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It’s difficult to know what the travel industry will look like heading into winter, but one thing is for sure: Thanksgiving weekend is our last chance to gather and get away before the holiday season shifts into high gear. Whether you like to celebrate with a few or as many as safely possible, it’s not too early to plan your Thanksgiving escape.
No matter how you do Thanksgiving, one central theme unites us all: the food. Thanksgiving food can be traditional to a collective culture, traditional to an immediate culture, or different every year; the main point is to eat as much communal food as we can! We love food here at 10xTravel, so we’ve chosen a few locales that might be inspirational to the foodies among us this Thanksgiving.
The Traditionalists
For those who enjoy root vegetables, corn, and a perfectly roasted turkey, here are a few spots that are reminiscent of the harvest season in the early colonies.
Hilton Garden Inn Plymouth, MA
Plymouth is best known for its history as the site of the “First Thanksgiving” harvest involving the pilgrim settlers at Plimouth and the Wampanoag tribe. Every year, the Plimoth Patuxet Museum hosts a Thanksgiving Day Homestyle Buffet which features familiar favorites like mashed potatoes, winter squash, cornbread stuffing, and (obviously) a roasted turkey with gravy. To stay near the action, book in with Hilton Garden Inn Plymouth. Conveniently located just a six-minute drive from the museum, this property has everything you need for a traditional Thanksgiving home base.
A night at this property is available from 30,000 Hilton Honors points.
Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection
As with most things, there is considerable debate over who actually hosted a harvest event that might be considered the “First Thanksgiving.” Many folks, Virginians in particular, contest that the first Thanksgiving in fact took place at the Berkeley Plantation, before the gathering at Plimoth.
Located 45 minutes outside of colonial Williamsburg, the Berkeley Plantation could be a nice place to visit during your Thanksgiving trip to the Williamsburg Lodge. The lovely Williamsburg Lodge is located just down the street from the Williamsburg Visitor Center, and guests may take advantage of special packages that include dining, access to Colonial Williamsburg, golf, and more.
This Category 5 property is available from 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Rebels
Forget tradition, we just want good food! The US is full of foodie hotspots, so why not check one out during the holiday?
The Eliza Jane
While still a historic colony, New Orleans isn’t the type of colonial site we often think of when preparing for a Thanksgiving feast. For those who like to spice things up a lot, you can’t go wrong with the delectable flavors of downtown New Orleans! Whether it’s a Cafe Amelie breakfast, Redfish Grill supper, or just a steady stream of Pat O’s Category 5 hurricanes, you’re going to need a reliable place to rest in between outings to the French Quarter.
Even for a city as bustling as New Orleans, there are few cooler spots to land than The Eliza Jane. Named for the first female publisher of The Daily Picayune newspaper, The Eliza Jane is housed in the paper’s storied publishing house. Come to tell stories and hear stories, or just enjoy the prime location and trendy decor.
A night at this historic property is available from 15,000 World of Hyatt points.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Earn 5 free nights
at any Category 1 - 4 Hyatt hotel or resort
after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.* These nights could be worth up to 90,000 points.
Annual Fee: $95
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Whether it’s a Chicago-style dog or a deep-dish pizza, there are few things that Chicago does better than putting an extra twist on a familiar favorite.
Chicago’s downtown dining spans the spectrum from grab-and-go eats to exclusive lounges, from global chains to unique dives with a bit of extra midwestern sass. If you’d like to travel back almost one hundred years to Chicago’s roaring twenties, book in with the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Opened in 1929, this Michigan Avenue property is a Chicago institution that is situated near historic highrises and upscale shopping. You don’t even need to venture out of the hotel for excellent dining; this property features several onsite dining options including Michael Jordan’s Steak House & Bar.
A night at this property is available from 48,000 IHG Rewards points.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
80,000
Bonus Points
after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
The Escape Artists
If this holiday isn’t your bread and freshly churned butter, not to worry. There are plenty of spots for a refreshing, relaxing getaway during your four-day weekend.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
When it comes to an escape, nothing paints that picture quite as well as the Sonoran desert. This magnificent expanse features wide-open landscapes dotted with saguaro cacti and bound by rolling mountains, boasting the most pleasant shades of burnt orange and sage green.
If you’re longing for a desert hideaway where you can unplug and unwind, look no further than The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. This trendy, desert resort is located just north of Tucson and hidden in a secluded valley. With enough onsite dining and cafe options to keep you occupied, you will never have any need to leave the property during your stay.
Pamper yourself with a relaxing spa treatment, enjoy a round of golf, or head for the hills on a guided hike or bike ride. Tuck into your own private room, or rent an entire suite for the whole gang.
A room at this Category 6 property starts at 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Inn on Bigfork Bay
If you’d like to escape into nature but need a bit more green around you than what is available in the Sonoran, head to Montana instead. This big-sky mountain country is ideal for those who like to disappear into the woods, enjoy a day on the lake, or take a pleasant stroll along those famous Montana peaks.
If you are looking for a vacation home that is not completely isolated from others but still offers a fair bit of privacy, check out The Inn on Bigfork Bay. This property is tucked between Flathead National Forest and Flathead Lake, offering competitive access to some of Montana’s wild country and natural areas.
Guests enjoy a private room and bath as well as access to a communal kitchen, living spaces, and balcony. This family-owned Bed & Breakfast is a wonderful spot to spend a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend with yourself, your family, and potentially, with new friends.
A night at The Inn is available from 12,300 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when booked through the Chase Travel Portal.
The Bottom Line
No matter how you celebrate, Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to gather, feast, and enjoy a couple of days away from your Inbox. There are plenty of options out there from traditional colonial sites to local haunts, to off-the-beaten-track resorts and family-focused cabins.
On top of that, you don’t have to rely on your hotel-specific points currencies if you have credit card rewards like those that come with the Chase Sapphire and Chase Freedom collections. With plenty of points properties to choose from, a Thanksgiving escape is a great way to redeem your stash of points this autumn.
New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel℠ purchases within your first year. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.