Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: Five Hotels Around the World Serving Scrumptious Thanksgiving Dinners
‘Tis the season for family, friends – and feasting. Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 23 this year and, while traditionally an exclusive American national holiday where people take the time to express gratitude for their loved ones, in recent years Thanksgiving has transitioned to a celebration that is enjoyed by many across the globe. With trying new foods behind the motivation to travel for two thirds (66%)* of travelers, it’s also the perfect excuse to enjoy turkey, pumpkin pies and cocktails on vacation. With that in mind, give thanks to Booking.com, a global leader in connecting travelers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, for selecting some of the best hotels around the world that will be serving a delicious Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Willard InterContinental – Washington DC, United States
Washington DC is where former US President, George Washington issued his Thanksgiving proclamation of 1789 giving ‘the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving,’ which has since become a national day celebrated by diverse households all over the world. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection – and there’s no better place for travelers to honor it than the nation’s capital city. Book into the Willard InterContinental Hotel, just a short walk from the White House, for an indulgent Thanksgiving day brunch. Set in the magnificent ballroom with a carving station offering roasted herb-marinated turkey and cedar plank salmon, other highlights include fruit de mer and charcuterie boards and a sweet treats buffet. This Booking.com Travel Proud property ensures all guests experience an inclusive and welcoming stay, and little ones can join in the celebrations with child-friendly staples such as mini-cheeseburgers. The stately hotel features refined rooms with courtyard or city views, a 24-hour fitness center and spa, and the iconic Round Robin Bar where guests can savor handcrafted cocktails. At dusk, visitors can embark on an atmospheric Three-hour DC City Night Tour to learn more about American history including stops at famous sites such as the White House, Capitol and Abraham Lincoln Memorial.
amba Taipei Zhongshan – Taipei, Taiwan
Travelers will feel grateful they didn’t stay at home during Thanksgiving at the amba Taipei Zhongshan hotel in the capital of Taiwan. Taipei is a friendly city whose appeal lies in its blend of Chinese culture with Japanese, Asian and American influences – and that’s reflected in the delicious Thanksgiving menu at the hotel’s Buttermilk restaurant. Highlights include a smoked salmon platter or grilled spicy prawn salad for starters; slow-roasted turkey or ribeye steak with truffle potatoes and red wine gravy for main; and spiced pumpkin pie for dessert. Situated in the Zhongshan commercial district with easy access to cafes and shops, this trendy hotel with a pop art façade, features a hip basement bar and has a Booking.com Travel Sustainable badge for its considerable efforts towards sustainability including a ban on single-use plastics. For adventurous foodies looking to enrich their palate, a visit to the Ningxia Night Market offers unique Taiwanese street food such as stinky tofu, oyster omelet and fried ice cream, and is just a short walk away from the hotel. This mountainous city also features eight incredible national parks, offshore islands and a wealth of relaxing hot springs for travelers to explore.
Milestone Hotel – London, United Kingdom
With London being the largest metropolis in the UK and a popular destination for travelers, visitors can enjoy the best of British luxury in the affluent borough of Kensington. Overlooking Kensington Palace and Gardens is the upscale Milestone Hotel, boasting state-of-the-art facilities including a luxe spa, fitness center and resistance pool, and adorned with rich mahogany furniture and original Victorian features. Most importantly, this hotel is home to the exclusive Cheneston's restaurant where travelers can enjoy a bespoke Thanksgiving fine-dining experience with favorites such as 12-hour braised short rib with sweet potato, smoked onion and American mustard for starters, and then roast turkey with all the trimmings or confit salmon with fennel, orange, and cranberry granola for main course. Known for its sustainability efforts, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable property also offers a vegan menu and is making huge strides to reduce food wastage. Whilst not feasting on delicious food, travelers can explore the best of London’s most iconic attractions on a River Thames Cruise including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe.
San Ignacio Resort Hotel – San Ignacio, Belize
There’s a Thanksgiving special taking place at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel on the edge of the jungle in Belize, a small country in Central America renowned for its natural wonders. Stay here for a tropical year-end treat and leave food prep to the hotel's famous Running W Restaurant who will be serving up herb-roasted turkey, pineapple glazed ham and garlic and herb-crusted tri-tip steak alongside sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and other traditional trimmings. Next to the Macal River, travelers will dine outdoors on the terrace with breathtaking views of the jungle – and might even spot one of the resident toucans during the buffet-style feast. This striking stay has everything guests could want for a chilled-out vacation immersed in nature, including hammocks, an outdoor pool, spa and whirlpool tubs – and even a private butler on request. San Ignacio is the heart and soul of the Cayo District, a vibrant traveler center full of bars and restaurants, and the hotel is just a short drive from the must-visit Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins. A River Kayaking experience down the Mopan River provides a fantastic chance to explore a major trading route of the ancient Maya people and spot wildlife.
Rosen Centre Hotel – Orlando, Florida, United States
Whether travelers want an upscale extravaganza, informal family fun or to go totally traditional, there’s something for everyone to give thanks for in sunny Orlando. On International Drive, a major thoroughfare in Orlando, the Rosen Centre Hotel is offering a dedicated Thanksgiving menu with all-American favorites as well as global flavors such as greenshell mussels, fresh sushi or shredded chicken tacos – all followed by a smorgasbord of sweet indulgences including pecan pie and spiced pumpkin cheesecake. With a Booking.com Travel Sustainable badge, the hotel’s restaurant offers both a vegan and vegetarian menu and uses locally sourced ingredients for its dishes. Outside of the dining room, this larger-than-life hotel features a luxe spa, outdoor pool with a bar and grill and is just a short drive to Universal Studios Florida for those looking to go big on the theme parks in the Sunshine State. For those looking for a different kind of adventure, a Museum of Illusions Orlando Admission Ticket gives visitors access to this famous museum’s 50 exciting exhibits, while the city of Orlando itself includes a rich performing arts scene and lovely tree-lined neighborhoods to meander around.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 42,513 respondents across 33 markets (2,000 from USA, 1,008 from Canada, 2,000 from Mexico, 1,000 from Colombia, 2,000 from Brazil, 1,000 from Argentina, 2,000 from Australia, 1,000 from New Zealand, 2,000 from Spain, 2,000 from Italy, 2,000 from France, 2,000 from UK, 2,000 from Germany, 1,000 from Netherlands, 1,000 from Denmark, 1,000 from Sweden, 1,000 from Croatia, 1,000 from Switzerland, 1,000 from Belgium, 1,000 from Ireland, 1,000 from Portugal, 1,000 from Israel, 2,000 from India, 1,000 from China, 1,005 from Hong Kong, 1,000 from Thailand, 1,000 from Singapore, 1,000 from Taiwan, 1,000 from Vietnam, 1,000 from South Korea, 1,000 from Japan, 500 from UAE). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once in the past 12 months, and planning to travel in 2023 and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in January and February 2023.