The seven most glamorous ways to celebrate New Year's Eve
Our choice of opulent bashes around the world will see you into 2017 in style
New Year's Eve - so many parties, so many places and just one night to celebrate them all.
The pressure is on before the clock strikes midnight, but whether you want to have a ball in New York, become a Belieber in Miami or sing your heart out to Auld Lang Syne in Auld Reekie, there's a New Year's Eve package out there for you.
Here we count down the seven most glamorous ways to ring in 2017 around the world.
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London - The Ritz
Where else could it be? The famed hotel is "puttin' on" a six-course black tie dinner at its Michelin-star restaurant. Guests will be treated to Dom Perignon champagne, a military marching band and the obligatory fireworks.
For those seeking a more vintage atmosphere, the Ritz's Palm Court tea room will be transformed into a 1920s Hollywood-era bash with a four-course dinner and live music. And for those who recover from their hangovers in time, London's New Year's Day Parade begins right outside at noon.
Ritz Restaurant: £1,350pp/Palm Court: £795pp
New York - The Marriott Marquis
The annual ball drop in Times Square is the epitome of New Year's Eve for New York. Mindful of this, the Marriott Marquis is for the first time offering guest rooms with a view of the confettied spectacle.
The Ultimate Luxury package kicks off with a limousine to whisk you from airport to hotel, where you'll be shown to a presidential suite and greeted with champagne and music from a baby grand piano player. Then it's off to the personal stylist to help you get ready for the hotel's big gala in its Broadway Lounge, where you can enjoy the incredible views as the countdown to 2017 begins.
$50,000 for four-person Ultimate Luxury three-night package
Edinburgh - The Balmoral
Kilts might be optional at Edinburgh's most opulent hotel but having fun is definitely not. The Balmoral goes all out for its black-tie Hogmanay extravaganza, which promises to merge "contemporary entertainment with Scottish tradition like the colours of a fine tartan weave". That means jazz and a four-course dinner, plus highland dancers, ceilidh bands and a rousing midnight rendition of Auld Lang Syne. There'll also be views of the fireworks display over the magnificent silhouette of Edinburgh Castle.
£795pp for a two-night stay, including breakfast.
Sydney - The Shangri-La
The Shangri-La may be Down Under, but it's going above and beyond for its New Year's bash. It's offering a slew of rooms with views over Sydney Harbour – a prime spot for watching the spectacular fireworks. The Horizon Club's members' lounge and Altitude restaurant are also on hand to give guests as opulent a way as possible to usher in 2017.
AU$4975pp for the minimum five-night stay in its Grand Harbour View Rooms.
Miami - The Fontainebleau
This is the big daddy of all luxury New Year's Eve packages. For those who can afford to drop half a million dollars seeing in 2017, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach is here to help.
The Ultimate VIP package, available for just ten guests, is a five-night extravaganza offering guests access to their choice of luxury car, including a Rolls Royce Phantom and an Aston Martin DB9 Volante, private dinners at top restaurants Scarpetta and Hakkasan and up to $100,000 (£79,000) to spend at its boutiques. Oh, you'll also be treated to the best seats at performances by Justin Bieber and Skrillex, plus a private yacht will take you back to the hotel when the night's over.
On New Year's Day, a private chef will prepare breakfast – including a Bloody Mary bar – and therapists will pamper you on a detox spa day.
$500,000pp for five-night package
Berlin - Hotel Adlon Kempinski
Over the years, the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, which stands opposite the Brandenburg Gate, has played host to the likes of Hitler, Angelina Jolie and Barack Obama - not forgetting Michael Jackson, who dangled his baby son Blanket from one of its windows. So the tradition-steeped New Year's Eve party is the perfect way to treat yourself to a slice of history.
On 31 December, the hotel will host a cocktail reception at its famous Ice Bar, a five-course dinner and a ball with live entertainment. Its premier room – the royal suite, where Jackson stayed – comes at a price, but with a guest roster as illustrious as this, will you really mind?
€40,000pp for minimum two-night stay
Private jet
If one New Year per year isn't enough and you wish you had a time machine to do it all over again, PrivateFly has the next best thing: catching two New Year's Eve bashes on just one night. On separate continents. How? Charter one of its NYE party jets and voyage east over the International Date Line, naturally.
Over the course of 24 hours, guests will see in their first bash in Sydney, partying until 1am, before hopping on to a Gulfstream G650ER jet and flying 12 hours to LA, where it will be 7pm and the party will just be starting. The only snag is the flight is one-way only, so you'll have to arrange your trip back. But who cares, when you've just had two New Year's Eves for the price of one?
£151,000 for whole aircraft charter, Sydney-LA
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