Celebrate NYE Twice by Jetting from Chicago to Shanghai and Back Again

Pack a tuxedo. We’re going time-zone hacking.

December 11, 2018 9:00 am

For most, New Year’s Eve never quite lives up to the hype. Between towering expectations and Chicago’s unpredictable weather, it’s nearly impossible to ace the singular night.

There’s always a list of the things you could’ve done differently: ditch the heavier coat to avoid carting it along all night, make the midnight kiss more memorable, pick a different bar.

This year, don’t sweat the countdown — just turn back time, Cher-style, and take a mulligan.

How? An insane, extravagant, globe-trotting package from Chicago’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel that will allow guests to celebrate New Year’s Eve twice. Literally two times. Like you’ll do it once, and then you will do it again, in another time zone.

It’s not witchcraft, it’s just what $4,500 and the magic of high-speed air travel can get you.

Chicago (2 images)

Images: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago

This completely over-the-top package begins, as all great things do, at O’Hare during the holiday season. Your journey sets off on December 29th with a non-stop flight to Shanghai, where you’ll enjoy a two-night stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel (expect a bottle of Champagne on arrival).

Private airport transfers will keep you isolated from the other time travelers, and your itinerary abroad is entirely up to you. Consider dinner at the 45th floor’s revolving restaurant restaurant, a great spot for ogling the expansive People’s Square.

On December 31, you’ll then board an evening flight to return stateside, and celebrate a confined but lively first NYE celebration at 35,000 feet. We recommend a tuxedo, cocktail kit and discreet amount of confetti to mark the occasion.

When you touch down in Chicago, it will be half past 4 p.m. on December 31, or almost an hour earlier than when you left the Asian continent. Private cars will again shuttle guests, this time to the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, for another two-night stay, and another bottle of expectant Champagne.

Free from the belly of a metal bird, re-do your first attempt at the festivities, correcting any mistakes as necessary. Once you’ve recovered, the experience caps off with an appointment at Legend of Time, a luxury watch dealer on Jewelers Row. Now that you’re a card-carrying time traveler , how could you be expected to use a normal watch? Would it even work?

New Year’s Eve enthusiasts, wannabe time travelers, frequent fliers looking to lock in their status on United, and romantics with $4,500 to burn should consider this one-of-a-kind way to own the infamous midnight holiday.

The trip requires a 14-day advance reservation, so you’ve got until Friday, December 14 to book. Get more information here or contact salesaquachicago@radisson.com to book your place.

Main image: Yongyuan Dai/Getty

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