Despite traveling fairly frequently, I've never been away from home for Christmas.
29.12.2023 - 02:47 / forbes.com
Times Square in New York City and Sydney Harbour are justly famous for their New Years Eve celebrations. But for those who don’t cherish the prospect of being elbow-to-elbow with a million other revelers, here are eight alternative (and very cool) places to ring in the new year.
The Windy City offers not one but two fireworks spectaculars as the clock hits midnight on December 31. Pyrotechnics are launched from six bridges along the Chicago River and from barges in Lake Michigan near Navy Pier.
Navy Pier is also the home of the Offshore Rooftop — the world’s largest rooftop bar — which hosts a four-hour cocktail party on New Years Eve with DJs and a champagne toast.
Another great way to view the colorful cascade (with the legendary Chicago skyline as a backdrop) is a lakefront cruise that includes dinner and dancing to midnight and beyond.
Australia’s second largest city may not boast iconic structures like the Sydney Opera House and “coat hanger” bridge, but Melbourne parties just as hard as its longtime rival and makes a special effort to include the whole family in New Years Eve celebrations.
Like Chicago, the city does double fireworks extravaganzas, one in the early evening for the wee ones (and others) who won’t be awake at midnight and another at the magic hour.
For the first time since before Covid, Melbourne is organizing Celebration Zones at four locations around the city (Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens and Kings Domain) from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. In addition to awesome views of the fiery sky, the zones include food trucks, live entertainment, family activities and a silent disco.
Scotland has a special term for New Years — Hogmanay. And while the climax may come at midnight on December 31, the holiday tends to stretch across an entire week before and after the countdown.
Edinburgh kicks off Hogmanay with a Torchlight Procession between The Meadows and the city center several days before New Years Eve. More than 20,000 revelers join the joyous parade, carrying torches provided by the organizers for £20 per person.
Boogie down at the Night Afore Disco Party in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, catch more live tunes and fireworks at Concert in the Gardens in the West Princess Street Gardens, or dive into Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party with its live tunes, food stalls, carnival attractions and bagpipers.
With over-the-top hotel events, yacht parties, beachside fireworks, and a sound and light show at the Burj Khalifa Fountains, Dubai boasts what many people consider the best New Years Eve celebration in the Middle East.
But just down the gulf coast, Abu Dhabi is close to equaling and perhaps even surpassing its Emirates rival with an end-of-the-year spectacular.
As part of the
Despite traveling fairly frequently, I've never been away from home for Christmas.
The passport you hold is a powerful tool when it comes to effortlessly visiting countries around the world.And some passports provide far more access than others, according to the Henley Passport Index.The just-released 2024 index shows that for the first time in 19 years of producing the ranking, six countries are tied for the top spot of having the most powerful passports.The countries leading the ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—meaning citizens from all of these countries are able to visit 194 destinations around the world either visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival.The Henley Passport Index is the only ranking of its kind and is developed based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index compares 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.While Japan and Singapore have made it into the number one slot for the past five years running, according to CNN, the European countries that are now also ranked number one on the list is a new development.
Have you ever noticed that whenever you board a commercial airplane, be that from a jet bridge or by ascending steps from the tarmac, you always board on the left-hand side of the plane? Do you know why?
Chase's airport lounge network is expanding with the addition of an outpost in one of the nation's busiest airports.
Hoteliers in many U.S. markets in 2022 and 2023 found travelers willing to pay higher room rates post-pandemic. Robust pricing allowed many operators to keep pace with inflationary operational costs and debt service payments.Yet strong demand wasn’t enough. Last year, profit margins contracted 1.3 percentage points, and gross operating margins may continue to be pressured in 2024.
New Yorkers looking for quick winter getaways from the city are in luck: Amtrak is bringing back its popular buy-one-get-one-free sale, which offers free adult companion fares for midweek trips through February. The deal applies to full-fare adult coach tickets for trips within the Empire State on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen, Maple Leaf and Associated Thruways lines, with the exception of 7000-8999 Thruway service.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Barnhart, a 32-year-old who left Tampa, Florida to travel, and work, around the world.
As someone who grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City a decade ago, I enjoy analyzing the similarities and differences between the two regions I call home.
Norse Atlantic Airways announced on Wednesday its latest service between the U.S. and Europe, with bookings open right away and a limited-time promo deal available.
JetBlue is welcoming 2024 with a winter sale that has one-way flights to Europe starting at just $299 and flights across the United States starting at under $40.
With a rate of $1190 for the cheapest room, New Orleans emerged top of the rankings.
The survey compared hotel rates across 40 European destinations for December 31, with prices at all hotels with a central location and rated three stars or more in each destination recorded.