PARK HYATT BANGKOK SPANS A SPECTRUM of celebratory experiences this festive season, from cosy yet opulent to bold and lively, with seasonal indulgences, festive promotions, and exclusive spaces tailored for revelling with friends, family or your nearest and dearest in refined style.

The elegant hotel is celebrated for its modern, luxurious style in the heart of Thailand’s high-energy capital. The property entices discerning guests who appreciate the delectable cuisine and cocktails at The Living Room, Embassy Room – Catalan Cuisine, and The Penthouse Bar + Grill. 

Fans are in for a treat with a series of new seasonal dining and drinking promotions, making this festive time of year the best yet for experiencing the refined details of these dining venues.

In addition to phenomenal food and drink, the hotel is strategically positioned in Bangkok’s Siam district, home to world-class shopping, offering direct access to Central Embassy, the city’s premier luxury retail centre. Park Hyatt Bangkok‘s 222 rooms and suites showcase stunning urban cityscapes through floor-to-ceiling windows coupled with tailored opulence and personal service.

This festive season, the hotel unveils a one-of-a-kind artistic and sustainable Christmas tree collaboration that spotlights Thai culture and local artistry. Renowned metalwork artist Saruta “Pin” Kiatparkpoom designed the exceptional tree sculpture, welded from upcycled metals and adorned with handcrafted glass by skilled Thai artisans.

Drawing creative inspiration from the sacred Bai Sri Su Kwan ceremony, this artistic fusion embodies Park Hyatt Bangkok’s passion for curating meaningful art. Come admire this auspicious centerpiece on display in the Living Room to commemorate the holidays with good fortune and holiday cheer.

Ring in the holidays in style at Park Hyatt Bangkok. The hotel carries on cherished traditions and imaginative twists across its restaurants and bars this festive season, with incredible promotions and flawless food and drinks.

Afternoon Tea at Living Room

Start this year’s festive celebrations early with the Living Room’s Festive Afternoon Tea, offered now through 2 January. Revel in sweet confections, seasonal delights and delectable savouries perfectly prepared by Pastry Chef Guillaume Coulbrant and his skilled team.

Christmas Catalan Cuisine at Embassy Room – Catalan Cuisine

On 23 and 25 December, embark on a six-course Catalan cuisine odyssey of exquisite dishes to delight your taste buds. Indulge amongst family and friends as the hotel introduces a special Menu Nadal for Christmas. Or try a uniquely Catalan Christmas Day Brunch. These celebratory tasting menus can be optionally and expertly paired with fine wines by our sommeliers.

New Year’s Eve Dining in Style at Embassy Room – Catalan Cuisine

Ring in 2024 with a decadent 11-course New Year’s Eve dinner featuring Embassy Room – Catalan Cuisine’s Cap D’Any tasting experience. The authentic 31 December showcase of Catalan cuisine will be prepared with the freshest regional ingredients, and the fine dining experience can pair exquisite dishes with exceptional wines to elevate your New Year celebrations.

Christmas Weekend at Penthouse Bar + Grill

Penthouse Bar + Grill’s celebratory 3-course Christmas menu, offered 23-25 December, stars signature favourites including appetisers, a choice of Rossini, Canadian lobster tail and Sloane’s porchetta with seasonal sides, and finished with a homemade Pavlova Christmas log for dessert. Savour the holiday flavours with wine pairings or the add-on immersive Depth of Blue immersive room experience.

New Year’s Eve at Penthouse Bar + Grill

On 31 December, Penthouse Bar + Grill presents a mouthwatering New Year’s Eve menu centred around premium ingredients including fresh lobster and A5 Japanese Wagyu beef. The celebratory courses include caviar, a seafood sampler, foie gras and a citrusy lemon tart finale to ring in 2024.

Penthouse Cocktail Bar

Celebrate New Year’s Eve overlooking Bangkok’s vibrant cityscape alongside friends and loved ones at the stylish Penthouse Bar + Grill. Meet a modest minimum spend per person to secure table reservations and enjoy à la carte holiday drinks and bites on 24 and 25 December amid the seasonal revelry.

Penthouse Mezzanine

On 31 December, gather friends and family on the Penthouse Mezzanine’s 35th floor for a private New Year’s Eve celebration with your own bar and mixologist. The evening features butler service and access to the rooftop for a midnight champagne toast, welcoming 2024 with your nearest and dearest in secluded style.

Penthouse Rooftop Bar

Revel in the Christmas spirit and ring in 2024 on the Penthouse Rooftop Bar’s lively 36th floor with loved ones. Meet a modest minimum spend per person on 24, 25 and 31 December to guarantee tables while you soak in the views and sip seasonal à la carte cocktails and snacks.

This festive season, Park Hyatt Bangkok presents both time-honoured traditions like afternoon tea and Christmas logs alongside innovative tasting menus and immersive spaces to indulge the senses, ringing in 2024 with flair across its elegant, lively restaurants and bars.

