There’s something satisfying about being first at something, don’t you think? If you’d like to cross the finish line into 2010 first, before most of the world’s population, consider catching a plane to Australia to catch the New Year’s bash in Sydney, which bills itself as the New Year’s capital of the world. While 2010 technically starts in New Zealand, Sydney will be the first of the world’s major cities to say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in 2010.
Sydney also puts on a spectacular show for New Year’s Eve, one that’s worth flying out for. There are two sets of fireworks: the 9 pm family fireworks especially for families with small children will give your little ones something to dream about, and Sydney claims that the midnight fireworks display is the “world’s most epic.” In between is the Harbour of Lights parade, where selected boats parade around Sydney harbor festooned with a dazzling array of multicolored lights.
Of course, to travel to Australia you will need a US passport. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to get one fast-2009 is disappearing rather quickly!
If you apply for a fast passport using the government’s expedited service, you may be out of luck. It could take up to 3 weeks for your passport to come back, and New Year’s Eve will be long gone by then. Once you have tickets, you could also try to set an appointment at the nearest Regional Passport Agency-but be aware that there is no walk-in service. You have to get an appointment, and if you don’t live in a city that has an office, you could also be looking at some serious driving time.
If you need a fast passport before New Year’s Eve, the easiest way to get one is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. An expediting company will hand-deliver your paperwork to the Department of State for amazingly fast passport processing-often in as little as 24 hours!