8 Dreamy Hotels Our NYC Editors Are Booking This Winter

Because sometimes all you need is a quick change of scenery to tackle the winter blues.Nicole FranzenIf there’s one thing the editors at Condé Nast Traveler love, it’s weekendmaxxing. We’re all about scouting the very best hotels upstate, or catching a quick flight to Miami, all before returning back to our New York City office by Monday. The art of the weekend trip becomes especially important in the wintertime, when the city closes its blinds and hibernates until spring. This is when an off-season jaunt to the Rockaways, or a hideaway in a Berkshires lodge, becomes all the more appealing. Essentially, we love a trip where you can get cozy somewhere else—because sometimes all you need is a simple change of scenery to tackle the winter blues.From wellness sanctuaries nestled in the Catskills to country retreats in New England, these are the hotels our editors are eyeing for when the weather turns brisk, all within a few hours of NYC or a short flight away.Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge CollectionHannah Chubb, senior commerce editorWhere are you staying? Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington, ConnecticutWhat drew you to this hotel? I visited Mayflower Inn back in spring 2024 with one of my best friends while she was pregnant with her second baby, and I’ve been dying to go back ever since. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more relaxed than I did while there—we spent hours in the spa, chatted by the firepits, stuffed ourselves with farm-fresh meals, and feasted our eyes on some incredible interior design.What are you eating? I won’t be leaving the hotel for food, that’s for sure. I’m always impressed by the F&B at Auberge properties, and the Mayflower Inn was no exception. The Garden Room offers creative but approachable seasonal cuisine from breakfast through dinner (don’t skip the burger), and the Tap Room is where you’ll find a tavern-style food menu plus a mixologist slinging delicious cocktails and mocktails.What do you hope to get up to in the area? The Mayflower Inn is located in Washington, Connecticut, a small town in Litchfield County, a region beloved by many of my colleagues. Next time I visit the hotel, I’ll have to make a few stops along the way to see what all the fuss is about.Read Full ReviewUrban Cowboy LodgeMadison Flager, commerce directorWhere are you staying? Urban Cowboy Lodge, Big Indian, New YorkWhat drew you to this hotel? Urban Cowboy Lodge has been on my weekend getaway wish list for years, and there’s something about it in winter that feels particularly charming—maybe it’s the delightful snow-filled view from the bathtub (pictured above) that drew me in. I’m imagining myself curled up with a good book by the lounge’s fireplace, draped in a Pendleton blanket, then dipping into the aforementioned copper clawfoot bathtubs. At just about two-and-a-half hours north of Manhattan, it’s a not-too-far excursion I’m saving for when I really need a break from winter in the city.What are you eating? Phoenicia Diner, of course. I’m also keen to try out some of the many craft beers at Ralph’s Bar.What do you hope to get up to in the area? I’m not a skier, so in the winter, heading to the Catskills comes with more of a stay-indoors-and-get-cozy vibe for me. Besides a pit stop at Phoenicia Diner, I imagine the furthest I’ll trek is over to the sauna and bowling alley.Read Full ReviewThe Rockaway Hotel and SpaJessica Chapel, commerce writerWhere are you staying? The Rockaway Hotel & Spa, Rockaway Park, New YorkWhat drew you to this hotel? Aside from the ocean views—poetically perfect for New York in the winter—The Rockaway is home to one of my favorite wellness scenes in the city. The space transforms its outdoor pool area (which, in the summer months, is home to outdoor concerts and DJ-led pool parties) into the cozy Winter Pool House. The space gets decked out with outdoor cedar barrel saunas and the softest plush robes to wear while you transition to the heated outdoor pool. The warm water mixed with the ice-cold breeze coming off the nearby coastline is glorious.What are you eating? I’ll be heading to Margie’s—the mood-lit hotel lobby restaurant—and ordering a juicy cheeseburger and a frosty gin martini. What better way to warm your soul?What do you hope to get up to in the area? The beauty of visiting this hotel in winter? No summer beach crowds. I’ll likely bundle up, head to the beach for some meditation, and head right back to my cozy room at The Rockaway to soak up the views even more.Read Full ReviewWildflower Farms, Auberge CollectionMeaghan Kenny, commerce editorWhere are you staying? Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, Gardiner, New YorkWhat drew you to this hotel? I’ve had Wildflower Farms on my wish list for the past few years. Every photo I see of the property on Instagram looks so dreamy. It feels like a true escape from the city—quiet, cozy, and restful. Located in New York’s Hudson Valley, it’s a quick 90-minute drive from NYC, making it a convenient pick for couples or families seeking an easy getaway.What are you eating? I’m most eager to have coffee and pastries around the fire at the Great Porch, Wildflower’s open-air communal space with sprawling views of the Shawangunk Ridge. And of course, I’ll be dining at the resort’s on-site restaurant, Clay, where the rustic American menu is full of seasonal ingredients from local farms.What do you hope to get up to in the area? I usually try to pack as many activities and must-try coffee shops and restaurants as possible into my trip itinerary, but Wildflower Farms encourages you to slow down. You’ll find me at Thistle, the resort’s on-site spa where hand-harvested, small-batch oils and scrubs are used during tailored treatments.Read Full ReviewInnessArati Menon, global digital directorWhere are you staying? Inness, Accord, New YorkWhat drew you to this hotel? Inness is resplendent in the summer, so I’ve always been keen to see a different side of it come hunker-down weather. Its cabins are certainly primed for rest, thanks to the fireplaces, but there’s also the outdoor pit with prime-time views of the Catskill Mountains decked in snow. I also love the central farmhouse, where cozy seats call out for a great book and a hot cocoa. And if you can drag yourself out, which you should, there are loads of hikes and walks, including those along the Ashokan Reservoir, which is one of my favorite spots.What are you eating? Stacks of pancakes; comfort-food entrées like risottos; a round of Dorato Negronis at the bar.What do you hope to get up to in the area? Spending the afternoons shopping and dining in some of my favorite nearby towns, like Kingston and Woodstock.Read Full ReviewFour Seasons Hotel at The Surf ClubJessica Sulima, commerce writerWhere are you staying? Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, FloridaWhat drew you to this hotel? When one of my best friends announced she was celebrating her 30th birthday in Miami, a city I’ve shockingly never been to, the first place I thought of was the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club; I remember reading about its incredible celebrity guest history, which includes everyone from Frank Sinatra to Elizabeth Taylor.What are you eating? Perhaps we’d start with a toast at the on-site Champagne Bar, then move on over to dinner at Lido for seafood-inspired pastas.What do you hope to get up to in the area? Laze around by the pool, enjoy the quieter beaches of Surfside, and maybe stroll through the Rubell Museum in Allapattah.Read Full ReviewNick SimoniteTouristsMegan Spurrell, senior features editorWhere are you staying? Tourists, North Adams, MassachusettsWhat drew you to this hotel? I love heading north of the city in the colder months—leaning in and getting even colder and cozier. And the words “reimagined motor lodge” are another form of catnip for me. I love the sense of nostalgia paired with very plush, updated interiors, ideal for hiding out for a wintery weekend.What are you eating? I’d carve out time for the hotel’s restaurant, the Airport Room, ideally timed to one of the chef pop-ups they do—though given the three-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City, I’d probably also plot out an en route lunch in Kingston as well.What do you hope to get up to in the area? Wintery hikes on the nearby trails, lots of reading by the fireplace, and maybe some of the arts and crafts activities—why not.Eastwind WindhamEastwind WindhamErika Owen, contributorWhere are you staying? Eastwind, Windham, New YorkWhat drew you to this hotel? When I first caught sight of Eastwind, I was really into the property’s sprawl—there are different types of accommodations (cabins, hotel-style rooms), and everything is wound together via a small trail system lined with fairy lights, from the beer garden to the main house. It feels like a really great spot to get away from the noise of New York City.What are you eating? The on-site restaurant, Dandie’s, serves up barbecue in a cozy, window-lined space—get some house-made gelato for dessert. And definitely make a detour for brunch at Phoenicia Diner on your way back to the city.What do you hope to get up to in the area? Stop by Harriman State Park for a hike to stretch your legs on the way north. Once you’re there, you’ve got skiing options (Windham Mountain Club), more hiking trails (The Windham Path), and indoor activities (Helsinki Hudson for music lovers; Olana Historic Estate for museum enthusiasts).Jessica Sulima is a Commerce Writer at Condé Nast Traveler, where she covers hotel and booking content, as well as travel deals. Originally from New Jersey, she attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she holds a Bachelor’s degree in English with minors in Spanish and Art History. Previously at Thrillist, ... Read More