As the year’s final hours approach, the world’s great metropolises transform into vast, illuminated theaters of celebration. Clocking from the early pyrotechnics of the Southern Hemisphere to the midnight neon of the West, these four destinations remain the essential stages for a global New Year. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Sydney: The First Spark Sydney holds the prestige of being among the first to ignite the global festivities. The harbor becomes a shimmering arena as world-renowned pyrotechnics cascade from the Harbour Bridge, reflecting off the iconic sails of the Opera House in a masterclass of maritime scale. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Bangkok: The River of Light Along the Chao Phraya, Bangkok’s historic waterway serves as a majestic backdrop for the countdown. From the city’s soaring rooftop lounges to the traditional riverfront, the skyline erupts in a synchronized dance of light that blends ancient temple silhouettes with a high-octane festive energy. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ London: A Thames-Side Tradition When Big Ben strikes twelve, the South Bank becomes the focal point of European celebration. The London Eye frames a breathtaking display of color reflected in the dark waters of the Thames, while the city’s historic streets and grand ballrooms hum with timeless British charm. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ New York: The World’s Crossroads Few experiences rival the kinetic electricity of Times Square. As the crystal ball descends, a blizzard of confetti falls upon a global crowd in a moment of collective optimism. It remains the quintessential urban ritual—a high-energy finale at the center of the world.

As winter arrives, the City of Light transforms into a glowing wonderland of sparkling boulevards, stylish decorations, and warm seasonal charm. The atmosphere is so unique from dazzling illuminations to cosy Christmas markets, Paris captures the spirit of celebration like nowhere else — and at the heart of this magical atmosphere stands the iconic Printemps Haussmann. Founded in 1865, Printemps has long been a symbol of Parisian elegance and innovation. Created with the ambition to offer something fresh, beautiful, and accessible, the department store soon became a pioneer in modern retail. It introduced fixed pricing, seasonal sales, and artistic window displays that would later become legendary Christmas attractions. Its magnificent Art Nouveau architecture — complete with historic domes and ornate facades — has been admired for generations and officially recognised as part of France’s cultural heritage. Today, Printemps remains one of Paris’s most beloved shopping destinations, attracting visitors from all over the world. During the festive period, the store comes alive with enchanting window displays, exclusive collections, and the joyful energy that defines Paris in winter. Whether you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, refreshing your wardrobe, or simply immersing yourself in the city’s festive charm, Printemps offers an unforgettable experience. Festive Promotion (15 Nov 2025 – 15 Jan 2026) Shop till you drop with our VIP Invitation and receive exclusive rewards when you, • Spend €800 or more → Receive a small makeup pouch (valued at €18) or a stylish cap (valued at €25) • Spend €1,200 or more → Receive a laptop sleeve (valued at €35) • Spend €2,000 or more → Receive a large bag (valued at €69) A perfect bonus treat — whether as a Parisian keepsake or a thoughtful gift for someone special. This holiday season, let Printemps be your gateway to the magic of Paris. Discover the traditions, the beauty, and the joy of celebrating in one of the world’s most enchanting cities.

