Dreaming of an elegant getaway this holiday season?
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I’m prone to dreaming about elegant getaways year-round—but some of the world’s best resorts and hotels go above and beyond as New Year’s rolls around.
It’s a time to capitalize on those warm, gushy holiday feelings that come with Hannukah, Christmas, and New Year’s.
To put it simply, nobody curates a feeling quite like a luxury resort. While I’m a big fan of boutique hotels of all shapes, sizes, and persuasions, an opulent brand has the resources to put together events and displays on a totally different level.
Welcome to the magic of the five-star Raffles Hotels & Resorts. While hospitality brands across the world are launching holiday programs, I haven’t been able to take my eye off the experiences from Raffles.
Never heard of Raffles Hotels & Resorts?
I first heard of Raffles Hotels & Resorts a few years back during a casual conversation about the movie Crazy Rich Asians. The company name sounded a little goofy, to be honest—but their global suite of luxury hotels and resorts is anything but.
Raffles is a Singaporean hotel and resort brand that was launched back in 1887 by four Persian-Armenian brothers. They named it after the distinguished British diplomat who founded Singapore: Mr. Raffles himself.
Just kidding. His name was Sir Stanford Raffles.
Fast forward 130 years and Raffles remains a Blue Blood institution through and through. It has expanded its roster of hotels and resorts far beyond the tiny nation-state of Singapore, from Warsaw to Pnom Penh to Mecca to Boston.
You can also check out Raffles experiences and long-term residencies.
But if you’re going to fork over for a luxurious experience with Raffles, I’d suggest taking advantage of their holiday offers at these hotels and resorts. They’re basically seven-star locations.
Most elegant holiday offers from Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Enjoy elevated Christmas dining & NYE parties at Raffles Boston
Raffles has one American location—and it’s in Boston. (Is anyone else surprised by that?) Guests can take advantage of the Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
For Christmas, you can expect a Michelin-caliber meal from the Michelin-starred head chef, George Mendes, of on-site restaurant AMAR. Even the Christmas buffet is elevated with carving stations and a sushi bar.
On New Year’s Eve, you can celebrate in style at the on-site Blind Duck speakeasy. You’ll have a full view of the Boston skyline as you ring in the new year in style.
Step into a fairytale Nutcracker Christmas at London at the OWO
If you like Christmas you’ll love Raffles’ approach at its London OWO location. The grounds showcase the original nightgown from The Nutcracker—which is adorned with over 400 hand-placed Swarovski crystals. And that’s just the start of the Nutcracker wonders.
There’s afternoon tea with themed Nutcracker drinks and treats, along with a pre-theatre menu from head chef Mauro Colagreco—also themed to match the famous play. If you want to bundle in a theatre trip to see the live play, you can simplify your holidays by purchasing OWO’s ‘Nutcracker Nights’ package.
It’s easily one of the coolest Christmas experiences I’ve seen offered by a hotel—and I’ve only given you the bare outline of the program’s offerings.
Enjoy a royal celebration at Le Royal Monceau, Paris
Want to really indulge? There’s no better place than at Le Royal Monceau in Paris.
This year, the head chef invented a new Yule Log pastry in honor of his first season at the hotel—which is inspired by Le Royal Monceau’s history. (It’s a tribute to a noblewoman who once graced the grounds in striking red clothes.)
But the real magic is the festive dining options on Christmas and New Year’s Eve gala. The former includes curated brunch menus at all three on-site eateries. The latter includes a ‘Royal Celebration Package’ that comes with a gala dinner, breakfast, and spa treatments.
Raffles Seychelles
If you’re looking for tropical and family-friendly destinations, look no further. Raffles Seychelles has multiple Christmas and New Year’s festivities that are fun for the whole family.
From tree gathering to cocktail parties to traditional four-course meals, you can truly spend the holiday away from home without missing out on those special moments. There’s even a Santa meet-and-greet for the kiddos.
The same goes for its New Year’s program. While the Sugar Palm Kids Club offers daily activities like art and cooking classes, adults can have their fun with a separate celebration—one that includes live performances and live cooking stations.
