We’ve asked men’s lifestyle and travel blogger Joe Miragliotta of JoesDaily.com to compile a list of New Year’s trips perfect to take with your friends.
I think it’s safe to say that, no matter where you might find yourself, it’s a pretty magical time when New Year’s comes around. There always seems to be a fresh feeling in the air, with a hope of new beginnings peppered in. You’re most likely thinking about what’s going to be different this time around. Maybe you plan to focus on your health, perhaps you’re finally going to make that change in career, or it could be that you just want to make a general adjustment in attitude. Whatever it might be, it always feels important to be with the people closest to you, to help create a supportive space for all those good intentions (and also help you not feel too bad when you all fail them about two weeks in). As it’s been decided that you could be nearly anywhere when that bell tolls, why not make things just a little more exciting this year with a trip? Below you’ll find 7 ideas for ringing in this, next, or a future New Year’s with your friends in a new and exciting way.
1. Warm up by the sea
If you’re from a climate where it gets chilly in December, sitting by the ocean with a drink in your hand and your favorite people by your side probably sounds amazing. Turns out, there’s a reason for that. It’s because it is. The best part? No matter where you live, chances are you don’t have to go very far to do it. Places like the Caribbean, Los Cabos, and Hawaii all have tons of fantastic places to stay—all-inclusive or otherwise—regardless of what your budget might look like. All it takes is deciding where you want to be, doing a little research, and you’re all off to have a very relaxing start to next year.
Relaxing by the ocean at Excellence Riviera Cancun.
2. Chill out in the snow
On the other side of things, maybe your version of switching temperatures up would be visiting somewhere capable of receiving frozen precipitation. As a transplant from New Hampshire to LA (no, evidently I can’t get through a single post without mentioning it), I have to admit that the winter holidays don’t quite have the right feel to them when I stay home. If this is something you can directly relate to, or you’re just a big fan of building snowmen, a trip out to a ski lodge is just what you need. The Little Nell in Aspen and the Hôtel de Glace ice hotel in Quebec are awesome places to enjoy everything from skiing, snowboarding, and tubing to relaxing and taking in great views over hot drinks. What more could you want?
A cool way to ring in the new year? Quebec!
Why not add snow tubing to your New Year’s itinerary?
3. Try a far-off destination
One of the best things about New Year’s is that it’s celebrated all over the world. Because, you know, it happens everywhere. That said, how about checking out they do it somewhere far away this time? Spend your evening at the Font Màgica de Montjuïc and try your hand at the twelve-grape tradition in Barcelona. Or check out the midnight light show and incredible sunrise (a local custom) in Tokyo’s Port of Yokohama. If you find yourself having trouble deciding on where to go—which would be completely understandable—my advice would be to turn to your Bucket List for a little help. As far as I can tell, it’s never a bad thing to (metaphorically) kill two birds with one stone and this would be no exception.
4. Enjoy a retreat
If you and your friends have resolutions revolving around health and wellness, or if it’s an interest you all share anyway, a retreat might be exactly what you’re looking for. Trips vary in type from a week of yoga and meditation on the beach to having an actual dude adventure out west. Spending a little time outside and being active can be a great way to kick both your resolutions and resolve into high gear. And what better way to do it than with mutual support at the ready? Of course, if you’re more interested in the idea of kicking back and relaxing as a means of recharging, you can totally make that happen too. Spa retreats can be found nearly anywhere, whether you’re wanting to keep it close to home or venture across the country.
Kick off your wellness resolution in the best way possible.
5. Witness the Northern Lights
Anyone that wants to take that magical vibe that comes with observing the new year roll in and turn it up to 11 should absolutely consider a trip to see the Northern Lights. To be completely honest, this is still one I’m dying to cross off of my personal list, but I know exactly how I want to do it when the time comes: via train. When people think of taking a train there’s a good chance their thoughts take them to city transit or other utilitarian types. However, there are actually a surprising number of lines out there that offer an incredible old-world experience that everyone should have at least once. As for the lights, there are a few railways up north that offer routes specifically to see them, like Alaska Railroad’s Aurora and Borealis and Ontario Northland’s Polar Bear Express. Should you wish to be more stationary, checking out their stops would be a great way to figure out where to stay. Alternatively, if you’re looking to do a little more traveling, Northern European countries like Iceland and Sweden are wonderful options. And let’s not forget the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) in Australia and New Zealand.
Northern Lights + New Year’s = Epic
6. Make it a party
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten that ringing in the new year is an excellent excuse for an excellent party. If the people in your group are fans of doing it up big, head somewhere that knows how to do it right. Unsurprisingly, those same destinations that come to mind when we think of letting loose and celebrating any other time of year are the same ones that all but guarantee an epic New Year’s Eve. In Las Vegas, you can spend your night hopping from ice-skating to rooftop parties and end the evening (or mark the halfway point) with a helicopter ride to see the fireworks. Or you can make your way to New Orleans where any of their spectacular music venues—big or small—is sure to supply you with a night to remember.
Nobody does New Year’s like Las Vegas.
7. Take a cruise
If anything I listed above seems like it’s almost there, but needs a little something extra to be perfect, experiencing it via cruise might be just the ticket. One of the things I love most about cruising is just how much you can pack into a single trip, and you only have to unpack once (#dadjokes). In fact, if you’re torn between a few options, there’s a good chance you can find an itinerary that will let you do two or three. Whether it’s over rivers or seas, price, destinations, atmosphere, and activities are just a few of the things that vary from one ship to another. The hard part will be deciding what you’re looking for, after that it’s smooth sailing (#illbehereallnight #jkthisarticleisover).
Consider a cruise for a New Year’s you’ll never forget.
Joe Miragliotta
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Fantastic ideas! I would love to see the Northern lights!
Yes I would like to take a trip to Vegas on New Years