Christmas 2026 · Interval family vote · Top 10

Where should we go?

Voting rules

Ranked from family chat + resort research. Kid fun, free/cheap activities, multi-city fairness (Austin · Seattle · Elsah). Montana ranks above Kauai.

#1 / 10

Villas at Flying L Ranch

Bandera, Texas
Kid-activity champion · ranch Christmas
Interval: FLY · Interval Premier
Brand: Flying L Ranch (not Marriott)
Member / public ratings: Overall 3.5/5 · Services 3.5 · Property 3.5 · Rooms 3.0 · Experience 3.5 (46 member reviews, 24 mo)
On-site: Pool, playground, golf, tennis, restaurant, live entertainment, kitchens, laundry, Wi‑Fi
Nearby: Horseback riding, lake/marina, grocery, day spa
Units: 1BR sleeps 4 · 2BR sleeps 8 · kitchens · lock-off · check-in Fri/Sun
Airport: San Antonio (SAT) ~53 mi
Address: 675 Flying L Drive, Bandera, TX 78003
Interval / resort link · site

On Interval as Villas at Flying L. Wagon rides, campfire s’mores, live Western entertainment, big outdoor pool, playground, tennis, golf Stay & Play. 1 mile from Bandera “Cowboy Capital.” Best free kid programming on this list.

Wagon rides & ranch tour Wagon rides & ranch tour
Campfire + s’mores Campfire + s’mores
Playground & sports courts Playground & sports courts
Hill Country / Bandera Hill Country / Bandera
Travel: Austin ~2h drive · SEA/IL fly SAT
Watch-out: Comfortable ranch, not luxury. Need 2–3 villas for ~12 people.
#2 / 10

Villas de Santa Fe (+ other SF II)

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Special destination · not ski-forced
Interval: Primary: VSF · Also LBF, OSF, ECZ/EZ1 (Premier)
Brand: VSF = Diamond Resorts · ECZ = Residences El Corazón (Premier). Not Marriott.
Member / public ratings: VSF Overall 4.0/5 · Services 4.5 · Property 3.5 · Rooms 3.5 · Experience 4.5 (26 reviews)
On-site: VSF: outdoor pool, hot tubs, gym, clubhouse, kitchens, laundry, A/C, fireplace
Nearby: Skiing optional (Taos etc.), golf, restaurants, museums, Plaza
Units: VSF: 1BR 2–4 · 2BR 4–8 · fireplaces · kitchens · check-in Fri/Sat
Airport: Albuquerque (ABQ) ~60 mi
Address: VSF: 400 Griffin St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Interval / resort link · site

II Santa Fe pack: Villas de Santa Fe (VSF), Las Brisas (LBF), Otra Vez (OSF), Residences at El Corazón (ECZ/EZ1 Premier). Pool + hot tubs on-site; Plaza culture, lights, Bandelier/Pecos day trips. Rebecca+.

Plaza & historic core Plaza & historic core
Holiday lights / farolitos Holiday lights / farolitos
Resort pool & hot tubs Resort pool & hot tubs
Parks & explorer days Parks & explorer days
Travel: Fly ABQ + ~1h · fair for SEA, AUS, IL
Watch-out: Cold nights. Prefer ECZ/VSF inventory; confirm beds for 12.
#3 / 10

Holiday Inn Club Vacations NOLA

New Orleans, Louisiana
Food · city · mild winter
Interval: HIY Premier · also QHS, WNE, AVP, CPN, CHO…
Brand: Holiday Inn Club (HIY). Also Quarter House QHS Premier, Westin WNE. No Marriott on NOLA II list.
Member / public ratings: HIY Overall 4.0/5 · Services 4.5 · Property 3.0 · Rooms 3.5 · Experience 4.5 (29 reviews)
On-site: Rooftop deck/pool, lounge, gym, laundry, Wi‑Fi, convenience store
Nearby: French Quarter, streetcars, restaurants, river, City Park
Units: HIY: 1BR 2–4 · 2BR 4–6 · full kitchens · daily check-in · 1893 building refurbished
Airport: New Orleans (MSY) ~14 mi
Address: 203 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Interval / resort link · site

II lists 10 NOLA resorts. HIY = spacious villas, rooftop lounge + dipping pool, minutes from Bourbon St. Strong city energy for Bella’s early pick. Mild Dec.

