The clock strikes midnight on December 31 only once a year, so it’s worth making your New Year’s celebration as memorable as possible. While New York City is a stalwart destination to watch the clock tick down to 11:59:59, there are festivities around the globe that are equally as epic. This holiday season, book a private flight to celebrate NYE at a destination that will help you start 2017 right.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scottish don’t just celebrate the New Year on New Year’s Eve, they go all-out with a three-day festival called Hogmanay , which means “last day of the year.” The celebration starts on December 30 with a torchlight procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill that ends in fireworks. The next day, New Year’s Eve, is full of concerts and street parties. Even more revelers take to the streets on this night and sing “Auld Lang Syne” when the clock strikes 12 and 4.5 tons of fireworks light up the sky over Edinburg Castle.
On January 1, partygoers welcome the New Year with the Stoats Loony Dook, an event that begins with the Dooker Parade on High Street, followed by a plunge in the chilly River Forth, and the Scot:Land music and arts festival.
When flying to Edinburgh in a private plane, book a suite at the Balmoral, at the most prestigious address in the city. Not only is it the grandest accommodation in the area, it will serve as the most comfortable.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
While Carnival is the biggest celebration in Brazil, New Year’s Eve comes in at a close second. At the end of December, summer in full swing in the South American city and the party at the Copacabana Beach is one of the largest and wildest in the world. Join over two million visitors at 8:00 p.m. for the réveillon that includes live music and dance performances. The residents wear white on this occasion for good luck, even though they know that they’ll get drenched in champagne, and toss flowers into the ocean. At midnight, the celebration continues with colorful fireworks.
Stay close to the action by booking a penthouse suite at the grandiose Copacabana Palace. The glamorous resort overlooks the beach, giving you a priceless view of the festivities in crowd-less comfort.
Hong Kong, China
Be one of the first to ring in the New Year by booking a private flight to Hong Kong, which has one of the most dramatic and dazzling pyrotechnic displays in the world. Each year, revelers gather around Victoria Harbour to catch the action. At 11:00 p.m., the city sends “shooting stars” into the sky at 15-minute intervals. At midnight, the harbor erupts in an eight-minute pyro-musical display that will get your heart pounding.
One of the best vantage points to see the display is from a private yacht or a “countdown” cruise in Victoria Harbour. Other good spots include one of the city’s rooftop bars, such as Ozone on the Ritz-Carlton’s 118th floor or Sugar on the 32nd floor of the East hotel.
You can also celebrate New Year’s Eve without leaving your hotel with a stay at The Pottinger, named after the first British governor of Hong Kong. Located in one of the most historic areas of the city, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide mesmerizing views of downtown. Watch the fireworks from the hotel’s outdoor terrace at The Envoy bar.