The One&Only Place To Be This Festive Season

With secluded havens, wild close-up encounters where few have gone before and glamorous celebrations, One&Only Resorts has introduced a collection of memorable experiences to share with loved ones for this year’s festivities.

Festive sunshine in Dubai

Celebrate at Dubai’s most intimate beachfront resort, One&Only The Palm and reconnect in complete seclusion overlooking the city’s dazzling skyline on the picturesque Palm Island. With cuisine curated by three Michelin-starred Chef Yannick Alléno, guests can indulge in a gourmet dining experience to celebrate Christmas, while guests visiting the resort’s Guerlain Spa will countdown to Christmas in style with the resort’s exclusive Guerlain Spa Advent Calendar filled to the brim with special holiday gifts. Continuing the festivities, One&Only The Palm offers one of the most colourful New Year’s Eve celebrations, where Dubai glitters as the backdrop for mesmerizing fireworks within the most stylish of settings.

Kids will delight in an exclusive programme of activities, where they can enjoy fun-filled days making festive cards, decorating gingerbread houses, participate in magic shows, and more. One&Only Royal Mirage is hosting a funfair on Christmas Day exclusively for children to enjoy. From the beachfront beauty of Eauzone to the authentic flavours of Tagine or the effortless sophistication of DRIFT Beach Club, guests at One&Only Royal Mirage also have plenty of choice for celebrations full of culinary delights.

Celebrate across Africa

South Africa has recently reopened its borders to international travellers so guests can now spend the festive season surrounded by those they love most at One&Only Cape Town, overlooking the winding waterways of the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the timeless beauty of Table Mountain. From mixology masterclasses, to wine blending experiences with the in-house sommelier, Luvo Ntezo, to a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, One&Only Cape Town has a host of experiences for festive enjoyment. The resort has also curated an array of complimentary creative sessions for children at KidsOnly including tree lighting, Santa’s workshop and a decoration making session.

From the energetic drum of the traditional Boma to a celebratory Christmas lunch with live Rwandan music, Christmas at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is set to be an unforgettable experience. Guests can gather to watch the tree lighting ceremony at Jack Hanna’s Cottage, or join the joyful sounds of carols by the local Shalom choir, accompanied by cocktails and candlelight. There will be a decadent Christmas breakfast bursting with traditional flavours with a twist, hosted drinks at The Nest Bar, festive feasts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Eve, the resort will be hosting a cocktail party and intimate Dinner. For the days between Christmas and New Year, guests can unwind in Jack Hanna’s Cottage with a range of vintage board games, cycle around the lush grounds on E-bikes, or even try new sports such as archery with the experts at the resort.

There will be captivating fireside cocktail evenings, wildlife walks and yoga on the hillside at One&Only Nyungwe House, as the Team have a specially curated programme designed to settle guests into the rhythms of a festive season immersed in nature. Wine tasting in the Chef’s Garden, Rwandan cocktail and gin masterclasses and a guided eating meditation session are a few of the innovative and bespoke offerings to complement the festive feasts designed by One&Only Nyungwe House’s culinary team. On Boxing Day, guests can set out on a bird-watching walk with the resort’s wildlife experts to discover some of Africa’s rarest birds, from the African citril to the red collared mountain babbler. To detox between the merriment, the resident yoga guru helps guests to find a sense of peace and re-balance.

Across the Indian Ocean

One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives is world-renowned for its vibrant Christmas and New Year atmosphere, an expansive private island haven with secluded stand-alone villas, there is the space and privacy for guests to celebrate as they choose. This festive season, the resort is introducing Sunset Sessions where a DJ plays mellow tunes on a remote sandbank and the resident yogi will introduce relaxing beachside yoga. Cocktail masterclasses, wine tasting wonders and smooth sounds of jazz are a few of the festive experiences on offer, while culinary delights across the Christmas period include a champagne brunch and a glamorous garden cocktail party. Families can enjoy badminton tournaments, a beach club bonanza including volleyball and water polo, and a variety of fitness challenges. From sunrise yoga to outdoor boot camps, a true feeling of wellness is to be found at One&Only Reethi Rah.

