These Incredible Luxury Escapes Are Perfect For a Last-Minute Getaway

We’ve teamed up with IHG Hotels & Resorts to show you that an indulgent and relaxing getaway is closer than you think with these last-minute offers. 

The end of the year can often feel like a mad dash to the finish line. December (and the festive season) brings a whole new host of tasks: finding, buying and wrapping holiday presents for family and friends, organising party season catch-ups and wrapping up those final work projects before the new year rolls in. 

The need to escape and unwind can be stronger than ever…but often it feels like planning and organising a trip away is just another thing to tick off an ever-growing to-do list. 

Luckily, a luxurious, relaxing and sun-soaked retreat is closer than you think (and there’s no need to have booked it months in advance). With over 19 hotel brands and more than 6,000 destinations to choose from, IHG Hotels & Resorts makes booking a premium, last-minute getaway easier than ever. 

Here, in no particular order, are our choices of some of the incredible escapes on offer right now, because after all, you deserve a treat, too. 

In the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Whitsundays. With iconic private island experiences, it’s the place to make sacred summer memories with family, friends and yourself. Rooms boast views of the island’s sparkling lagoon and spacious private balconies, making them the perfect place to base yourself as you spend days exploring the 74 islands that make up the unique Whitsundays environment. 

With five restaurants and bars to choose from, endless gastronomic delights await. Explore local flavours, fresh seafood and Mediterranean-inspired eats, all enriched by otherworldly settings like tropical rainforests or the crystal waters of the Coral Sea.

Opulence and family time collide at the grand and graceful InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort. Just a short distance from the tourist mecca of the Gold Coast, and located just 10 minutes from Australia’s best theme parks, the hotel is tucked away in the beautiful surroundings of Sanctuary Cove. 

There’s plenty to see and do without leaving the luxury of the resort, too. Expanding over one acre and set amidst a subtropical garden, the saltwater Lagoon Beach offers opportunities to relax on the sand (or sun lounger) and settle in for a day of bliss - with poolside fare and classic cocktails in hand.

Or, if a little retail therapy is your thing, The Marine Village, home to a world-class selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, specialty stores, fashion boutiques and art galleries, is just a two-minute stroll away.

Just a few hour's flight away, escape to another world while still feeling close to home with a trip to InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa. Nestled amongst 35 acres of tropical gardens along Natadola Beach (voted one of the best beaches in the world) overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this unique getaway is the ultimate place to relax and unwind.

For those whose summer holidays are most memorable when action-packed, the resort offers snorkelling, diving and swimming in pristine waters, as well as a championship Golf Course and day trip opportunities to embrace Fijian traditions and culture. 

Need a spa day? The Fiji resort also offers Eastern and Western treatments, infused with local herbs and honey to restore balance.

If spending more quality time with your loved one is a New Year's goal, the ultimate, romantic retreat to reconnect is here: InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso Spa. With everything from scuba diving to sunset cruises, it’s the ultimate destination to reignite the romance flame. 

Spend your days stepping off the deck of your luxury over-water villa into the waters of the tranquil lagoon, plunging into the infinity pool, or getting sporty at the resort’s fitness centre and tennis court. Then, choose your dining adventure, with everything from fine French food to barbecue buffets and American breakfasts served daily. Think of it as a culinary journey across continents, without leaving the sanctuary of your own, romantic island. 

So if dipping your toes in crystal blue water, exploring breathtaking coral reefs, indulging in an eclectic array of gastronomic delights or treating yourself to a sublime spa experience sounds like your thing, we’ve got you covered.

Your summer escape awaits you. Click here to book now with IHG’s Summer offers, plus enjoy an additional  10% discount as an IHG One Rewards member.