Give a Weekend Away: Design-Led Stays Worth Gifting This Holiday

Some of the best gifts are a key and a date. A weekend in a house someone will remember, with time set aside to spend there, is hard to wrap and easy to love.

This guide gathers Locèlle homes that make good gifts this holiday, for two people, for a family and for anyone who needs winter sun. It also explains how to give a stay that is booked directly with the owner, which takes a little more thought than buying a gift card, and is often more personal for it.

Why a stay makes a good gift

People remember experiences. In a 2025 survey of 2,000 Americans by StubHub, 47% said they most enjoy receiving experiences or activities as gifts, and 35% said experiences feel more lasting than physical gifts, against 20% for things. The survey came from a ticket company, so it leans toward events, but the pattern holds well beyond concerts.

A stay also gives the person something to look forward to. The weeks before the trip are part of the present.

How to gift a direct booking

Locèlle homes are booked with their owners, not through a checkout page, so there is no universal gift card. That makes it more personal, and it means planning a little ahead.

• Ask the owner first. Some hosts can issue a gift certificate or hold a credit for a future stay. Others prefer to book specific dates. Ask what they offer when you enquire.
• Leave the dates open if you can. If the owner allows it, give a credit or a flexible window rather than fixed dates, so the recipient can choose a weekend that works.
• Confirm the terms in writing. How long the gift is valid, whether holidays are excluded, and what happens if plans change.
• Give something to open. A printed photo of the house, a handwritten note with the dates, or something for the trip: a candle, a book, a bottle for the first night.

For two

The GloCabin in Hocking Hills, Ohio, is a 450-square-foot cabin built for two, with a wooded ravine on three sides. It has a queen canopy bed, three private decks with hanging chairs, a two-person hot tub and a fire pit. At night, warm lighting makes the cabin glow in the trees, which is where the name comes from. It shares 32 acres of private trails with two other homes from the same owners. From $235 a night.

The Treeframe Cabin in Index, Washington, is an A-frame raised thirteen feet among four evergreens, with a glass front looking onto the Skykomish River. A king bed sits in the loft, there is a private hot tub on the deck, and a shared sauna and cold plunge sit by the river. It is about an hour from Seattle. From $483 a night.

For a small family or a few friends

Yamagoya Cabin in Roxbury, New York, draws on Japanese ryokan traditions. There is a tatami room with shikibutons, a fireplace in the living room, chochin lanterns at dusk and a deck for forest bathing. Belleayre and Plattekill are close for skiing. It sleeps five. From $450 a night.

Phillipsport Church House in Wurtsboro, New York, is an 1823 church restored by architect Matthew Bremer. The sanctuary is now a chef's kitchen and a dining room under soaring ceilings, and the bedrooms are in the former Sunday school below. It sleeps six and is one of the closest Locèlle homes to New York City. It makes a memorable gift for a family or a group of old friends. From $545 a night.

The Carpenter's Cabin in Hocking Hills is the gift for a whole family. Jami and Scott Jenkins built it for their own children and grandchildren. It has five bedrooms on four levels, a conversation pit and a library loft. Check the listing for the current guest limit. From $450 a night.

For winter sun

Sol to Soul sits on ten acres of Mojave Desert in Pioneertown, California, below a huge boulder known as Whale Rock. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto the decks. Inside are Christian Liaigre furniture, Moroccan rugs and works by Robert Motherwell. Outside, a saltwater hot tub and outdoor shower sit beneath the rocks. There are two king bedrooms, and Joshua Tree National Park is about 40 minutes away. In winter, the days are mild and the nights are cold and full of stars. From $620 a night.

The stays at a glance

• The GloCabin, Hocking Hills, OH. For two. Two-person hot tub, private trails. From $235 a night.
• The Treeframe Cabin, Index, WA. For two. Treetop A-frame, hot tub, river sauna. From $483 a night.
• Yamagoya Cabin, Roxbury, NY. Sleeps 5. Tatami room, fireplace. From $450 a night.
• Phillipsport Church House, Wurtsboro, NY. Sleeps 6. A restored 1823 church. From $545 a night.
• The Carpenter's Cabin, Hocking Hills, OH. Five bedrooms for a family. From $450 a night.
• Sol to Soul, Pioneertown, CA. Sleeps 4. Desert, boulders, saltwater hot tub. From $620 a night.

Holiday and winter weekends go early, so if the gift is for a specific date, ask now. For more on how the best homes are booked, read Why the Best Holiday Rentals Are Booked Before They're Ever Listed.

About Locèlle

Locèlle is a curated collection of design-led vacation homes. We do not process bookings or add fees. We introduce you to the owner, and you book with them.

That is what makes a stay booked here a good gift. You talk to the person who made the house, they can tell you what the recipient will love, and the price you agree is the price you pay. New to booking this way? Start with What Is Direct Booking? A Beginner's Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you gift a vacation rental stay?

Yes. With homes booked directly, you arrange it with the owner. Some can issue a gift certificate or hold a credit, and others will book specific dates in the recipient's name.

How do I give a getaway without choosing the dates?

Ask the owner whether they can hold a credit or offer a flexible window. Agree in writing how long it is valid and whether holiday weekends are included.

Do vacation rental owners offer gift cards?

Some do and some do not. There is no single gift card for Locèlle homes, because each is booked with its own owner. Ask when you enquire.

What if the dates don't work for the person I'm giving it to?

Agree the change policy with the owner before you pay. Owners who book direct are often flexible, but terms vary from house to house.

When should I book a stay as a Christmas gift?

As soon as you know the house you want. If you plan to give specific dates over the holidays or a winter long weekend, book early, as those fill first.

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