There's a common misconception that New Year's is a holiday that should always be spent at home with family. But we believe this is a relic of the past, a relic of the Iron Curtain era, when the very idea of going abroad for the New Year's holidays was considered seditious, not to mention that only a tiny fraction of the population—mostly party bigwigs—could actually do it.
Today, in an age of open borders, what's the point of staying home for the entire, frankly speaking, rather long New Year's holiday when you can visit virtually any country in the world? Where there's a will, there's a way. However, there's always the option of celebrating New Year's abroad inexpensively, even if your wallet isn't particularly plump. But what about family? Who's stopping you from taking the whole family on vacation so as not to break holiday traditions, so to speak?
In which country should I celebrate New Year?
If you're looking for sun and sea but don't want to spend too much, then you should definitely consider Egypt. Yes, there's been unrest there lately, and unrest has scared off many tourists who've been visiting for years. However, in recent months, the situation seems to have more or less calmed down, and the government claims there's no danger to tourists. New Year's 2016 in Egypt means wonderful weather without the sweltering heat, warm seas, and interesting excursions in comfortable temperatures. And, of course, plenty of spectacular New Year's Eve performances. Basically, you'll have no time to get bored!
Beach lovers can also confidently recommend Thailand, where winter is arguably the best time to visit. Prices are quite affordable, and the resorts of Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui will delight you with excellent service and an exotic Asian atmosphere. New Year's tours to the Dominican Republic and Goa are relatively inexpensive, but you wouldn't call the New Year's holidays there entirely budget-friendly (due to the high cost of flights).
New Year 2016 in Europe
If celebrating New Year's by the seaside seems a bit out of place, then Europe is your best bet, as you can find some very affordable options. Skiing enthusiasts shouldn't miss the opportunity to relax on the magnificent slopes of the Alps during the holidays. While Switzerland is known to have the best ski slopes, prices there are steep. Since we're looking for budget-friendly options, we recommend Austria, where prices are significantly lower and service is quite high. Furthermore, you can enrich your skiing and New Year's Eve celebrations with sightseeing trips to Vienna or Salzburg. Believe me, there's plenty to see there! Of course, Austria isn't the only place with excellent ski resorts: Scandinavia, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Andorra, and almost half of Europe's countries have mountains and, accordingly, ski resorts.
Where to celebrate New Year's 2016 in Europe if you're less interested in skiing and more interested in excursions and festive events? There are plenty of budget-friendly options. For example, the Czech Republic, but we've already covered that. here, so we won't go into too much detail. The tourism infrastructure of Scandinavian countries has also improved significantly in recent years. Sweden, Finland, and Norway have taken a keen interest in tourists from Russia, Ukraine, and the CIS, attracting them with affordable prices and truly European quality of service. Prices are indeed low: a six-day New Year's 2016 vacation in Finland, including accommodation in a three-star hotel, will cost around €600-700 per person. Not bad at all!
Poland is also an affordable way to celebrate New Year's abroad. Incidentally, many underestimate this country's tourism potential, but they shouldn't. It boasts majestic ancient cities, excellent ski resorts, and excellent shopping, which becomes doubly attractive with the arrival of Christmas sales! 2016 New Year's tours to Europe are quite diverse, and it's worth noting that prices vary significantly depending on the city and the star rating of the hotel. So, seek and ye shall find.
If you're craving excitement and want to not only celebrate the New Year but also visit as many places as possible and soak up the sights, then New Year's bus tours across Europe are the perfect choice. They truly offer a sea of experiences! The variety of New Year's bus tours is simply astounding! You can choose from a modest voyage through, say, Poland, Austria, and Germany, or a grand journey "through" all of Europe, celebrating New Year's 2016 in Paris or Madrid. Prices? And the prices, by the way, are more than affordable: they start at around €300 and end somewhere around €1500. Don't you agree, this is a great opportunity to see so much for so little?
If you've decided where to go for New Year's 2016, you should book your trip without delay. Frankly, you should have done this even earlier – in September. As the New Year holidays approach, many tour operators like to make a buck off slow travelers by jacking up prices. So buy your tour now and spend the rest of your time looking forward to what could be the most unforgettable New Year of your life!
