Cheap Holidays New Year

If you’re spending New Year in the French Alps, expect to find a mix of traditional festive charm and high-altitude celebration. French ski resorts know how to mark the occasion, and while every resort does it a little differently, the traditions and atmosphere are what make a New Year’s ski holiday unforgettable.

First up, there’s Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (which loosely translates into Saint Sylvester's feast day); a New Year’s Eve dinner. Several hotels and mountain restaurants serve special menus on 31st December, with courses that go well beyond the usual with all the cheese goodness and a range of indulgent desserts. Outside in the resort and village centres, the buzz starts to build straight after dinner. In many resorts, you’ll find open-air events in the central square with live DJs, fancy light shows, a warming mug of mulled wine, and of course, the all-important fireworks at midnight, which light up the mountains in typical Insta-worthy style.

Torchlight descents are another local favourite event. Ski instructors and local pros wind their way down the slopes with flaming torches, bringing New Year’s magic to the piste while creating a glowing trail of light across the mountains.

New Year’s in the Alps isn’t just about midnight celebrations, though, as the buzz carries on throughout the entire week. The pistes stay busy for a few days after the main event, the après is lively and the overall vibe is somewhere between a relaxed celebration and a full-on winter adventure. Resorts like Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d’Huez, La Plagne and Les Arcs all go big on tradition with just enough energy to keep the party going. So, whether you’re travelling with friends or family, you can guarantee you’ll get a true taste of French festive, but with way more snow to play on.

Italian Style – How the Dolomites Celebrate Capodanno

You can hardly pick a better backdrop than Italy for your New Year’s celebrations in the Alps. Experiencing Capodanno in the Italian Dolomites is nothing short of special. Heavy on tradition across Italy in general, the Dolomiti don’t just celebrate Capodanno; they do it with serious style.

It’s important to note that unlike some of the bigger party resorts in France or Austria, some parts of the Dolomites have a slightly more relaxed celebratory vibe. But don’t worry – that doesn’t mean you’ll be missing out on a fun night out. Several resort communities like Cortina d'Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio come alive on New Year’s Eve with all the usual NYE goodness, including street parties, fireworks, mountain hut parties and a warm, sociable atmosphere that feels authentically Italian.

On the evening of December 31st, you'll notice the buzz start to build up in the centres and squares in resort with lots of people mingling and waiting for the fun to start. Restaurants serve up special multi-course dinners (so get your bookings early!), complete with delicious local wine, home-cooked regional dishes and the all-important lenticchie e cotechino – a traditional dish of lentils and pork sausage that’s meant to bring good luck for the year ahead.

As midnight approaches, fireworks light up the jagged peaks and you’ll see skiers and snowboarders heading to the bars or gathering with friends outside to raise a glass. And just like the French resorts, you’ll also most likely catch a magical torchlit descent usually held and carried out by the ski school instructors. Resorts like Selva di Val Gardena, and Corvara offer a great mix of atmosphere, snow and style; perfect if you want to ring in the New Year somewhere unforgettable.