To discover magical moments at THE PARK, please visit hyatt.com or contact us at +66 2 012 1234 or email bkkph-festive@hyatt.com

Article Sponsored by Park Hyatt Bangkok.
Images courtesy of Park Hyatt Bangkok.

THINK OF FOUR SEASONS and think sumptuous hotels, but equally worthy of planning trips around: the folks who make the tastes we crave. Working with some of the best chefs, mixologists and designers in the world, Four Seasons in Asia have set as their main goal bowling us over with amazing food and drinks.

From Bangkok and Hong Kong to Tokyo and Hangzhou, travelers have their pick of 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in 8 hotels. Complementing the dining offerings are compelling bars—six on the Asia’s 50 Best list—shaking up innovative craft cocktails in immersive surrounds.

The unrivaled jewel in the brand’s culinary crown is the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, which, with seven Michelin stars, houses the most stars under one roof in the region. Leading the charge is three Michelin-starred Caprice, the monument of French fine-dining helmed by chef Guillaume Gaillot that pairs refined menus with a palatial dining room and Victoria Harbour views. Also among the hotel’s multi-award-winning eateries are Lung King Heen—in 2018 it became the first Chinese restaurant in the world to receive three Michelin stars—and Sushi Saito, the one-starred concept by legendary Tokyo-based sushi master Takashi Saito. Spend some chill time at futuristic ARGO, whose acclaimed mixology nabbed it 34th in the most recent World’s 50 Best Bars awards.

Sip on more award-winning cocktails in Japan, where Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi’s VIRTÙ serves cocktails that fuse Japanese ingredients and French flavors. Signature restaurant SÉZANNE has earned Michelin stars and a World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking. In the show kitchen, chef Daniel Calvert meticulously plates up modern French cuisine that match with lovely interiors by designer André Fu and an eclectic collection of Champagne, wine and sake.

Continue the culinary journey at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. It might be one of the newest hotels in the city, but it’s already shining bright as a culinary go-to. The hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Yu Ting Yuan is oh-so-hard-to-book thanks to its refined, detail-oriented dishes, handcrafted dim sum, and opulent setting inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. Next door, celebrate Argentina’s golden age at BKK Social Club, this year No. 13 on World’s 50 Best Bars list. Look out for transportive bespoke cocktails served in glam booths, to an upbeat, globally inspired soundtrack.

Those seeking an immersive journey through Chinese cuisine should book at Jin Sha at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. The restaurant landed a star this year in Hangzhou’s first Michelin Guide for its neoclassical approach to Zhejiang cuisine, amid some of China’s most enthralling scenery and gardens designed by Bill Bensley. The 11 private dining rooms boast outdoor terraces.

With an ever-growing collection of exciting concepts, Four Seasons is redefining what hotel restaurants and bars look like, taking us on grand culinary adventures, and we are totally here for it.

www.fourseasons.com/dining

Article Sponsored by Four Seasons.
Images courtesy of Four Seasons.

TRAVELLERS SEARCHING FOR a new and secluded beach haven in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay will be thrilled to discover Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, perched on an unspoilt island that sits a 30-minute boat ride from Phuket and just 20 minutes by boat from Krabi.

The stunning Koh Yao Yai offers couples, families and groups an ideal space for reconnecting with each other, nature, and truly getting away from it all; enveloped by over a kilometre of golden sand beaches, verdant jungles and incredible ocean views that stretch to the horizon.

The new all-suite, villa and penthouse resort stretches across 27 acres that were formerly a coconut plantation and features views of a deep blue bay ringed with limestone islets and rich with tropical birds. 

Step off the resort’s private jetty into a world of indulgent, exclusive luxury where all your cares seemingly melt away with the sea’s ebb and flow. Take a dip in a shaded swimming pool, find refreshments at the pool bar or dive beneath the waves and swim with colourful schools of fish. 

Indulgent Accommodations

To call the resort’s 148 suites, villas and penthouses luxurious is an understatement. Each choice seamlessly melds classic Thai touches with every modern amenity.

The intimate One- and Two-Bedroom Villas offer true seclusion along the shoreline and are popular with couples looking to escape it all. Your private butler can meet any need during your stay, while complimentary bicycles and direct beach access provide opportunities for quality time.

Guests with young children adore the Family Pool Access Suites, finished with welcoming beechwood furniture and bunk beds as well as a terrace that lets little ones jump right into the resort’s family pool — complete with waterslides, smoothie bar, and movies at night — while parents watch from cosy sunbeds. Or choose a Family Sea View Suite with ocean vistas, an in-room slide and secret play areas.

Those looking for more indulgence can choose the 300 sqm Two-Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villa with two ensuite bedrooms, eco-friendly grass roofing, private pool terrace with outdoor rain shower and the full attention of a private butler.

