The New Year is fast approaching! Looking for something to do to celebrate this special weekend? Organising something for New Year's weekend and going away to celebrate will allow you to have fun, feast and create priceless memories with your loved ones. Here are some ideas for destinations and activities to make your New Year's weekend unforgettable, along with a few tips on how to best organise this special evening.

Go away for the weekend to celebrate New Year's Eve

The end-of-year celebrations are a great time for holidays and good times with friends and family. Why not take advantage of this precious time to take a short trip and get away for a few days, celebrating the New Year somewhere other than at home? Here are our favourite destinations for celebrating New Year's Eve:

Take a trip to the mountains

Spending New Year's Eve in the mountains can be absolutely magical! You could find yourself surrounded by snow-capped peaks with your loved ones, in the comfort of a chalet in the heart of the mountains. New Year's Eve would be a unique opportunity to organise a cosy celebration around a roaring fire and a delicious meal. The Alps are THE perfect destination for this! You can choose from several different resorts, whether you're looking for a family-friendly, festive or peaceful atmosphere, there's bound to be one that suits you for celebrating the New Year in the best possible way. If you want to experience the magic of the festive season even more intensely, you can also head for snow-covered, fairy-tale destinations such as Finnish Lapland or the Austrian Alps.. 

Breathe in the fresh coastal air

If you're looking for a more intimate and peaceful celebration, a stay on the Opal Coast or in Brittany, for example, could be ideal. Choose a holiday rental by the sea or an aparthotel and spend the last and first days of the year close to nature. You could even choose accommodation with a spa, for example: what better way to start the year than completely relaxed! If you're looking for some warmth before facing the rest of winter, head to the Canary Islands, where it's always spring, or to more distant destinations such as the Caribbean or South-East Asia. For these locations, you could opt for an all-inclusive club holiday and enjoy a very relaxing break.

Opt for a festive city

If you prefer to experience the magic of New Year's Eve in a lively urban atmosphere, choose a major city in Europe or elsewhere in the world that is renowned for its festive celebrations. Cities such as Paris, Berlin, London and New York offer outdoor parties, fireworks and an electric atmosphere to welcome in the new year. In each of these cities, you'll find illuminated streets, numerous festivities and a joyful crowd eager to count down to midnight.

Choose an amazing destination

For those seeking discovery, exoticism and surprises for this New Year's weekend, perhaps you would like to go somewhere even more surprising. While some cities and countries are world-renowned for their festive spirit during the end-of-year celebrations, this is not the case everywhere. Some cultures do not celebrate the New Year, while others celebrate it very differently from us, with festivities specific to their customs. In Reykjavik, for example, Icelanders organise bonfires to symbolise the purification of the past year. On the other side of the planet, in Japan, temples attract crowds every New Year's Eve. The Japanese come to perform purification rituals, and at midnight the temple bells ring 108 times to chase away the 108 sins according to Buddhist belief.

Our tips for a successful New Year's weekend

Book as early as possible

Popular New Year's destinations fill up quickly, so be sure to book your accommodation and plane or train tickets in advance. For those who leave it late, don't worry, there are often places available in less popular destinations such as the seaside. In addition to your train or plane ticket and hotel room, you should also plan where you intend to spend the evening. Many bars and restaurants organise special New Year's Eve parties, but it is often necessary to book in advance. This is particularly the case in large cities for restaurants that offer a special New Year's Eve menu and therefore need to know the number of guests in advance. What's more, these kinds of parties are very popular and are usually fully booked well in advance of the event. Never forget that many people like to go out and celebrate on New Year's Eve, so you won't be the only one looking for something to do that night. 

Plan your budget according to your destination

New Year's celebrations can be expensive, so set a budget in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. Airfares and accommodation prices rise at this time of year, and your New Year's weekend could quickly end up costing you much more than you expected. If you are on a tight budget, we recommend avoiding big cities. Generally speaking, the further you travel, the higher the cost will be, as you may not be able to spend just one night there.

Be prepared for the weather

Depending on your destination, the weather conditions will be completely different. If you are going to New York, for example, expect it to be cold and you will need to dress very warmly to cope with the New York winter. Your experience will be completely different if you decide to go to the Spanish island of Tenerife, where the average temperature is around 20 degrees at New Year.

Stay safe

New Year's weekend is one of the most festive times of the year, but it can also be the most chaotic. We therefore recommend that you remain vigilant to stay safe in all circumstances, especially if you plan to gather where large crowds are expected. 

Book your New Year's weekend stay directly with Evancy! On the French Riviera in Vence or on the Opal Coast.