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bai Hotel Cebu

Festive Feasts and Unforgettable Stays: How WorldHotels Asia Pacific Celebrates the Holidays

Lauren Kate Hughes delves into how WorldHotels properties across the Asia Pacific are celebrating the festive season, from exquisite Christmas dinners to culturally rich New Year’s festivities.

Wherever you are in the world, Christmas is a time that unites us all with awe and wonder. It’s difficult not to be enchanted by the charm of the festive season, particularly in these spellbinding hotels.

Christmas is a time for celebration and community across the globe, with each country and city providing its own take on the festivities. From the dazzling lights of Singapore to Thailand’s spectacular beach parties to bring in the New Year, a trip to the Asia Pacific provides a wealth of exciting options for a Christmas with a difference. This is how some of our favourite WorldHotels in Asia Pacific are celebrating the festive season. 

Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore

Goodwood Park Hotel

Singapore is a vibrant city all year round, but it comes alive at Christmas, with popular tourist areas such as Orchard Road and Gardens by the Bay lit up with twinkling lights. The Gardens by the Bay are transformed into a winter wonderland with rides, games and plenty of festive cheer, while Orchard Road draws in the crowds with a spectacular light show. 

At the timelessly elegant Goodwood Park Hotel, the focus is firmly on festive food with an extravagant selection of festive treats and exclusive dining experiences. In possibly the most inventive take on turkey we’ve encountered, the chefs at Goodwood Park have dreamed up Baked Turkey Char Siew Snow Buns — fluffy buns with a crispy top filled with perfectly seasoned turkey char siew. 

There’s also Oven-Baked Rock Sugar Honey Glazed Turkey with Fragrant Vegetables and Rice on the menu with a zingy chilli sauce. And for those who want to try something truly unique, the Butter Turkey served with Cranberry Cheese Naan is a must. 

Find out more on the Goodwood Park Hotel website

SereS Springs Resort & Spa, Ubud, Indonesia

WorldHotels: SereS-Springs-Resort-Spa-Indonesia

Ubud, Bali’s spiritual centre, is a magical place to experience the festive season, with its bustling markets that sell handmade crafts and local delicacies, as well as a warm and welcoming community. Nestled in Bali’s lush rice fields, it’s a place where visitors can experience the glory of nature, with epic hiking trails and adventurous excursions within easy reach. 

The holiday spirit is infectious here, with Bali’s warm hospitality providing the perfect environment for a festive break. If visiting before Christmas, stock up on handmade, unique gifts, with sellers offering beautifully crafted items like wood carvings and batik fabrics.

At SereS Springs Resort & Spa Singakerta, you can expect to be fully immersed in the festive spirit. The children’s choir of Taman Permata Hati will perform carol singers, and a specially curated festive menu will be available. 

Find out more on the SereS Springs Resort & Spa website

bai Hotel Cebu, Philippines

bai Hotel Cebu

The tropical city of Cebu is an exciting place to be during the festive season, blending the warmth of Filipino hospitality with spectacular displays and festive parades. The Christmas Village of Love will be open to viewings until 17th December and will be situated inside Robinson’s Galleria Mall. This free installation, a whimsical display of miniature European villages topped with snow and a train running through it, is a Christmas tradition and helps raise vital funds for important causes. 

Elsewhere, the Fuente Osmeña Circle is home to the city’s most impressive Christmas tree, the Tree of Hope, surrounded by handcrafted parols (traditional Filipino lanterns and twinkling fairy lights – truly magical. The Pasto sa Fuente night market, a celebration of Cebuano food culture, is also well worth a visit.

Hotels also come alive with festive cheer, with Cebu known to take Christmas decorating to dazzling new heights. To coincide with the hotel’s 7th birthday celebrations, the majestic bai Hotel Cebu marked the start of the festive season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The hotel’s grand lobby has been transformed into a sparkling wonderland with the theme of ‘Christmas wonders,’ creating a magical first impression for guests when they enter the hotel. 

Find out more on the bai Hotel Cebu website

Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand

Carlton Hotel Bangkok

Thailand is world-famous for its epic full moon parties, ranging from wild beach parties to more secluded celebrations on quieter parts of the islands. One thing is sure, though — it’s a New Year’s Eve Celebration you’ll never forget. Why not twin a city break to vibrant Bangkok with a boat trip to the islands to finish 2024 in a tropical paradise? Bangkok also has much to offer for New Year’s Eve celebrations, the sky ablaze with fireworks that can be viewed from the city’s many rooftop spots. 

Brunch culture is strong here, with many upmarket hotels offering lavish buffets. During the festive season, Thailand’s capital is lit with decorative lights and decorations. Its many shopping malls are particularly impressive, with huge festive displays at every turn. Tourist hotspots like Chinatown, Khao San Road, and Ratchadamnoen Road really come into their own, buzzing with festivities, street vendors and lively bars.

Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit has an incredible range of events during the festive season, from a Christmas Eve buffet for a heartwarming meal to kick off Christmas to an incredible New Year’s Eve Gala dinner. There’s also a festive afternoon tea and Christmas-themed treats to enjoy during a stay here. 

Find out more on the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit website