The tourism trade merrily approaches Christmas
Ian Stalker
The tourism industry will happily accommodate those dreaming of a white Christmas — and those wanting to spend Dec. 25 in a part of the world where there isn’t a snowflake in sight as well.
Vacation locales far and wide are preparing to host people for Christmas, all of them eager to ensure that the day will be memorable for their guests.
Here’s a look at what awaits some tourists in different parts of the world:
Auberge Saint-Antoine
Quebec City
Quebec City’s Auberge Saint-Antoine is enthusiastically celebrating Christmas, joining the rest of the municipality in doing so.
“Unwrap the gift of a joyous holiday and spend Christmas at Auberge Saint-Antoine, in Quebec City. Each year, the charming city lights up with festive cheer and embraces its transformation as snow blankets the cobblestone streets for a storied winter wonderland,” it says, adding that it’s located in the heart of the city, and “welcomes guests to experience a fairytale holiday with a special two-night Christmas Package including a celebratory five-course Christmas dinner at Chez Muffy, a visit from Santa Claus for the little ones in the privacy of your room, hot cocoa, mulled wine, holidays movies and daily breakfast.
“Christmas Day dawns at the auberge with a traditional Christmas brunch offered Dec. 25, and a delicious New Year’s Brunch on Jan. 1. Individual Christmas trees will be available in guest rooms and suites to decorate at cost upon request and private family movie screenings are available for guests in the theater for $20. Bring home fond memories by booking a Christmas photo session with a professional photographer, available indoor or outdoor for $150.”
The Holiday Package is valid for stays between Dec. 23 through Jan. 2. Rates begin at $349 per night for two people.
Auberge Saint-Antoine says Quebec’s capital is ideally suited to host those looking forward to Christmas.
“Quebec City is the perfect place to enjoy a wide range of beloved family festivities and winter activities,” it continues. “Journey back in time with a private guided story telling tour through Old Quebec with hot cocoa and cookies or explore the city with a fat bike tour along the Saint-Charles river. Guests can discover Quebec City’s German Christmas Gardens with magical illuminations, sparkling Christmas trees, enchanting melodies, and sweet treats, including the famous gingerbread. Stroll through the beautifully decorated streets of Old Quebec City before retiring by the fire in your comfortable hotel suite for a festive afternoon tea. Quebec City offers winter activities such as ice skating at Place D’Youville, snow shoeing, dog sledding, scenic snowmobiling excursion, ice canoeing, and a variety of nearby downhill and cross-country skiing and snowboarding. To reserve your Christmas activity(s), email [email protected].
“Enjoy private outdoor dining under the stars, afternoon hot chocolate, mulled wine, and tea, or a lavish breakfast in Auberge Saint-Antoine’s new heated mini greenhouses constructed on the hotel’s outdoor terraces,” the property continues.. “Enjoy a romantic candle lit dinner for two in a cozy private “pod” or bring your quarantine crew for an intimate family or friends gathering in a larger greenhouse seating 4-5 guests. The clear polycarbonate panels are strung with lights for an unforgettable experience under a starry night with views of the St. Lawrence river, Chateaux Frontenac, Vieux Quebec and inner courtyard, all the while comfortable and sheltered. The Dining Under the Stars experience is available for overnight stays or weekday private dining.” For more information visit, https://www.saint-antoine.com/promotions-and-packages/under-the-stars.
Santa sighting
Anantara Hotels Resorts Spas
Christmas is bringing out the poetic side of Thailand’s Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Elephant Camp’s Jungle Bubble.
The northern Thailand resort recently demonstrated its literary skills to report a Santa sighting:
‘Twas just before Christmas, and what do you know?
We spotted Santa, away from the snow.
Deep in the jungle, he’s wrapping up prezzies,
Having a merry old time with his friends, the ellies!
Soon, very soon, Christmas Day will be nigh,
And back to the North Pole Santa will fly.
But for now he’s enjoying some last minutes of leisure
At the Golden Triangle’s oasis of pachyderm pleasure!
For more about how Santa and his elephant friends can visit you (virtually!) this holiday season and how you can support Anantara’s elephant conservation efforts, visit here.
Balconies
Vilnius, Lithuania
Talk about a bright idea…
The coronavirus pandemic isn’t preventing residents of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius from celebrating Christmas in an eye-catching manner, with the city inviting people to decorate their balconies in a manner certain to be noticed at night.
Christmas on the Balconies is aimed at “inspiring Lithuanians to showcase their ingenuity and enforce the sense of togetherness under the current conditions.”
Adas Vasiliauskas, photographer and author of Quarantine Portraits, is inviting Vilnius artists and residents to “let their imagination shine through the quarantine restrictions and make festivities especially safe by decorating an unexpected area of their home — their balconies.” The organizers of Christmas on the Balconies want to demonstrate that holidays can “transgress their traditional aspect and that there are safe alternatives to all-family events.”
