For holiday makers planning to spend their Christmas at a hotel this year, but don’t want to miss out on the festive spirit, Hotels.com® (visit http://www.hotels.com or http://www.hotels.co.in), the hotel experts, names some of the most Santa-friendly hotels across the world that offer memorable Christmas experiences.
Hotels.com’s ‘Christmas Cheer’ hotel recommendations offer guests all the trimmings needed for the perfect Christmas stay.
Johan Svanstrom, Managing Director of Hotels.com Asia Pacific, believes that at Christmas time, hotels should do their best to make their guests feel right at home. “It’s great to see that so many hotels get into the spirit of Christmas and ensure that their guests have a memorable holiday. Whether you are visiting a hotel just for a Christmas meal or are staying for a few nights over the Christmas holiday, clearly there are hotels within all budgets that will guarantee you a great Christmas holiday experience,” he said.
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Hotels.com Top 10 ‘Christmas Cheer’ hotels
(1) Clarion Hotel Santa Claus – Rovaniemi, Finland
Finland offers a picturesque white Christmas that dreams are made of. The Arctic Circle, close to Rovaniemi has long been thought to be the home of Santa Claus. The Clarion Hotel Santa Claus is decorated with Christmas decorations to ensure that guests embrace the Christmas spirit. You can even book the Santa Claus suite. (Sadly Santa doesn’t come with the room!)
(2) The Plaza Hotel – New York, USA
Made famous by the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York provides a perfect location to experience all the glitz and glamour that New York is known for at Christmas. The iconic Rockefeller Tree (some people believe that the festive season hasn’t begun until it is lit) and ice-skating rink in Central Park is at your doorstep. The Plaza Hotel at Christmas, decorates its Grand Concourse level with all the Christmas trimmings including a gingerbread house, the Holiday piano, a charity gift station, and of course Santa Claus is there to wish all a Merry Christmas. Guests even have the opportunity to see the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular if they spend over $300 within the shops at The Plaza Precinct.
(3) The Goring – London, England
Described as a quintessential English propert, The Goring provides plenty of festive cheer for those staying at Christmas. This year, the hotel will be celebrating its 100th Christmas and will be decorated with traditional Christmas decorations. There is even a Christmas Champagne Party on Christmas Eve. Guests are invited to attend the evening mass at the nearby St Peters at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve with mince pies and hot chocolate to end the night. After spending Christmas Day with family or friends, sit back and enjoy a Christmas dinner feast.
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(4) The Bellagio – Las Vegas, USA
Located on the iconic strip of Las Vegas, the famous Bellagio hotel is known for its extravagance and elegance. During Christmas, Las Vegas hotels try to outperform each other with hotel decorations. Last Year at Christmas, The Bellagio transformed its conservatory into an extravagant holiday display with giant gift-wrapped boxes, a wreath walkway, a nine metre high Christmas tree with glittering decorations, oversized ornaments and more than 50,000 carnations. They can be expected to do something similar if not more extravagant, this year.
(5) The Merrion – Dublin, Ireland
With fires burning in traditional 18th century fireplaces and rooms filled with antiques, The Merrion will give guests a genuine old-fashioned Christmas holiday. The hotel starts their Christmas celebrations from the 1st of December offering Christmas lunches and dinners. The hotel will be decorated with a number of Christmas trees and dazzling decorations. On Christmas Eve, all younger guests will be invited to gather with Santa Claus around the Christmas tree in the Front Hall, where each child will receive a gift while parents enjoy a glass of champagne.
(6) Gaylord Palms– Orlando, Florida, USA
As a part of the ‘Best of Florida Christmas Celebration’, the Gaylord Palms Resort will transform their 4.5 acre atrium into a magical Christmas Winter Wonderland filled with traditional decorations and a 16 metre high Christmas Tree. The hotel stages a number of Christmas inspired activities throughout the festive season, including ICE, which takes you on a journey to the land of Christmas, and Luminescence, which is a musical journey about the spirit of Christmas.
(7) Hotel Vannucci – Citta della Pieve, Italy
Set in a charming medieval town, this hotel is one of the best to experience a traditional Italian Christmas and re-discover its true meaning. The hotel holds a live re-enactment of the nativity scene for guests. Less traditionally, you can even join in with the Christmas bingo with chestnuts as you wait for Santa Claus to arrive. With wood fires burning, the chimes of church bells nearby and a sumptuous Christmas lunch, it creates a perfect setting for a European Christmas.
(8) Carton House Kildare – Maynooth, Ireland
The luxurious Carton House Hotel Kildare, which was originally built for the 1st Duke of Leinster in 1739, is set on 1,000 acres of stunning parkland and provides a great place to experience a winter Christmas in the warmth and charm of this historical masterpiece. Christmas at the Carton House Kildare will allow guests the opportunity to see Santa Claus up close while listening to the heavenly voices of a choir singing classic Christmas favourites. They also serve a traditional Christmas lunch.
(9) Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
Christmas comes alive with the help of a few furry friends courtesy of Walt Disney. The plethora of resort hotels that are a part of the Disney World complex such as the Disney Coronado Springs Resort will be decked out in Christmas decorations to ensure a memorable experience. For those guests lucky enough to be staying at the hotel in the month of December, they will have the opportunity to witness Mickey Mouse’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The party is returning for its 25th year and this year, there will be a brand new Castle Light Show that covers Cinderella’s iconic home. The fireworks display this year is ‘Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,’ with the big finale guaranteed to create the quintessential white Christmas experience.
(10) South Lodge Hotel – West Sussex, England
The South Lodge Hotel, located in the scenic English countrywide near Brighton provides guests with a homely Christmas with the festivities spread out over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. There is plenty of mulled wine and mince pies to share and a local choir singing Christmas carols to get you in the mood. The hotel also offers shuttles to the local church for a late night Christmas service. As expected, Santa makes an appearance to wish all those present a Merry Christmas while you enjoy the Christmas Day lunch feast at the hotel’s restaurant.
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