With the end of the year fast approaching, plans are being made by just about everyone involving New Years Parties! For every city there are dozens of choices - seemingly one for every individual's likings or flavor! Club Hour spent the month of November talking to experts in the art of New Years - from bartenders to GMs to planners to even local law enforcement, we researched to come up with some great tips to make your yearly blowout safer, better, and much merrier!

1. Plan Early - the best packages at the best prices sell out quickly and sell out early. That does not mean that if its Dec 28 you will be out of luck come New Years Eve, it just means you might just pay a bit more or not get the preferred table you desired.

2. Don't be afraid to split up your evening. Its often easier to get dinner reservations earlier in the evening at most restaurants doing special events at a second seating for the midnight hour. You can start your evening at a place like this, and proceed to a larger general admission style event for the magic hour. You would be surprised at how many of the top restaurants have problems filling their seats for the 6PM rotation.

3. Dress to Impress. Fortunately for us, we do not all live in New York City where your wardrobe often dictates whether you are admitted or not to some bars and clubs. Unfortunately, on New Years there is not a shortage of people out and about thus creating lines at most of your favorite local places. 70% of high end bar and club owners admitted to "wanting" the best looking crowds on New Years Eve. Thier definition of "best looking" was less determined by 6'2" blond hair blue eyes and more by the the pride one took in their appearance.

4. Gratitude or gratuity - We all owe the hospitality industry much "gratitude" for taking care of us and providing an evening full of memories, but we also owe them much "gratuity!" These men and women are giving up a holiday so that you can enjoy yours, they are dealing with 10 times the normal volume of customers, and in the case of a bartender, they are dealing with a lot of "one night a year" drinkers....suggestion - be gracious, be patient and MOST IMPORTANTLY BE GENEROUS!

5. Do not Drink and Drive - Whether its been one glass or one full bottle of bubbly - there are plenty of cabs, limos, public transportation, and shuttles out on New Years.

6. Re-read suggestion 5.

I sincerely hope everyone has a safe, happy, crazy, wild, and unforgettable New Years, we look forward to hearing all about it in our forums!