The holidays are almost here – time to lock down a destination for your festive getaway.
Where will you spend the most wonderful time of the year? On a paradise beach in the Maldives, in a buzzy European capital, or in an ancient Laotian UNESCO town? The choice between Avani stays is a tough one, but the good news is there’s no wrong answer. Wherever the season takes you, there’s a lineup of festive fun waiting to be had.
Beachside Celebrations at Avani+ Khao Lak Resort, Thailand
Even Santa can’t resist the allure of the Andaman at Christmastime – he’s scheduled for a meet-and-greet at Avani+ Khao Lak and will be dropping off presents for Santa’s Lost Gift Hunt. There’ll also be Christmas crafting classes and decadent festive feasting throughout the season, plus a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner to send off 2026 in style.
It wouldn’t be a beach holiday without plenty of splashtime, but Avani+ Khao Lak makes it easy, with four swimming pools – including a kids’ water park – and a long stretch of deserted coastline lapped by Andaman waters. A kids’ club, games arcade, mini golf, climbing wall and festive activities keep the young ones entertained without a tablet in sight, while adults can log serious downtime at AvaniSpa or summon some holiday energy for a session at Avani STRONG active zone.
Island Bliss at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, Maldives
An amazing Christmas is a given when you’re on a Maldivian paradise island. A holiday at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort in Baa Atoll is in fact a gift in itself, but during the festive season there are even more opportunities to spoil yourself. The Ocean Tribe festive programme runs throughout the holidays, keeping spirits high with festive feasts, kids’ fun and land- and water-based activities for the whole family.
There’s a tree-lighting ceremony to kick things off, a bounteous cross-cultural Christmas buffet, a Pirate Picnic Hunt for kids, a visit from Santa, and a New Year’s Eve party on the beach to see the year off under the stars. Add in bonfire dinners, castaway picnics, moonlit movies, New Year’s Day brunch and endless possibilities for exploring Baa Atoll and you’ve got a festive trip you’ll want to take year after year.
A European Christmas at Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid Hotel, Spain
Chilly weather, Christmas markets, literally chestnuts roasting on street corners – for a classic winter wonderland-style holiday, it’s hard to go past Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid. Expect magical levels of festive cheer in Madrid: millions of LED lights, 12 massive Christmas trees illuminating the city’s squares, Christmas markets, life-sized nativity scenes, and open-air ice-skating to cap it off.
Based in the Chamberí neighbourhood, you’ve got easy access to markets, cafés and tapas bars, and you’re within strolling distance of Gran Via – an evening outing to see its iconic Christmas light displays is a must. Between excursions, get into the festive mood with seasonal workshops, including Christmas crafts and vision-boarding to set intentions for the year ahead.
A Laidback Heritage Holiday at Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel, Laos
If Christmas calls for a change of pace, Avani+ Luang Prabang has the answer. Nestled in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, close to ancient temples, cultural museums and the scenic riverside, this heritage stay gives you no other option than to slow down and soak up the season.
December and January bring cool evenings and sunny days in Luang Prabang – the perfect conditions for lazy hours around the courtyard pool and evening wanderings to the night market, a world away from your usual Christmas crowds. For an especially memorable Yuletide trip, drift off down the Mekong River on a dinner cruise on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, then start 2027 on a mindful note, with a Signature Spiritual Spa treatment that includes guided meditation.
Party in Bangkok at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, Thailand
Don’t sit at home with FOMO on New Year’s Eve – at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok your party plans are sorted. The Celestial Empire party at SEEN and SIN is pure rooftop revelry, with a lineup of DJs, Dom Perignon packages, and all-important front-row seats to the midnight fireworks on the Chao Phraya River.
For something more mild mannered, there’s Skyline restaurant’s Garden of Eden international buffet and midnight countdown. Or dial it all the way down and watch the year tick over from the panoramic windows of a river-view suite. In the lead-up to NYE, enjoy classic Christmas feasting: international buffets and themed festive menus against a backdrop of sparkling city views. Cheers!