The Siam has been recognised with three Michelin Keys in the Michelin Guide Thailand 2025, the highest hotel distinction in the guide, marking this family-owned Bangkok riverside property as one of the top luxury hotels in Thailand. The Michelin Guide draws attention to the intimate scale of the Bill Bensley–designed Art Deco boutique hotel that comprises just 38 suites and villas, and the generous size of the accommodation, where the entry-level suite spans some 80 square metres. To celebrate this remarkable achievement, The Siam invites Thai residents to indulge in a luxurious staycation with two specially curated packages with rates starting from THB 22,500. The packages are available for booking until 31 December 2025 and valid for stays through 30 September 2026. Riverside Sanctuary starts from THB 22,500++ per night in a Siam Suite, including breakfast for two persons. The package features a 90-minute Opium Spa ritual for two and a THB 2,000 dining credit for a riverfront dinner or afternoon tea. Heritage Villa Indulgence starts from THB 43,100++ per night in a Pool Villa, including breakfast for two persons. Guests will enjoy a private three-course in-villa dinner with sommelier pairing, a 60–90-minute couples’ wellness session featuring yoga, meditation, or Reiki, and a THB 4,000 dining and spa credit. Both packages are available exclusively for Thailand residents. The Siam is owned by the Sukosol family, a multi-generational group of musicians and entertainers who have also built the Sukosol Hotels group, which includes The Siam Collection. Located on a tranquil stretch of the Chao Phraya River, The Siam’s offerings include Chon Thai Restaurant, housed in a traditional teak building and the Muay Thai kickboxing gym. The hotel also features a private pier where guests can enjoy cocktails by the water and cruise aboard The Siam’s exclusive shuttle boat, the only service among riverside hotels that allows guests to stop anywhere along the route between the hotel and Sathorn Pier, including ICONSIAM, Wat Arun, and other renowned landmarks.

Taking the holiday season in style, RAVA Beach Club by Banyan Tree Phuket makes waves as the island’s newest beachfront sensation — a lifestyle destination where design, energy, and oceanfront living come together in perfect harmony. Stretching 180 metres along Bang Tao Beach, RAVA redefines the beach club experience. It’s not just a place to sip cocktails by the sea — it’s a destination for every mood and lifestyle. From sunrise yoga and water sports to family dining, kids’ activities, and tranquil escapes, RAVA fosters connection: with nature, with loved ones, and with the art of slowing down. Three stunning infinity pools anchor the experience, each transforming with the rhythm of the day. Mornings begin with serenity and sparkling sea views. Afternoons invite sun-soaked lounging and conversation over signature cocktails. Evenings ignite with golden-hour hues reflected on the water — and as night falls, energy rises to the beat of the waves. Three Zones, Three Experiences RAVA is designed around three distinctive zones, each offering a unique way to enjoy the beach club lifestyle. Young & Fun The vibrant heart of RAVA, this social hub offers 180 outdoor seats, three infinity pools, and luxurious cabanas for all-day lounging. From laid-back afternoons to high-energy evenings, guests enjoy live DJ performances, immersive entertainment, and dazzling fire shows that illuminate the night sky. Master Grill Dining becomes an art form at Master Grill, where chefs command live-fire grills for a multisensory culinary performance. Guests savour dry-aged meats and seasonal seafood — tiger prawns in the rainy season, sea crab in summer, and fresh grouper by year-end. The monthly Pura Vida Sunday Brunch with Free-Flow Veuve Clicquot Champagne (THB 6,900 per person) delivers a taste of indulgence, complemented by an innovative wine dispenser that lets guests explore premium global wines by the glass. Prestige Reserved exclusively for Banyan Group Residence owners, Prestige offers refined tranquility. Private infinity pools, air-conditioned dining rooms, and curated soundscapes create an atmosphere of pure relaxation — ideal for intimate gatherings or quiet ocean-view escapes. Private Gatherings Made Perfect Beyond its daily allure, RAVA shines as a destination for private celebrations. The club features five VIP rooms, each with space for 10 guests and unobstructed sea views. These can be combined for larger events — from birthdays and anniversaries to corporate gatherings. With expert event planning and bespoke menus, every celebration becomes a signature RAVA moment — unforgettable, elegant, and framed by the sea. How to Get There Fly comfortably to Phuket via Bangkok Airways. For reservations and inquiries: Tel: 076-372-456 Website: www.ravabeachclub.com