Wellness lovers appreciate the Wellness Lagoon Pool Villas, secluded from the rest of the resort and surrounded by serene garden and lagoon views. Enjoy yoga, workouts or meditation from your private pool deck before surrendering to a massage, facial or body wrap at your in-villa spa.

When it’s time to go all out, choose one of the resort’s 366 sqm Sea View Pool Penthouses with endless Andaman Sea views, the assistance of eight dedicated butlers, two skylight-lit rain showers, oversized soaking bathtub with sea views, two dressing rooms, an infinity-edge pool and sundeck with cabana for complete outdoor relaxation. The most unique of these penthouses also features a glass-bottom infinity pool that can be viewed from the living room below.

Specialities to Savour

Guests hoping to dine on the finest fresh seafood set against the romantic sound of waves crashing won’t be disappointed at Beach Restaurant, Anantara Koh Yao Yai’s signature restaurant serving Thai and international seafood delights as well as dry-aged steaks and speciality sushi. 

Pakarang crafts delicately flavoured contemporary Thai favourites and an expansive breakfast daily, including live cooking stations, organic, lactose and gluten-free options. Step into the resort’s Japanese restaurant to enjoy traditional omakase menus alongside modern delicacies.

When thirst calls, head to the Pool Bar, Family Bar or Beach Bar to enjoy craft beers, fine wines, cocktails, smoothies, milkshakes and more. 

Incredible Experiences

Delight in a range of unforgettable excursions and immersive experiences, such as vintage sidecar tours to a rubber plantation, batik or tie-dye classes, island-hopping, mountain climbing, kayak outings to mangrove canals or longtail boat cruises to natural sand banks for candlelit dinners. 

The resort’s Kids’ Club is amongst Thailand’s largest, including a bubble pool with vacuum fountain ball shower, water slide, dance studio and activities such as recycled crafts, seedling planting, cooking classes and nature walks. 

The toddler zone offers expert childcare for one- to four-year-old guests, with a dedicated nap room, stimulating activities like baby yoga, and a restaurant serving all their favourite food and drinks. Throughout the resort, all the restaurants feature kid-friendly menus. 

Anantara Spa offers the perfect escape for every guest, featuring five treatment suites to enjoy a wide array of massages, traditional Thai treatments, a hammam and one of the largest hydro pools in Thailand. 

With luxurious beachfront accommodations, incredible dining, and family-friendly amenities on a secluded Thai island, Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas provides an ideal escape for every traveller.

For more information about Anantara Koh Yao Yai, please visit www.anantara.com/en/koh-yao-yai-phuket.

Article Sponsored by Anantara.
Images courtesy of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas.

HIDDEN IN THE HEART OF BANGKOK, shielded by verdant trees and iconic malls, is a luxury resort that offers the best of both worlds: immediate access to urban convenience and a lush and serene bolthole to get away from it all. It’s a place with enough excellent dining options, wellness experiences, and immersive children’s activities for the entire family to be entertained on property for an entire staycation weekend (or more!), yet literally attached to Siam Paragon mall, with walking access to the BTS Skytrain and a plethora of the buzzing sights and locations visitors to Bangkok came to explore, if your goal is getting out there and amongst it. It’s a place you’ll want to return to over and over again, to re-experience favorite treats and to discover new ones. Trust us: we have.

We’re talking about Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, which we like to consider our own personal manse in the middle of the Thai capital. How do you make a regal and gilded property of one of the world’s most historic hotel brands approachable and warm? It all comes down to service—smooth, personable, indulgent and intuitive. And Siam Kempinski is particularly attentive to the little ones.

Upon check-in we are greeted by a Lady in Red (they’ve recently introduced Gentlemen in Red, too) who escorts us to our two-bedroom animal-themed family suite. So glad we’d kept it as surprise for the kids, because when they open the door and see the loft beds and tigers happily prowling across the walls and carpets, they roar with delight! They’re the queens of the jungle!

Our Lady in Red shares the hours for cocktails and canapes in the top-floor lounge that affords great views of the lavender and inky dusky skyline, confirms our reservation for Sunday brunch at ALATi, and hands each of the girls their own playtime map. These really are their tickets to making the hotel home, offering a journey to five fun points throughout the property where they can collect prizes and stamps, and also giving them exclusive shopping and entertainment privileges—which really are just as much gifts to us parents as the kids.

Oh, how they adore putting on pretty dresses for afternoon tea in the lobby among the fancy chattering ladies. But what proves even more exciting for our five-year-old is the graceful harpist in her beautiful ball gown, who warmly shows her the pedals and the strings between pieces.

