The countdown to picking the perfect place to ring in the New Year starts now. From island beach parties to downtown soirees, these popular destinations are ready to get the party started. As the most-search-for cities by Canadian travellers on KAYAK, we think it’s time you pack your bags, explore a new city and toast to new adventures in 2019.
Note: To make our “when to book your flight” recommendations for this list, we looked into our data at last year’s median flight prices to these cities for New Year’s Eve. As always, despite what our data says, if you find a good deal — book it.
10 Popular New Year’s Eve Destinations
1. Cancun, Mexico
Change: Up 2 spots from 2017
Let the beachside celebrations begin. Cancun is a party paradise, and that fact is perhaps most apparent on New Year’s Eve. Between the all-out dancefests and street-level celebrations, you will be hard-pressed to find a quiet moment in the city (except for New Year’s Day when everyone’s sleeping off the tequila). Last year, we found that booking your flight just 2 weeks ahead found the best flight deals (around $472 RT). If you plan on partying at hotspots like Coco Bongo or Lorenzillo’s, though — you’ll want to have your travel plans set weeks in advance. These party places tend to get all booked up.
2. Orlando, Florida
Change: Down 1 spot from 2017
Start your year celebrating like the prince or princess you are. Orlando is home to some of the happiest places on earth, and that’s before the champagne even pops. We found that booking your flight just 2 weeks ahead was the sweet-spot last year, with flights around $313. If you’re not counting down in the parks, head to downtown Orlando to bar hop in Wall Street Plaza (21+ only). Or, if you’re with the family, go medieval on your 2019 celebration at Medieval Times. Sure, it’s a little hokey — but it’s something the kids will remember for years to come (who’s your knight… BLACK AND WHITE).
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Change: Up 11 spots from 2017
Oh, Vegas. We just can’t quit you. Catapulting itself onto this year’s list, the city of neon and glitter takes it from a 10 to an 11 for New Year’s Eve. With median airfare at $372, last year’s data shows the best time to find a deal to Vegas for New Year’s Eve was when the flight was booked just 2 weeks ahead. And while there is no lack of venues to spend the night partying in the new year, here are a few tips for any traveler to Sin City. First, check the weather. Though it’s in the desert, winter temps can still be below 0℃, so you’ll want to bundle up. Second, if you’re planning to ring in 2018 on the Strip, be there by 4pm. Street closures usually begin around 5pm, meaning you’ll be battling traffic if you try to get there at night. Finally, figure out your plan ahead of time. There are a handful of venues with public celebrations — like the fireworks at the Stratosphere Tower, but many parties require reservations in advance.
4. Los Angeles, California
Change: Up 11 spots from 2017
LA may be known for its mansions, movie sets and mega-celebrities, but there is another side of LA that you should explore. Considered a culture capital, you can’t go wrong by spending the day at LACMA or galleries in and around the city’s Art District (just check their holiday hours). Grab a vegan lunch at Cafe Gratitude so you can get an early start on that 2019 resolution to “eat healthy.” At night, get the star treatment at a New Year’s Eve burlesque show or start saving money by choosing a celebration you don’t have to pay a cover for. Angel City Brewery offers a no-cover-charge NYE party that involves dancing, food trucks and plenty of beer. According to our data, travellers that booked their flights just 2 weeks ahead last year found the best flight deals (median airfare $354).
5. New York City, New York
Change: Up 19 spots from 2017
Iconic comes to mind when we think of a New Year’s Eve spent in NYC. But you can still have all the glitz and glam of a rockin’ NYE without having to head into downtown Manhattan. In Queens, the Bohemian Beer Hall casts a lively scene. In Brooklyn, you can catch the fireworks in Prospect Park for free. And if you’re really into starting those New Year’s resolutions, The NYC Road Runners Club hosts a midnight run. Feel free to sign up (we’ll be knee-deep in champagne by then) then start your year off with a breakfast at the famous Russ & Daughters. If you’re wondering when to book your trip to the Big Apple, last year Canadian NYE revelers last year were able to find the best deal when they booked only two weeks ahead ($271 RT).
6. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Change: Down 2 spots from 2017
This Spring Break city has grown up — Fort Lauderdale is becoming a hip, family-friendly city that offers plenty of cultural entertainment. To ring in 2019, the city gets festive with its Downtown Countdown. Events start in the afternoon (kids can even “countdown” the lighting of the giant anchor — which gets dropped at midnight — at 7pm) and last through the wee hours. If you’re looking to really start your year with some flash, La Vie Lebanese in Pompano Beach (north of the city) is having a Glitz and Glamour New Year’s Eve party with live music, DJs, drinks, food and dancing. If last year is any indication, you might be able to find a great flight deal if you book just 2 weeks ahead of your trip (median airfare $354).
7. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Change: Up 2 spots from 2017
Start your year with an island escape. Punta Cana has the beach vibe your 2019 needs with plenty of seaside bars, lounges and restaurants opening their doors to revelers on NYE. Of course, if you’re staying at a resort you also have the option of attending their gala (most resorts will put on a fancy ball for New Year’s). But to carry out a local tradition, open your windows and doors to let good spirits in and bad spirits out, and hang 12 grapes outside your door so that others may cast wishes upon them. And be sure to book your flight at least 10 weeks ahead, that’s when travelers last year found the best deal (median airfare $666).
8. Miami, Florida
Change: Up 1 spot from 2017
From South Beach to Coconut Grove, the party doesn’t stop. To gear up for a long night, start your day in the Wynwood Arts District. Grab a juice and croissant at Zak the Baker before snapping some ‘grams in front of the colourful street art of the Wynwood Walls. Continue to soak in the culture by gallery hopping until you end up at M.U.G (Miami Underground) for a midday coffee. Then it’s back to your hotel or vacation rental so you can start prepping for the night ahead. Like many destinations on this list, travellers last year found the best flight deal for New Year’s Eve when they booked just 2 weeks ahead of travel (and found airfare around $386 RT).
9. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Change: Down 2 spots from 2017
We’re sensing a trend here. For New Year’s, tropical destinations are all the rage (because even a double-double and Timbits can’t warm you up in winter). Book your flight to Puerto Vallarta at least 2 weeks ahead — this is when travellers in 2017 found the best flight deal for New Year’s (at around $541 RT). Puerto Vallarta benefits from an inclusive vibe with many LGBTQ-friendly resorts, clubs and beaches. One of the biggest parties if the White Party, which runs over the course of 4 days. After all that celebration, you’ll want to take some time to relax at SPA Casa Velas with one of their signature packages.
10. Honolulu, Hawaii
Change: Down 4 spots from 2017
*Cue jokes about getting lei’d in the New Year.* Now that that’s over with, Honolulu is a world away from where you are. In 2017, Canadian travellers that booked just 2 weeks ahead of travel for New Year’s found the best flight prices (median $512 RT). And while plenty of bars and restaurants are throwing their own soirees, maybe you’ve caught that island fever and just want to relax on the beach as your countdown to midnight. Launch 2019 in paradise by watching the fireworks on Waikiki Beach and eating as much poke as possible (preferably from Ono Seafood if you planned ahead).
Wherever you’re headed for New Year’s Eve, we’ll make sure you have the information you need to confidently plan your end-of-year trip.
Methodology
Popular New Year’s Eve Destination are based on flight destinations with greatest number of clicks from the top 100 most clicked destinations based on travel dates starting 12/25/2018-12/31/2018 and ending 01/01/2019-01/02/2019 and search dates 01/01/2018-08/18/2018. The popularity rank change based on previous year rank of destinations for travel dates starting 12/25/2017-12/31/2017 and ending 01/01/2018-01/03/2018. Median airfare by month for destinations based on travel dates 11/01/2017-01/31/2018 and search dates 11/01/2017-01/31/2017. When to Book data is based on median airfare as a function of weeks before departure based on travel dates 11/17/17-01/03/18 and search dates 08/15/2017-01/03/2018. Median hotel rate by month for destination based on travel dates 11/01/2017-01/31/2018 and search dates 05/01/2018-01/31/2018.
