setting.

For parents, grandparents or an entire family, it is less about giving one person a present and more about giving everyone something increasingly difficult to wrap: time together.

See Qaryat Al Beri from the Water

For those already in Abu Dhabi, the traditional abras offer a different way to experience Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri and its waterfront setting. The boats travel through the waterways of the Qaryat Al Beri complex, connecting different parts of the property and its souk, with views across Khor Al Maqta and towards Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque forming part of the surroundings. It is a simple way to slow down and experience another side of the property, and something distinctly connected to its setting on the water.

December stays at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi start from approximately AED 1,384 per room, per night.

A Gift to Look Forward To

A journey is one of the few gifts that begins long before it actually happens. There is the moment the destination is revealed, followed by deciding what to see, where to eat and what to do, and then the countdown until departure. Finally comes the trip itself, and the stories, photographs and memories that come home afterwards.

It could mean walking beneath the Christmas lights of Paris before returning to an Eiffel Tower view, watching London sparkle from high above the city, waking up to the possibility of snow in Toronto, spending Christmas morning beside the Indian Ocean in Mauritius or bringing the whole family together by the water in Abu Dhabi.

And for those already spending the season in one of these destinations, there are smaller experiences to give too from time at Chi, The Spa in Paris and a seat at the Chef’s Table high above London, to afternoon tea in Toronto and time on the water in Abu Dhabi.

For more information, please visit https://www.shangri-la.com/