The Plaza Hotel’s Fitzgerald Suite
Photo Courtesy of Leonardo Worldwide Corporation
Welcome 2015 in style this year by booking a luxurious getaway or staying local and glamming it up in a hotel for the evening. After all, what do you need besides a good date, a lot of champagne, a little music and a lavish feast to get the party going? With these six well-appointed properties, gear up for the best New Year’s Eve ever.
New York City
Don’t bother trying to squeeze into a spot in Times Square; instead, spend the night in the jazz-age inspired Fitzgerald Suite in Four-Star The Plaza Hotel with its A Very Gatsby New Year package. Upon arrival, guests will find a bottle of Moët champagne in their room and a pair of his and hers flasks to take home. After you have settled in, the hotel will provide a chauffeured town car to prestigious Four-Star The Lambs Club where they will roll out the red carpet, serving a tasty five-course dinner. The best part: in anticipation of your fabulous New Year’s Eve night, The Plaza is offering a special 4 p.m. checkout time.
Castle Hill Inn, Photo Courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
Newport, Rhode Island
If you’re truly trying to get away from it all this December 31, relax in a charming lodge by the sea with Castle Hill Inn‘s special two-night, James Bond-themed package. In honor of the 50th anniversary of Goldfinger, the Four-Star hotel will screen the Sean Connery-starred classic and keep you refreshed with all sorts of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. (You will have to get your shaken martini at the Dining Room, sorry.) The package also includes a lavish dinner and champagne toast, daily breakfast and afternoon tea, and a dancing class so you can look especially dapper for the big celebration.
Bangkok and Hong Kong
Take on 2015 in the luxurious confines of Mandarin Oriental, be it either in Bangkok or Hong Kong. The former is hosting a “Roaring Twenties” party on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. This black-tie event includes Gatsby-inspired live entertainment, era-appropriate cocktails and more than 10 minutes of fireworks. Before the spectacular light show, enjoy the last few hours of the year in delicious fashion by indulging in a lavish extravaganza of exotic and traditional cuisine at the Riverside Terrace. At the Five-Star gem in Hong Kong, you can also expect food to be one of the evening’s stars thanks to a nine-course dinner at Five-Star Pierre, a dazzling à la carte menu at Four-Star Man Wah or a grand seafood buffet at Clipper Lounge. Sleep off your food coma and then start 2015 with more cuisine at Five-Star Mandarin Grill + Bar‘s holiday brunch.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Photo Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
Marana, Arizona
If you’re thinking about doing something that doesn’t involve big crowds and long lings, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is the natural alternative — literally. There may not be a better way to send 2014 on its way than with an invigorating hike and a wondrous fireworks display. With the New Year, Fresh Start package at this Four-Star hideaway the fun doesn’t just stop there, though. Luxe accommodations, welcome champagne and day passes for two to the Four-Star spa are also included. After dinner and a few celebratory drinks at Four-Star CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar (not included in the package), sleep the night away by taking advantage of the deal’s 4 p.m. checkout time the next day.
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Seeing as how Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina’s Sandhills region is considered one of America’s great golf destinations, it makes sense that the place would really get into the swing of the New Year’s Eve revelry. Beyond an overnight stay at Four-Star The Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort, the highlight of the experience is a five-course dinner in the Carolina Dining Room that’s followed by dancing and a live band in the grand ballroom. Should all that carousing get you peckish again (or you need to soak up some of that champagne), rest assured you won’t go hungry at the midnight breakfast buffet. In the morning, play a round on famed Pinehurst No. 2 before partaking in the generous New Year’s Day brunch.
