Last year we coincided with the magical Christmas concert in the three-floor main lobby at Raffles. Every evening during the holiday season the superb choir of Victoria College students sings 7.30-8pm in front of a giant Christmas tree, with four sparkling chandeliers overhead.

Harbor-facing rooms at the Kowloon-side InterContinental have all-wall windows looking over to Hong Kong Island, perfect to view the nightly 8pm multi-colored laser show from the top of Central district's top banks and other highrises. A really sensational way to watch would be while drinking Dom Perignon in the glass-walled infinity hot-tub on the third floor terrace.

Spend an evening reminiscing and forecasting as you both, or all, sit inside the inglenook - the small room with seats right inside a massive working log fireplace - at the historic Ashford Castle, dating back to 1228. Later, enjoy bedroom 326, with fourpost bed, heated towel rail and view over the illuminated fountain and tranquil Lough Corrib lake.