Christmas and New Year's often conjure up images of gently falling snow outside the window near a decorated tree and stockings hung near a crackling fire in the fireplace. Hotels try to recreate that to give guests that cozy feeling of home while they travel over the holidays.

But outside of the northern latitudes, and Western longitudes, hotels near and south of the equator celebrate the holidays in temperatures sure to make Frosty the Snowman crank up the air conditioning.

Hoteliers in these regions have had to figure out bring in the yuletide spirit to cater to their domestic and international guests, who may celebrate the holidays differently.

Guests are coming from colder climates are often "dreaming of a white and warm Christmas," said Narelle McDougall, general manager of Amilla Maldives, via email. They often want to get away from the cold weather they're used to and have new experiences — but they also want to hold on to some familiar ones.

"We do find that families with younger children especially still want to retain some old traditions like meeting Santa,” she said.

The Marriott Resort Los Sueños in Costa Rica has repeat customers who have made the resort a holiday tradition, General Manager Maria Florencia Arenaza said by email.

The hotel caters to both the familiar — for some, roasted turkey with cranberry sauce for Christmas lunch — and the memorable.

Activities include a fiesta on Christmas Eve during which guests can hit a piñata, and a night of dancing on the beach for a New Year's Eve party.

"Guests also enjoy adopting new customs like making 12 wishes at midnight on New Year´s Eve while eating a grape with each wish — very traditional in Costa Rica and a new tradition they can incorporate into future New Year´s celebrations at home," she said.

The staff at the Novotel Sydney Darling Square decorate a Christmas tree in golds and yellows to represent the colors of an Australian summer, hotel General Manager Nikki Little said via email.

"We hope the tree also symbolizes the bringing together of community and guests," she said.

The Novotel Sydney Darling Square's Pumphouse restaurant has an al fresco area with a natural tree that connects to the living plant theme throughout the venue, she said. The team decorates the dining space with lots of color as well.

The staff at the Sheraton Miramar Hotel & Convention Center in Valparaíso, Chile, meticulously decorates the property, General Manager Patricio Carvallo said. The central lobby has a Christmas tree, and the festive ambience extends through the different areas of the hotel.

"Our unique climate enables us to prolong the anticipation of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve until the late hours, particularly with our younger guests eagerly searching the skies for Santa Claus and his sleigh on Christmas night," he said.

For New Year's Eve, guests can watch a fireworks show from the hotel's terrace, Carvallo said. Afterward, they're treated to a dinner and can listen to a live band to ring in the new year.

The Amilla Maldives has a different theme every year because the repeat guests coming for Christmas want to see something different, McDougall said.

The theme this year was inspired by vibrant feathers, flavors and the flamboyance of carnival, she said. Most decorations incorporate feathers.

The resort's programming pulls from Christmas classics, such as a tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa Claus and his helpers, she said. Much of it derives from Brazilian carnival culture, though, so there are dance classes focusing on Brazilian funk, samba and lambada as well as the martial art of capoeira.

On New Year's Eve, for the resort will host a Rio Carnival party with fire performers, stilt walkers and salsa dancers.

The Marriott Resort Los Sueños sits on Costa Rica's Green Coast, surrounded by a lush, green landscape along with the azure ocean, Arenaza said.

The property's decorations incorporate those influences to create a tropical, festive feel, she said. The resort uses the area's rich biodiversity by including preserved flowers and leaves, such as eucalyptus, cypress, hydrangeas, palm fronds and licualas leaves.

The resort adds twinkle lights and uses uplighting on the trees to complement the night sky, she said.

It also uses colors traditionally associated with the holidays, namely red, green and gold, but it also adds a local twist by creating a Christmas tree using local licualas leaves recycled from the property's grounds.

"It is very important for us that when our guests visit, they can recognize they are in Costa Rica and enjoy the differences that the country provides, including the warm weather and the tropical landscape," she said.

Santa visits wearing a tropical outfit, and children have seen him arrive with a surfboard, she said. Instead of hot cocoa, guests roast giant marshmallows by the firepit. The menu offers traditional turkey and ham dishes as well as local dishes, such as tamales and gallo pinto.

The Amilla Maldives' celebrations this year draw inspiration from island culture, McDougall said. The 12 Days of Christmas kicks off Dec. 22 with a traditional Maldivian feast at the resort's restaurant, Baazaar. The resort invited island musicians who play traditional Maldivian drums called the bodu beru, which are typically played on special occasions, celebrations and festivals.

Local artisans who practice the distinctive Maldivian lacquer work, known as laajehun, will also present their craft at the party, she said.

The Indian Ocean plays a role as well.

"Guests can swap carols for corals and traditional Christmas lights for marine magic because on Christmas Day, we are offering an evening of UV snorkeling at Amilla’s house reef," she said.

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