LONDONCELEBRATE: Performers and musiciansfrom The Lions Part Company playinstruments to accompany an annualtraditional free theatre to herald the NewYear. To celebrate, actors (The BanksideMummers) from the Globe Theatre, performin traditional costume and entertain thecrowds by the Thames. Participants in the winter guise of the Green Man (a traditional pagan symbol) lead aprocession through the streets, toasting theseasons. The street plays celebrateChristmas through lengends and folklore.It’s a sight to behold!

www.visitlondon.com

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Top scenic destinations ofthe world are waiting foryou. Read about relateddestinations and tips bylogging ontowww.facebook/ETtravelindiaScan the QR code on yoursmart phone and access ourfan page on the go

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INDULGE! Shop till you drop at the Rathaus & ChristmasMarket, Rathaus (Town Hall), Vienna, Austria

THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER 2012 MUMBAI, DELHI, BANGALORE

ADVERTORIAL, TRAVEL PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

AA t a spectacularlocation withfriends and

family, enjoyingevery momentamidstbreathtakingambience witha dash ofdance, music andfestive extravaganza— we suggest you usher inChristmas and New Yearwith all these nuances wellin place. Gather your friendsand jot down a travel planto a destination where youcan just let go.

In this footloose issue ofET-Travel, each page islaced with thematichighlights of what can makeyour forthcoming XMas/NewYear vacation a memorableone.

The weeks moving uptoXMas and then New Year,coupled with days that spillover with festivity, make for

the perfect time to travel.Cities across the globe

come alive with aninfectious festive

atmosphere. ET-Travel lists thetopdestinations tovisit this XMas

and New Year’s.

●● Barcelona●● Edinburgh●● London●● Las Vegas●● British Columbia●● New York●● New Zealand●● Hong Kong●● Venice●● Austria●● Krabi and Phi Phi●● Goa

So, what keeps you?

Compiled by Nimisha Tiwarinimisha.tiwari@timesgroup.com

FRANCECELEBRATE: In France,New Year’s Eve is calledla Saint-Sylvestre and iscelebrated with a feast,called le Réveillon deSaint-Sylvestre. Thefeast has champagne andfoie gras, and theaccompanying party canrange from an intimatedinner with friends to unesoirée dansante (danceball). On New Year’s Day,called le Jour de l’An,friends and family share

their New Year’sresolutions and exchangegifts. At midnight,everyone kisses under themistletoe and offers theirbest wishes for the newyear. Interestingly, kissingunder the mistletoe is aNew Year’s custom inFrance, rather than aChristmas ritual as inother countries.

www.francetravelguide.com

BRITISH COLUMBIACELEBRATE: Before the countdown to the NewYear begins, why not say farewell to the oldwith a bang?For celebrations of the family-friendly sort, takein the evening’s roster of festivities throughoutWhistler Village. You could keep it cosy, andhead to a few indoor parties or opt instead totake it outside for skating on Whistler OlympicPlaza, views of the Fire & Ice show, a NYE

kid’s countdown and a Village Square dance celebrationthat’s topped off with a dazzling fireworks display at mid-night. www.whistler.com

In Thompson Okanagan, it’s time to party at Silver StarMountain Resort near Vernon with a Torchlight Parade,bonfires, fireworks and a host of festivities throughout vil-lage hotspots including the Den, The Saloon, the Bulldogand Long John’s Pub. The younger members of the familywill light up the night at Sun Peaks Resort, near Kamloops,with a Glowstick Parade. Also witness the First Flight BigAir Invitational — a demonstration of slopestyle acrobatics,complete with spotlights and a DJ. At evening’s end, theTorchlight Descent down Sundance, capped off with fire-works, is sure to see the New Year in with a bang.www.skisilverstar.com and www.sunpeaksresort.com

XMAS & NEW YEAR’SWORLD SPECIAL

Joy to the WorldGet happy and footloose with ET-Travel and celebrate XMas and New Year at world’s top destinations

Been on a memorable vacation recently? Share yourrare moments with us and send your photos and info ateconomictimestravel@gmail.com or upload them onwww.facebook/ettravelindia and the best ones will beprinted in the next issue of ET-Travel

LAS VEGASCELEBRATE: Want to enjoy New Year’s dinner in Paris, adiscotheque party in New York and go au traditional in Venice? Youcan do all of these by living it up at the Las Vegas Strip. Beready for an unforgettable experience: fireworks, light andsound shows and private parties in the best clubs. The entirestrip fills with revellers. Fireworks light up the sky. The casinosare bustling and the showrooms filled with A-list entertainers.Vegas is more gloriously alive than you’ve ever seen it. NewYear’s Eve in Vegas is a world-class celebration. Get ready tohobnob with some well-known celebrities from Hollywood atselect nightclubs during the XMas and New Year week. Excited?www.vegas.com/newyears

LAPLANDCELEBRATE: Lapland is situated on the Arctic Circlein Finland. Home of Santa Claus is a magical place.XMas holidays here can include your family exploringLapland in search of Father Christmas and his elves,or spent racing through the arctic tundra onsnowmobiles, reindeer sleighs, or husky sleds.While for many, meeting Father Christmas

(Joulupukki, as the Finnish call him) is the height ofthe adventure; Lapland has more to offer. A once in alifetime winter holiday destination; where you candrive a skidoo through deep untouched snow orsample the delights of a romantic reindeer sleighride. The scenery is majestic and the sheer silenceis often only broken by the sound of huskies barkingexcitedly in anticipation of their next sleigh run.

WARM UP TO SOME FUN:Enjoy a drink around an out-door fire at The FairmontChateau Whistler, Vancouver

FAMILY TIME: Usher in the NewYear and go snow tubing atWhistler Blackcomb Ski Resort

MARCH ALONG: Watch the Bankside Mummers take to thestreets of London this New Year’s

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COUPLE’D WITH FESTIVITY: The entire cityof London is glittering in preparation forXMas and New Year. Enjoy some couple time, buying gifts for loved onesnear the London Eye by the River Thames

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GIFTING LOVE:Markets inFrance arebuzzing withshoppers making themost of offers.Join in!

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FATHER CHRISTMAS’ HOMETOWN: Lapland in Finland has abustling Christmas Village. Apt for your family to indulge in

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TWO TO TANGO!Couples can haveloads of fun at theLas Vegas Strip

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