Warm weather destinations to celebrate the new year

This year is winding down just as New Year’s celebrations are winding up across the country. If you’re ready for leisure travel and eager to usher in 2022 in style, it’s not too late to enjoy a festive getaway with friends and family.

Set your sights on sunshine and celebrations in Hawaii, Arizona or Nevada and ring in the new year with special holiday offers. This New Year’s Eve, travelers will find the return of fireworks shows, festive parties and dining specials.

Be sure to follow local guidelines and recommendations for safe travels and social gatherings, then toast to the New Year with one of these sunshine-filled getaways.

Family fun in Honolulu, Hawaii

Pack your vaccination card, as Oahu venues will require proof of inoculation for indoor dining and entertainment. Then with your CDC card in hand, prepare to enjoy a festive Hawaiian holiday with the family.

On New Year’s Eve, find your favorite spot on the beach to enjoy the annual Waikiki Beach New Year’s Eve Fireworks. This is a dazzling way to spend the evening with the kids, surrounded by palm trees, lapping ocean waves and a lit-up night sky.

During your travels, be sure to stop by the Ala Moana Center to snap family photos at holiday selfie walls. The children’s play area on level 3 of Ala Moana Center has reopened for additional fun for the kids. To ring in the new year on Jan. 1, visit the Centerstage and Ewa Wing Stage at Ala Moana Center for a free drum performance and traditional Japanese lion dance performance.

More New Year’s celebrations will be found on the lawn at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The venue is hosting a holiday luau with a multi-course dinner and luau show. With extensive dining and amenities on-site, Hilton Hawaiian Village is also an excellent spot to stay during the holidays. Plus, the hotel is offering the fourth night free on stays of four nights or more.

While in town, enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s countdown party hosted with Rock-A-Hula, featuring dinner and entertainment packages with a luau buffet dinner, live music with hula dance, champagne and party favors.

Ocean fun is a big part of a Hawaiian getaway, so consider a New Year’s Eve celebration cruise aboard the Star of Honolulu. The sailing includes a 3-course meal with lobster and steak, champagne toast and party favors. Onboard, guests will enjoy an Aloha show, city skyline views and fireworks along the beachfront.

Festive fun in Scottsdale, Arizona

Easily accessed from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the charming historic town of Scottsdale is gearing up for a celebratory New Year’s Eve.

For bar-hoppers, join the Scottsdale NYE Bar Crawl with an all-access pass to popular hot spots in Old Town offering welcome shots and exclusive specials. If dancing the night away to hit classics is your vibe, join the Baby Boomer Party at the DoubleTree Resort in Paradise Valley.

One of the hottest dance parties in town is at Talking Stick Resort. Their Mirrorball New Year’s Eve Celebration features multiple bars with celebratory drink specials, live music and a dancefloor, midnight champagne toast and balloon drop, along with party favors included in one ticket price. Prior to the big party, enjoy a dinner at the resort’s on-site restaurant Tash, where the New Year’s Eve special includes Filet Mignon and King Crab.

While Talking Stick Resort has plenty of premium guestrooms to enjoy, a stay in a full-size luxury suite may be ideal when traveling with a larger family. These accommodations include two full bathrooms, a dining and living room area, master suite and bonus murphy bed, along with bonus amenities and crib options for wee ones. Kids will enjoy the three resort pools here, also with easy access to golf at Talking Stick Golf Club.

Or when traveling with the family, enjoy a celebratory stay at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Through Jan. 2, the resort property offers a winter wonderland with more than 6 million sparkling LED lights and festive decorations. Celebrate a warm family gathering with roasting s’mores or entertain the kids with on-site family activities and entertainment. Then enjoy a luxurious overnight stay with six heated pools on property.

Through Jan. 2, families will also want to pay a visit to the Paradise & Pacific Railroad to experience the winter wonderland of light displays. During the festivities, kids can enjoy the historic Charros Carousel and warm their hands with a cup of hot cocoa from Hartley’s General Store. Then explore trains at the model railroad building, included with event admission.

Holiday traditions in Las Vegas, Nevada

Apart from prime pool season, the holidays are one of the best times to visit Las Vegas thanks to its super spectacular celebratory spirit. While The Strip is always lit aglow at night, the additional festive lighting and decorations make Vegas shine even brighter this time of year.

Families visiting for New Year’s celebrations will find a grand assortment of holiday dining specials throughout town, along with great deals on accommodation packages. Just about every resort with Caesars Entertainment has availability for New Year’s with discounted holiday savings. It’s entirely possible to find rooms leading up to New Year’s Eve for less than $100, so plan to stay for a few extra days to make the most of sending the year off in style.

For dining and entertainment, make reservations before you arrive to have the most selections for availability. Even The Ice Rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas accepts reservations in advance for firepit cabanas and New Year’s Eve gatherings. Kids will love the roof-top skating rink, roasting s’mores at the firepits and seeing classic holiday films surrounded by the city’s vibrant lights and decorated palm trees.

Take the kids on a stroll through Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Garden to enjoy the last few days of an impressive festive display. The annual holiday installation features 7,500 poinsettias and 13,250 carnations formed into festive favorites. Then enjoy free entertainment at the Fountains of Bellagio with holiday classics synced with the fountain show.

For adult bites and beverages, enjoy oyster specials at Oyster Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas. On New Year’s Eve, the bar will also offer surf and turf specials. Or join the countdown at Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, where a $25 entry includes a champagne toast and raffle ticket.

Down the block at Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse at Flamingo Las Vegas, treat yourself to a New Year’s Eve festive prix fixe dinner with lobster bisque, wagyu beef carpaccio, pan-roasted sturgeon and a stroke of midnight mouse.

Find family-friendly bites in The LINQ Promenade, where Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips is offering New Year’s deals on crab cakes, and special cookies and cream cheesecake pops. Or enjoy a celebratory sit-down dinner at Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar at The LINQ, featuring a surf and turf special.