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The general New Year’s scene sees us enclosed by countless numbers of drunken revellers and while many people wish to be – and look forward to being – surrounded by people spending large amounts of cash drinking in pubs, being overcharged to get into the biggest nightclubs around or standing in the cold to watch musical acts and fireworks at the local festivals and celebrations, we’re not all like that.

A large number of people are more introverted or just prefer to ring in the new year surrounded by their nearest and dearest to avoid having to deal with the party goers.

We take a look at some of our favorite ways to have a quiet New Year’s celebration, no matter where you are in the world, including a quick look at where to visit should you decide to escape on a boat and set sail around the globe!

How to Have a Quiet New Year’s Celebration

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Ignore it

2016 has not exactly been the best of years, whether you’re looking at it from a political perspective (Brexit in the UK and Trump being elected in America) or as a fan of cinema and music due to the loss of some the most massive names (David Bowie, Alan Rickman, all the way through to George Michael and Carrie Fisher at Christmas).

It really has been a brutal year almost continuously and one of the perfect ways to celebrate it ended is to not celebrate it at all.

To do this all you have do is lock your door early in the evening (though admittedly more difficult if you’re traveling and staying in a hostel), close the curtains and sleep through the night ignoring the countdown and the celebrations to start rested, refreshed and ready to move on to a, hopefully, brighter and better 2017.

Have People Over

Whether it is family or friends, or travelers you’ve just met, surrounding yourself with a select group of people means you’ll avoid the cold and, hopefully too the crowds of people celebrating the end of the year.

Sure, you’ll probably have to spend a little extra time cleaning up to get ready for your visitors (unless you’re already a clean freak!), I know my hotel room when I travel is always left in a mess!

But you’ll be surrounded by your nearest and dearest or new friends in front of the TV as the clock ticks past midnight and into the new year. A perfectly quiet new year’s celebration.

New Years Eve

Go on an Adventure

The best thing about adventures is that they can either be planned or completely spontaneous and the only thing limiting them is your imagination!

Whether you wish to skip out on city life on December 31st by packing up some food, some drink and a tent you can vanish into the countryside and camp out under the stars or, if your budget stretches a little further, there is the opportunity to explore the world a little further too.

The world has never been easier and cheaper to explore than right now, which means there’s a great opportunity to fly abroad and catch some or the greatest New Year’s Eve celebrations on the planet.

Once you’ve arrived at your chosen location, a great way to achieve a quiet New Years Eve is to hire a boat and dock in a quiet marina while watching fireworks display, far away from the rampaging crowds so that you can sip drinks and enjoy your down time as the new year rolls around.

Budapest NYE

Go Out

Okay, hang with me on this one! I know I said we’d avoid the crowds on NYE and yes, they’re going to be out and about, but it doesn’t mean that you have be anywhere near them. There is plenty to get dressed up for (or to stay casual too, if you choose to do this) and not go anywhere near the pubs, clubs and street celebrations.

As someone who prefers to stay away from the bigger celebrations and packed bars, a personal preference for me when looking to get out of the house and do something low key on New Year’s Eve is to go bowling or to catch a film at the cinema.

I have found that both types of establishment tend to remain open late into the night on December 31st thanks to their licenses for serving alcohol so you can take down a few strikes or catch the latest movie that you haven’t gotten around to seeing yet with nobody else around to disturb your evening.

Whatever you choose to do I wish you the best wishes of the season and I hope you have a Happy New Year!

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, TwitterYouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

    10 Comments

  1. So so true! Sometimes we just need a quiet NYE, which can be equally or more memorable.

    • Absolutely – doesn’t always have to be a blow out every year!

  2. I like having people over for New Years. Not only is it quieter than a rowdy bar but we can actually have a conversation and it’s cheaper than all going out.

    • Absolutely – win all round! Happy New Year!

  3. Somehow I wish to go out to celebrate but also want to avoid places that are so crowded (hate traffic control). Nice posts and I think next year – I want to see some fireworks after seeing my friends shared beautiful photos from Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taipei 101 and London Eye :) @ knycx.journeying

    • Always a fine balance between experiencing the atmosphere but avoiding hellish crowds!! Maybe you can go big one year and hold a quiet celebration the next – alternate :D

      Happy New Year!

  4. I like the idea of having a quiet New Year. I mean, in SEA, we have loads of superstitions in New Year and one of them is making noise as loud as you can. So fireworks and firecrackers are all over and I always end up having asthma the next day. So I think camping will be the best way for me and my family and my pets! Thanks for the idea ?

    • Ah! Sorry to hear that NYE affects your asthma so badly – I can imagine that being hugely frustrating, especially if you’re at home and can’t escape inhaling the are. Camping might be the best way! X

  5. Sweet to read about your suggestions. We had such a blow-out Christmas with family in town that a quiet NYE was perfect. We fixed shellfish, our own cocktails and watched fireworks from celebrations around the world. Perfect.

    • Sounds like a great New Years Eve! Celebrations with family from out of town are always very special :) Happy New Year Elaine!

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