Hidden holidays: real treasures for travelers

Hotels often offer reduced rates during hidden holidays. Thinking about traveling during the upcoming holiday seasons? It may be worth planning your travels based on "hidden holidays" to take advantage of substantial discounts. According to a recent Forbes Advisor survey, 23% of travelers are interested in traveling off-season due to current inflation. While shoulder seasons have long been popular due to fewer tourists and lower prices, there's another often underrated aspect of travel - hidden holidays.

The hidden holidays fall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. During this time, luxury hotels and resorts are decorated for the holidays, but offer much lower room rates and have fewer tourists, and there are better airfare options compared to the holidays. During the hidden holidays, travelers can take a relaxing trip when the warm weather is much needed and get all the joy and beauty of the holiday season without leaving home for the actual holidays!

In comparison, a flight from New York to Barbados between Thanksgiving and Christmas can cost as little as $625 compared to more than $4,500 during the holidays. Similarly, a holiday flight to Turks and Caicos will cost about $1,000, while a round trip during the hidden holidays can cost as little as $295. The savings are enough to make you think about when to plan your trip.

The following are among the hotels offering festive experiences during the hidden holidays:

• The Cloister Hotel shimmers with lights during the holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Sea Island invites travelers to stop by the private island resort to see its iconic holiday decorations. Sprawling to the south, the huge resort is transformed into a magical fairy tale from a Christmas movie with Christmas trees, garlands and twinkling lights adorning the entrance bridge. The holiday decorations apply to all three lodging options - Cloister, Lodge and Beach Club - and include a made-up gingerbread house and daily complimentary apple punch and cookies in the beautiful Solarium. For guests staying in cottages, Sea Island's design team can decorate the two- to eight-bedroom homes with holiday ornaments and a Christmas tree, as well as decorate the tree with travelers' own ornaments. Guests simply have to send their ornaments to the resort and the team will set up the tree and even carefully pack the ornaments so they are safely home by Dec. 25.
• Terks and Caicos is the perfect holiday getaway. It is noted that Turks and Caicos are some of the best places for real holidays, and hidden holidays in these places are a wonderful relaxing vacation. Located on the secluded shores of an 18,000-acre nature preserve, Amanyara offers luxurious tropical pavilions overlooking a half-mile of white sand beaches and the turquoise waters of Northwest Point National Park in Providenciales. Whether rejuvenating your health at the award-winning Aman Spa or enjoying marine life while snorkeling or diving, Amanyara is the perfect place to relax between holidays.
• Every Octant hotel's is a dedication to its location.