The island of Phu Quoc may be topping travel charts, but Vietnam’s famously long coastline offers many other extraordinary destinations for winter escapes. The latest addition is Villa Le Corail, a Gran Meliá Hotel – the first resort in Asia from the luxury Spanish brand. With December bringing a significant drop in rainfall compared to November, the weather is ideal for both beachside relaxation and tropical exploration. The enchanting all-suite, all-villa resort is the epitome of Mediterranean chic. Choose a suite to bask in sunshine on a private terrace or opt for a villa with its own pool for the ultimate indulgence, complete with premium toiletries from Carner Barcelona, butler service, a curated bath ritual, bedtime tea, ironing and complimentary non-alcoholic minibar replenishment. The largest villas, with four bedrooms and two swimming pools, are perfect for extended family stays, and offer such delightful add-ons as floating breakfast, private BBQ and romantic poolside dinners. As in Spain, dining is at the heart of the experience, overseen by Marcos Morán, Gastronomic Director and fifth-generation chef. Holder of one Michelin Star and three Repsol Soles, Morán has received Spain’s National Gastronomy Award and was named “Chef de l’Avenir” by the International Gastronomy Academy. Under his guidance, the resort’s culinary options include a sun-drenched Spanish restaurant, elegant Japanese dining, international all-day fare, and two poolside venues serving everything from cocktails to afternoon tea. Children enjoy their own adventures at the Wanderlust Kids’ Club with daily activities, while adults can unwind at Song Spa, the serene onsen or the resort’s tranquil swimming pool. With three calm beaches and activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, bodyboarding, snorkelling and beach volleyball, there’s never a dull moment. Nearby, there are ancient Champa ruins to explore, natural hot springs to unwind in and Na Trang’s excellent shopping. Book the special Christmas & New Year offer, available from 1 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 on melia.com, and enjoy early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, plus 15% off dining and 20% off spa treatments. For bookings, visit Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá Hotel, paradise in Vietnam | Melia.com.

Carpe Diem Beach Club brings back one of Phuket’s most beloved seaside rituals with the return of La Dolce Vita Sundays, relaunching on Sunday, 5 October 2025, at the island’s iconic Bangtao Beach. Marking the start of the high season, La Dolce Vita Sundays celebrates the Mediterranean art of living — a seamless blend of sun, sea, music, and exceptional cuisine. The signature brunch-to-sunset experience captures the essence of effortless luxury, where guests can indulge, unwind, and embrace Phuket’s lively social spirit. From 12 PM to 3 PM, guests are invited to a beachfront buffet brunch featuring live cooking stations with fresh seafood, imported cheeses, sushi, Mediterranean favorites, BBQ carvings, and decadent desserts. The ambience is elevated with live music and panoramic sea views — the perfect prelude to an afternoon of coastal celebration. As the day unfolds, the scene transforms into a vibrant pool party from 3 PM till late, complete with full-service poolside lounges, chilled towels, signature cocktails, wines, champagnes, and bottle service. Resident DJs set the mood with laid-back daytime tunes that flow into sunset beats and deep-night rhythms, while captivating beach performances and a spectacular fire show finale keep the energy alive. The relaunch party featured a special guest appearance by Chef Álvaro Ramos Palancarejo (Chef Palanca), who performed a live culinary showcase featuring his signature dishes — including scallops on salmorejo, lobster paella, and arroz negro. Benny De Bellis, Co-Founder of Carpe Diem Beach Club, shared: “La Dolce Vita Sundays is our way of bringing Mediterranean soul to Phuket. It’s about great food, music, and moments that feel spontaneous yet unforgettable. We want guests to feel at home, to linger with friends, and to leave knowing they’ve been part of something special — because Carpe Diem has always been more than a beach club; it’s a way of life.” La Dolce Vita Sundays will be held every Sunday from October 5 onwards, with the following packages available: • Beach Lounge Chair – THB 2,000 per guest • Pool Deck or Beach Bed – THB 2,500 per guest • La Dolce Vita Sunday Brunch – THB 2,900 per guest + VAT • La Dolce Vita Experience (12 PM–8 PM+) – THB 5,000 per guest Supported by Sole Mio Boutique Hotel, five-star adults-only retreat just minutes from Bangtao Beach, this relaunch promises the ultimate celebration of Mediterranean lifestyle in Phuket. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, but advance reservations are highly recommended. Website: Carpe Diem Beach Club Phuket

