Whether you are looking for a glitzy party scene or you would like more of a take-it-easy, relaxing getaway this list will have you covered:
1. Sydney: Besides the fact that Sydney is a long way from most countries, it tops the list because New Year kicks in first there. You get to celebrate ahead of the rest of the world if you are in Sydney. If you do happen to visit Sydney for NYE then the best places to watch the extravagant Harbour Bridge firework show are parties on exclusive islands or family-friendly parks for free on either side of Sydney Harbour. Fantastic vantage points in Sydney Harbour National Park offer uninterrupted views of the city skyline and the spectacular fireworks display. Get front row seats on Clark Island, Shark Island, Goat Island and foreshore sites like Bradleys Head Amphitheatre and others. But if you would like to escape all the crowds and still enjoy the fireworks from a private viewing area then consider attending the NYE party that is hosted by Portside Sydney Opera House every year. They have a range of ticket options. You could also opt for the party at The Sydney Opera house itself.
2. New York: The Big Apple definitely has the biggest NYE party out of all at the ball drop venue in Times Square where one million people gather together. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street. The feeling is definitely quite electric if you can get to be a part of the crowd. There are two ways to make it, one is to start queuing up for the viewing areas which is free from mid morning; usually the queueing to this restricted area where you can have a good view of the ball drop starts at 6-7am. If you are up for this, then I am sure it will be worth it. But if you would like to escape the crowd and still view the ball drop, then that’s possible too. For this, you can attend one of the parties organised by the hotels located on the Time square strip. These parties have tickets of various price ranges that could give you a full or partial view of the balldrop from their viewing areas inside the hotels. You will have to check the hotels’ websites for more information. Some of the well known ones where you can also party the night away are Knickerbocker, Marriott Marquis, Premier Terrace area at the AMC Empire 25 movie theatre, Supernova at the Novotel Hotel Times Square, Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel and others. There are lots of other all-night fun parties, events, concerts and DJ nights that will go on at various spots in the city. The bottom line is, you are surely going to have fun if you are in NYC for New Year. Remember to pre-plan everything to do with transportation, reservations, plan of action etc. for the celebrations to go smoothly.
3. London: This city is surely another hot destination to celebrate New Years Eve, because of all the various parties hosted in various venues and mostly because of the extravagant firework display over the London skyline. It’s better to hunt down an outdoor spot for watching the fireworks. It goes on for ten minutes starting from midnight at the London Eye. Viewing the fireworks from all the designated areas like the nearby bridges, Southbank and all along the Embankment is not free. You have to get hold of the tickets much in advance before they sell out. Queuing usually begins from about 8pm. On the other hand, if you don’t want to be a part of the crowd, you can opt for one of the dinner/live music etc. packages at the parties that will have a firework view too. For this your options are Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar, The Atheneum, Southbank Centre, Aqua Shard and others. You also have the option to kick off 2020 with a boat party along the River Thames with a view of the fireworks.
4. Las Vegas: Look no further than Vegas if you want to ring in 2020 in style. No doubt Las Vegas does have some of the best parties on New Year’s Eve, but for the midnight fireworks display there are spectacular fireworks bursting out from top of all the seven main casino hotels on the Las Vegas strip. If you want to experience all of the fun, that is, experience a firework show, let your hair down and dance like no one is watching and enjoy great delicacies, then Las Vegas should be your destination. You can watch the fireworks from anywhere outside the Strip casino hotels or if you happen to be at a rooftop party overlooking the fireworks. For some of the best NYE parties, nights at clubs like Omnia, Hakassan, are surely the ultimate ones with some of the world’s best DJs playing. From places like Omnia Terrace at Caesars Palace, Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Stratosphere restaurant, etc you can party and enjoy the fireworks both.
5. Miami: Miami definitely is a similar choice to Las Vegas, because here too you can have the best of everything on New Year’s Eve. But it comes down to your personal preference as to what would you really like to do for welcoming the new year. When it comes to deciding between Miami and Las Vegas, it also depends on how you would like to spend the days there before and after NYE. If you want to party party party only, then it’s Vegas. On contrary, if you prefer to take it easy and have a nice time by the beach then it’s Miami. Another plus point – Miami has great weather in Dec/Jan. So, expect some winter sunshine. Miami also has a lot of party nights throughout not just on NYE. Miami also ranks quite high on my preference list because it’s just perfect in terms of all factors such as great food, cool hangouts / parties, downtime at the beach. For NYE fireworks, it’s actually spread over a few locations, that is, Downtown Miami, South Beach Miami, The Coral Gables among the prominent ones. You can watch the Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park fireworks at the Pitbull concert (which happens mostly every year). Alternatively you can enjoy the New Year’s Eve Big Orange Ball Drop and Bayfront Park Fireworks both for free from Bayfront Park. There are also a host of party nights to choose from- like that of City of Miami beach’s NYE celebration, parties at the Fontainebleau or Nikki Beach and others. Pre-booking tickets is a must.
