If your version of “holiday magic” includes sleeping in, having an actual kitchen, and avoiding the annual game of “whose turn is it to share the bathroom,” you’re in good company.

When planning a Christmas trip, choosing the right destination matters — but choosing the right stay matters even more. No one dreams of unwrapping presents in a hotel room with two double beds and nowhere to sit. You deserve space, comfort, and a holiday that feels like a holiday.

That’s where KOALA comes in. Our Hot Deals page is filled with resort-style vacation rentals — professionally managed, listed by real timeshare owners, and totally free of sales pitches. With full kitchens, real living rooms, separate bedrooms, and actual resort amenities, these stays offer far more comfort (and often far better pricing) than traditional hotels — especially during Christmas week.

Below are five types of holiday trips KOALA travelers book year after year — plus the real resorts you can reserve right now.

1. Snowy Mountain Escapes

If your ideal Christmas includes crisp mountain air, fresh snow, and evenings by the fire, South Lake Tahoe is the kind of place that makes the whole season feel cinematic.

At Marriott’s Timber Lodge, you’ll find villa-style suites with fireplaces, full kitchens, and space to actually relax after a day at Heavenly. The combination of alpine scenery, festive lights, and walkability makes it one of the most effortless winter escapes on KOALA.

2. Warm-Weather Retreats

Prefer warm sand to cold sidewalks? You’re not alone. Christmas-week demand for sunshine destinations always surges — but a few gems are still available.

Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club is one of them. Palm Beach views, villa-style layouts, and a resort atmosphere that makes December feel like July. Swap sweaters for swimsuits and start Christmas morning with a walk along the shoreline — no shovel required.

Florida and Hawaii inventory moves quickly this time of year, but there’s still solid availability on the Hot Deals page for those chasing a warm-weather holiday.

3. Big-City Holiday Buzz

If your version of Christmas includes Fifth Avenue windows, ice skating, and a skyline that goes full sparkle mode, New York is hard to beat.

On our Hot Deals page, you’ll find The Central at 5th by Hilton Club — a Christmas-week studio suite in the heart of Midtown. It’s surprisingly well-priced for the week (a rarity in NYC), and comes with more space and comfort than typical holiday hotel rooms. Walk to Rockefeller Center, take in the lights, and return to a quiet suite instead of a crowded hallway.

4. Coastal & Island Escapes

For some, the best version of Christmas is the one that looks nothing like winter.

There’s plenty of Hawaii availability on KOALA right now, including an ocean-view one-bedroom suite at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club – Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers. With a private balcony overlooking the Pacific and resort amenities steps from the sand, it’s an easy way to trade cold fronts for trade winds. 

Sometimes the ideal “white Christmas” is a shoreline.

5. Family-Friendly Favorites

When the holidays involve multiple generations — or just multiple suitcases — space becomes invaluable.

That’s why Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek is a KOALA favorite. Minutes from Walt Disney World, its two-bedroom Presidential suites offer full kitchens, real living areas, and plenty of room to spread out between park days. And honestly: waking up at Disney on Christmas morning is its own kind of magic.

How to Book Smarter This Season

• Book early — Christmas-week availability goes fast.
• Use filters intentionally — bedrooms, resort perks, proximity to snow or sand.
• Compare comfort — KOALA suites often cost less than holiday hotel rooms.
• Expect better value — you’re booking directly from verified timeshare owners.

Christmas trips don’t have to mean cramped rooms or sky-high hotel prices. With KOALA, you get more space, more comfort, and more value — whether you’re heading to the mountains, the beach, the city, or somewhere in between.

Christmas-week Hot Deals are live — and they move quickly.

Browse Christmas-week stays on KOALA