Top 10 destinations to celebrate the New Year - New York and Sydney top the list

21 December 2023 , 11:38

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New York has topped a list of places Brits would love to travel to, to see in the new year (Image: SWNS)

Brits have revealed the top 10 overseas destinations that they would love to jet off to, to ring in the New Year – with New York and Sydney topping the list.

Rome, Paris, and Las Vegas rounded out the top five, while other bucket list spots to celebrate included Tokyo, Hawaii, and Dubai.

A survey of 2,000 adults found that, of those keen to ditch the UK to see in a new year, one in 10 (9%) would pick somewhere warm to soak up the temperature.

And 14% would like to broaden their cultural horizons – with 17% driven by the desire to see how they celebrate in a different culture. In fact, 28% would seek out a destination where they could enjoy an experience totally different from the UK.

It emerged that a third have previously travelled abroad ahead of New Year's Eve – with 8% saying they needed time away from their family after a hectic festive period. And 64% said it was the “perfect” stress-free start to their new year.

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Meanwhile, with a typical New Year’s Eve night out in the UK costing £174 per person – on new outfits, dinner, drinks, and transport – 39% feel it can work out as better value for money to head abroad.

And there has been a surge in bookings for new year travel – as Skyscanner data revealed bookings were up 71% in November, compared to October, for return travel leaving between Christmas Day and December 31.

Top 10 destinations to celebrate the New Year - New York and Sydney top the list

And one in six would be keen to experience how the event is celebrated in a different culture (Michael Dunning/Getty Images)

A spokeswoman for Skyscanner, which commissioned the research, said: “Many of us are now looking for ways to see in 2024 abroad, instead of at home.

“Whether it’s creating memories with loved ones, visiting family, or simply getting the perfect snap for the ‘gram, New Year’s Eve trips are becoming more and more popular. With the whole world at our fingertips nowadays, with a bit of planning you could spend this new year somewhere incredible.”

The research also found that nearly four in 10 (39%) would even go as far as saying that a traditional New Year’s Eve in a UK pub would bore them.

And 28% consider planning a New Year’s Eve celebration at home to be either fairly, or very, stressful, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

Skyscanner’s spokeswoman, Laura Lindsay, added: “Many of us like to start the year “as we mean to go on” – and what better way than to celebrate New Year's Eve somewhere beautiful, fun, or relaxing, with our loved ones?

“Exploring different customs, tasting unique cuisines, and dancing to the rhythm of a new city, is a fantastic way to enjoy the hours as the clock counts down to midnight.

“There's something enchanting about spending New Year in a place that's unfamiliar, yet welcoming. Whether it's the sparkle of city lights or the tranquillity of nature, being abroad adds an extra layer of magic to the moment.”

TOP 10 PLACES BRITS WOULD LIKE TO SPEND NEW YEAR’S EVE: