With just eight days left in the year, five-star hotels have drawn much attention due to their advertised New Year´s Eve events. Luxury hotels with Bosphorus views have a 90 percent occupancy rate to ring in the New Year. There are events to suit anyone´s taste. Prices start at 275 and go all the way up to 25,000 Euros. Hotels in Ankara, Antalya and Izmir are also starting to fill up.

Despite the effects of the global economic crisis, New Year´s Eve events have not stopped short this year. The events planned by five-start hotels in big cities such as Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara and Izmir, are leaving nothing to be desired. In Istanbul, hotels are charging from 275 TL to 25,000 Euros for a New Year´s Eve ball and a night´s stay. Tickets for New Year´s Eve programs, including a party and dinner are going for anywhere from 150 YTL up to 400 YTL. In Antalya, a one-person ticket for a gala menu starts at 90 YTL, with double rooms ranging between 135 YTL and 350 YTL.

Hotels, which were trying to compensate for the economic crisis, appear to have been successful with sales rates high just one week prior to New Years Eve. In Istanbul, hotels with views of the Bosphorus are reporting 90 percent occupancy levels. Meanwhile, the historical Haydarpaþa Train Station will for the first time ever be opened up to host a special event for New Year´s Eve. All of the entertainment locations in the alleyways of Beyoðlu have different programs for the evening´s celebrations, and there will be a special dinner in the site where the film Issýz Adam took place.

http://english.sabah.com.tr/05EE4C2DC57749DAA598A5EDF1B7B5D5.html