Streetcar rides Streetcar rides
Jackson Square daytime Jackson Square daytime
City Park free zones City Park free zones
Holiday lights & food Holiday lights & food
Travel: Fly MSY — easy SEA / AUS / STL
Watch-out: Property score weaker than services — inspect unit photos. Family hours in Quarter.
#4 / 10

The Landing at Seven Coves

Willis, Texas · Lake Conroe
Quiet lake week
Interval: Ron-listed TX Interval option (lake condominium resort)
Brand: Landing at Seven Coves · not Marriott
Member / public ratings: TripAdvisor ~4.0/5 (~340 public reviews) · lake balconies often praised
On-site: Lake, fishing, outdoor pool, tennis, basketball, playground, laundry
Nearby: Golf ~5 mi, boating, Conroe restaurants, optional Galveston day
Units: 1BR & 2BR suites · kitchens · balconies over water
Airport: Houston (IAH/HOU) · Austin ~3–3.5h drive
Address: 7031 Kingston Cove Ln, Willis, TX 77318
Interval / resort link · site

Ron’s TX shortlist. Every suite balcony over Lake Conroe — fish off the deck. Pool, playground, tennis, basketball, marina. Calm multi-gen water week.

Fish from balcony Fish from balcony
Lake Conroe views Lake Conroe views
Pool + playground Pool + playground
Galveston day optional Galveston day optional
Travel: AUS drive · fly HOU · Galveston ~1.5h
Watch-out: Dec swim optional/cool. Less “programmed fun” than Flying L.
#5 / 10

Marriott's OceanWatch at Grande Dunes

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Beach Christmas · Marriott on II
Interval: MOW (Marriott) · also TDU/DVL, TCX, STW, DoubleTree oceanfront…
Brand: Marriott Vacation Club — OceanWatch · confirmed on Interval
Member / public ratings: Marriott-branded oceanfront villas (verify live member scores before exchange)
On-site: Oceanfront resort amenities (pool/spa/golf area per Marriott listing)
Nearby: Boardwalk, beaches, arcades, indoor fun (often paid)
Units: Typically 2BR villa product at OceanWatch — confirm sleeping chart on II
Airport: Myrtle Beach (MYR) or Charleston (CHS)
Address: 8500 Costa Verde Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Interval / resort link · site

Rebecca likes Myrtle. This is the clearest Marriott on our shortlist via II. Boardwalk lights, beach walks; indoor attractions if water is cold. Other II Myrtle options if MOW is full.

Beach walks Beach walks
Oceanfront / skyline Oceanfront / skyline
Indoor kid options Indoor kid options
Holiday lights Holiday lights
Travel: Everyone flies — longer haul all three bases
Watch-out: Dec ocean chilly. Quality varies by tower — prefer Marriott MOW over tired stock.
#6 / 10

Branson II resorts (Nantucket et al.)

Branson, Missouri
Liam’s pick · shows + indoor fun
Interval: BNX Branson’s Nantucket · CEA Westgate Branson Woods · BNW Tower · + many more
Brand: Multiple II brands (Westgate, WorldMark, etc.) — not one Marriott lock
Member / public ratings: Varies by property — pick recent 4+ member scores in Round 2
On-site: Depends on resort — often pools, games, kitchen villas
Nearby: Shows, Silver Dollar City (paid), Table Rock Lake, outlets
Units: BNX: 1–4 BR Cape Cod–style near entertainment district & Table Rock Lake
Airport: Springfield SGF / Branson BKG · Thomas drive from Elsah is easiest
Address: Branson entertainment corridor (property-specific)
Interval / resort link · site

Liam wants Branson. II has a deep Branson list (Nantucket BNX, Westgate Woods CEA, Stormy Point, etc.). Shows, attractions, lake nearby. Great for Thomas family drive.

Shows & entertainment Shows & entertainment
Family attractions Family attractions
Table Rock Lake area Table Rock Lake area
Resort indoor/outdoor pools Resort indoor/outdoor pools
Travel: IL drive-friendly · SEA/AUS fly
Watch-out: Many attractions cost money. Only one explicit vote so far — needs coalition.
#7 / 10

Wintergreen at Midway (+ UT valley)

Midway / Heber, Utah
SLC fly · less ski-prison than Park City
Interval: Ron-listed Wintergreen at Midway · also Kimball SLC, Cedar Breaks, Bear Lake, Park Regency
Brand: Small Midway condo resort (WorldMark history) — not Marriott
Member / public ratings: Small property — read recent unit reviews carefully
On-site: Typically indoor pool/hot tub on small UT condo resorts
Nearby: Homestead crater, Soldier Hollow tubing, PC day trip optional
Units: Condo-style; indoor pool mentioned by guests
Airport: Salt Lake City (SLC) — Rob’s preferred UT fly hub
Address: Midway, UT (Heber Valley)
Interval / resort link · site

Utah without forcing Main Street Park City. Indoor pool path; Heber Valley activities; optional ski for people who want it. Bella UT interest + Rob SLC rule.

