Ultimate New Year breaks

Laser light Show, Los Angeles © Creative Commons / Wolftrouble

Where to... party: Los Angeles, USA

Nothing can compare to the glitz and glamour of celebrating New Year's Eve on star-studded Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Popular with celebrities and A-listers, one of the places to be is the cavernous 1,858-sq-m (20,000-sq-ft) club Vanguard, which boasts Hollywood's largest dance floor. Over 2,000 revellers are expected to flock here for the Epic All Access New Year's Eve party featuring LA's hottest DJs, astonishing live aerial performances and a laser and lighting show. Admission is $500 for two, but it's the price you have to pay if you want to party like a rock star.

Where to... enjoy a pub crawl: Dublin, Ireland

Everyone knows the Irish enjoy a good craic so where better to sample a pint on New Year's Eve than on a traditional pub crawl in one of Ireland's most fun-loving cities, Dublin. Hit Grafton Street in the city centre where a high density of watering holes means you don't have to stumble far between each pint.

The Duke is a good starting point. Established in 1492, its pulling power is legendary. Your next pit stop should be McDaids, a classic Irish boozer that was once the haunt of literary giants. End your night in the buzzing International Bar where you can cradle a cold Guinness beneath an ornate ceiling offset by stained glass windows and cool Tiffany lamps. It's atmospheric Dublin at its very best.

Where to... break with tradition: Great Harbour, British Virgin Islands

Escape Britain's wintry bite and try an alternative New Year's Eve party in the sun-dappled British Virgin Islands. This idyllic Caribbean outpost revs up the action on 31 December when Foxy's Bar hosts its famed Old Year Celebrations.

Located in Great Harbour, this annual extravaganza features live reggae music, entertainment and delicious barbecue food. Better still, the bar boasts its own microbrewery so you're guaranteed an endless supply of ice-cold Caribbean draft beers.

With plenty of shimmering white beaches to sleep off your hangover the following morning, what are you waiting for?

Where to... take the family: Toronto, Canada

New Year's Eve can be a tiring affair for young children, but the Canadian city of Toronto provides plenty of family-focused entertainment on New Year's Eve. First Night Toronto at the Skydome starts at noon and features alcohol-free festivities. Kids can enjoy puppet shows, storytelling, poetry, magicians, musicians and singers.

In the evening, head over to Toronto Zoo for the New Year's Eve Family Countdown featuring performances, hands-on activities, and delightful animal shows, before ending at 2100 with a Kid's Countdown.

Where to... turn over a new leaf: Cape Town, South Africa

Escape the revelry and ring in the New Year in the quiet elegance of the Bay Hotel in Cape Town overlooked by the city's stunning Table Mountain. The hotel is offering an alternative New Year's Eve celebration, called Clean Slate, in its exquisite Tides Restaurant offering breathtaking views over the sea. Guests will be able to feast on an extravagant five-course gourmet meal, with entertainment provided by a live jazz band.

Sophisticated and exclusive, this is one New Year's Eve party you won't forget in a hurry.