[Anonymous]

[Swissdiver]

Ms. SD and I realised earlier this month that for the first time for many years, we will spend new year’s eve in tête-à-tête since our younger has now his own plans… So staying at home being definitively boring, I am considering spending it is a large city, something I’ve curiously never done. Beyond the fact having acquaintances in some cities but not in others will play a role, I am open to any suggestion you might have…
Thanks

[canucklad]

Hi Swissdiver
In Scotland it’s called Hogmanay……..So you’d expect me to recommend Edinburgh…….and that’s exactly what I’m going to do…..

http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/

There is a health warning to this recommendation, remember that Edinburgh is the same latitude as Moscow, and now imagine the Russian capital sitting atop of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the North Sea.

But then, that’s why the good lord invented cosy intimate pubs, just in case a good ol’ fashioned sou’wester appears over the horizon. :

[Swissdiver]

Hi Canucklad,
Thanks for the idea. Long time I’ve been there… At the time the George was a great hotel…
Btw, did I tell you I was a Watt Club member… 🙂

[AviationGeek]

If you’re willing to brave the cold Vienna may be an option – the Silvesterpfad (New Year’s Eve path) has been going for years, with the city setting a beautiful backdrop for the fireworks.
The world famous New Year’s Concert the next morning will be well & truly sold out though by now…

[BigDog.]

If fancying something a little exotic, but you’ll need a week at least, consider the Harbin, China Ice Festival – which is on my bucket list. The couple of friends who have been describe it as utterly spectacular.

http://www.icefestivalharbin.com/

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=china+ice+carving+festival&biw=1122&bih=789&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YK5tVL_WGPT9sAT23IGgDA&ved=0CCcQsAQ

Closer to home there are various “Northern Lights” Cruises.

http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/northern-lights/

or on land in Iceland

http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/destinations/iceland-holidays/northern-lights-new-year-special

[canucklad]

Well Swissdiver, you’re in the same club as my Dad, strangely I was going to suggest staying at the Dalmahoy , a couple of miles west of the Riccarton campus. Although, given my dads now in his eighties, I’ll assume he went to the campus in town and not Riccarton.

[first_class_please]

Depending how far you want to go, I`ve experience NYE in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Auckland.

But, nothing gets close to NYE in Sydney at the harbour watching the fireworks.

And it will be warm!

[Swissdiver]

Thanks all. Sidney and Harbin look good but far from Europe… We’ll probably go for only a night or two given this year calendar…

Mmmmm Island… Could be fun!

[MrMichael]

Bergen is a beautiful city with some excellent hotels on the mountainside giving spectacular views of the fjord and midnight fireworks. Champagne is pricey, so take your own bottle to pop at midnight on your balcony.

However, agree with First Class Please, NYE in Sydney really is the business.

[Charles-P]

Perhaps something very different to the typical. How about Kruger National Park, rise on New Year’s day to see elephants and giraffe ?

[LuganoPirate]

Second time today i agree with Charles. We’ll be spending NYE on Gondwana game reserve in our newly built house. In the morning we’ll be up before the birds sitting on our “stoep” watching whichever animals happen to be coming past. Not that they’ll know it’s New Year mind!

[BigDog.]

Swissdiver.

Saw this DT article on the “10 best cities for a winter break” and thought you may be interested. Some I had never contemplated for the season eg Venice

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/citybreaks/11268318/The-10-best-cities-for-a-winter-break.html?frame=2777098

[Swissdiver]

Thanks, BigDog. My sister regularly spend new year in Venice. They apparently rent a large place and go with other friends…
Mmmm, Barcelona…

[SwissExPat]

Consider maybe Dublin, staying at the Conrad or Shelbourne, maybe even the Merrion Hotel. Decent direct flights from Switzerland.

Lots of nice restaurants (Ely Wine Bar or L’ecrivan, Chapter one, Patrick Guilbaud)

Good shopping on Grafton St where the sales will be in full swing.

Day trip to the Wicklow mountains.

Might not even be too cold.

[Author]

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