Gratitude also due to my wonderful husband, who takes our daughters to the Kids’ Club when I head off the spa. More aspects of Siam Kempinski that are resort-like are these two oases—one for calming rejuvenation and the other for more exuberant juveniles. While I am indulging in a Winter Warming Energizing massage that soothes my joints and Collagen Forever Young facial, my children are jumping in the ball pit and doing arts and crafts. High-tech creative arts, too: the Kids’ Club has a mesmerizing program where the kiddos make drawings of a certain theme, buses and cars for example, which the staff scan and they appear on a huge screen animated for the entire day. It’s like seeing your dreams come to life.

For dinner, my husband and I are excited for Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, the Michelin-starred restaurant tucked in the middle of the hotel. Upon entering we are transported to glamorous, romantic old-world Thailand, a luxurious dining space where we’re surrounded by dark wood, gold-accented art, lush, rich violet and other regal colors and textures. We toast to our family with Champagne and ease into the meal, as our waiter brings a series of small bites to the aperitivo area by the lotus ponds before we move to our table and our sumptuous tasting menu of deconstructed Thai cuisine reconceptualized for modern senses by acclaimed Danish chef Henrik Yde-Anderson.

Sunday morning calls for breakfast poolside, so we can all take advantage of the great weather and huge water-and-tree-filled central courtyard. The girls have pancakes and eggs in their bathing suits and bathrobes so they can get into the water quickly. On another visit, we stay in a duplex pool-access suite, and the girls LOVE plunging into the water from our private porch. The lagoon pool is a bit deep for our five-year-old to stand up in by herself, but this makes for a great opportunity to practice her swimming and in just one weekend she learns to hold her breath under water for two full strokes. Our two-year-old, meanwhile, is happily occupied in the shallow splash pool nearby. While splashing around with our children, at least one always in waterwings, we nonetheless find it reassuring to look up and see friendly lifeguards everywhere, not to mention waiters bringing tropical cocktails and comfort food. Highly recommend an East-meets-West combo of the fish and chips plus the kra pow gai (chicken stir-fried with chili and basil).

Today, however, it’s back to the suite to shower and change for Sunday brunch, one of the longest in Bangkok. The combination of a la carte plates including a decadent seafood platter, the open kitchen where you can see all the chefs clattering away, and the lengthy dessert buffet that makes our girls’ eyes go wide is pretty great entertainment. Then a smiling server rolls the cheese cart up to our table and it’s excitement overload with all the options to taste with figs and berries and artisanal honey. It’s never too early to start them gourmet, we say.  

www.kempinski.com/en/siam-hotel

Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast for up to 2 persons, from THB 16,090++
Two Bedroom Theme Family Suite inclusive of breakfast and Executive Lounge access for up to 2 adults and 2 children, from THB 36,500++ 
Sunday Brunch at ALATi THB 3,400++ per person

Article sponsored by Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Images courtesy of Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

MY TWO BROTHERS AND I all went to Montessori school. We started in nursery school, and I can still remember my first classroom vividly. Open-plan with movable walls and lots of natural light shining on the various learning stations scattered around the room. Towers of pink blocks in decreasing sizes tapering up to the top, or round pegs in increasingly wide widths or high heights, to teach proportionality. Long sticks of different lengths in candy striped red and blue to teach counting. Shapes for tracing. Sandpaper letters for learning the alphabet by sight and feel. Practical everyday items like locks and keys. Puzzles and flags and maps. 

We would spend the day moving from station to station at our leisure, doing what activities struck our interest, working together only if we first politely asked the other child—in addition to nurturing independent thinking and working, and stimulating a desire for exploration, a huge tenet of Montessori is politeness and empathy. At circle time, Miss Mitchell would gather us all to sit cross-legged together, sing songs and have hands-on lessons about the theme of the week. For Thanksgiving, for example, we filled baby food jars with buttermilk and shook them until our little arms were about to fall off to simulate how the pilgrims churned butter. 

I attended Montessori only through second grade, but you can see my memories have held strong. So, when I heard that AYANA Estate in Bali was launching a Montessori program for kids aged 2½ through 6, I knew I had to get one of my nieces there. 

A legacy luxury hotel in southwest Bali, AYANA is probably best known for its Rock Bar, with its blazing sunset views over Jimbaran Bay, from which you have a clear view of the planes coming in for a landing at Denpasar airport. An engineering feat of mind over nature, the resto-club is built into the cliffs, is accessible only by one of two fun-tastic funiculars, and, despite the fact that it keeps expanding, remains one of the harder reservations to get in Bali. 

But AYANA is literally an estate, growing into a full-fledged town more and more each year. Their large spa enclave was voted best in Indonesia in our Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards, they care for monkeys and horses, in recent years they’ve added a beach, beach club, and a fourth hotel (AYANA Segara). And they’ve just debuted both an organic, permaculture farm full of indigenous breeds of crops planted in a golden spiral, and SAKA Museum, a first-of-its-kind in Bali celebrating Indonesian culture and history. 

