9 December getaway ideas in true Vogue style

December always throws me off balance. I rush between what I should do and what I want to postpone. Which invitation to accept, and which refusal I can live with while I soothe the runaway FOMO. Adding things up, taking things away, what we achieved and what we still need in order to meet the annual quota. Trends and forecasts for the coming year are a whole other story, and please do not mention the yearly horoscope. All of this unfolds while hundreds of thousands of lights glow everywhere. I am starting to think I might need a break before the real break.

Jokes aside, at the very end of the year everything tends to pile up during those final seven days, followed by a long detox phase that lasts until the end of winter. Instead of advising you to accept every holiday invitation, our December mindset leans more toward taking a pause before the grand finale of emotions and plans. It might be wise to hit stop for a spa weekend, plan a year end retreat, or book a cabin in the mountains while everyone else is only starting to think about Christmas cookies. Staying at home instead of going to a reception is an option too. Below you will find a selection of Vogue style recommendations for taking a December break.

A spa weekend for complete relaxation

Hotel Materra

Address: Ulica Ovčara 5, 31431 Čepin, Croatia

A dedicated spa weekend is the perfect opportunity to disconnect from everyday life in just 48 hours. Hotel Materra is one of the most beautiful new openings in Croatia and it is set in the untouched nature of Baranja. The hotel offers an exceptional wellness area with thermal pools, saunas, and treatments designed for deep regeneration. Its personalised massages and beauty rituals stand out in particular, restoring energy and visibly improving skin tone. After unwinding, guests can enjoy the elegant restaurant that blends authentic Baranja flavours with modern culinary techniques. Consider this suggestion a carefully curated escape that brings you back home rested, focused, and inspired.

Photo @hotelmaterra

Wake up surrounded by the forest

Cozy Chalet

Address: Oštrelj bb, 77250 Bosanski Petrovac, Bosnia and Hercegovina

If you are looking for a true mountain hideaway, The Cozy Chalet on Oštrelj near Bosanski Petrovac is well worth your attention. The cabin sits at more than one thousand meters above sea level, wrapped in dense forest and complete tranquillity that instantly slows your pace. It is exactly the kind of cozy atmosphere I had in mind when imagining that pause before the storm mentioned earlier, with wood everywhere, a warm interior, and views that open onto untouched nature. Mornings here smell of mountain air and quiet, while evenings end with hot drinks, blankets, and a sense of complete disconnection from everyday life. The Cozy Chalet is a perfect continuation of the story of an intimate, nature inspired escape that brings you back to yourself.

Photo @the_cozy_chalet

Chalet Astra Montana

Address: Poljubinj 6a, 5220 Tolmin, Dolina Soče, Slovenia

We found another source of inspiration for a mountain escape on the edge of Triglav National Park in Slovenia. Set at more than one thousand meters above sea level, Chalet Astra Montana is surrounded by forests and mountain expanses, which is exactly what you would expect in Slovenia. Once a shepherd’s stable, it has been transformed into a comfortable, environmentally sustainable cabin that uses solar energy, spring water, and a fireplace for heating. The interior is warm and rustic, with a living room, kitchen, and bedrooms overlooking the Soča Valley. It is an ideal place to recharge before the new year.

Photo @soca.stays

A self focused workshop to end the year

Verduna Retreat

Address: Lopatnik 4, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia

Ever since we wrote about yoga retreat options in the region and beyond, the Slovenian Verduna Retreat has been on our radar as a place for relaxation and self discovery. The centre is run by an English Croatian couple, Chris and Gordana, and includes a spacious yoga and meditation studio that offers a comfortable environment for unwinding. We would especially highlight the workshop The Art of Being – New Year Retreat, which begins on 28 December and is an ideal way to enter the New Year with renewed energy. Until 4 January, you can expect daily practices of yoga, meditation, and pranayama that deepen the connection between body and mind, along with quiet time for rest. Guests enjoy ayurvedic meals, nature walks, a sauna, cold baths, and moments dedicated to introspection. It sounds like a true reset.