“My first project involved taking pictures of people in fun situations in their balconies and windows during the first lockdown. So for the Christmas season I wanted to create something festive yet safe. By inviting the citizens to decorate their balconies as originally as possible, I wanted people to unleash their fantasies and see this as an opportunity to show the world that celebrations and fun are not over even in a pandemic,” Vasiliauskas explains.
The project was launched by presenting 8 balconies decorated by artists in various neighbourhoods of Vilnius. One of the balconies features a face mask with a protruding Christmas tree. Another artist designed a balcony with a colourful Christmas forest containing a reindeer, a rabbit, and a crow. A joint creation displays a Christmas tree made of neon strings cascading down two balconies.
Artist Jolita Vaitkutė has put up decorations on the balcony of Hostel “Jamaika” in Vilnius Old Town, wanting to shake the usual understanding of traditional items and festivities. “The idea of a bent-over Christmas tree was born out of the life-changing global events of 2020. I put an animal completely unfamiliar in Lithuania – a pangolin – which was thought to be a plausible cause of this entire pandemic situation. Rays flashing out of its eyes symbolize the whims of nature which we cannot control,” Vaitkutė says.
Others are invited to make their balconies shine.
“There are alternative and safe ways to celebrate Christmas in a new reality. Difficulties presented to us this holiday season may be somewhat overcome in non-traditional ways. We hope the decoration of the balconies will be a fun attraction for the entire family and will fill the period of Advent with a holiday cheer,” says Remigijus Šimašius, mayor of Vilnius.
Velas Resorts
Mexico
Santa Claus is coming to town… and Velas Resorts as well.
The Mexican resort company reports it plans many Christmas and New Year’s festivities at its properties in Los Cabos, the Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta that include “an extravagant helicopter arrival from Santa Claus himself to in-suite Christmas trees” and “traditional celebrations are enhanced with Mexican culture for awe-inspiring experiences.”
Christmas Day will see guests of Grand Velas Los Cabos meet Santa Claus “after his grand arrival by helicopter.” Sandcastle competitions, cooking classes and stargazing are among planned activities.
At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Santa will meet and greet guests on the resort’s beach, and Santa’s Workshop, “magic picnics” and water fitness activities are among things in the works.
At Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, children can learn how to make alebrijes, Mexican art sculptures dating back to the 1930s. Additionally, the resort’s littlest guests will enjoy new services and inclusions such as the Glam Baby Chairs, pampering spa treatments, and an upgraded gourmet menu with fresh ingredients.
In addition to a lineup of entertaining activities, Velas Vallarta’s guests can opt to purchase a nativity scene in-suite.
At all the resorts, guests looking to host festivities privately can opt for a Christmas tree in-suite, pre-decorated or with ornaments to adorn the tree with oneself, and gift-wrapped toys for children of all ages. Additionally, one looking to give back this holiday season can donate toys online to the Center for the Caring of Children with Cancer, a non-profit institution dedicated to serving children and teenagers with cancer.
Jerry Grymek
LMA Communications
Jerry Grymek wishes joy to the world’s watersports enthusiasts.
Grymek, with LMA Communications, which promotes Dominica’s tourist trade in this country, hosted a December webinar promoting watersports in Dominica, beginning it with traditional Christmas carols performed with a distinctive Dominican twist.
“Given that we were hosting our popular Sa Ka Fete Seminar Series before the holidays, we thought it would be great to get the participants excited,” Grymek said of the music. “This song was mixed by DJ Chinoi, a DJ who spent time in Dominica and this was a Christmas in Dominica mix that was done in 2015.
Grymek says using that music as an introduction to the webinar. was a natural, given the time of year and the featured destination.
“We selected this song as it is Bouyon, a style of Dominican music that originated in the late 1980s,” he says. “Given that it was a mix of Christmas and holiday songs, it was a perfect fit.”
Temptation Cancun Resort
Mexico
Temptation Cancun Resort guests can be a little bit naughty and also nice this Christmas, a time of year the property isn’t letting pass unnoticed.
The adults-only resort — which offers the likes of topless-optional areas and “signature adult entertainment” — is celebrating Christmas Eve with a two scrumptious menus available at their buffet and specialty restaurants. On Dec. 24, buffets will boast an expansive menu for guests of all palates. The buffet will feature a hot-and-cold sides station, a charcuterie bar, carpaccio and antipasti station, carving station, as well as main courses to pick a la carte.
Specialty restaurants will offer a four-course meal, starting with roasted apple and goat cheese salad, following a mushroom and nut cream soup, turkey breast medallion with a corn souffle, and ending with a “Christmas seduction” of soft banana cake topped with velvety chocolate mousse with caramel, nutmeg, and a pop of orange.
Meanwhile, after the meals, Temptation Cancun Resort will continue with the type of entertainment its known for, with guests invited to attend the “Not so Silent Night party at BASH, and unite under the Christmas spirit,” the resort says.
