Hong Kong

Why go: Hong Kong’s New Year’s Eve party features one of the world’s best pyrotechnic displays, a sensory extravaganza of light and sound that consists of an eight-minute fireworks display over Victoria Harbor and a countdown, complete with a ball drop at midnight. The show actually begins a whole lot earlier, with the symphony of lights show that illuminates 45 homes inside the Hong Kong skyline each nighttime at 8 p.m. all year round. The gorgeous views of the Victoria Harbor fireworks may be visible from a boat; on dry land, head to the avenue of stars in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, or party in one of the many bars in the Lan Kwai Fong district.

Where to stay: The ninety-three rooms at Butterfly on Morrison are decked out in vibrant colorings and floor-to-ceiling home windows, many with harbor views. The resort is only a few minutes from all the action and has Wi-Fi. Butterflyhk.com