Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

"December is prime time to soak up the sunshine and local culture. Culinary delights include Noche Puertorriqueña (Christmas Eve dinner), with live entertainment and cooking classes to learn how to make some of the island’s most delicious holiday dishes. Look out for festive family-friendly activities, ranging from ornament-making sessions and building gingerbread houses to Santa's scavenger hunt, classic movie nights under the night sky, and singing local Christmas songs. Need a little R&R? Book the apple cinnamon scrub and massage at the spa." - Lindsay Cohn Lindsay Cohn Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, T

"An accessible island getaway with a mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration."

"For a luxe modern retreat: Ritz-Carlton Dorado Beach"

"Set on Puerto Rico’s pristine northern coast, Dorado Beach has quite a history. Once a pineapple, grapefruit, and coconut plantation, the land was bought by visionary tycoon Laurance Rockefeller in the 1950s; he reimagined it as a world-class hotel and nature preserve. In 2012, Ritz-Carlton transformed it into its first ultra-luxury Reserve property in the Americas." - Laura Dannen Redman

"The emphasis at this Ritz-Carlton Reserve —one of only four in the world—is on setting. The hotel has undergone many transformations, including after Hurricane Maria in 2017, but ever since Laurance Rockefeller built a sanctuary here it has been all about sea, sand, and lush greenery. Beach-facing terraces and outdoor showers bookend rooms, and museum-grade artwork is scattered on tree branches. But it’s the Spa Botánico, a tropical wonderland, that really fits Rockefeller’s approach. After visiting, you’ll remember the 95-year-old ficus at the entrance most clearly. That, or the treehouse in the canopy where you had the greatest massage of your life." - CNT Editors