Although, staycation has become a recent fad but many Britons still prefer a good old overseas holiday to usher in the New Year. Availability of a number of cheap holiday options from London has also added favourably to their preference.
Date : Monday, September 27, 2010
New Year’s Eve is celebrated across the world with great gusto. Here are 10 of the world’s hottest New Year destinations. Take your pick and book that dream New Year holiday well in advance.
Cape Town
With New Year being the most happening night for partying, the picturesque Cape Town with the Table Mountain as its backdrop is the favourite New Year getaway for millions. Long Street, trendy hangouts at Camps Bay, and thumping DJ music in clubs dotting the city spoil night animals for choice. Popular amongst Britons, there is a plethora of convenient and cheap holidays from London with flights from London Heathrow.
Sydney
Sydney remains one of the best places in the world for celebrating New Year’s Eve. Circular Quay, the nerve centre of Sydney Harbour, comes alive with an immense tide of humanity. While celebrations start right since the afternoon, the spectacular fireworks display lights up the night sky at midnight and goes on for 15 minutes. Rush and you may still find cheap tickets for your New Year holiday in Sydney.
Maldives
The mesmerising beauty of Maldives is perhaps best savoured on New Year’s Eve. A carnival like atmosphere engulfs the destination with drummers, dancers and singers rocking the city of Malé and other top tourist island resorts throughout the night. Gorge on local delicacies like kiru Sarbat, foni boakiba, kuli boakiba, and Gula or enjoy the traditional folk songs and dance sequences which offer enlightening glimpses into Maldives’s rich cultural heritage.
Dubai
The gleaming emirate of Dubai welcomes the New Year in its trademark opulent style. The events at world famous beaches and island resort hotels of Dubai attract global tourists and celebrities alike. Hotels at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina, Sheikh Zayed Road and the Palm Island – all transform into thrilling entertainment haunts. Dubai caters to all budgets and there are plenty of cheap flights from London.
Egypt
Pick Egypt to spend your New Year holidays in the most unique way. One can find many hotels and resorts in cities like Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurgadha with special arrangements and activities for global tourists to welcome New Year. Start your New Year with an expedition to the most stunning sites such as the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, cruise the river Nile, try the Mediterranean beaches of Alexandria or the Red Sea beaches of Sharm El Sheikh or Hurgadha, carefully enjoy great snorkelling and scuba diving at Blue Hole, climb up the Mt. Sinai or experience the exciting camel ride and discover the expansive desert and the quaint Bedouin culture. Winter months from December to February form the best time to visit the country when Egypt’s top destinations witness a surge in the number of tourists on flights from London.
Singapore
Roaring celebrations boom across the Lion City on New Year. One may quite well imagine the celebratory ambience in this city where food is an obsession and shopping remains the favourite past time. Amongst the countless fun packed venues, some of the most preferred haunts are Haviana Ball at the IndoChine Waterfront, Mardi Gras at Clark Quay, and ‘The Jewel Box on Mount Faber’. Singapore also celebrates the Chinese New Year with equal if not more aplomb and remains an excellent choice for planning family holidays to.
Bangkok
This all time popular destination is perhaps the world’s only country where there are three new years. One is the regular New Year of 1st January, while the other two are the Chinese New Year and the Thai New Year. Capital city Bangkok’s World Trade Center front, Silom Road, Patpong, Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, Sanam Luang, and Siam Square witness most excitement. For the most dazzling display of fireworks, Wat Saket and Sanam Luang are the places to be. Thailand’s other hip tourist destinations such as Phuket, Pataya, Krabi and Koh Samui are worth including in tour itinerary on New Year holidays to Thailand.
Mauritius
The New Year holidays are a highly gala affair in Mauritius. In fact, the 1st and 2nd of January are official holidays. The streets come alive with firework displays and singing and dancing. Although, there are many venues for merriment perhaps, the very heart of this revelry is the Port Louis beach. The celebratory spirit is so high that it even overcomes the off chance cyclones and rainfalls on New Year’s Eve.
Auckland
The ‘city of sails’ is New Zealand’s biggest city and a primary gateway to the nation along with Christchurch. Naturally, Auckland is a very important city and its New Year celebrations are second to none. In fact, it may not be an exaggeration to say that a holiday to Auckland is best planned with the New Year in mind. At this time of the year, the city’s numerous crowd pullers are at their top celebratory mode.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is your best bet to participate in the excitement of the New Year celebrations in Malaysia. Nightclubs, discotheques, restaurant, hotels and for that matter even private homes – all become extra charged up on New Year’s Eve. The streets become a cacophony of sounds with chants of ‘Happy New Year’ rending the night air. Although, there are many hot spots and prime festive locations, Merdeka Square remains the hub for the New Year excitement. If you are holidaying in Malaysia on your Christmas and New Year holidays then do make provisions to be in culturally diverse and fascinating Kuala Lumpur on the New Year’s Eve while booking your flights and holidays from London.
London Heathrow and other popular airports offer many convenient flight options to the above destinations and many specialist travel agents in the UK are still ready to offer great deals on your 2011 New Year Holidays to these places.
Groovy Destinations for best New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Picking a destination for your New Year holidays has always baffled many Britons. The best time of the year ought to be spent in one of the best destination. We list out top ten destinations that most Britons would love to be in on the New Year’s Eve.
As soon as you pick your choice and start looking for cheap tickets now as most of these destinations are booked well in advance. Travellers would do well to book flights from London in order to get the best deals.
Cape Town attracts New Year holidaymakers in droves with its spectacular Table Mountain site, Rezonance NYE Festival at the Gorgeous Franschoek Valley and the exhilarating New Year’s Eve Bash at the V&A Waterfront.
The hip Dubai shopping malls and souks, lavish hotels, restaurants, Jumeirah Beach and Dubai Creek among other Dubai’s key locations remain the key attractions during New Year’s celebrations.
Sydney pioneers the NY celebrations in the world and while it thrills the holidaymakers with exciting light show around the Circular Quay area, Auckland mesmerises with the breathtaking fireworks show at its SkyCity’s Tower.
Mauritius captures your senses with its Port Louis beach revelries and activities along with the singing and dancing in the streets and the Maldives sets the NY mood just right with a wave of similar activities in the streets, hotels and resorts of Male and other islands.
Tourists can also buy cheap holidays to far-east with a number of travel firms offering Christmas and New Year packages from London and other UK cities.
Singapore, apart from offering great family holidays, brings the best at Haviana Ball at the IndoChine Waterfront, Mardi Gras at Clark Quay, and ‘The Jewel Box on Mount Faber’.
Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia stimulates with its vibrant nightclubs, discotheques, restaurant and hotels other public sites, mainly Merdeka Square, which witness most of the adrenalin rushing excitement while Bangkok remains at the centre of the New Year celebrations in Thailand with popular locations such as Silom Road and Patpong to name a few ranking amongst the top spots.
Considering the best time to visit Egypt which is between December and February, and its proximity to Britain apart from availability of chea flights from London, many Britons have long preferred it as a unique New Year destination.
Things to Do on New Year's Eve 2011 London
1. New Year's Eve 2011 gigs
2. comedy shows
3. Churchill War Rooms
4. Somerset House
5. Horniman Museum
6. Imperial War Museum
7. Sherlock Holmes Museum
8. Science Museum
9. Natural History Museum
10. National Maritime Museum
11. London Film Museum
12. London Transport Museum
13. V&A houses
14. Fireworks display at the London Eye
15. New Year's Eve Parties
16. New Year Resolutions
17. Holiday Tours
18. New Year Shopping
19. Bar and Lounge