Ringing in the holiday season with these fabulously festive Avani getaways
Spending Christmas and the New Year at home with family is great. But spending time with those you love somewhere totally new and different is even better. The holiday season is coming sooner than you think and this is the perfect time to get inspired for your next end-of-year getaway. Tempted? Here are some fabulously festive Avani getaways to help you get in the mood.
Lisbon, Portugal
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.
Photo by Dispatches Europe
Where to stay: Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel is the perfect base for your festive city explorations. Find convenient access to iconic attractions, shops, cafés, and all the flavours and fragrances of the city from this urban oasis.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
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.
Photo By Guitar Photographer - Shutterstock
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, United Arab Emirates
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 such as the famous Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market.
For the younger ones, you’ll find all manner of festive parties and events from rooftops to lounges. And when the year draws to a close, the iconic and spectacular show of fireworks at the Burj Khalifa is the perfect way to bid farewell to 2024 and greet 2025 in style.
Photo by Platinum List
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 Dubai Hotel. Make Avani Deira Dubai Hotel for urban explorations, or stay in seaside style and take in stunning vistas of The Palm Jumeirah at Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites.
Sepang, Malaysia
Enjoy the festive season with a variety of celebratory events in Sepang. 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 AvaniSpa and refreshing outdoor activities combine to enhance your family’s enjoyment and send you home with lasting memories.
Victoria Falls, Zambia
One of the best things about spending the holiday season in 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 are 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.
Fares, Maldives
For those seeking a bit of fun in the sun, or just want to escape the miserable cold, Maldives is the ultimate destination to end the year with a memorable moment. Stargaze into the clear night sky in the middle of the Indian Ocean or dive to explore the crystal-clear waters with a spectacular display of marine life known famously around the world. The choices are all yours to make a pick this holiday season.
Where to stay: With fares meaning ‘the land on the reef’ in the Maldivian language, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is perfectly situated on the western edge of the Baa Atoll. Part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with the resort earning the title of Best Dive Resort at the TTM Maldives Awards 2024, the water activities are guaranteed to be world-class and unmatched.
