IF your Yangon kitchen does not include Turkey-baking essentials, such as an oven, or alternatively you don’t want to spend your holidays slaving over spuds and stuffing, then help is at hand. The Myanmar Times has asked our friends in Yangon’s premier dining establishments to spill the beans on all the special deals they’re offering over Christmas and the New Year.

For a basic Christmas dinner with beer and soft drinks try Inya Lake Hotel. At US$25 on Christmas Eve or $15 on Christmas Day anytime from 7pm it is probably the least expensive of the Christmas options and includes mulled wine. The evening won’t end once the mince pies are snaffled as the hotel has generously included free entrance to DJ Bar. Their New Year’s Eve option is slightly more expensive at $35 but, again, the good folks at DJ Bar will be waiving the usual K8000–10,000 cover charge and staff have promised to help start your New Year with a bang.

For a more literal banging New Year Sedona Hotel is offering explosions aplenty and an Indiana Jones theme for its December 31 party. Not only is this the biggest New Year party in town (our claim, not theirs) but the entertainment will take place on a boat floating in the swimming pool.

Entertainment will include performances by actor Lu Minn and singers Zaw Win Htut and Chit Thu Wai as well as rock band Emperor. There will also be a Filipino band, magic show and Grand Lucky Draw.

With most of the 850 New Year’s Eve party tickets already reserved you’ll have to be quick to guarantee a seat either in the middle of the pool ($100), in front of the pool ($70) or just a hop skip and a jump from the pool ($60).

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day guests can enjoy a buffet lunch or dinner for just $20 (drinks not included) with a jazz band from 7pm on December 24.

New Year lucky draws seem to be a theme at hotels across Yangon. Prizes in Traders Hotel’s lucky draw include air tickets and accomm-odation at the hotel. The night will kick off at 8.30pm and wind up around 1am. At $45 a head, the “Spices and Senses” party will include performances by singers Zamnu and Breaky, buffet dinner and free flow of house wine, draught beer and soft drinks. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Traders will once again hold its traditional Christmas buffet (11:30am-2pm and 6:30-10pm) complete with unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks. At just $38 it’s guaranteed to get you into the festive spirit.

Parkroyal Hotel will also be hosting a lucky draw on December 31 but rest assured that’s not all they’ve got planned. There’ll be a Mardi Gras theme, live catwalk model show and even a magic performance. The New Year’s Eve event costs $55 and the highlight of the night is likely to be performances by singers Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein and R Zarni.

The hotel also has Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve deals, priced from $40 per person. This package includes accommodation in a twin share deluxe room and buffet dinner at La Brasserie, while the $63 package also includes a Christmas gala buffet dinner and the deluxe $78 package includes a New Year’s Eve gala buffet dinner in the Grand ballroom.

Daw Ei Ei Nge, communications manager says the hotel will also host a “Christmas in Paris Wonderland” Christmas Eve dinner, priced at $40 (tennis court) and $35 (poolside) from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. This includes enter-tainment, French-influenced buffet dinner, beer, wine, soft drinks a live music band and more.

On December 24 and 31, Savoy Hotel will be hosting a five-course dinner priced at $65, which includes an aperitif and glass of wine and will be accompanied by traditional candle dancing and other entertainment.

Summit Parkview Hotel will host a Christmas Eve party, priced at $35 per person. Beginning at 7pm on the Summit Roof Garden, the deal includes buffet dinner, a live music band, cultural show, lucky draw, magic show, carol singing and party gifts.

Summit Parkview is also offering Christmas and New Year’s Day buffet lunch deals at Parkview Café. Priced at just $15 a person, the package also includes draught beer, coffee, tea, a wide variety of fresh juices and a glass of wine.

On New Year’s Eve the music will be pumping on the roof garden, where for $45 you can get a gala buffet dinner, a live music band, dance performances, a lucky draw, fashion show, DJ and party gifts.

MiCasa Hotel Apartments also has a busy schedule, said Daw Khin Khin Htay, the hotel’s public relations manager “We will have a Christmas Eve event on December 24 at the poolside and Tapas Bistro, starting at 6:30pm and finishing at 11pm. The price is $32 for an adult and $16 for a child,” she said. The price includes live music performances, a model show, lucky draws and much more.

MiCasa will also offer a New Year buffet spread at Tapas Bistro on December 31 from 7:30pm to midnight. The price is $22 for an adult and $11 for a child, including mocktails or beer. There will also be a performance by the MiCasa live band, as well as a party pack, children’s corner and a lucky draw.

Chatrium Hotel is offering lunch/dinner deals on December 24 and 25 priced at $40, which includes a bottle of wine.

On New Year’s Eve they are also offering entertainment and a range of eating options, from Japanese through to typical international. Tickets begin at $50 and the price is based on drink service and proximity to the entertain-ment. ($50 includes soft drink and beer, $70 includes wine and $100 includes champagne.)

“The event will feature a dance performance by K-mi Ko and group, a lucky draw program and musical entertainment from singers Alex, Sai Sai Kham Hlaing and others,” says Ma Lwing Mar Aung, assistant communication manager of Chatrium Hotel.

For a touch of old-world class it’s worth trying Strand Hotel, which has a six-course menu on December 24, 25 and 31 from 6pm. All nights are priced at $65 (drinks not included).

And if hotel-hopping is not your idea of Christmas fun, then why not try the sumptuous atmosphere at French-inspired restaurant Le Planteur. Tickets for the Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch are priced at $59. Just $69 will secure a seat on New Year’s Eve, when the restaurant will serve up a mouth-watering series of courses, from prime lamb fillet and zucchini tartlet to white chocolate cappuccino.

Le Planteur will also host a buffet brunch from 9am-2pm on December 25 and January 1. Priced at $22, it will include a bloody mary, smoked salmon, duck pate and a range of breakfast and dessert food.

Last but not least, The Governor’s Residence promises atmosphere, violin music and traditional dancing from $48 for a five-course meal on December 24 and 25 and $54 for a five-course menu on New Year’s Eve.

Chatrium Hotel – 40 Natmauk Rd, Tarmwe township. Tel: 544 500

The Governor’s Residence – 35 Taw Win Rd, Dagon township. Tel: 229 860-63

Inya Lake Hotel – 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Mayangone township. Tel: 662 866

Le Planteur – 22 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan township. Tel: 541 997

MiCasa Hotel Apartments – 17 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin township. Tel: 650 933

Parkroyal Hotel – 33 Alan Pya Pagoda Rd, Dagon township. Tel: 250 338

Savoy Hotel – 129 Damazedi Rd, Kamaryut township. Tel: 526 289

Sedona Hotel – Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin township. Tel: 666 900

Strand Hotel – 92 Strand Rd, Kyauktada township. Tel: 243 377

Summit Parkview Hotel – 350 Ahlone Rd, Dagon township. Tel: 211 888

Traders Hotel – 223 Sule Pagoda Rd, Panbedan township. Tel: 242 838