Spending Christmas and the New Year at home with family is great. But reuniting with friends and family somewhere totally new and awesome is even better. The holiday season is almost upon and this is the perfect year to get out there and shake off the lockdown blues. Tempted? Here are some incredible festive adventures to help you get in the mood.

In a city brimming with history and tradition, there is something irresistibly magical about Christmas in Lisbon. A great place to start your festive adventure is one of the bustling Christmas markets, like Rossio Square Christmas Market or Christmas Market at Campo Pequeno, where you’ll find toys, vintage items, clothes and more. If you are travelling with kids (or even if you’re not) you’ll definitely want to visit Europe’s tallest Christmas tree at Terreiro do Paço. And don’t forget, the festive season is the perfect time to explore the cuisines of Portugal, with lavish Christmas and New Year’s feasts to be found wherever you go.

Where to stay: Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel is the perfect base for your festive city explorations. Find convenient access to iconic attractions, shops, cafes and all the flavours and fragrances of the city from this urban oasis.

The French influences that are to be found in day-to-day life in Cambodia mean the Christmas spirit is alive and well in this beautiful Southeast Asian country. The main attractions should definitely be on your list – Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh and other much-frequented haunts. But Cambodia also has much to reward those who get off the beaten path. Explore Thonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, and the nearby biosphere reserve. Discover the origins of Kampot pepper. Or get out there and explore some of the lesser known temple complexes that dot the lush countryside. 

Where to stay: If you’re visiting Cambodia this festive season, the ancient temples of Angkor Wat will almost certainly be on your list. FCC Angkor by Avani, a historic mansion renovated in neo-colonial style, is the perfect base for your temple explorations and Christmas and New Year festivities. It is also located in the heart of Siem Reap, so you’re just steps from everything this bustling town has to offer.

Dubai abounds with things to see and do for those who wish to embrace the Christmas spirit by the glittering gulf. Head to The Palm Jumeirah for festive feasts to satisfy every taste. Catch an open-air Christmas movie. Or visit one of the city’s festive-themed markets.

For the younger ones, you’ll find all manner of festive workshops and events. And when the year draws to a close, a lavish gala under a spectacular fireworks-lit sky is the perfect way to bid farewell to 2021 and greet the New Year in style.

Where to stay: Avani spoils for choice with three hotels in Dubai. Connect with the city and some of Dubai’s best shopping at Avani Ibn Battuta. Make Avani Deira Dubai for urban explorations, or stay in seaside style and take in stunning vistas of The Palm Jumeirah at Avani Palm View Dubai.

Enjoy the festive season with a variety of celebratory events in Sepang. Reconnect with each other. Cherish your loved ones with a family-inspired Christmas Eve buffet dinner. Dance in the New Year with a countdown party and take the time to relax in an overwater spa. Get active – sail, canoe or windsurf. Encounter exotic birds, monkeys and monitor lizards as you cruise through lush mangrove forests.

Where to stay: Sink into coastal comfort in a Polynesian-inspired overwater family villa at Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort. Festive gourmet menus, indulgent, pampered moments at Avani Spa and refreshing outdoor activities combine to enhance your family’s enjoyment and send you home with lasting memories.

One of the best things about spending the holiday season by Victoria Falls is that it has something for every age and every taste. If you’d like to spend lazy days indoors, opening presents and enjoying seasonal culinary delights, then this is the right place for you.

Or if you prefer something a little more upbeat, Christmas and the New Year is packed with adventure for the whole family at Victoria Falls. Adventures range from white-water rafting on the Zambezi to bungee jumping, canoeing, and micro-lighting above the Falls. It’s also a paradise for animal lovers and river cruising along ‘God’s Highway’ is a relaxing way to view the region’s variety of wildlife.

Where to stay: Avani Victoria Falls Resort, located just steps from Victoria Falls, has a celebratory festive season holiday programme filled with sparkling experiences for the whole family. You can enjoy special festive benefits for longer stays, including AvaniKids perks, and enjoy lavish dining events on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.