The best Luxury Beach Resorts for a Winter Escape

When winter arrives in the northern hemisphere, a beach escape offers a welcome change of scene. These luxury beach resorts for a winter escape span seven countries, from the Maldives to Jamaica, with stays shaped by white-sand coastlines, private villas and warm-water settings.

Each resort brings a different pace to a winter sun holiday, whether you are looking for a secluded island, a well-established seaside hotel or a resort with more to explore nearby. December to February is warm across all seven destinations, although the Indian Ocean islands can be humid and rainy, while South Africa is in its summer rainy season.

ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH, MALDIVES

Set on one of the Maldives’ largest private islands, One&Only Reethi Rah pairs broad sandy beaches with overwater villas and a strong sense of seclusion. Its scale gives guests room to spread out, with a choice of beachside and overwater accommodation. The Maldives is warm through the northern winter, and January to March is typically among its sunniest, driest periods.

The resort has earned a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, including recognition for its spa. Villas come with private pools, and days can shift between the beach, the water and the resort’s dining and wellness offerings. For a winter escape, the combination of warm seas and reliable sunshine is a particular draw.

ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA, MEXICO

On Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Rosewood Mayakoba sits among Caribbean shoreline, mangroves and lagoons. Guests arrive by boat to suites set along the waterways, many with private plunge pools and butler service. January afternoons are generally warm, making this a good choice for mixing time on the beach with the resort’s quieter natural setting.

Rosewood Mayakoba has received a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide for more than a decade and earned Two MICHELIN Keys in 2025. Its suites offer space to unwind between beach time and boat trips through the lagoons. The setting gives the resort a more tucked-away feel than a traditional beachfront hotel, while keeping the Caribbean close at hand.

AMANPURI, THAILAND

Amanpuri occupies a palm-covered headland on Phuket’s west coast, overlooking the Andaman Sea. Opened in 1988 as the first Aman resort, it helped establish the company’s understated, low-density approach to hospitality. December to February falls within Phuket’s drier season, with warm days and generally calmer seas.

Accommodation is arranged in hillside pavilions and private villas, many with terraces and pools. The resort’s beach, dining and wellness spaces make it easy to settle into a slower routine, while Phuket’s wider coastline offers options for outings. Its long history gives the property a sense of continuity, but the main appeal remains the tranquil setting above the water. The resort’s distinctive Thai-inspired architecture and lush gardens add to its sense of place.

FOUR SEASONS DESROCHES, SEYCHELLES

On a remote coral island in the Amirantes, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island offers long stretches of beach and a notably secluded setting. Villas and residences sit close to the shore, with private pools and outdoor showers. December to February is hot and humid in the Seychelles, and January can bring heavier rain, though sunny spells and warm seas remain part of the season.

The resort was included among Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean for 2026, for a second consecutive year. Its island location also puts guests near seasonal hawksbill turtle nesting, with conservation experiences available at the resort. Beach walks, snorkelling and time around the private pool suit the unhurried pace of this winter escape.

THE OYSTER BOX, SOUTH AFRICA

Overlooking the Indian Ocean at Umhlanga, The Oyster Box is a long-established seaside hotel with a history that reaches back to its early days as a coastal beacon in the 19th century. It opened as a hotel in 1954 and is now part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. South Africa’s December-to-February summer brings warm coastal days, often near 29°C, with the possibility of afternoon rain.

The hotel’s rooms and suites, spa and beachfront position make it a comfortable base for a coastal stay. Recent accolades include 2026 Haute Grandeur recognition and a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award. Its character is distinctly different from a private-island resort: the ocean is central, but the hotel also sits within reach of Durban’s restaurants and city life.

HALF MOON, JAMAICA

Set on Montego Bay’s coast, Half Moon has welcomed guests since 1954 and spans 400 acres with two miles of beachfront. Its long-established grounds give it a more expansive, resort-style feel, with a mix of rooms, suites and villas. Jamaica’s winter months are generally warm and relatively dry, with coastal temperatures commonly around 28–32°C.

The resort’s Eclipse and Villas areas reopened in April 2026 following restoration work, and Half Moon holds a Four-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. Its accommodation ranges from hotel rooms to private villas, offering options for couples and families alike. Guests should check which areas and services are operating when booking, as the resort has been reopening in phases. The resort’s long history and generous grounds make it well suited to a longer stay.

FOUR SEASONS ANAHITA, MAURITIUS

On Mauritius’s east coast, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita looks out across a lagoon and offers access by boat to a private beach on Île aux Cerfs. The resort’s villas are set among tropical gardens and designed for a stay with more room to settle in. During December to February, temperatures are warm, but this is also the island’s wetter, more humid summer, with cyclone risk highest around February and March.

Following a major transformation, the resort reopened in late 2025 with refreshed accommodation and experiences drawing on Mauritian island and culinary traditions. Private pools and gardens make the villas well suited to relaxed days, while the lagoon and nearby Île aux Cerfs offer time by the water. For guests who want more activity, the resort also has two championship golf courses.