Destinations for a New Year’s Getaway

Every year, different cities compete and try to outdo each other on who’s going to put up the most spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration. During this time of year, you’ll find the best parties and the most beautiful fireworks display all over the world. But some places stand out and deliver the most spectacular results.

Let’s look at a few cities where you can let your hair down and have some fun on New Year’s Eve. Some are warm and sunny and some are true winter destinations. However, to use your points and miles for these spots, you’ll need to plan well in advance, as in now!

Sydney, Australia

Do you want to be among the first people on the planet to ring in the New Year? Then head over to Sydney! The city really goes all out for the New Year’s Eve celebration and Sydney’s fireworks are legendary. There are so many other things to see and do in Sydney, of course, so spend more than a couple of days there.  And if you are going to fly all the way to the land of Down Under, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef is a must.

Park Hyatt Sydney

One of the most iconic Hyatt properties in the world is the Park Hyatt Sydney.  This hotel has the best location across from the famous Sydney Opera House so you don’t have to go far to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks display. The rooms are beautiful and the service is impeccable.

The cash rates at Park Hyatt Sydney hover around $1,000/night but you can book it with just 30,000 World of Hyatt points a night.

Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay

The Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay is another great choice. The location is perfect, so you’ll be in the center of all the action and when the revelry is over, you’ll be close to all the major Sydney attractions. After you are caught up on your beauty sleep, walk over to the ferry terminal and take a ferry to another iconic Sydney location, Bondi Beach.
This is a category 5 hotel and the rates start at 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Hilton Sydney

Hilton Sydney is another centrally located hotel and the rates are actually quite reasonable. You can book a standard room for about 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points When the prices top $500, this is an amazing deal.

Don’t forget that when you book four nights with points at both Marriott and Hilton, you get the fifth night free.

InterContinental Sydney

Set right in the middle of Circular Quay with unparalleled views across Harbour City, the InterContinental Sydney is a historic property set within the restored 1851 Treasury Building. You’ll enjoy all the modern amenities, including an indoor pool, for a reasonable rate of less than 70,000 IHG points. When the cash rates approach $600 during this festive time of year, this is a steal. If you have an IHG credit card and use points to book your stay, you’ll get a fourth night free.

Singapore

In keeping up with our “be among the first people in the world to ring in the New Year” theme, we are heading to Singapore. The city puts on an incredible fireworks display and it’s fun to ring in the New Year’s wearing shorts while all your friends back home have to bundle up.

Andaz Singapore

One of the best places to watch the fireworks is from the rooftop pool of the Andaz Singapore. My husband and I did just that a couple of years ago and I can attest to the fact that the view is indeed spectacular. I’ve never seen fireworks show quite like that!

The hotel is located in a lovely part of Singapore with lots of restaurants with delicious foods nearby. The subway station is accessible right from the hotel (perfect in the infamous Singapore heat), and the rooms are decorated in a cool mid-century modern style.

This is a category 5 property that you can book with 20,000 points.

JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach is a great option for anyone with a good stash of Marriott Bonvoy points. It’s located right in the heart of downtown Singapore near Marina Bay, the Central Business District and other major attractions including National Stadium & National Gallery.

This is a category 6 hotel that you can book with 40,000 to 60,000 points.

Conrad Centennial Singapore

The Conrad Centennial Singapore is another centrally located hotel within walking distance from the Esplanade and Marina Square. The rooms have been recently renovated and if you like to shop, then the location is perfect – the hotel is just a short walk away from six shopping malls. The rates start at 53,000 points.

Intercontinental Singapore

The Intercontinental Singapore is located in a heritage landmark building in the heart of the cultural precinct of Bugis. It’s such a treat to stay in a historic building in the city of modern skyscrapers. You can stay there for about 60,000 IHG points.

New York City

If you want to be in Times Square for the famous ball drop, start planning now because the hotels in the area book up fast. This is New York City, and even the lower-end properties are pricey, so advanced planning is key.

But don’t go to New York just for the New Year’s eve; stay a few days to explore everything it has to offer, do some post-Christmas shopping, visit the world-famous museums and, of course, enjoy the city’s many cool restaurants.

Hyatt Place Long Island City

If you want to stretch your points, then the Hyatt Place Long Island City, New York City is a good option. It’s a category 3 hotel, so you can book a night there for just 12,000 points a night but you’ll have a bit of a commute into Manhattan. You will get a spacious room and even a sleeper sofa, so it’s perfect for a family or a group of friends traveling together.

Andaz 5th Avenue

If you are after a cooler vibe, the Andaz 5th Avenue is a great option. This is a category 5 property that you can book with 25,000 points. You’ll be right on 5th Avenue across from the iconic New York Public Library, near Bryant Park and Grand Central Station. You’ll also be close enough to walk to Broadway shows.

Courtyard or SpringHill Suites

If you are a Marriott loyalist, there’s also no shortage of properties in Manhattan and nearby in all price ranges. But this is New York City, so even lower-end properties in Manhattan, such as a Courtyard or a SpringHill Suites, will fall into a higher category. But remember, if you book four nights with points, you’ll get the fifth night free, so think about extending your New Year’s trip to take advantage of this great benefit.