Most interestingly, they’ve taken the luxury hotel notion of “kids club” and just blown everyone else’s version out of the water. In 2023, AYANA launched a partnership with the famed Green School to create Green Camp, for 7- to 12-year-olds to learn about the world through the lens of nature conservation and food cultivation at an in-house farm and in their mangrove sanctuary. And AYANA has also opened an outpost of the world’s largest network of Montessori schools, Guidepost. 

The older kids can enroll in Green Camp for one, three or four days. The Montessori programming is available to the younger kids by the week or the month, which makes it appealing to parents who want a solid base of routine in their vacation and to the increasing number of digital-nomad families out there—”addressing parents’ hopes for a nurturing holiday for their children,” says general manager Giordano Faggioli—and even to residents of Bali with preschoolers. 

So, I went down to AYANA with my brother, Jaysen, sister-in-law, Shirley, and their daughter, Umbria, then aged 4¾, to check out Guidepost and to see what it would be like to mix a tropical holiday with Montessori school. 

In the mornings, after breakfast we’d do a family activity: tour the farm (T+L tip: break off an ear of their corn and eat it raw—it tastes like it’s already been cooked and coated in sweet butter), run in the waves, tackle one of the various waterslides scattered around the resort. After lunch, one of us would take Umbria on the trolley to camp. She’d shed her shoes in a cubby and disappear into the classroom. Some days the teachers took the kiddos on expeditions around the grounds of the estate—one evening as we were walking through the gardens, Umbria showed me an edible flower and pointed out where the bees go in, as she had learned earlier—and on the camp’s closing day, all the families gathered for a singing circle and a scavenger hunt on the beach. But during most of the trip, the schedule left us grown-ups free in the afternoons for spa appointments, a jamu-making class, some breezy kid-free downtime with margaritas, or, that most adult of activities, work. 

Then one of us would pick Umbria up, maybe squeeze in a little more pool time, pop to our rooms for showers then off for sundowners (proud to have taught her that word this trip) basically anywhere on this westward facing property… though of course the ocean spray over the banquette nestled in the front of a deck at Rock Bar provided the most dramatic denouement. 

Here, Umbria made friends with the DJ, who let her borrow his headphones for a bit while he taught her about his mixer board. At Kampoeng Bali, the traditional dinner theater that drums up an action-packed evening of mythology, dance, giant puppets and fire shows, Umbria made friends with one of the musicians, who let her borrow his mallet to tap out a tune. When we had dinner at Kisik seafood restaurant, the musicians actually had an extra instrument at the ready just for eager kiddos, which Umbria of course was so she wound up joining the serenade to a couple having a romantic private meal down the pier.   

All of which is to say, the entire AYANA estate is not just kid-friendly but in many ways a giant Montessori classroom itself—a sprawling campus where everyone seems happy to answer an inquisitive four-year-old’s questions and help her learn about the world hands on. Even the Japanese toilets provided a teachable moment! And as much as I love my niece and planned this trip around her wellbeing, I was also grateful to get some adult time with my brother and sister-in-law while she was at school, which I’m sure is what Faggioli means when he says, “We truly hope the entire family will enjoy the holiday they’ve been longing for.” 

The Details

Guidepost at AYANA offers weekly and monthly Montessori school packages for children aged 2½ to 6. One-week Guidepost Adventure program: Tuesday through Friday, half-days including lunch IDR7,500,000++. One month (four consecutive weeks) Guidepost Children’s House program: Monday through Friday, half days IDR10,950,000++ or full days IDR13,350,000++. ayana.com/bali/guidepostayana; ayanabali@guidepost.id 

Green Camp AYANA relaunches in December 2023 for children aged 7 to 12, and are available for one-day experiences for parents and kids together (IDR1,870,000++ per day per guest), three-day programs for kids only (IDR5,615,000++ per day per child), and four-day programs with kids-only days plus one family day (IDR7,480,000++ per day per child). ayana.com/baligreencampayana

AYANA Segara is the newest hotel on the Estate. Resort View Rooms from USD486.59 net per night, including breakfast for two, and Ocean View Rooms from USD612.19 net per night, including breakfast for two. ayana.com/bali. 

Lede images by Shirley Wang.

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE COUPLES GETAWAY at Villa Escape Burasari, where every moment is a celebration, each passion is pursued and pure happiness blooms for two kindred souls.

Set on serene Coconut Island, a ten-minute boat ride from Phuket, this luxurious five-star resort boasts only 15 exquisite private oceanview villas complete with spacious private pools, making them the perfect setting for an intimate indulgence, whether you choose a two, three or four bedroom version. 

Bask in the charms of a small island’s paradise, enveloped by long sandy beaches, perfect for frolicking in a symphony of tropical wonders. Revel in the resort’s enticing blend of lavish pools, magnificent beach, expertly landscaped gardens, award-winning spa and bespoke excursions that will live in your memory forever.

