Pop the cork and party! Whether at home or abroad, a little champagne gets the celebration going. 3, 2, 1 . . . Happy New Year!

Whether counting down to 2007 at tried-and-true celebrations like New York’s annual Times Square extravaganza, or by eating a grape for every stroke of midnight in Barcelona, your adrenaline is sure to be racing as 2006 winds down in our favorite places to ring in the new year. We love the ultimate party city, Vegas, for its most over-the-top show of the year; schussing the slopes of the majestic Rockies; and even standing under the breathtaking fireworks cascade over Sydney’s harbor. Should you agree that one day of feting simply won’t suffice, experience the celebration Scot-style, with merrymaking in Edinburgh that lasts four long days or, head to the bustling Thailand capital of Bangkok, where you can ring in the new year no fewer than three times, Western, Chinese, and Thai style, between December and April. Beach-lovers can also experience sandy revelry with a twist on December 31 in Rio, Miami, and Goa.

1. Aspen
Snow bunnies will use any excuse to hit the slopes, and a New Year’s celebration is better than most. But, there’s way more than soft, wide mountain terrain to lure reveling holiday travelers to Aspen’s legendary runs. This fabled, fabulous resort has long played host to the free-spirited and the Forbes/Fortune crowd who can’t get enough of the sophisticated action on and off the slopes. Whether schussing down the slopes of Snowmass or Aspen Highlands, dining on gourmet cuisine, or savoring martinis with the well-heeled, Aspen makes for a glittering Alpine getaway and a stylish end-of-year send off.

2. Bangkok
New Year’s Eve is thrice as nice in Thailand, where you’ll have three annual chances to rid yourself of the old and ring in the new. First, there’s the New Year’s celebration with the Western world on December 31; the biggest event unfolds at Bangkok’s Central World Plaza where rockin’ Thai musicians and mesmerizing fireworks promise a party through the night (and a hangover to remember it by). Between mid-January and February, Thailand then tips its hat to its Chinese neighbor, with massive celebrations in Bangkok’s Chinatown, including colorful parades of dragons and lion dancers, fireworks, operas, and more. Finally, the centuries-old tradition of Songkran kicks off on April 13, a joyous occasion that celebrates the first day of the traditional Thai calendar with three days of parades, feasting, costumes, and, most outrageously, a water-throwing festival in which passersby are drenched with water balloons, water guns, buckets, you name it, an interesting custom that’s surely a byproduct of the region’s often stifling heat.

3. Barcelona
Don’t miss your siesta, Barcelona’s all-night New Year’s fiesta requires some stamina! The Spanish version of año nuevo kicks off with family and friends sharing a sumptuous meal and mucho vino at a private home or restaurant, the more exceptional restaurants, like Catalan-inspired Ca l’Isidre and upscale Jaume de Provença, must be booked well in advance. The onset of 12am means a frantic race to stuff your face with 12 good-luck grapes – one for each stroke of midnight. You’d be wise to concentrate on the task at hand, if you succeed at this long-standing Spanish tradition, you’re ensured a year of prosperity and good luck (otherwise, it’s said you’ll have a month of bad luck for every uneaten grape). Once the last one is downed, crowds spill out into the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas, drawn by the pulsating music and chatter emanating from numerous bars and nightclubs. The action stays pumping until dawn, just in time to catch the first sunrise of the year on the beach, with some hot chocolate and churros in hand!

4. Edinburgh
This Scottish capital boasts one of the world’s biggest New Year bashes: Hogmanay. At the close of each year, a four-day fête counts down to the big kahuna on December 31, complete with parades, concerts, carnivals, dog races, firework shows, and a slew of hedonistic events and parties. Major international artists perform along Princes Street during the Royal Bank Street Party on New Year’s Eve, while age-old national customs, like “first-footing”, are practiced all over town: Right after midnight, neighbors bring luck  and gifts of coal or shortbread, to their friends and family by being the first to set foot in their household in the new year.

5. Goa
Before creating that list of New Year’s resolutions for 2007, why not venture off to Goa for one last chance to enjoy a night of true hedonism? Located on the western coast of the Indian Peninsula, Goa’s lush green vegetation and breathtaking beaches not only offer some of India’s most beautiful natural scenery, but also serves as the backdrop for some of the globe’s hottest New Year’s celebrations, complete with all-night seaside bashes packed with partygoers entranced by techno music. If glow sticks and rave parties aren’t your thing, you can gamble the night away aboard India’s first and only offshore casino, the MS Caravela yacht, or, rent a motorbike and visit an old Portuguese fort or local fishing villages. Either way, if you’re looking for a place to kick back, party and relax, just follow the local Goan motto of sossegarde, take it easy, and enjoy the fun!

6. Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas is never more vivacious than when the no-holds-barred party capital of the world hosts the biggest party of the year. Throwing down in Sin City has become a consistently bigger and better New Year’s phenomenon in recent years, as partiers are lured by dazzling pyrotechnics, wild street parties, super-chic nightclubs, gourmet restaurants, big-name performers and hundreds of thousands of fellow revelers with whom to enjoy it. The main action unfolds at the free “America’s Party”, when the Strip is closed to traffic and transformed into a viewing platform for a fantastic fireworks extravaganza that’s blasted into the night sky above the city’s neon lights. Part of the party takes place downtown, the Fremont Street Experience (tickets cost $80) becomes a huge block party complete with confetti, a massive wine toast, concerts by big-name rockers, and a five-block-long illuminated canopy 90 feet overhead, on which state-of-the-art sound-and-light shows are shown.

7. Miami
While the winter chill keeps many of us bundled up and indoors on the big eve, South Beach is as hot as ever and we’re not just talking about the weather. Miami’s trendy Art Deco neighborhood buzzes with a sexy scene that’s even more energized than usual when the year comes to a close. Cool and well-dressed hipsters bounce from bar to club, not to mention scads of Hollywood A-listers who flock south for some of the year’s most exclusive and unabashed fiestas. Don’t have an invite? You can still stop by an array of hot spots like the Delano, Mynt Lounge, or Prive, to hobnob and people watch. For something a little less velvet rope, Miami’s Bayfront Park hosts South Florida’s largest on-the-house party, with a free concert, a countdown to midnight with the big Orange drop (the New Year’s ball that slowly descends the side of the InterContinental hotel), and a dazzling fireworks display over Biscayne Bay.

8. New York
For the ultimate New Year’s experience, there’s no better place to be than in the center of the City that Never Sleeps. Times Square has been home to the renowned “ball drop” celebration for 100 years (it debuted in 1907); today, millions of visitors flood New York City’s confetti-covered streets to partake in an all-night, over-sized street party filled with live music, celebrity visits, and tons of Happy New Year paraphernalia. For those wary of late-December weather forecasts, have no fear, you can always join the excitement without bundling up, as local bars and night clubs buzz with their own private parties, many of which last until the wee hours of the morning. Plus, if you’re looking to join the festivities from home, tune into the live TV coverage of the annual event along with audiences worldwide.

9. Rio de Janeiro
Sure, Carnival might get all the glory, but New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro is memorable in its own right. An extravagant beachfront spectacle, known as Reveillon, sees an eclectic blend of traditions unfold along Copacabana, attracting some 2 million faithful practitioners of the Umbanda religion and the Candomblé religion and a lot of curious tourists. Sure, you’ll get your no-less-than-spectacular fireworks, delectable Brazilian food, and pulsating samba music to enjoy during the warm summer day’s festivities, but you’ll also see ritualistic offerings to the sea goddess, Iemanjá, made by a group of white-clad, candle-holding, revelers who rush to the surf to release small wooden boats. Tradition holds that if the goddess is pleased with a boat’s inner offerings (normally flowers, perfumes, or other similar trinkets), it will be carried out to sea and the bearer bestowed with blessings, if not, count yourself unlucky. Either way, Brazilians sure know how to party and, as night falls, DJs start up their sound systems and dancing and drinking lasts til dawn. Luxury beachfront hotels host private balls and parties, to boot, they’re also a great spot for tuckered-out revelers to enjoy champagne breakfasts as the first light of January 1 approaches.

10. Sydney
Sydney is renowned across the globe for hosting one of the ultimate New Year’s Eve bashes. Indeed, this Aussie capital pulls out all the stops, with an array of glamorous citywide celebrations and a stellar pyrotechnic presentation over the harbor. Bursts of dazzling colors explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge and dance on the water and over the Opera House’s scalloped roof. Plenty of New Year’s Eve cruises sail around the harbor to provide unparalleled views of the spectacular extravaganza. And since it’s summer down under, you can delight in sun-drenched spoils the next day. With a chic urban vibe, gorgeous surf-swept beaches, rocking nightlife, and an edgy art scene, there’s plenty to soak up after you recuperate from a champagne-filled night you won’t soon forget.