At One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, guests will be treated to a stylish and lavish festive break. On Christmas Eve, guests will begin by sipping Pol Roger champagne overlooking the magical Indian Ocean on the resort’s private peninsula with loved ones. There is a Christmas set menu at Le Terrasse or an exclusive and indulgent black truffle experience at the signature grill, PRIME. Throughout the festive period, One&Only Le Saint Géran is offering a host of tropical family experiences including an adventurous kayak discovery through the mangroves, golf, family movie nights and gardening experiences.

Mexican festivities

From embracing the colours of papel picado and kaleidoscopic fireworks, to lounging on a hammock with a cocktail overlooking the Sea of Cortez, One&Only Palmilla is the place to be for the holidays. There will be Clase Azul Tequila masterclasses, a Baja Culinary Journey where guests can sample an innovative menu full of locally sourced delicacies and cocktail workshops, One&Only Palmilla offers true festive indulgence in Los Cabos. Christmas Day begins with Mass at the resort’s historical Chapel, before Santa arrives to delight the little ones and a celebratory brunch commences. On 27 December the resort will host a Barbacoa Feast where guests can experience a traditional and truly Mexican culinary event - One&Only Palmilla’s Executive Chef Sandro will make a special adobo from local, fresh ingredients and use an ancient underground cooking method with agave leaves. For New Year’s Eve, exclusive cabanas are the perfect setting for an unforgettable celebration with loved ones to toast in the New Year in style with unlimited champagne and selected spirits, Beluga caviar and a dedicated server.

At the recently opened One&Only Mandarina,  guests can enjoy glamorous soirees, exciting culinary events, beach adventures and wellness wonders. At this time of the year, the wish to wind down and look forward to the year ahead is granted at One&Only Mandarina, with a selection of mindful and active wellness experiences that allow guests to de-stress, re-focus and revitalise for a prosperous 2021. Active consciousness breath work, vibrational sound baths, energising jungle workouts and ancient Mexican rituals such as a Pachamama ceremony and Reyes Majos (a traditional Mexican tradition of ‘Three Kings Day’ consisting of a detox meditation) are a few of the pioneering wellness experiences that guests can enjoy over the festive period. Traditional Mexican culinary delights will be incorporated in the lavish Christmas meals at the resort, all to be enjoyed on a jungle clifftop with panoramic views.

Festive jungle and mountain havens

Celebrate the spirit of the season in style on Malaysia’s undiscovered south-eastern shores surrounded by the natural beauty of One&Only Desaru Coast. The first One&Only resort in Asia opened its doors in September this year and has curated an exceptional programme of events to celebrate its first festive season. The resort invites guests to take part in Malaysia’s Lost Tales culinary masterclasses, basketball tournaments, Christmas Eve cocktails and a Christmas Day brunch with delicious flavours of the season and live DJ entertainment. The resort is also hosting a New Year’s Day ‘lazy brunch’ at the renowned Ember Beach Club where guests can start the New Year with a spread of barbecued seafood and prime meats accompanied by cocktails to toast to new beginnings, while lounging at the water’s edge and relaxing to live music all afternoon.

From the morning calls of the kookaburra and uncovering the secrets of nature, to the calm of gin cocktails as the sun descends over the rugged escarpments, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the heart of the Blue Mountains in Australia, is a wild festive escape. Guests celebrating at the resort are offered an array of culinary experiences including a tasting of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley’s very own exclusive gin, 1832 Wolgan Gin, as well a gourmet BBQ lunch and a cheese and wine tasting. James Viles leads the culinary direction and will be serving a feast in true Australian style over Christmas. In the mornings, guests are offered the chance to reconnect with nature and their bodies with complimentary yoga, and in the evenings, a twilight campfire and stargazing experience is the perfect end to the day, this memorable experience provides an enchanting tour of the twilight sky amidst the atmospheric precinct of the 1832 Heritage Homestead. Children can take part in joyful and meaningful activities such as an orienteering treasure hunt, mini trail runs including teamwork and encouraging children to overcome challenges, and bush skills, where little ones embark on a nature adventure like no other.

Please note bookings for all experiences are required. For more information, visit oneandonlyresorts.com.