Alight on a wonderful weekend 

Your dream weekend begins the moment you arrive at Phuket International Airport. You’ll be greeted by your friendly villa host in the lounge, who will guide you to a private speedboat, where a refreshing glass of sparkling wine awaits, a tantalising prelude to the unforgettable days ahead.

As you glide across turquoise waters for the 15-minute journey, the splendour of Coconut Island comes into view, an enticingly lush enclave. A seamless check-in experience awaits at your private pool villa, accompanied by awe-inspiring sea views and the expertise of your villa host, who stands ready to answer any questions and ensure an ideal stay.

Inside your seaside sanctuary, every detail has been meticulously curated to evoke ultimate relaxation. Allow cold-scented towels to revive your senses as the resort provides refreshing spa treatments on arrival to release the stress from a long journey and beckon blissful anticipation.

As you step outside, feel the fine white sand between your toes as you relax on the beach before trying out the resort’s paddleboards. 

As the sun sets, an irresistible call to romance draws you towards a candlelit table beneath a picturesque beach canopy. Here, amidst flickering candles and vibrant mood lighting, enjoy a culinary symphony as the chef’s favourite dishes transport you to a realm of gastronomic bliss. 

You know that, long after this night fades, its captivating memories will live on in your heart.

Delight in a day of pleasures

Your second day at Villa Escape Burasari begins with a rejuvenating yoga session on the powdery sands as you welcome the golden glow of the morning sun. Returning to your luxurious villa, a delightful surprise awaits you — a floating breakfast is arranged in your private pool.

With succulent slices of tropical fruit, decadent pancakes, and artistically crafted lattes, you savour every spoonful and sip, preparing for the extraordinary adventures that await.

Your local guide arrives to take you on a captivating journey through a nearby fishing village, immersing you in the pulse of the local community. Witness a symphony of colours and the genuine warmth of the locals as you gain a profound appreciation for the island’s rich heritage and the resilience and ingenuity of its people — from those who tap local rubber trees to the staff at a local pearl farm.

The tour makes you both quite hungry, and the guide brings you to a local floating restaurant. Each bite is a testament to the island’s culinary mastery and abundant offerings. And then, an invitation to partake in the ancient art of the island — a chance to fish alongside the locals.

After returning to the resort, you prepare to take an outing on a longtail boat. Bathed in the sun’s warm embrace, the boat takes you to the ethereal Rang and Khai Islands, where you unpack a picnic prepared just for you to enjoy in nature’s unrivalled beauty.

For dinner, one of the resort’s expert private chefs can craft a menu of special seafood dishes made exactly to your liking. 

A fine farewell

You rise from your slumber as morning breaks, feeling rejuvenated and at peace. Hand in hand, you meander to It’s Everything Restaurant, where a nourishing breakfast awaits. Savouring the flavours, you decide upon one last blissful endeavour — a glorious signature massage at Sunyata Spa.

As the departure time looms, fond farewells are exchanged with your villa host. The private speedboat emerges, beckoning you back to the mainland. As you depart, a whispered promise echoes in your heart — you will return to this paradise soon.

To book your own weekend Villa Escape Burasari, visit iescapevilla.com 

Article Sponsored by Island Escape by Burasari.
Images courtesy of Island Escape by Burasari.

ESCAPE TO THE IDYLLIC SHORES of Danang’s Non Nuoc Beach and immerse yourself in the seaside city’s first and only premium beach club, Vive Océane.

The chic and exclusive destination at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa offers a wide range of social and culinary experiences. Choose from shady alfresco decks or elegant indoor dining that provides a prime view of the beach club’s live show kitchens. 

A mouth-watering menu of Vietnamese and international recipes will tantalise your taste buds, while the breathtaking ocean views provide the perfect backdrop for making memories on Vietnam’s stunning central coast.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa is a five-star family lifestyle resort featuring 198 rooms and suites, 144 residences and 18 villas, five outdoor pools, a fitness centre, art gallery and spa. 

Vive Océane is just one of a diverse selection of restaurants and bars on the indulgent property. 

The delightful and newly updated Osteria Al Mare — named Vietnam’s Leading Resort Restaurant for 2023 from Best Hotels & Resorts 2023 — offers all-day Italian dining with a sharing concept while Terrasse has been refurbished and is open for pre-dinner drinks, artisan cocktails and inspired light bites, served on indulgent sofas beside brazero fire pits.

Traditional Vietnamese beach barbeques, in-villa barbeques and weekly themed dinners are ongoing and the resort is also set to host the interactive Le Petit Chef dining experience — making the resort a one-stop spot for destination dining in Danang. 

Breezy Beach Club Experience 

Inside the beach club, guests discover signature drinks and delightful dishes in an atmosphere of barefoot luxury by day, where they can relax on cosy sofas, catch some sun on picturesque daybeds and enjoy the company of friends and family.

After dark, the stretch of sand transforms into an exciting nightspot that draws Danang’s hippest crowd, perfect for sipping sundowners while enjoying live music and after-dark beachside vibes.