01 Nov 2006 - 01 Jan 2007  
This spectacular Christmas in the Tropics event opens with the turning on of the Christmas light displays on Orchard Road. During the month-long event, visitors can’t fail to feel the festive cheer as they take their pick from a season of events and entertainment that includes traditional pantomimes, carol singing, colourful parades and a Christmas gift market that stays open until midnight with speciality food and drink stalls. Most of the events, including the light displays, are in the area between Orchard Road and Marina Bay.

Times > Various
Where? Orchard Road and area, Most of the events take place in or around Orchard Road

Getting There > Underground (MRT): to Orchard Road
How Much? Free
For More Information > Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729, Singapore
Tel +65 6736 6622 Email Via website,  www.visitsingapore.com

Late last month, Fiditourist launched a tour to Vung Tau, located around 80 kilometers from HCMC, to enjoy the coastal city from above by helicopter.

Actually, Vung Tau by helicopter is not new to the tour. One year ago, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Tourist Corp., or Vung Tau Tourist, and Thai Son Co. launched the special tours for travelers. However, tourists staying in HCMC found it difficult to organize, since they had to spend more time arranging their trip to the city before joining the helicopter tour. Also, the helicopter can accommodate 24 guests at a time, but tourists hoping to book the helicopter to fly alone or with their friends or families must pay for the whole flight.

So, Fiditourists created a useful package tour for visitors who can start their trip in HCMC. Individual tourists or tour operators can book a helicopter flight and tour for Christmas this year. The trip takes around one day.

Starting from HCMC at 6 a.m., tourists will have nearly three hours to sunbathe and swim at Ocean Park before boarding the helicopter to tour the city from above.

From the Vung Tau airport, tourists will have 15 minutes to see the city from a height of 250 meters. The route begins at the airport and passes the 32-meter-high Jesus statue on top of the 136-meter-high Nui Nho (Small Mountain). The statue is one of the most-visited sites in Vung Tau.

From above, everything below seems connected, creating different shapes against the range of mountains along the shore. When traveling on Vung Tau’s roads, tourists pass through forests and along shrimp-raising ponds and salt works.

Now, Vung Tau looks more beautiful than ever. Streets in the center have more flowers and are well paved for walkers. Everything is new and clean. All interesting impressions about the new of city and the city from above will make the best memory for tourists on Christmas Day.

Tran Thi Bao Thu from the Marketing, Research and Development Department of Fiditourist said that so far, 12 tourists have reserved spots on the tour. The company is continuing to receive booking until December 21.

The tour costs nearly VND2 million per person.

Contact Fiditourist at 127 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1.
Tel: (0 914 14 14. Ext 118, or 119.
Email: fiditour@hcm.vnn.vn

If there are any cricket fans wavering over whether to go and see the Ashes Cricket Tests, then a tempting offer has just been announced by Australia specialists Austravel.

The company has knocked £350 off the price of their Christmas and New Year Ashes package, so holidaymakers can now see the cricket for £999. The offer must be booked by October 31st, and departs between December 9th to 24th to Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns from London Heathrow.

It also includes a night’s stopover in Tokyo or Osaka at a four-star hotel, as well as all airport transfers and breakfast.

Alternatively, the company is also offering a three-night’s free accommodation deal for travel to Sydney with Virgin Atlantic. The offer must be booked before November 12th, and is valid for departures between November 11th and 30th 2006 and April 16th to June 15th 2007.

With the deal, holidaymakers can have a stopover in Hong Kong at the three-star Metropole from £22 per person per night. Prices start from £689 for economy tickets.

For more information on both these offers see www.austravel.com

If you are a single traveller who likes the idea of getting away for the festive season, the good news is there is still time. Just You has an extensive selection of Christmas and New Year breaks, both at home and abroad, exclusively for single travellers in their dedicated Christmas & New Year brochure.

The brochure gives you the option to spend Christmas, New Year or indeed the whole festive season away from home with other like-minded people. In addition, you pay no single supplements and although you travel as part of a group, you won’t find yourself sharing a room with a stranger, instead you will be allocated a spacious double room all to yourself on a full or half-board basis.

If travelling from Heathrow and Gatwick, there is a nice option where you can get to know your fellow travellers the night before you jet off on a ‘pre-tour get-together’, it’s a great way to break the ice and put to rest any fears you may have. Travellers to distant shores also get the use of an executive airport lounge for free.

