New Year’s Eve is a chance to end strong and start fresh, and nothing does that better than an eye-opening celebration at a global hotspot. It only comes once a year, so it’s worth it to make the festivities memorable!
As you make your travel plans, don’t forget to use Splender and earn cash back on every purchase from booking your hotel room to scheduling tours. With vendors like Expedia (2% cash back for Splender members), Hotels.com (5% cash back), Groupon (5% cash back) and CheapAir.com (2% cash back), you’re sure to find the celebration destination that’s right for you!
But where’s the best place to be when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st? From New York City to Hong Kong, we’ve searched the globe for the best annual celebrations. Here are our top four New Year’s Eve destinations that will add a little glow to the memory of 2016 and set 2017 on course for greatness.
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Nearly one million people will attend this year’s party at Brandenburg Gate. The open-air celebration will feature live bands, DJs, a stunning fireworks display and celebrity artists including Bonnie Tyler and Jermaine Jackson. Over a mile wide, the “Party Mile” opens the 30th of December, giving travelers a chance to hear warm-up performances each afternoon, sample native beers and try the many international food and beverage vendors. The best part? It’s free.
Your trip wouldn’t be complete without the perfect place to relax before and after the main event. The Grand Hyatt Berlin offers an ideal location in the city center, as well as authentic German cuisine, and pools overlooking the cityscape. New Year’s Eve is coming quick, so book your hotel now. Splender offers 2% cash back at Priceline.com, but only after you’ve signed up, so be sure to register before you score your tickets and hotel!
When you leave your room to see the main event, crowds will be fun-loving and enormous, so security forbids backpacks and bottles. The Aiden Small Leather Messenger Crossbody Bag from eBags.com would come in handy for guys who want to carry more than just a wallet. At 12% cash back you’ll be glad to have it for your favorite far-flung travel loot. Also, January is the coldest month in Berlin, which is the perfect excuse to grab this Men’s Dynotherm Down Vest from Mountain Hardwear at 8% cash back, for the open-air party. It’s fitted style, down insulation and water resistance could come in handy at a celebration that’s known to hit its peak well after dark.
Rio De Janeiro
The cold not your thing? This New Year’s Eve travel idea will give you warm memories for a lifetime. Rio De Janeiro, once the capital city of Brazil, is a vibrant metropolis rich with cultural delights. Book a stay at the Porto Bay Rio Internacional at Expedia.com (2% cash back). You’ll be just off of Copacabana Beach, where cruise ships float in anticipation of the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
To make your trip simpler, we found a well-loved restaurant just off of Copacabana Beach. The Brasileirinho Copacabana serves up heaping barbeque and one of the best authentic Brazilian dishes in the city, the Shrimp Moqueca Stew. Dine outside for a view of the Copacabana and let the mood settle in. When you’re refreshed, bring this trendy new Fujifilm Mini 8 Instant Film Camera from Walmart (at 2% cash back) and take a photo tour of what Brazilians call “The Marvelous City.”
New York, New York
One can’t bring up magnificent cities without mentioning the Big Apple. At Times Square, prepare to be dazzled by Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey, and feel the beat intensify from the dreamy country sway of Thomas Rhett to the infectious dance funk of DNCE. Live TV crews and an overflowing crowd will combine with the music and energy to deliver a memory that will shine forever.
This party is one of the biggest on the globe, so make sure to do it right. Get there early and make sure to come in warm winter style. These winter boots from HSN.com have Thermolite insulation and a touch of fur at the top to give them a chic, feminine look. The 6% cash back on those cute boots aren’t the only reason to grab them; serious spot grabbing means showing up early in the day and being on your feet. If you’d rather be close to the action and skip the walk, the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel can’t be topped—their lounge has the perfect vantage of Times Square and puts you a few blocks from the center of it all. As of this writing, they are still accepting reservations. Book it fast at Hotels.com to get your room and the 5% cash back.
The fireworks display at Victoria Harbour’s countdown party is unlike any other. The pyrotechnics start on the water but end in a dizzying finale that tops the shoreline skyscrapers. You can still book a room at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong at Booking.com for 3% cash back. It’s just off the riverside and offers vistas of the entire waterfront spectacle, and while the weather will be mild and cool, there’s nothing like relaxing in luxury while you take it all in.
These ideas should have you well on your way to planning a killer New Year’s Eve, whether you dance your way across the Party Mile or soak up the sights in a front row hotel experience. Before you book be sure to sign up for Splender so you can use that cash back on your next worldwide adventure. Until then, here’s hoping you ring in the new year with a great memory and an even better kiss!