Photo by Ira Block/Getty Images
Nothing ruins a good New Year's Eve like traffic jams and price-surging taxi apps (ahem, Uber). Here, a primer on navigating some of our favorite festive cities on that last night of the year.
LAS VEGAS
Taxi
The good news: Hotels can book taxis and limousines in advance. The bad news: The Strip closes to automobile traffic from about 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Best to steer clear of the roads altogether.
Public Transportation
Hit the monorail. It runs north and south between the MGM Grand and the SLS Hotel & Casino until 3 a.m., with multiple stops along the way (unlimited day pass, $12).
Walking
Sounds good in theory—just remember that the Strip is four miles long. Know how far you’re venturing before you set out.
Photo by Goffredo di Crollalanza/Getty Images
LONDON
Taxi
Patience and deep pockets are required: Black cabs are scarce, and fares are pricier than usual on New Year’s Eve (same goes for taxi-hailing apps like Hailo and Drivr, which impose minimum fares for the night).
Public Transportation
The Underground is by far the best way to get around, and it’s free from 11:45 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Walking
Great if you’re staying in Central London—with one big caveat: Crowds and bridge closures make crossing the Thames a challenge from roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Photo by Bertrand Langlois
PARIS
Taxi
This is the one city where you shouldn’t even try to hail a cab—and the apps will be astronomically expensive. They’re hard to find on a normal night and nearly impossible to land on one like this, especially around the Champs-Élysées or Montmartre, where much of the action is centered.
Public Transportation
If you’re near a Métro station, hop on. In fact, from 5 p.m. on December 31 until noon on January 1, the Métro, the bus, and the trains (including the RER) are free and run all night.
Walking
No question about it, walking is the way to go. It’s convenient and infinitely more romantic than the Métro.
Photo by Christian Kober/Getty Images
SYDNEY
Taxi
A taxi stand on Elizabeth Street between Liverpool Street and Nithsdale Lane will be staffed and managed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. They may charge premiums, and brace yourself for road closures around Sydney Harbor vantage points.
Public Transportation
Extra trains will run in and out of the city—in an effort to cope with the increased demand—while the light-rail will operate regular weekday service to the city every 15 minutes.
Taxi
Stroll back to the hotel if you’re staying near the harbor. Remember that it’s summertime Down Under, so count on temperatures of around 60 degrees even after midnight.
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