A World Tour of the Best New Year's celebrations
Every year, the same old question arises: “What are you up to for New Year’s Eve?” Well, if you don’t want to end up, once again, watching TV in your pajamas and slippers, you’d better anticipate and plan a trip or an exceptional New Year’s Eve dinner for the occasion. There are 24 time zones worldwide, therefore 24 reasons to celebrate New Year in style and variety, but there’s only one tradition common to us all: the countdown before midnight and the joy and hope for the year ahead, possibly better than the one before…
PREMIÈRE
The first big city to celebrate New Year is Sidney, exactly 11 hours before France. The Australian city completely changes its face for the occasion: forget about taxis and enjoy pedestrian Sidney, parks close. It’s summer in full festive swing there! Over 80,000 fireworks are being shot from four different locations along the bay, perfectly synchronized from Harbor Bridge. So you’d better start looking for the best vantage points. The best and most coveted ones are located around Sydney’s Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden and from Mary Booth Lookout (opposite the bay).
My best advice is to get there early (people start gathering as early as 5:00 a.m.!) but once you are there, take it easy and enjoy the fantastic show, in a kind of “Woodstock Revival Atmosphere”
LOST IN TRANSLATION
You’ve hardly had time to recover from this magical show that the eyes of the world are now focused on Tokyo, the bustling city, where you deliciously wish to get lost “in translation” of course, wandering around Shinjuku business district and its skyscrapers, making your way through the busy streets of Shibuya, popular among the “fashion victims” (my piece of advice for singles: get a room in a love hotel, free of any receptionist- for a couple of hours.
Then improvise a karaoke before sipping a glass of Champagne at the New York Grill and Bar of the Park Hyatt Hotel, the very place where Scarlett Johansson was once trying to drown her existential spleen. But this time, you’ll star a joyful a count down, sipping your Roederer Cristal 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 – Happy New!
ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK
Our next destination is Thailand. In Bangkok, New Year’s Eve is all about fireworks. The Chao Praya river seems to sparkle with a million lights and firecrackers echo in the colorful night. Reach for the sky to fully appreciate the fireworks from one many rooftop restaurants downtown.
The most iconic one is unquestionably Park Society Restaurant of Sofitel So Bangkok. A futuristic maze of bold design where embossed stainless steel, infinity mirrors and intersecting polygons guide you to your table at Park Society – inside or out in the open air, 29 stories into the sky.
But Vertigo and Moon Bar of the Banyan Tree Hotel is definitively worth a visit as its fantastic views compete with its exquisite cocktails! For New Year's Eve, a reservation is mandatory, as well as the respect of a "smart dress code."
FLY ME TO THE MOON
If you prefer more casual “mega celebrations”, Thailand will please you with its famous “Full Moon Parties”. The island of Ko Pha Ngan is THE place to go; it’s the hottest place for frantic nights, grooved by the sounds of electro music. A very special party organized on the island, on December 31, to celebrate full moon on the beach. Definitely not the right place if you are agoraphobic, with almost 10,000 people gathered on the beach! If you go there, don’t forget to wear the traditional fluorescent paintings during the night. Thus you won’t walk around unnoticed! Besides, what a better way to start the very first morning of the new year than watching the sunrise on an idyllic beach, barefoot in the sand? Morning has broken …
DUBAI OR NOT TO BE
You’ve barely had time to come to your senses that worldwide televisions start broadcasting the gigantic Dubai New Year’s fireworks. In 2014, it was featured in the Guinness Book as the biggest firework in the world: a breathless show of only 6 minutes but which takes ten months to prepare. 500,000 projectiles are used to set up this extraordinary pyrotechnic show, made in France! A firework spread along 96 km of coastline: from Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest tower (828 m), to Palm Jumeirah, an artificial palm-shaped island, and The World, an offshore world map representation of the City-State.
If you book an Executive room or suite on the top floors of the Sofitel Dubai Downtown, you can enjoy a breathtaking view and a very exclusive access to Club Millésime for breakfast, the snack breaks afternoon or happy hour. No doubt 2016 will store many surprises for those who decide to spend some time in the United Arab Emirates, whether to get a tan or to enjoy the seasonal sales kicking off January 2 at the Souk d’Or!
IT’S EURO’PARTY TIME
Three hours later, the whole of Europe is celebrating! Wherever you are, in the mountains or in the city, the Old Continent is now lighting up, with celebrations for every taste, the choice is all yours…
LET IT SNOW
Some like it cold … they’ll start Snow Bar Partying in the afternoon. What’s your favorite ? Megeve, Oberstdorf, Saalbach … Or would you rather enjoy a perfect New Year’Eve dinner prepared by Star Cook Jean-André Charial at the Baumanière 1850, the Gourmet Restaurant of the Stratos Hotel in Courchevel.
TAKE MY BREATH AWAY
Some like it hot … those will head to Berlin where the night is punctuated with musical and laser shows at the “Branderburger Tor” before reaching its midnight’s highlight with superb fireworks. Berliners ritually like raising a glass of Sekt, the local Champagne for the occasion. But despite frequent freezing temperatures, the party keeps you warm, very warm!
