Top of the nye props
New Year's Eve brings people together and is a time to celebrate with friends and family. To make sure that 2009 ends with a bang many travellers are heading to major cities around the world to join in the celebrations...
The hotel price comparison site www.trivago.co.uk has investigated the most popular destinations on the 31st December 2009 based on search enquiries throughout November. London tops the chart, closely followed by Paris; other British cities that make it into the top 10 are Edinburgh and Blackpool.
London is the top destination for Brits on New Year's Eve 2009 and is the ideal place for both young and old. Average hotel prices are £142 over the New Year's weekend. There are many events going on around London, but the New Year's Eve firework display at the London Eye cannot be missed. For something a little different, a night at the theatre is also a good option for New Year's Eve, current productions include, We Will Rock You and Sister Act. On the 1st January if you can make it there is also the New Year's Day Parade through the city at twelve noon that incorporates over 10,000 artists from around the world.
Paris is the second choice for Brits and offers easy connections from the United Kingdom: a double room costs an average of £162 over the New Year. The French capital has a lot to offer over the Christmas season including a Ferris wheel on the Place de la Concorde. The Champs-Elysees is the place to be before the clock strikes twelve: At midnight there is a spectacular light show at the Eiffel Tower. To escape the cold over the New Year's weekend, travellers can also visit the Louvre where the current exhibitions include the "Masters of European Drawing from the 16th to 20th Century".
Sydney is the third most popular destination to end 2009 and also the most expensive out of the top ten; the average price for a double room is a striking £201. Due to the time difference, Sydney is one of the first cities in the world to celebrate the New Year. With current temperatures between 25-30 degrees, Sydney is a great alternative destination to bring in the New Year in warmer climes. Travellers should head to the harbour and watch the family firework show at 9am, followed by the Harbour of Light display, and end 2009 with the majestic finale firework display at midnight.
Edinburgh follows Sydney and is the second of three British destinations to make it into the top ten. Average hotel prices are £111 and the Scottish city hosts one of the most famous New Year celebrations in the world; Hogmanay. The festivities are spread over a couple of days and begin with a procession two days before New Year's Eve, which is followed by many firework shows, live music and light shows. A number of events will continue on into 2010 on the 1st and 2nd of January that include concerts and film screenings.
New York City just makes it into the top five making it the fifth most popular destination for Brits this year; an expensive option at an average of £200 per night. Times Square is the place to be on New Year's Eve where an expected one million people will gather to watch the New Year's Eve ball descend down the flagpole on top of One Times Square. Throughout the night there will be musical performances and just before midnight the New York Mayor will push the button to countdown to 2010.
Prague (£131) is in sixth place this year and is followed by Rome where a standard double room costs an average of £148 on New Year's Eve. Berlin and Istanbul are the eighth and ninth: a double room costs £102 and £100 respectively. Blackpool just makes it into the top ten this year at £59 per night. The average price for a room in Blackpool over the past six months was £65.
In other European countries, the French have also indicated London as the most popular destination to celebrate the New Year and the top destination for the Italians is Paris. However, the majority of travellers in Europe are planning to stay in their home country over the New Year weekend. Berlin (£102 pounds) is the most popular destination for the Germans and Madrid (£91) is the top destination for the Spanish.
The top 10 destination list for Brits on New Year's Eve is based on the search enquiries for worldwide destinations on New Year's Eve on www.trivago.co.uk. The average prices for a standard double room are calculated on the basis of 40,000 daily price inquiries for overnight hotel stays generated through the trivago hotel price comparison.
Source: www.trivago.co.uk