Times Square Edition

The Times Square Edition is an uber-cool hotel in, you guessed it, Times Square. And while many New York natives might scoff at the location, if you are going to the city specifically to celebrate New Year’s, then disregard the naysayers. A wraparound outdoor terrace overlooking Times Square is hard to beat. This is a category 7 property that you can book with at least 50,000 points, but most likely you’ll have to pay the peak rates of 70,000 points.

Residence Inn New York Manhattan Times Square

The Residence Inn New York Manhattan Times Square is a more family-friendly property. Residence Inn suites are more spacious than standard city hotel rooms, so you’ll have more room to spread out. All rooms come with free breakfast, so it’s perfect if you are traveling with kids. It’s a category 6 property that you can book with 40,000 to 60,000 points.

If you’ve got a good stash of Hilton Honors points, and you’ll need a lot of points for a New Year’s trip to New York, then the Conrad New York, Midtown is a great option. Hilton doesn’t have an award chart anymore, but rates at this property should start at 95,000 points.

Hampton Inn Manhattan Times Square Central

If you prefer a more budget-friendly option, there’s no shortage of lower-end properties in Manhattan. But with cash prices in the $300 plus price range, expect to pay about 60,000-70,000 points a night. For example, Hampton Inn Manhattan Times Square Central starts at 70,000 points a night.

InterContinental Hotels New York Times Square

If you have a good amount of IHG points, then the recently renovated InterContinental Hotels New York Times Square is a good choice. There’s no award chart, and the rates will fluctuate according to the demand but you can book a room there for about 70,000 points during the peak travel season. You might be able to find a better rate if you book far in advance.

Candlewood Suites New York City – Times Square

If you want to stretch your IHG points then have a look at the Candlewood Suites New York City – Times Square. This no-frills hotel has excellent reviews and can be booked for about 37,000 points. If you have an IHG credit card and book three nights, you’ll get the fourth night free.

Moscow, Russia

You probably didn’t expect to see Moscow on this list, but if you do decide to spend the holidays in Russia, you are in for a treat. New Year’s is a very important holiday in Russia, it’s better and bigger than Christmas and if you can stand the cold, you’ll be awed by the stunning decorations everywhere, incredible holiday displays and major fireworks on New Year’s Eve. You will have to bundle up, but if you can stand the cold, your Instagram pictures will be the envy of all your friends.

Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow

The Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is located in the heart of the city and is one of the best located hotels in Moscow. You’ll be just a few minutes’ walk from the iconic landmarks such as Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the luxury shopping malls TSUM and GUM. The Moscow shopping malls are attractions in their own right, with all the holiday displays and stunning decorations. This is a category 6 hotel that can be booked with 25,000 points a night.

St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya

If you wanted to stay at a St. Regis hotel but thought you’d never accumulate enough Marriott Bonvoy points, here’s your chance to sample the utmost luxury and personalized service. The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya is a category 6 property and the cheapest rate is 40,000 points. Most likely you’ll have to pay the peak rate of 60,000 points during the holidays, but even at this rate, it’s a great deal. And don’t forget that you get the fifth night free when you book four nights with points.

Moscow Marriott Hotel Novy Arbat

If you have a couple of annual free night certificates that come with your Marriott credit cards, then consider the Moscow Marriott Hotel Novy Arbat. It’s a category 4 property and the rates start at just 20,000 points, so you can use these certificates even during the peak travel season.

Chekhoff Hotel Moscow Curio Collection by Hilton

For the Hilton aficionados, there’s the Chekhoff Hotel Moscow Curio Collection by Hilton. In line with other Curio collection hotels, this is a very interesting property and definitely isn’t your run-of-the-mill Hilton. The Checkoff Hotel occupies a building built in 1891 where one of Russia’s favorite writers, Anton Chekhov, once lived. The rooms are reasonably priced at about 35,000 points a night.

InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya

The well-reviewed InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya hotel is just a fifteen minutes’ walk from the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre. Standard rooms there start at 30,000 points and feature large marble bathrooms and a mix of contemporary and traditional designs.

Credit Card Rewards To Use For Your New Year’s Eve Getaway

There are quite a few ways to earn a good stash of rewards you’ll need for the special holiday getaway.

Hyatt is one of Chase’s transfer partners. There are many great cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, but one of our favorites is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Another way to earn Hyatt points is to open a The World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Marriott has partnered with both American Express and Chase. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card comes with a generous welcome bonus and an annual free night certificate on your first account anniversary. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees) is a great card for a small business owner and also comes with a free night certificate on your account anniversary.

If you are a Hilton fan, then the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card might be a great option. In addition to the generous welcome bonus, the card comes with Diamond status and a free uncapped weekend night award.

IHG points can be earned with the help of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. One of the main benefits of this card is the ability to book a fourth night free when booking three nights with points.

Final Thoughts

If you want to ring in the New Year in style, planning ahead is essential. This is prime time for winter travel and if you want to use your points and miles wisely, start planning the trip soon. Hotels limit award space and airlines aren’t too keen on letting you book your free tickets. But with a bit of luck and some perseverance, you can plan your New Year’s getaway without spending a lot of money at some of the most beautiful holiday destinations.

Travel well,
Anna