October is such a lively month it’s when the air gets cooler, the colors turn golden, and the world lights up with festivals and celebrations. From cultural parades to spooky Halloween nights and mouth-watering food fairs, October is truly full of joy and excitement. Here are five events happening around the world that make this month so special! ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 1. Austin City Limits Music Festival – Austin, USA (October 3–5 & 10–12, 2025) Music lovers, this one’s for you! Austin City Limits, or ACL, is one of America’s most beloved outdoor music festivals. Held over two weekends at Zilker Park in Texas, it features big name artists and upcoming stars across every genre from pop and rock to indie and country. Besides amazing music, visitors enjoy local food stalls, art displays, and the laid-back Texan vibe that makes the festival unforgettable. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 2. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – New Mexico, USA (October 4–12, 2025) If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the sky filled with colorful balloons, this is your chance! The Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque is the largest hot air balloon event in the world. Thousands of visitors gather to watch hundreds of balloons take off together at sunrise. The “Mass Ascension” is breathtaking, and the nighttime “Glow” event, where balloons light up against the dark sky, is pure magic. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 3. Diwali Festival – India (October 20–24, 2025) Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most beautiful celebrations. Homes and temples are decorated with oil lamps, and fireworks fill the skies to symbolize victory of light over darkness. Families come together to share sweets, exchange gifts, and pray for good fortune. Cities like Jaipur, Delhi, and Varanasi glow brightly offering visitors a once in a lifetime cultural experience. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 4. Halloween – Salem, USA (October 31, 2025) Salem, Massachusetts famous for its witch trials is the ultimate Halloween destination. The whole town transforms into a spooky wonderland filled with haunted houses, costume parades, ghost tours, and candlelit walking trails. The “Haunted Happenings” festival runs all month long, making Salem the best place in the world for fans of everything eerie and mysterious. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ 5. Tokyo Ramen Festa – Tokyo, Japan (October 23–November 4, 2025) Foodies, get ready for Japan’s biggest outdoor ramen event! The Tokyo Ramen Festa brings together top ramen chefs from across Japan to serve up regional specialties from creamy Hakata-style pork broth to spicy Sapporo miso. You can try different bowls every day, enjoy live performances, and relax in the crisp autumn air. It’s a perfect event for comfort food lovers. Text by Kawikun Thadatsangsakul

When all you want is to make the most of your hotel stay—now you can. Courtyard by Marriott Hotels in Bangkok are offering a flexible 24-hour stay, no matter what time you check in. Travellers staying at any of the three Courtyard hotels in Bangkok can now check in at any time—day or night—and enjoy a full 24-hour stay, perfectly tailored to match every schedule. From now until October 31, 2025, guests at Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok, and Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport can book the Courtyard Flexi 24 Hrs promotion to enjoy this convenient benefit. Whether arriving early in the morning or landing on a red-eye flight, your room is yours for a full day. As a bonus, guests will also receive 20% off food and drinks throughout their stay. With thoughtfully designed rooms, productive workspaces, delicious dining options, and warm hospitality, each Courtyard hotel is committed to helping you make the most of your time in the city. The “Courtyard Flexi 24 Hrs” promotion by August 31, 2025, for stays through October 31, 2025. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 Stay stylish in the heart of Bangkok’s vibrant Sukhumvit district. Just steps from Asok intersection, this hotel is surrounded by offices, shopping, dining, and nightlife—making it ideal for business and leisure travelers. Modern guestrooms feature ergonomic workspaces, and guests can enjoy healthy meals at Reap Factory, relax in the rooftop pool, or unwind at the chic Twenty & One lounge. For more information and for reservations: Tel: +66 (0) 2127 5900 Email: cy.bkkct.ays@courtyard.com www.courtyardbangkoksukhumvit.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Perfectly located near Ratchadamri and Chidlom BTS stations, this hotel puts guests in the center of Bangkok’s shopping and business scene. Recently renovated, its modern rooms with calming natural elements provide a tranquil retreat. Enjoy the outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, and soothing treatments at Tarnvana Spa. For more information and for reservations: Tel: +66 (0) 2127 5900 Email: cy.bkkct.ays@courtyard.com www.courtyardbangkok.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Just minutes from Thailand’s main international airport, this resort-style hotel is ideal for transit or longer stays. Guests enjoy spacious rooms and suites with blackout curtains and views of the city, canal, or pool. Facilities include a large outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, relaxing spa, and a specialty burger bar, along with a complimentary airport shuttle for stress-free travel. For more information and for reservations: Tel: +66 (0) 2127 5900 Email: cy.bkkct.ays@courtyard.com www.courtyardbangkoksuvarnavbhumiairport.com

Explore the natural wonders of Krabi and experience the vibe of a cinematic adventure of Jurassic World. The spectacular limestone cliffs and lush landscape of Krabi have returned to the silver screen as the primary film location of the blockbuster movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, which debuted worldwide in July 2025. To celebrate the release of the hit film, Banyan Tree Krabi has introduced a new family-friendly package, offering guests the opportunity to trace the dinosaur-sized footsteps involved in the making of the movie and the spectacular film locations where scenes were filmed. After considering the Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Panama and Costa Rica, Hollywood producers opted instead for Krabi as the setting for the fourth in the franchise of Jurassic World movies. Krabi was selected as the location for a prehistoric backdrop. The pristine environment, and in particular the magnificent limestone cliffs that jut precipitously from the sea, are no less than 90 million years ago, formed at a time when the sea level was much higher. The collision of the continents then uplifted the limestone, contributing to the dramatic karst towers and cliffs we see today. Named the “Jurassic Explorer”, the new promotion for guests includes: a Jurassic World Rebirth-themed welcome drink and snack; a half-day marine excursion to Hong Island and neighboring islands by local longtail boat; a 3-hour tour to discover the natural wonder of Klong Root (Clear Water Canal); a guidebook to explore the picturesque locations where Jurassic World Rebirth was filmed; a 60-minute massage treatment at Banyan Tree Spa Krabi; and special price on tickets for two persons to the Jurassic World Experience at Asiatique The Riverfront, Bangkok. The resort’s developer, AWC, is a partner in sponsoring the Jurassic World Experience, an exhibition in central Bangkok, which features life-size dinosaurs and interactive fun. The excursion to Klong Root takes in one of Krabi’s hidden gems — the rivers and waterways seen in the penultimate scenes of Jurassic World Rebirth, where the surviving protagonists of the film attempt to evade dinosaurs by paddling downriver through the dense jungle. Guests who prefer to scout the sites independently will find that the Banyan Tree Krabi guidebook lays out a map of the spectacular sites and tropical terrain where Jurassic World Rebirth was filmed, including: Klong Root (Clear Water Canal), located 30 minutes by car from the resort; Phra Nang Cave Beach, adjacent to Railay Bay some 40 minutes by boat from the hotel; and Huay To Waterfall, which lies within Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, a 60-minute drive from the resort. In Jurassic World Rebirth, Scarlett Johansson stars as Zora Bennett, the leader of an expedition aiming to secure DNA from dinosaurs which could have life-saving benefits to mankind. Indeed, Johansson herself is a devotee of all things Thailand, stating in a recent interview that her favorite dish is laab gai, a ground chicken meat salad that perfectly balances spicy, sour, and herbal flavours. As a gesture to the film star’s spice-proof palate, Banyan Tree Krabi has now introduced its own version, dubbed “Jurassic Laab–A Star’s Wild Bite”, offering