This festive season, Avani Hotels & Resorts invites travellers to discover the joy of celebrating like a local with Travelling Traditions, a round-up of authentic experiences across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Instead of familiar
routines, guests are encouraged to step into the customs and rituals that make
each destination unique, from eating twelve lucky grapes at midnight in
Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, to joining Boduberu drumming circles on sugar-loaf
shores in the Maldives.
Bangkok, Thailand
At Avani
Sukhumvit Bangkok, the city’s festive mood is shaped by timeless traditions.
Locals visit temples to make merit, lighting incense and offering lotus flowers
for blessings in the year ahead. Streets and markets bustle with flower
garlands, sweets and firecrackers as the countdown approaches, before fireworks
ripple across the skyline on New Year’s Eve. Guests can soak up the city’s
vibrant atmosphere at Avani Sukhumvit, pausing for a Festive Enchantment
Afternoon Tea complete with whimsical desserts, golden savouries and a
toast to the season.
Khao Lak, Thailand
At Avani+ Khao
Lak Resort, festive celebrations blend with the spirit of southern Thailand.
Families in nearby villages welcome the new year by offering food to monks in
morning ceremonies, while evenings on the beach glow with candlelit picnics and
the release of paper lanterns into the sky. Guests are invited to share in
these simple but meaningful customs, while AvaniKids and Teens Club keep
younger travellers entertained with seasonal crafts and activities. The warm
Andaman coastline and star-filled skies provide the perfect backdrop for family
gatherings and new beginnings.
Luang Prabang, Laos
At Avani+ Luang
Prabang, guests move in step with a UNESCO World Heritage town shaped by
ceremony, craft and community. At dawn, saffron-robed monks walk silently
through the streets to receive alms, a ritual that has taken place for
centuries. As the festive season unfolds, the night market becomes a lively
stage for lanterns, handmade crafts and traditional Lao music. Visitors
strolling between stalls discover silks, carvings and street food, creating a
festive atmosphere rooted in heritage and community.
Fares, Maldives
At Avani+ Fares
Maldives Resort, "Tales of the Maldives" brings the island’s cultural
heritage into focus. Guests can join Boduberu drumming circles on the beach,
savour Maldivian dishes cooked over coconut husks, or take part in artisan
workshops that showcase traditional lacquer work and weaving. Legends handed
down through generations are shared in evening storytelling sessions beneath
the stars. Younger guests join foam parties and try traditional Maldivian dhoni
boat building at AvaniKids and Teens Club. Recently named Best Beach Resort at
the TTM Awards, Avani+ Fares is home to a vibrant house reef where parrotfish,
rays and turtles create a natural celebration of their own
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Avani Victoria Falls
Resort offers guests the chance to experience the holidays in the heart of
Africa, just steps from one of the world’s natural wonders. Choirs sing carols
in both English and local languages, filling the warm summer evenings with
song. Nearby craft markets display handmade baskets, carvings and beadwork,
offering gifts that are as meaningful as they are beautiful. Families gather
for braais by the Mukuni Boma with the scent of the grill on the breeze and the
thunder of the Falls in the background.
Madrid, Spain
Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid connects guests with Spain’s New Year’s Eve ritual in Puerta del Sol, where twelve grapes are eaten to the clock’s twelve chimes. The same square is home to Kilometre Zero, the starting point for all national roads and a cultural marker at the country’s heart. Another highlight is the San Silvestre Vallecana on 31 December, an annual 10km road race that draws thousands for Madrid’s year-end run. AvaniFit connects guests through guided running tours and personal training, pairing race preparation with city discovery led by a local guide. Throughout December, markets brim with turrón, churros and festive lights, setting a classic seasonal mood. -TradeArabia News Service