6. Dubai: Dubai is also a great choice both for New Years and generally for a holiday because of its vibrant culture, world’s tallest building and exotic location within the Arabian desert which is again an extension of the world’s largest desert, The Sahara. On NYE the spectacular fireworks display takes place at a few locations around the city accompanied with laser shows at Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and others. The most popular being the one that takes place all along the Burj Khalifa tower. A good spot to watch it would be from one of the exclusive hotel rooftop parties/ restaurants/rooms if you happen to attend any of the parties or stay in a hotel that overlooks Burj Khalifa like Shangri-La, Taj Dubai, Palace Downtown Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Tower. This will also provide more of an upscale experience and an escape from the crowds again. But watching it from a ground level that is from the public viewing areas, or any other location in the vicinity of Burj Khalifa will also give a great view of the fireworks like waterfront of Dubai Fountain or from one of the many restaurants in Souk Al Bahar and Burj Plaza. It’s important to plan transportation and book reservations for any parties as its a very popular destination for NYE and roads get closed on the day from early evening around the locations of the firework shows.
7. Turks and Caicos: If you want to take a break from the bustling city life and the crowd, a perfect time to do so is during the holiday season. So, if you are up for a quieter NYE and would like a getaway where you can unwind and recharge, then consider the stunning Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos. You can plan this your way depending on your likes and interests; there really are no must dos or don’t dos here. Resorts are beautifully lit up during this time of the year and restaurants have their holiday menu. You can either enjoy a relaxed dinner by the beach or go for a beach party with midnight fireworks display at one of the resorts for ringing in NYE. Whether you are looking for a relaxed time at the white sand beach, or an adventure packed holiday with activities like snorkelling, diving and caving in some of the magnificent limestone caves or want to experience tranquility at one of the resorts – then Turks and Caicos it is. A great place and celeb favourite resort which has it all would be the Amanyara resort; they have a few festive events (family friendly) organised starting from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. You will also have the option to watch the Junkanoo Festival where the locals carry out their annual tradition on 31st December with music, dancing and colourful costumes.
8. Maldives: Eat, sleep, chill, repeat; if you want this to be your mantra for your NYE getaway then the Maldives (consisting of 1,200 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean) would be a great idea. Chill meaning chilling at the idyllic private beaches of the resort you will be staying at or at your villa’s/resort’s pool or simply soaking in the pristine blue ocean’s view from your bed or the tub with a drink in your hand. This is a perfect destination if you are interested in diving, sailing or surfing. The luxurious resorts have lots to offer starting from underwater spas to underwater restaurants to open-air cinemas, private beach dining, sunken wine cellars and treetop restaurants. So, you can be in the resort during the whole trip and not feel the need to go anywhere else. The Maldives is synonymous with a dream holiday where you can let your hair down and simply be. Most of the resorts host parties for their guests on NYE. You will have to check their websites for more details. Some of the top resorts with great amenities are Conrad, Four Seasons, One and Only Reethi Rah, Soneva Fushi, Huvafen Fushi.
9. Thailand: Hearing of Thailand, you might think of Bangkok which is known for its diverse food culture, lively market places and nightclubs or the beautiful beaches off the coast of Thailand – besides these there is lots to Thailand. There is no better time than the holiday season to explore these. The weather is also perfect to visit during Dec/Jan. Explore the nature (hot springs, waterfalls, caves) outside Pai, Erawan & Srinakarind National Park, and wildlife at Khao Sok National Park, Buddhist temples, ancient ruins, spectacular architecture of shrines and temples at Phanom Rung and Ayuthaya. There are options to go for mountain trekking at Pai, rock climbing at Railey. Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok is a must visit for the legendary Emerald Buddha statue. Among the islands, Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, and Ko Tao deserve special mention. For NYE celebrations, you can opt either for something where you hang out with the mass crowd or for something more intimate. For a more public scene, go for the gathering at Patong in Phuket or Chiang Mai where thousands of people send lanterns up into the sky at midnight. It’s definitely quite a thrilling experience. You can bid farewell to 2019 and welcome 2020 in style with dinner, drinks and live music at the upscale spot, Amanpuri (loved by celebs) which is one of the best hotels in Phuket. They have a beachside party there every year for NYE. The events they organise in the resort starting from mid December through to the first week of January are quite special like beach barbecues, delicious buffet food, Christmas eve’s starlight dinner, Christmas Day brunch, NYE party and others. For other NYE parties, you can take a look at Catch Beach Club, Kata Rocks, The Naka Island, Dream Beach Club (formerly known as Nikki Beach).