As top tourist destinations around Asia are reopening to international travellers, the promise of a sun-kissed tropical New Year’s Eve celebration is finally within reach for many travellers. From the legendary beach clubs of Samui to Bangkok’s glamorous rooftop fêtes and Bali’s cinematic sunsets, with this year’s festive offerings from Avani Hotels & Resorts, travellers can experience all the biggest hits.
For fireworks that dazzle, SEEN Restaurant & Bar Bangkok (www.seenrooftopbangkok.com) is hard to beat. The rooftop venue is perched on levels 26/27 of Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel (www.avanihotels.com/riverside-bangkok), giving guests a bird-eye panorama of the river snaking down below. Known as the place to see and be seen, any excursion to the venue is the perfect excuse to dress up, especially on New Year’s Eve. This year’s theme, KISS KISS, BANG BANG: NYE Avant Garde Extravaganza, promises pole dancers and contortionists on stage and the city’s hottest DJs on the decks. After the pyrotechnics die down, guests can head to Avani’s riotous underground nightlife LOST & FOUND for the after-party. Expect a night of pure decadence and plenty of cheeky surprises.
Not to be overshadowed, Thailand’s islands and beach destinations are pulling out all the stops this New Year’s Eve too. As befits a venue with strong French Riviera vibes, at SEEN Beach Club Samui (www.seenbeachclubsamui.com) revelries ramp up long before the countdown. As early as 2:00 pm, the beach club’s guest DJs will command the DJ perch, as premium champagne and cocktails are delivered right to the revellers’ pool bed. As the sun dips below the horizon, a poolside dinner will be served to a backdrop of fire shows and death-defying circus acts. SEEN is known for its retro vibes, great food and entertainment, so guests can expect to be dancing well into the night.
Families and couples looking to celebrate the end of an unprecedented year in a relaxed setting could do worse than head to the romantic Hua Hin to be pampered and indulged. On New Year’s Eve, Avani+ Hua Hin Resort (www.avanihotels.com/hua-hin) is turning the beachfront lawn into a family-friendly celebration zone, with gourmet food and live music for the parents and fun games for the little ones. The resort’s two huge and shallow pools with little swim-to islands and water cascades are guaranteed to be an instant hit with the youngsters. There are bicycle rides and regular classes of yoga, Zumba, Pilates and Thai boxing, often held outdoors for adults.
Whether your idea of a holiday well spent is sipping a margarita from a Jacuzzi or working on your kitesurfing tricks, Phuket offers both and can be as chilled or wild as you like. For those who want to extend their New Year’s Eve stay for a day or two, Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas (www.avanihotels.com/mai-khao-phuket) offers the perfect base for island-hopping, snorkelling and diving. On 31st December, the resort hosts a sparkly alfresco celebration on the beach lawn with a generous buffet spread, live entertainment, DJs and fireworks.
The upmarket Krabi is about sunset cruises and fine dining for many travellers, but there is a grittier side to it. At Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort (www.avanihotels.com/ao-nang-krabi), you can awaken your fighting spirit with Muay Thai lessons, overcome your fear of the fiery local chilli at a cooking class or scale the karst cliffs with the guidance of an experienced instructor. The resort is located in the centre of Krabi town, so guests can hit downtown beach clubs after the New Year’s Eve dinner or join the locals on the beach.
New Year’s Eve on Bali is always on every traveller’s bucket list, and now that the island has reopened to international travellers, it’s high time to get acquainted with its sunsets, temples and cocktails. Seminyak is arguably the island’s most sophisticated locale, so celebrations here tend to be more on the stylish side. Avani Seminyak Bali Resort (www.avanihotels.com/seminyak-bali) is close to all the action, offering travellers the perfect base to explore other parts of the island like the upcoming Canggu neighbourhood or the timeless Ubud’s rice paddies.