Jetsettersblog

CHRISTMAS IN A CASTLE
Ashford Castle, County Mayo

The new Christmas à la Carte program at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, transforms a guest room or suite into home sweet home with a Christmas tree, traditional ornaments and even “music to trim by” for €200 (approximately US$287). Guests can choose the tree variety (Brunswick, Noble Fir, Norway Spruce, Richmond Fir) and the colors of the ornaments, there are white lights that are “green” energy-saving LED, and for guests who aren’t the decorating kind, the tree can be delivered all dressed up.

For an additional charge, ornaments can be sourced from around the world and room service can deliver a Seasonal Afternoon Menu including Spiced Mulled Wine, Lady Ardilaun’s Christmas Mince Pies, Plum Pudding and Valrhona Hot Chocolate. Christmas à la Carte is the perfect add-on to Ashford Castle’s three-night Christmas Package, which includes a visit by Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, a festive Christmas dinner, breakfast each morning and much more for €1,850 (approximately $2,749) per person. www.ashford.ie

A ROMAN RETREAT
Hotel Hassler Roma, Rome

This holiday season, Rome’s esteemed Hotel Hassler Roma is offering a special three-night Christmas package, which includes deluxe accommodations with daily buffet breakfast, a Christmas Eve dinner at the panoramic Michelin-starred restaurant Imago and a Christmas surprise.

Based on double occupancy, the package is priced at €1,395 (approximately US$2,095) and is available for arrivals from December 22 to December 24. A three-night New Year’s Eve celebration is also on offer, which includes deluxe accommodations for two with daily buffet breakfast, a special New Year’s Day gift and a New Year’s Eve Gala dinner at Imago. Priced at €3,195 (approximately US$4,794) this special is available for arrivals from December 29 to December 31. www.hotelhasslerroma.com

A FOODIE’S PARISIAN PARADISE
Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière, Paris

Located on the Triangle d’Or at the intersection of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière is offering Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners at both Fouquet’s and Le Diane restaurants. Specially created menus include dishes such as Brittany langoustines with roasted truffles and melted artichokes and turbot infused with Royal Osetra Caviar, with the choice of various beverages including Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière’s signature organic Pommery Pop Earth Champagne. Additionally, a special New Year’s Day brunch will be offered at Le Diane, offering a wide variety of organic and locally sourced French specialties.
www.fouquets-barriere.com

PIROUETTES AND A GRAND PALACE
Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne

A special package this holiday season from the Beau-Rivage Palace combines tickets to Lausanne’s world-famous Béjart Ballet, one of the area’s most celebrated attractions, with accommodations at the city’s best hotel – plus, a special Béjart Ballet gift, complimentary access to the Beau-Rivage Palace’s Cinq Mondes Spa and fitness room and a buffet breakfast.

The package is valid from December 19-23, and prices start at CHF 320 (approximately US$318) per person per night. Special rates at the Beau-Rivage Palace are also available from December 12 through January 10, 2010, starting at CHF 415 (approximately US$412) for a double room. An additional discount will be added to children’s rooms, starting at CHF 260 (approximately US$258) per night. www.brp.ch

SWISS BLISS
Baur au Lac, Zurich

Fresh off an approximately $50-million dollar renovation, the Baur au Lac in Zurich has extra reason to celebrate this holiday season. A special package will include an all-out New Year’s Eve Gala dinner at the newly renovated Pavillion restaurant, as well as accommodation in a double room with daily breakfast, fresh fruit on arrival, complimentary WI-FI and minibar access. After the gala dinner – with dishes such as fine cream soup of Breton lobster and fried herbs and sea bass fillet with jus of shallots and tarragon – guests are invited to ring in the New Year at the Baur au Lac’s annual Rive Gauche New Year’s Eve Party. The package, available December 31 through January 3, 2010, is priced at CHF 660 (approximately US$655) per night, and, for the night of December 31, CHF 1,440 (approximately US$1,433). www.bauraulac.ch