The year-end holiday season is a special time for many travelers. Around the world, many countries and cities host spectacular New Year’s Eve countdown events and fireworks displays, offering an exhilarating atmosphere to welcome the new year. However, these attractive events aren’t always ideal for every traveler.
When planning overseas travel during the year-end holiday season, various factors need to be considered. Behind the glamorous events lie issues that can trouble travelers, such as crowds, inflated prices, and difficulty in making reservations. Additionally, depending on the culture and customs of the country or region you visit, you may not experience the year-end atmosphere you were expecting.
This article will highlight key points to consider for year-end overseas travel, and introduce recommended and not-recommended destinations in detail. Use this as a reference to find the optimal choice that suits your travel style.
Important Considerations for Year-End Travel
1. Soaring Flight Prices
The year-end holiday season is one of the periods with the highest travel demand worldwide. As a result, many air routes see significant price increases. For popular destinations, prices can easily be more than double the usual rates. Early booking and flexible scheduling become crucial.
2. Hotel Availability and Price Surges
Similar to flights, hotel availability becomes challenging during this period. In popular tourist destinations, accommodations can be fully booked months in advance. Even when rooms are available, they are typically priced significantly higher than during regular seasons.
3. Local Crowding
The year-end holiday season is also when locals take their vacations. Not only tourists but also local residents go out, causing tourist attractions and public transportation to become extremely crowded. Be prepared for long waiting times at popular events and attractions.
Crowds everywhere around countdown event venues
4. Different Calendars
Depending on the country or region you visit, they might use a different calendar system than the Gregorian calendar. For example, in China and Korea, the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) is the most significant holiday, and the Gregorian New Year may not be as lively.
Similarly, Arab countries using the Islamic calendar, Iran using the Persian calendar, and many other nations don’t necessarily observe year-end traditions as we might expect.
5. Other Cultural Customs
In many countries, the year-end holiday season is considered an important time to spend with family. As a result, locals typically return to their hometowns or spend quiet time with family. This can lead to restaurants and shops being closed, or reduced public transportation services.
Examples of Not Recommended Travel Destinations
Based on the considerations mentioned above, let’s introduce some countries and cities that are not particularly recommended for year-end travel.
1. London (United Kingdom)
In Europe, it’s common to spend time relaxing with family or returning to hometowns during the Christmas and New Year period. As a result, even major cities like London can surprisingly be quite deserted.
While there are fireworks around Big Ben for the New Year’s countdown, the scale is unexpectedly small, and to get a good viewing spot, you’ll need to wait for hours in the cold. Additionally, many establishments are closed, making it difficult to enjoy tourist activities.
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2. Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Dubai is famous for its lavish countdown events. The fireworks and light shows at Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, are truly spectacular. However, due to its popularity, it becomes a high season with tourists from around the world.
As a result, airfare and hotel prices skyrocket, and the city becomes crowded everywhere. To enjoy the countdown events, booking at luxury hotels is essential, making it a challenging option for travelers on a budget.
3. Shanghai (China)
In China, the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) is more significant than the Gregorian New Year. While there are New Year’s illumination shows at Shanghai’s Bund, they pale in comparison to the grand fireworks and drone shows during the Spring Festival.
Despite this, tourists from all over China flock to the city, causing major congestion. Especially at night, transportation options become limited as taxis become harder to find.
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Examples of Recommended Travel Destinations
On the other hand, let’s highlight some destinations where you can easily enjoy countdown events or avoid crowds for a more pleasant tourist experience during the year-end season.
1. Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong is influenced by Spring Festival culture like mainland China, it also retains British colonial influences, making the Gregorian New Year quite lively. The fireworks and light shows at Victoria Harbour are world-famous and attract many tourists.
During the year-end season, Hong Kong offers a unique atmosphere where Eastern and Western cultures blend. Beyond countdown events, you can enjoy shopping, dining, sightseeing, and various other activities.
2. Singapore
While Singapore has a large Chinese population and celebrates the Spring Festival as a major holiday, it’s also a strong international city with robust events for the Gregorian New Year. The fireworks and illuminations around Marina Bay Sands, combined with the city’s modern landscape, create an impressive spectacle.
With its warm climate, well-maintained urban environment, and fusion of diverse cultures, Singapore is an attractive option for a comfortable year-end holiday. Beyond countdown events, you can enjoy shopping, cuisine, and sightseeing with various options.
3. Morocco
Morocco operates normally even during the year-end season
The author particularly recommends Middle Eastern countries like Morocco. Following the Islamic calendar, Morocco operates normally during the Gregorian year-end. Restaurants and shops maintain regular business hours, allowing for uninterrupted tourism.
While there may not be grand countdown events, this means it’s considered low season. Flights from Europe and Middle Eastern countries are relatively inexpensive, making it an opportunity for budget-conscious travelers.
You can enjoy Morocco-specific experiences like the maze-like old town of Marrakech or Sahara Desert tours without crowds. Even without countdown events, it’s surprisingly recommended as a destination where you can enjoy unique culture and landscapes.
Like Morocco, other Islamic countries are also emerging as hidden gems for year-end travel. For instance, Tunisia offers ancient Roman ruins and beautiful beaches. Bali in Indonesia is also relatively calm during the year-end season, providing unique cultural experiences. Iran, currently not recommended for travel due to Middle Eastern tensions, may become an attractive year-end destination again once the situation improves.
Conclusion: Which Destination is Recommended Depends on What Kind of Trip You Want
When choosing an overseas destination for the year-end season, it’s important to carefully select a place that matches your travel style and purpose, rather than simply choosing popular locations. Do you want to enjoy glamorous events, or would you prefer to relax quietly? Consider various elements such as budget, crowdedness, and local culture when making your decision.
Places like London, Dubai, and Shanghai, which are normally attractive tourist destinations, may not always be the best options during the year-end season. On the other hand, there are places like Hong Kong and Singapore where you can easily enjoy vibrant events, or destinations like Morocco and Tunisia where you can quietly enjoy culture and nature.
Ultimately, which destination is recommended depends on what kind of travel experience you’re seeking. Why not use the information provided in this article to plan your own special year-end journey?