With it being the season to be merry, you can expect an abundance of festive fare from drinks and dinner parties, to group activities and an excellent selection of excursions, plus of course a festive dinner on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A 5-day break in the charming lakeside resort of Annecy in France on a half-board basis on December 22 costs £529 and features trips to the stylish resort of Talloires, the market town of Thônes and the picturesque Alpine ski resort of La Clusaz. The Hungarian capital, Budapest, is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe. The 5-day, 4-star break from £559 departs Heathrow with British Airways on December 24 and features accommodation on a half-board basis at the centrally situated Hotel Budapest and includes a city tour and trips to the baroque towns of Szentendre and Esztergom.

A 5-day break in Tuscany, departing Gatwick with British Airways on December 23 includes half-board accommodation and excursions to Florence, Pisa, beautiful Siena and the quaint hilltop town of San Gimignano from £589.

Fine art, Renaissance architecture, piazzas, palaces, luxury shops and famous cafés are all the ingredients on a stunning 5-day, 4-star festive break in Venice which departs Heathrow on December 24 and includes accommodation on a half-board basis at the 4-star Hotel Principe, conveniently located on Venice’s Grand Canal, plus a guided walking tour of the city and a lagoon trip to the islands of Burano, Torcello and Murano from £799.

Fly from Gatwick or Birmingham airports on December 22 for a sun-soaked 8-day break in Andalucia, Spain from £799. Accommodation is on a half-board basis at the 4-star Hotel Riu Ferrara in the idyllic resort of Torrox Costa. Highlights include a scenic coastal drive to Nerja, the stylish resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus and a visit to the world-famous Alhambra Palace. This holiday is also available as a 6-day break over New Year from £679.

Discover the idyllic Costa Verde region, an unspoilt corner of Portugal with rich green valleys and sweeping beaches on a 5-day break from £669. The trip departs Heathrow on December 24 and includes accommodation on a half-board basis at the 4-star Novotel Porto Vermar in the beach resort of Póvoa de Varzim. Excursions take you cruising on the River Douro, to Viano do Castelo, known as the folklore capital of Portugal and to Oporto, the home of Port wine.

Journey to the far north of Finland for a fun-packed 5-day break in Lapland on December 23 from £1249. The price includes flights from Heathrow, accommodation on a half-board basis at the 4-star Holiday Club Spa Hotel in Saariselkä, reindeer sleigh ride on Christmas Day, Husky Sledge Safari and a farewell dinner party at a mountain top restaurant.

See in the New Year in style on a 4-night break in the historic city of Rome from £699. Flights depart Heathrow with British Airways on December 30 and accommodation is at the 4-star Hotel Mercure Roma Delta Colosseo, centrally situated just around the corner from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. New Year’s Eve highlights include a morning city tour taking in all the major sights followed by an evening dinner party.

Getting away for the entire festive season need not cost an arm and a leg! A memorable 12-day tour of China and Hong Kong departing Heathrow on December 22 features stays in Beijing and Xian on a full board basis, with a final four nights’ over New Year in Hong Kong on a room only basis. The price from £2,040, includes lots of festive treats, such as a city tour, visit to the Great Wall on Christmas Day, banquet with live entertainment and visit to the Terracotta Army in Xian.

Prepare to be enchanted on a fascinating14-day tour of Vietnam over Christmas and New Year, departing Heathrow on December 22 and including all travel, meals and sightseeing from £2295. The tour journeys from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south and features a special Christmas Eve dinner with carol singing, a party night on New Year’s Eve and a full day trip to the legendary Mekong Delta.

For more information, please visit > www.justyou.co.uk

Holidaymakers who love a good party should join the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Light-Up festival in Singapore.

The festival stretches across January and February and sees the streets of Chinatown decorated with a plethora of lights and displays to mark the beginning of the lunar new year.

With 2007 designated as the year of the pig, expect to see the animal given visual prominence in many of the celebrations, which include the Chingay parade, which consists of a huge procession of colourful floats, bands and performers, as well as the traditional dance of the lion and dragon.

Visitors to Singapore will also be able to enjoy a special street bazaar selling a range of traditional festive foods, jewellery and souvenirs, while on the outskirts of Chinatown, shoppers can also peruse and buy flowers and plants that are used in Chinese new year celebrations.

At night, revellers watch a number of cultural performances in Kreta Ayer Square and on the eve of the first day of the new year, a massive street party counts down to a spectacular fireworks display.

Related Links > Singapore’s Chinese new year website