Indoor pool weather backup Indoor pool weather backup
Heber / Midway valley Heber / Midway valley
Tubing / ice options Tubing / ice options
Ski optional — not required Ski optional — not required
Travel: Fly SLC · ~45–60 min to Midway
Watch-out: Winter cold. Confirm multiple units. Rebecca still needs non-ski plan.
#8 / 10

Colorado II (Winter Park / Silver Creek area)

Colorado Rockies
Bella’s CO heat · central mountains
Interval: Ron listed: Breck · Vail/Avon/Beaver Creek · Winter Park · Silver Creek
Brand: Mixed II inventory (incl. some Marriott mountain product in CO generally) — verify code
Member / public ratings: Varies widely — newer/Premier mountain better than tired condo stacks
On-site: Often pool/hot tub + winter sports access
Nearby: National forest, sledding, town strolls — lift tickets $$$$ if used
Units: Typically 1–3 BR mountain condos — need multi-unit for 12
Airport: Denver (DEN) primary
Address: Property-specific (Round 2 with Ron)
Interval / resort link · site

Bella pushed CO as central. Prefer Winter Park / Silver Creek–style over pure Breck/Vail ski villages if the group won’t all ski. Gorgeous setting; free snow play possible.

Mountain scenery Mountain scenery
Resort hot tub / pool Resort hot tub / pool
Snow play / sledding Snow play / sledding
Skiing optional & costly Skiing optional & costly
Travel: Fly DEN · rent cars/vans
Watch-out: Ski-town trap risk (Rebecca). Budget zero for lifts unless opt-in.
#9 / 10

Montana II mountain resorts

Montana
Thomas vote · big-sky winter
Interval: On Ron’s state list — specific MT codes in Round 2 (Big Sky / Whitefish / West Yellowstone class)
Brand: Various II — confirm Marriott only if a specific MT Marriott appears in exchange
Member / public ratings: Check live II member scores per property
On-site: Usually lodge amenities + winter recreation access
Nearby: Hot springs, wildlife viewing, snow activities
Units: Condo/lodge product varies — multi-unit for 12
Airport: Bozeman BZN / Kalispell FCA / Billings depending on resort
Address: Property-specific
Interval / resort link · site

Thomas voted Montana. Epic scenery, possible national-park day energy (season/weather limited). Ranked above Hawaii because a family member actively wants it.

Big-sky scenery Big-sky scenery
Hot springs / resort pools Hot springs / resort pools
Snow play Snow play
Ski optional $$$$ Ski optional $$$$
Travel: All fly — connections matter
Watch-out: Same winter/ski tension as CO/UT. Cold. Fewer non-ski “city” backups.
#10 / 10

Kauai, Hawaii II resorts

Kauai, Hawaii
On Ron’s master list · beach paradise
Interval: Hawaii II inventory (multiple islands/resorts) — Kauai codes in Round 2
Brand: Often strong resort brands on II; Marriott-family possible depending on exchange year
Member / public ratings: Many HI resorts rate well — still verify specific code
On-site: Pools, beach access typical
Nearby: South shore drier in Dec; north shore rainier; free beaches/lookouts
Units: 1–2BR common; need several units + early booking for Christmas
Airport: Lihue (LIH)
Address: Property-specific
Interval / resort link · site

Ron included Kauai/HI in the 25-state Interval universe. Beaches, pools, easy “wow.” Ranked last of top 10 because nobody in the pasted chat claimed it as a preference.

Beaches & coastline Beaches & coastline
Beach days Beach days
Resort pools Resort pools
Snorkel / easy hikes Snorkel / easy hikes
Travel: Long haul + cost for 12 from three mainland bases
Watch-out: Christmas peak fares. Dec rain especially north shore.

Cast your vote

1st = 3 pts · 2nd = 1 pt · first to 18 pts wins · else Aug 7. Same name updates your vote.