Hotels Join In the Holiday Spirit

PHOTO: Christmas Season officially begins in Copenhagen when the Hotel d’ Angleterre lights its decorations. (Courtesy of Hotel Del Angleterre)

With the lighting of the Christmas lights on the façade of Copenhagen’s Hotel d'Angleterre as well as on Kongens Nytorv (The King's Square), Christmas season in European cities is officially underway. Wherever Christmas is celebrated it casts a certain look across the landscape, whether it’s in the smallest village or the biggest city. Big cities across Europe are dressing up in holiday style as cheerful crowds all bundled up shuffle through the bells of Salvation Army criers to look in store windows and carry their bundles down city sidewalks. Hotels from London to Budapest and even in Hong Kong are dressing up their lobbies in Christmas decorations, offering special holiday menus and packages as well.

The stylish hand of fashion is participating in decking the halls in several hotels. In the lobby of Brown’s Hotel in London, the Christmas tree was decked out by Globe Trotters. The Brown's Bespoke Traveler Package, priced from $3,209 per suite per night from Dec. 15 through Jan. 5, includes a bottle of Ruinart Champagne upon arrival and a Bespoke 21-inch Globe-Trotter suitcase.

Brussels’ Hotel Amigo teamed up with designer Diane Von Furstenberg’s people to deck out the lobby of the hotel in a holiday homage to fashion history. The Diane Von Furstenberg Festive Break Package, from $1,898 per suite per night is available Dec. 1 through May 31 and includes a suite at Hotel Amigo, a signed copy of Von Furstenberg’s new book, a bottle of champagne, a DVF black clutch, and a private session at DVF’s Brussels-based boutique.

St. Petersburg’s Hotel Astoria partnered with Russian fashion house Tatyana Parfionova in decorating the hotel’s Christmas tree, while offering exclusive access to her St. Petersburg store for those who book a hotel suite over the holidays. Following the tour, the experience will conclude with tea and sweets from the talented Astoria Chocolatier team.

Le Bristol Paris’ Le Jardin Français installed a 21-foot Christmas tree adorned in a constellation of 8,400 light bulbs, hundreds of lighted ball ornaments and handmade tiny red and gold bows. An array of afternoon delicacies will be offered at Le Jardin Français, including the hotel’s hot chocolate with cinnamon or orange marmalade froth accompanied by a cake trolley serving Christmas delicacies such as gingerbreads with candied orange, delicate Mont-Blanc topped with sugar reindeers, praline cakes, and ginger “peel” shortbread.

On this year’s Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve menus, three-star Michelin Chef Eric Frechon will serve his scallops in the form of a delicate Carpaccio refreshed by an oyster sorbet and topped with a snowball of Iranian Ossetra caviar. From Dec. 1 to 31, Le Bristol Paris will extend the Chocolat Complet Bristol for two, which includes hot chocolate, a flute of Prestige Champagne, savory nibbles, a selection of petits-fours and a Christmas pastry for $139.

The Conrad London St. James is offering a Christmas Afternoon Tea that features a selection of savory and sweet delights in the hotel’s Emmeline’s Lounge.

Freshly baked orange, cranberry and Christmas spice scones served with Devonshire Clotted Cream and home-made jams and preserves as you can only get in England should help make the season bright. For a more savory favor, the Brussel sprout shot Turkey Ballotine Venison bites and beetroot and spinach treats should make your eyes all aglow. The Tea is priced from £37. Add free-flowing Champagne for an extra £8 per person.

 Magical London minimum two-night packages are being offered at such Red Carnation Hotels as The Rubens at the Palace and The Chesterfield Mayfair through early January. Packages are available in rooms or suites and come with a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate upon arrival and English Breakfast each morning.

Guests celebrating Christmas Eve with a suite at The Rubens at the Palace also receive a personal Christmas tree hung with a stuffed stocking. The “Magical London” package at The Rubens at the Palace is priced from $410 per room per night with the VAT based on two adults sharing a Classic Double through Jan. 2. The Magical London package at The Chesterfield Mayfair is priced from $480 through Jan. 4.

Even as far away as the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong the holidays will be celebrated with mulled wine, traditional Hong Kong roasted chestnuts, a children’s ballet, chamber choir performances, and appearances by Santa Claus will all within the hotel. The hotel’s Festive Family Celebration Package, priced from $1,199, includes a suite with a complimentary room for children as well as daily breakfast, and a late checkout at 2 p.m. and a range of amenities for children and arrangements for a festive in-room family DVD night. The package is valid throughout December.