Every Friday night, the beach club hosts V.O.W. Night, which is free to enter and offers entertainment as well as a complimentary welcome cocktail.

The exciting new beach club will offer a plethora of festive treats this holiday season, including a four-course Premium Exclusive Christmas Dinner and the La Fete New Years Extravaganza with a French-Mediterranean sharing-style dinner and thrilling party to welcome 2024. 

Vive Océane is already attracting a wide range of discerning visitors — from hotel guests to in-the-know locals. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon with family, a romantic beachfront spot for dinner, or a place to dance all night on the sand with friends — Vive Océane has just what you’re looking for. 

Tantalising Tastes

Embrace a journey of gastronomic delight at the enchanting alfresco Vive Océane, a beachfront oasis that tempts tastebuds with an exquisite fusion of French-Mediterranean and Vietnamese cuisine. 

Visionary Executive Chef Pierre Tavernier beautifully captures the essence of local and seasonal ingredients — including the freshest locally caught seafood. Having honed his craft alongside the Michelin-starred chefs of Europe and Asia, Chef Pierre showcases his skill by curating a menu that celebrates the harmonious merging of cultures and flavours.

Each evening, dramatic scenes of culinary brilliance unfold from the live show kitchens, where Chef Pierre and his talented team craft a symphony of delectable dishes that elevate Vive Océane amongst dining and social experiences along this picturesque coastal stretch.

Whether you visit for sun-kissed beaches, gentle ocean breezes or the joyous sound of clinking glasses, Vive Océane transforms every visit into a magical seaside moment. 

Discover the ideal Danang venue for beachside cocktail evenings, private parties, team dinners, and wedding receptions. Offering culinary journeys through world-class cuisine, events at Vive Océane will be unforgettable celebrations of taste, ambience, and elegance.

Let the city’s only beach club set the stage for your next fun-filled day or night, where memories are woven beside the sea.

For more information, visit viveoceane.com or email dining.reservation@hyatt.com or call +84(0)-236-398-1234

Article Sponsored by Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa.
Images courtesy of Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa.

The former royal capital of Laos, Luang Prabang is wrapped in a time warp but it is this quaint vibe that beckons travellers to this UNESCO Heritage Site. Nestled amidst rolling hills at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers and dotted with ancient temples and monasteries, Luang Prabang is a harmonious sanctuary and a “living museum” blending Eastern and Western influences. And it is this unique mosaic of styles that is reflected in the architectural designs of the luxury and boutique properties in the city.

With sprawling mansions, hilltop havens, royal residences, colonial villas, spa retreats, heavenly hideaways, and luxurious stilt houses set in tropical gardens and verdant paddy fields, you cannot ask for a more exclusive and premium address in the city. We have curated a selection of some of the best hotels to stay in Luang Prabang which add to your mystical experiences in the city.

Best hotels to stay in Luang Prabang

Discover pristine Centara properties, including breathtaking beachside and mountain retreats, with up to 35% savings.

AS 2023 COMES TO CLOSE, Centara Hotels & Resorts extends a warm invitation to guests across Thailand and beyond seeking unforgettable family getaways filled with blissful moments and exceptional perks. 

Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of luxury as the award-winning brand presents its enticing ‘Linger for Longer’ promotion. Indulge in an extended stay at any of their renowned resorts, spread across six extraordinary brands and encompassing an astounding 50 properties in 8 exquisite destinations.

Let the enchanting surroundings of each destination revitalise your spirit, leaving you feeling rejuvenated, reenergised, and ready to embark on a thrilling journey into 2024.

With addresses in the most desirable destinations in Southeast Asia, Japan, the Indian Ocean and Middle East, Centara continues to build its reputation on exceptional service and gracious Thai-style hospitality. From contemporary city centre locations to far-flung tropical locales, each property offers the chance to linger and enjoy delightful gastronomy, family-friendly facilities and a collection of indulgent spas. 

Love to Linger

Book your long-term stays to get the exciting promotion that provides up to 35% savings on stays at an extensive choice of pristine Centara properties in Thailand, including Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Trat, Rayong, Koh Chang, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Udon Thani, and Hat Yai. The offer also extends to certain addresses in Vietnam, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Dubai, with special room rates starting at THB 640++ per night.

Indulge in the allure of extraordinary destinations with minimum stays for the promotion depending on the desired destination. Choose from tranquil beachside retreats or serene mountain escapes, each offering a range of options. Embrace the freedom to craft your dream escape with minimum nights ranging from 2, 5, 7, 10 or 14 nights, providing ample time to unwind and explore.

Enjoy a delightful choice of rooms only or rooms with extensive breakfasts included, enhancing each morning’s delight. Plus, up to two children can stay for free when you complete your booking before 20th December 2024.

