Partying for New Year's Eve in South Beach?

South Beach, Miami is one of the hottest destinations for New Year's eve parties in the world. The nightlife scene is already notorious, but for one night each year the party crowd manages to take it up a notch with some of the most decadent, over the top blowout celebrations the world has ever seen. Over the last couple years, stars like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, Ashlee Simpson, Pete Wentz, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba have hosted some of the most popular parties at Mansion, Prive, Opium Garden, SET, and Mokai. Luckily for the rest of us, the best night of the year is also one of the easiest nights to actually get into the clubs and rub elbows with the stars.

South Beach clubs are renowned (and despised) for their velvet rope policies, usually consisting of a tall, dark, chiseled cheekbone sort of guy in a Brioni suit letting in the beautiful people while the rest of us stand to the side and try to catch a name or two to drop when the time is right. It can be ego assassination for some, and for others an opportunity to become someone for the night. Either way, the whole event is a test of character and ability to stay cool under pressure. And that's all before you even get inside.

Thankfully, New Year's eve in South Beach is open to everyone, you just need to be one of the lucky people who pick up tickets in time. One of the most famous nightlife groups in the world, SoBeVIPs, offers tickets through their flagship website, SoBeNewYears.com, to the most popular parties around. At the site you can pick up both table reservations, perfect for large groups, as well as individual general admission tickets - literally the ticket you need to get in and get the party started. This year, some of the most popular parties consist of:

• Mansion
  
• Opium Garden
  
• Prive
  
• SET
  
• BED
  

Our advice to take advantage of a huge New Year's lineup in Miami? Get your tickets early and don't wait too long to pick them up once you arrive in South Beach. Tickets sell out quickly and are not available at the door. Will call lines are usually very long over the last couple days before New Year's Eve, so be sure to get in and pick up your tickets early. On New Year's Eve the nightclubs open a little earlier than the usual - most around 10:30pm. Arrive early and take advantage of the open bar and free party favors!