Hot Beach Destinations to Ring in the New Year

The best things about celebrating the New Year are the parties; the champagne, the fun and happy times with friends and family. The worst thing, however, is the icy cold weather you’ll have to drive back home in. How about giving the fog a miss this year and heading to a beautiful, unspoiled beach to ring in the new and ring out the old? While you’re at it, skip the tried and tested popular beaches and get a little adventurous exploring these lesser known beaches this New Year.

Zakynthos Islands, Greece

The Zakynthos Island in the Ionian Sea is home to some of the most beautiful beaches you will set eyes upon. The most famous of these is the Smuggler’s Cove or the Navaggio beach - the site of a 30 year old shipwreck. But when you aggressively plan to do nothing on a New Year vacation, plop yourself down on a sun bed on the Porto Roma beach because there really is nothing to do here (definitely in a good way)! It is a tranquil beach, untouched by developers and most tourists even though it is just 15 Km from Zakynthos town. The beach boasts of no water sports or a lively nightlife but the upside is some much wanted peaceful silence.

Closest Airport: Athens

Varadero Beach, Cuba

Warm inviting waters, more than 300 sunny days a year and white sandy beaches make Varadero a sun worshipper’s haven. Fly in to Varadero, one of the most popular beaches in Cuba and a resort town situated on narrow strip of land 140 Km from the capital city Havana. Celebrate the New Year relaxing on the beach, or walking on the calm, sandy shoreline; scuba diving or playing golf at the nearby Varadero Golf Club. The beach is clean and not too crowded and there are several good bars and taverns at hand to keep you well hydrated with some ‘holiday fluids’.

Closest Airport: Matanzas

Mafia Island, Zanzibar

If the name is that exciting, can you imagine how invigorating a New Year holiday at the Mafia Island beach would be? A short flight from Zanzibar brings you to the Mafia Island - one of the best kept secrets in the area and one that has a steady and devoted fan following. This little known beach is part of the Tanzanian Spice islands in the Indian Ocean and is an adventure land for nature lovers. The surrounding barrier reef teems with exotic marine life and you could go snorkeling or sailing here to feast your eyes on spectacular corals and sea life. What better way to celebrate the New Year?

Closest Airport: Dar es Salaam

Some other beaches that make for a great New Year vacation are: Paradise Bay in Malta, Zlatni rat beach in Croatia, Praia da Ingrina in Algrave, Portugal and Noirmoutier in Western Loire, France.  Don’t have enough time for a long vacation? Spend the first days of the New Year unwinding at the Tarkarli beach in Sindhudurg district, just a few hours’ drive from Amchi Mumbai.

Well wherever you choose to go, the idea is to make the New Year a memorable one and this is a sure shot way!