Discover a captivating selection of enchanting rooms, suites, and private villas tailored to fulfil your every desire. Let Centara Hotels & Resorts curate an unforgettable journey into the heart of your destination, where hidden treasures await the discerning traveller.

Booking Direct is Best

To enjoy even more unique privileges, make your booking using your Centara The1 membership, which provides an additional 15% discount when you log in before booking. Not yet a member? Sign up for free. 

Additional benefits are also available when you book directly with your property of choice. From a Best Rate Guarantee to 10% off food and drinks and a choice of early check-in or late check-out, you’ll love each exclusive privilege provided by Centara Hotels & Resorts. 

The Linger for Longer offer is good for stays booked through 20th December 2024.

Article Sponsored by Centara Hotels & Resorts.
Images courtesy of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

Escape to Raffles Bali to enjoy an unforgettable holiday, complete with mouth-watering curated meals, breathtaking pool villas and personalised recommendations by expert Wellbeing Butlers.

Raffles Bali welcomes the festive season by unveiling a month of celebratory events, from seven-course dinners to pool villa promotions throughout December. 

The luxury resort welcomes guests to celebrate the holiday season with enchanting festive celebrations and a picturesque holiday getaway as you and your loved ones gather in paradise to revel in the spirit of Christmas and New Year together.

Imagine celebrating the holidays in refined seclusion, nestled in one of the resort’s 32 spacious pool villas, now available at attractive year-end rates, admiring breathtaking views of stunning Jimbaran Bay and the resort’s secluded beach.

In between epicurean indulgences and festive events, wander through verdant gardens, take in the island’s multihued sunsets or sip a Bali Sling in the resort’s legendary Writers Bar. For deeper rejuvenation, visit Raffles Spa or the hillside treatment suite, The Sanctuary, where expert Wellbeing Butlers can advise you on a journey of bespoke wellness alongside cultural experiences and personalised itineraries, sharing with you all of the best that the Island of the Gods has to offer.

Fine and Festive Food

Let your palate embark on a culinary adventure at Rumari Restaurant and Loloan Beach Bar & Grill this festive season.

Visit Rumari for an exquisite seven-course Christmas feast that pays homage to the region’s abundant sustainable produce. Indulge in this decadent experience on 24 and 25 December as elements of tradition and festivity envelop you, truly igniting the holiday spirit.

If you’re seeking a relaxed yet sophisticated Christmas meal, Loloan Beach Bar & Grill invites you to an exclusive Christmas Brunch on the tranquil beachfront of Raffles Bali. Indulge in an array of inspired Chef’s Creations, including exquisite gourmet pastries, artisanal cheeses, and a divine seafood platter. To elevate this feast, the finest wines are available to complement each tantalising nibble perfectly.

Loloan Beach Bar & Grill presents a smorgasbord of enchanting evening celebrations as the festivities continue from Christmas to New Year. From Lobster Night to Barbecue Night, Italian Night, and more, each evening boasts its own captivating theme, sure to be as fun as it is delicious. Running from 26 to 30 December, these unforgettable events are accompanied by live entertainment, creating an atmosphere that embodies the season’s joy.

New Years Delights

Get ready to welcome 2024 at Loloan Beach Bar & Grill, where the New Year festivities will begin with an unforgettable culinary journey on 31 December 2023. Prepare to indulge in a sumptuous six-course degustation menu, accompanied by an irresistible dessert buffet and the opportunity to revel in festive ambience as you count down to a happy new year ahead in incredible surrounds.

New Year’s Day at Raffles Bali brings the opportunity to savour the elegance of an iconic Raffles Brunch leisurely, served overlooking the beach. Relish a unique selection of mouth-watering creations, from delightful amuse-bouches to artisanal pasta and decadent cheeses to plated degustation desserts, ensuring the holiday joy persists throughout the day.

Extend the holiday cheer from 2 to 6 January with an enthralling series of themed evening celebrations featuring Butcher Night, Oyster and Champagne Night, Spanish Tapas and Sangria Night, and more, each accompanied by live entertainment for an unforgettable experience.

Finally, the festivities culminate in a traditional Orthodox Christmas Dinner on 7 January 2024 with a meticulously curated five-course menu by Chef Gaetan Biesuz, an unforgettable dining experience that will leave a lasting impression.

Escape to paradise this festive season with Raffles Bali’s enchanting celebrations and picturesque holiday getaways. From epicurean indulgences to wellness retreats and bespoke cultural experiences, immerse yourself in the beauty of the Island of the Gods.

Festive dining celebrations start from IDR 1,350,000++ per person. The festive villa offers start at USD 3,067++ for stays between 24 December and 7 January and begin at USD 3,867++ for a two-night minimum stay over the New Year.

For more information and reservations, please visit www.raffles.com/bali or contact dining.bali@raffles.com or call (+62) 361 2015 800.

Article sponsored by Raffles Bali.
Images courtesy of Raffles Bali