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.

Avani's Travelling Traditions is about celebrating the season through the rituals, flavours and connections that make each place unique. For more information and to book, visit www.avanihotels.com. 

About Avani Hotels & Resorts 

Designed for today's traveller, Avani Hotels & Resorts offers stylish rooms, connected social spaces and relaxed and on-the-go dining that is locally inspired. Balance is central to everything Avani does, providing guests with the right measure of service, fun and privacy. Launched in 2011, Avani's over 40 properties across five continents offer premium city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature with a focus on smart design, upbeat service and good value. 

Avani Hotels & Resorts is a Minor Hotels brand and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.

Visit avanihotels.com for more information, and connect with Avani on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.