PARIS, MON AMOUR
Because Paris will always be Paris!
The gourmets will travel to Paris to get marvelled by the fantastic creations of chef Eric Fréchon at the restaurant l’Epicure of the Hotel Bristol. For New Year 's Eve, this 3-star temple of “la haute cuisine”, will surprise you by a firework of taste.
LONDON VIBES
Hot spot lovers will dance through the night in Shoreditch, London’s lively and trendy neighborhood, or choose a balcony room at the Hotel Royal Horseguards "- superb deluxe property overlooking the Thames, thus offering very exclusive views on the light shows and fireworks.
The next day, catch the spectacular London's New Year’s Day Parade. Dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders, musicians and performers assemble in the heart of the city for a colourful celebration that combines exuberant contemporary performances with traditional pomp and ceremony.
Featuring more than 8,000 performers representing the London boroughs and countries from across the globe, this is the biggest event of its kind in the world. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the New Year's Day Parade in London which first took place on 1 January 1987.
Watch the parade for free along its route between Piccadilly at noon and Parliament Square at 3.30pm, via Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.
MARRAKESH EXPRESS
Those of you who’ve opted for Marrakech to bid farewell to the departing year will be happy: milder climate, fantastic landscapes and Moroccan warm hospitality make for the success of this must-see and sunny destination! At le Sofitel Marrakesh Palais RoyalL, the party brings together dancers, artists, performers and singers. For over 20 years now, the Marrakech New Year Eve’s party is hosted at the Rhoul Palace, within the Palmeraie. The owner Sylvia Rhoul entertains the jet-set and organizes an enchanting and elegant night featuring live DJ music. The Essaadi Palace is a haven of peace and pleasure with superb villas nestled under the palm trees; at the Pearl Hôtel, the last night of the year is dedicated to the 80’s with a “tribute to ABBA”, at the SELMAN, Charleston is in the air and the Fouquet’s Naoura hosts a momentous dinner by the pool with DJ Bassini, while Palais Namaskar blends “la Vie en rose “with the band Brown Sugar.
CELEBRITY ISLAND
After a few hour’s rest, let’s cross the Atlantic! The lucky ones will stay at the Eden Rock in St. Barth, the billionaire island (taxis run in Porsche Cayenne there). As in 2014, will they be lucky enough to run into Rihanna or Leonardo Di Caprio? Or maybe Abramovitch who spent 8 million dollars for a 600 guest party ? Sharon Stone is supposed to attend this year; no doubt she’ll heat up the dance floor! Go to the Toiny, that, at last, has just reopened and is now looking great or head to the Ile de France, in its shiny pristine white is now shining in the sun, free of the Sargasses (toxic seaweeds) that spoilt the beach last summer… a stroll along the port of Gustavia to admire the most beautiful yachts in the world, not to mention the Hotel Carl Gustav, currently under renovation. Undoubtedly, this Caribbean Sylvester night will once again have its share of celebrities! For a quieter moment, let’s make a visit to the neighbouring island St. Maarten, and spend some time at the Samana, on its amazing white sandy beach!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
In the United States, New Year’s Eve comes with many traditions. One you definitely should not miss out is the heavy New Year Eve’s Ball Drop from atop One Times Square in New York. It takes the Crystal Ball one minute to be lowered and reach the tower’s base at midnight sharp! After that, crowds rush to the city’s numerous trendy bars, booked up one year in advance. Among them, the Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel or the Gansevoort Hotel are must-see places! Just Love it! And remember, it’s a hot night but icy temperature outside, don’t forget your winter garments.
THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA
Finally, there would be no real New Year’s Eve party without a stop in Rio de Janeiro! By the way, did you pack your thong? There are so many good reasons to go party there: obviously the first one is the Carnival in February, but the New Year’s eve party, the “VESPERA DE ANO NOVO”, on the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana is exceptional. On this occasion, the whole of the so-called “Cidade maravilhosa” gathers on the beach- everybody dressed in white, the good luck color- to attend the spectacular fireworks and the show of the samba dancers. When the show is over, join the crowds of Cariocas and throw a present into the sea : an icon or a flower, intended at Yemanja, the Goddess of the Seas- in the hope for an untroubled, if not prosperous year. A totally crazy night to start 2016, the year of the Olympic Games in Brazil.
LET’S GO TO TAHITI
Restaurants and international hotels of Tahiti and Her Islands offer you an exceptional program for these unique end of year evenings. Chefs come up with recipes and menus to give your taste buds flavours that are as distinctive as they are festive. Programs including processions of colours, savours, sounds, and rhythm will enchant you throughout the evening and perhaps further into the night.
BE HAPPY
Chic, exotic, unusual, intimate, festive, just pick-up Your Best New Year’s Eve and choose between “Happy new Year”, “Feliz ano nuevo”, “Ein gutes neues Jahr”, “Sana saiida”, “Buon anno”, “Xin nian hao” or “Bonne Année”!! As for us, we wish you, wherever you are, in your pajamas or tuxedo, alone, with family, with friends, with the love of your life, with all our heart "BE HAPPY".
by Bernard Montiel, Suzanne Kauz