Christmas and New Year escapes with Anantara 

With three gorgeous resorts to choose from and an exciting schedule of festive activities, Anantara has Maldives Christmas and New Year escapes to suit every kind of traveller.

For nature lovers, adventurers and fun-loving families, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas takes you to the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where each day is elevated by quintessential Maldives experiences – diving with manta rays, underwater dining, stargazing at the overwater observatory, and the best house reef to be found anywhere in the Maldives. Discover an irresistible schedule of festive celebrations to be enjoyed throughout Christmas and the New Year.  
  
For couples and groups of friends, the adults-only Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is an idyllic setting for relaxation and reconnection. With 67 overwater, ocean and beach villas to choose from, the resort is just 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, making it the perfect option if you just want to pop in for a few nights over the holidays. Spend your days adventuring above and below the surface of the Indian Ocean or rejuvenating in the spa. After dark, a host of irresistible dining options await.  

Just a few minutes by boat from Veli is the family-friendly Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort. Sink your feet in powder-soft sands, witness endless views over turquoise waters, and swim, sail and snorkel among colourful reefs and shimmering sea life. With its very own surf school and water sports centre, and activities for all ages, family holidays don’t come more extraordinary than this.     

This year, an extensive festive schedule at Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli provides the chance to join an exciting array of special activities and events. Browse the full brochure here.  

Embrace the enchantment of Christmas in Amsterdam, where the city’s cobbled streets transform into a festive wonderland during the holiday season. Wander the banks of the city’s storied canals as you witness the wonders of the Amsterdam Light Festival, which runs throughout December and well into January. Marvel at the towering Dam Square Christmas tree, explore local markets in search of gifts for loved ones, or simply stop a while and watch the world go by from the welcoming warmth of a streetside café. 

The Netherlands capital is a magical place to spend Christmas and the New Year, and a stay at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam elevates it even further. Immerse in heartwarming comforts and seasonal celebrations overlooking Dam Square. Indulge in Christmas or New Year’s Eve dinner at Grand Café Krasnapolsky. Let the spirit of the festive season in Amsterdam unfold in a tapestry of lights, luxury and Dutch charm. 

  

For those with a taste for the exotic, Thailand’s capital is a wonderful place to spend Christmas or the New Year. It’s the perfect stopping-off point at the beginning or end of your Thailand – or Southeast Asia – adventure, so why not stay a day or two and soak up the festive atmosphere?  

For those accustomed to Christmas in Europe or the US, Yuletide celebrations are refreshingly low key in this irresistibly vibrant metropolis – though there’s plenty for those who wish to soak up the holiday spirit with opulent malls adorned with sparkling decorations and lavish Christmas dining occasions never far away. If you’re looking for ideas, we think a Bangkok river cruise with Christmas dinner is an excellent way to blend the traditions of East and West.  

For New Year’s, expect an entirely more energetic celebration with gala dinners, fireworks and a raucous countdown to 2024. Whether you choose to celebrate by the riverside or at one of the city’s many rooftop dining venues, we recommend you book ahead as this is an occasion celebrated with equal gusto by locals and visitors alike.  

Anantara offers two very different – but equally alluring – options for your festive season stay in Bangkok. Retreat to a riverside haven of serenity at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort where you can bask in views of the Chao Phraya River and choose from a lavish selection of festive occasions. Or if you’d prefer to be closer to the heart of the action, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel offers opulent stays and sparkling festive celebrations just steps from the BTS Skytrain and within easy reach off the city’s best shopping and entertainment districts.  

Experience age-old tradition and contemporary glamour in the Middle East’s most extravagant urban destination. Always known for its grandeur, Dubai embraces the festive spirit with aplomb as the city’s iconic landmarks, adorned with dazzling lights, create a breath-taking winter wonderland against the backdrop of the Arabian Desert. While away an evening at one of the many Christmas markets. Scale the towering Burj Khalifa for unforgettable views over city, desert and sea. Indulge in lavish festive dining occasions by the waters of the Gulf, or against the backdrop of one of the most dramatic cityscapes in the world. Dubai has something for every kind of festive escape.  

Christmas and the New Year come alive at Anantara’s luxurious Dubai hotels and resorts. Immerse in island indulgence at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort where an irresistible schedule of festive delights awaits. Stay in overwater luxury at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort and choose from an array of sparkling Christmas and New Year occasions. Or spend the holiday season in a luxurious oasis in the heart of the city at Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel – unwrap the full festive line-up here.