A slow culinary escape

Pajta Barn

Address: Templomszer 7., Oriszentpeter 9941, Hungary

The Pajta restaurant has been on our radar for a while, and this year Michelin awarded it one star for culinary excellence and a green star for its commitment to local ingredients and the preservation of authentic cuisine. Just one kilometre from the restaurant you will find beautiful wooden cabins where you can stay fully immersed in nature. The entire experience takes place in the village of Őriszentpéter, in the heart of the Hungarian region of Őrség, close to Slovenia and Austria. The ambience is rustic yet elegant, with wooden details and panoramic views of the surroundings. A visit to Pajta offers a complete experience, from exceptional food to relaxation and an intimate connection with nature.

Photo @pajta.barn

A jump to a warmer city

While researching winter destinations that are still warm and close enough that we do not need to fly across all of Asia, I came to the conclusion that Spain is an excellent choice, and among its urban gems, Valencia is my favourite and currently high on my priority list. The mild climate, the blend of city and sea (you do not need to give up views of the waves to feel like you are in a city), and the good balance of cultural and hedonistic pleasures, meaning food and wine, make it perfect for a few days of escape. First I found out where to try the best tapas, have a glass of wine, and discover good design, which is covered in this Valencia guide you will need, and now I also know where I would stay.

Casa Clarita

Address: C/ de les Avellanes, 10, Ciutat Vella, 46003 València, Spain

Casa Clarita, a very charming boutique hotel in the centre of Valencia, was shaped under the creative direction of the brilliant artist and designer Jaime Hayón, which is evident in every carefully selected detail. It opened barely a year ago and is already at the top of many travellers lists with just twelve rooms and eight apartments. The mix of sculptural furniture, warm colours, and eclectic decorating creates an intimate, chic, and incredibly pleasant atmosphere. Located in a historic building once owned by a family of glassmaking masters, Casa Clarita blends tradition with contemporary design and does it very well.

Photo: Bacon Studio / @casaclarita_vlc

A moment for a staycation

In other words, stay home and go nowhere. It will be the best pause, with no plans or planning, no booking, and no obligations. Time given to yourself to spend in peace, with yourself, and through an introspective journey to places you want to visit within your own inner landscape. Here are a few ideas through which you can channel new energy.

Creating a vision board

One of the things you can dedicate yourself to is making a vision board for the end of the year, a small projection of future plans, ideas, and wishes. As our colleague Sonja wrote, “A study in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health found that creating vision boards helps us identify meaningful goals and our true interests. Research has also found that vision boards increase confidence and motivate us to actually achieve our goals. When we visually present our goals, we turn them into something concrete and in a way clarify what we are striving for. Frequent exposure to a vision board awakens thoughts that direct our attention toward those goals.” Here are 7 tips for creating your own vision board.

Tarot as a form of well being

Tarot is increasingly seen as a tool for personal development rather than a means of predicting the future. Through symbols and archetypes, tarot encourages self reflection, calms the mind, and helps us recognise emotions we often overlook. As Andrea Azenić, better known as Space Tiger, told me when we talked about tarot, “Information about meanings is available to everyone, and intuition along with other more refined senses are things we all have, we just need to unlock them,” while diving into the mysterious world of symbols. Reading tarot cards can become a form of mindful practice, a moment in which we slow down, listen to ourselves, and gain clearer insight into what troubles or inspires us. In that sense, tarot becomes a gentle, intuitive way of caring for ourselves and nurturing inner balance.

3 minute journaling

Journaling is one of the simplest and most effective practices for mental clarity and emotional balance. Regularly writing down thoughts, feelings, and ideas helps us understand ourselves better, process stress, and focus on what truly matters. This practice encourages creativity, reduces inner chaos, and allows us to see our behavioural patterns more clearly over time. Whether we write for three minutes or thirty, journaling is a powerful ritual of self reflection and gentle self care.

Related: Chic notebooks and planners you’ll look forward to using every day