BEIRUT: Quite a few Beirut residents are opting for alternative New Year’s Eve celebrations in order to avoid overcrowded clubs and wallet-lightening entry fees.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese will head to Beirut’s streets Saturday night and pack nearly all of the city’s nightclubs and bars. Such a privilege often costs over a $100 cover charge and can jump even higher for Beirut’s wealthy party crowd.

Many bars and restaurants downtown and along the Beirut marina spent Friday adding additional tables and awnings to handle the expected crush of people. But its just how popular those celebrations are that has proved a turnoff to many in the city known for its thriving nightlife.

“To me it’s about the crowd and the quality of people you are around,” said Claire Bechara a 31-year-old lawyer, who is opting to hold her own house party instead of braving the crowds.

Bechara said she has been continually disappointed after paying large cover charges to have low quality food and then be hustled out the door despite an ostensibly open bar.

She’s planning to have a party this year so she can decide what food is served, the music played and the people she spends the last night of 2011 with.

“You know you’re having fun with people you feel comfortable around,” she said.

From renting a chalet in the mountains to spending a quiet night at home, other people are doing the same, with an eye on having more control over their holiday.

For Charles Aad deciding to stay at home isn’t just about having more fun, but also staying safe.

Aad said that the main bars downtown will be overcrowded and while other parties might be appealing, he and his friends don’t want to risk driving in a city full of drunken revelers.

“The main reason is we don’t want to drink and drive,” Aad said about why he’s throwing his own party.

Drug and alcohol experts recommend only a few glasses of beer or wine over a few hours before driving, But New Year’s Eve is a night known for excesses, and in Beirut and around the world intoxicated drivers on the streets regularly cause large numbers of accidents and fatalities.

The roads can be dangerous even for sober drivers so Aad and his friends are staying home and planning their own party.

“If you are at your house you can choose what you want to eat and you can choose what you want to drink,” said the 28-year-old computer engineer.

Despite the number of people opting to take their New Year’s parties elsewhere the city’s bars will undoubtedly be full with affluent people ready to shell out the high entry fees. On Friday many clubs and bars had stopped taking reservations due to demand.

For people heading to the bars that is alright because they know what they are getting into; squeezing into the bar with loud music blaring is all part of the experience.

Hiam Khoury a 30-year-old professor at the American University of Beirut said usually she stays in but since 30 of her friends are going to the same bar she’s going along.

Khoury fully expects everything to be chaotic and very crowded. But it’s OK she said “because you are going to be with friends.”