Monday 9 November 2026
Black Friday is on the horizon, but some of the best winter travel offers are already here. From a pre-Black Friday 35% off sale at Heartwood Inns to a festive Christmas Garden at Villa Cipressi on Lake Como and a newly refurbished ski-in, ski-out residence as Avoriaz celebrates 60 years with Pierre & Vacances, here are five winter escapes worth booking now.
1. 35% off Heartwood Inns rooms – but be quick
Heartwood Inns is getting in ahead of the Black Friday noise with what it calls its best room offer of the year. Book direct with the code BF35 and you’ll get 35% off the best available room rate. There is a minimum stay of two nights, and the offer applies at all Heartwood Inns sites with rooms. The catch is the deadline: bookings must be made between 9 and 15 November 2026, so the sale ends this Sunday. The offer is subject to availability and can’t be combined with any other offer, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
2. Heartwood Inns stays from December right through to April
The best part of the Heartwood deal is how long you have to use it, with stays covered from 1 December 2026 to 11 April 2027. That makes it ideal for a festive getaway, a Valentine’s escape or a well-earned break once the new year has settled in. Picture crisp winter walks, a roaring fire and a hearty supper in the pub downstairs. A two-night break in the depths of winter is a lovely thing to have in the diary. Booking now means you can lock in the discount and decide where the year takes you.
3. A Christmas Garden on the shores of Lake Como
R Collection’s Villa Cipressi in Varenna has transformed its historic Botanical Garden into an enchanting Christmas Garden, open from 1 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Following last year’s success, it has been expanded with illuminated pathways, festive installations, woodland characters and panoramic lakefront viewpoints, all lit by thousands of sparkling lights. A Christmas Bar serves seasonal treats, hot chocolate, cocktails and champagne, and there is a Christmas Shop for festive gifts. Look out for seasonal events including gospel performances, visits from Santa Claus and the traditional arrival of Befana. Full admission is €15 per person and reduced admission €10, with children aged 0–3 and visitors under 110cm going free.
4. Stay, dine and celebrate at Villa Cipressi this winter
For the first time, Villa Cipressi will stay open for the whole Christmas Garden period, so you can pair an evening in the illuminated gardens with an overnight stay in the heart of Varenna. Room rates start from €218 per night. The seasonal pop-up restaurant Il Caminetto celebrates the flavours of Lombardy with regional recipes and locally sourced ingredients, open daily from 6.30pm to 9.30pm until 9 January 2027. There is a special Christmas Day lunch on 25 December overlooking Lake Como, followed by a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner on 31 December. It is a rare chance to see Lake Como beyond the summer season, when the village takes on a quieter, more magical atmosphere.
5. Ski-in, ski-out in Avoriaz as the resort turns 60
This winter, Avoriaz celebrates its 60th anniversary, a milestone shared by Pierre & Vacances, which was founded in the resort. To mark the season, the newly refurbished Residence Capella reopens with brand new apartments, fresh contemporary interiors, an indoor swimming pool and ski-in, ski-out access. Balconies look out over the Dents Blanches mountain range or Avoriaz’s charming, futuristic village, and there are heated lockers for your ski boots. That means no frantic dashes for the ski bus and more time on the slopes, followed by a swim or a relaxed evening in your own apartment. Weekly rates at Residence Capella start from €1,400 for four people.
Book
Heartwood Inns: 35% off with code BF35 when booking direct; book 9–15 November 2026 for stays 1 December 2026 to 11 April 2027; minimum two nights
Villa Cipressi, Varenna, Lake Como: Christmas Garden 1 November 2026 to 10 January 2027; admission €15 (reduced €10); rooms from €218 per night
Residence Capella, Avoriaz: Weekly rates from €1,400 for four people; Pierre & Vacances 0870 0267 145