International Long Weekend Suggestions

[Katalyze]

Hi,

I've got about 4-5 days off and I'll like to spend that weekend overseas. I've already been to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. Anyone have any suggestions for a destination? I don't fancy Bali tbh.

 

[puppysparkes]

Auckland, then head over to Waiheke island for a winery tour. http://waiheke.aucklandnz.com

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi,

I've got about 4-5 days off and I'll like to spend that weekend overseas. I've already been to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. Anyone have any suggestions for a destination? I don't fancy Bali tbh.

How about NZ? It took me years to get there because I thought 'It will be just like home but with funny accents'. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Terrific place for a short break; North or South island, but not both in 4-5 days.

Guam see recent trip report -

A 3 day cruise on the Mekong River? I'm serious with this one. Did it 2 years ago as part of a larger Asian trip and it was one of my best travel experiences ever. This one begins and ends at Pakse, Laos (you bus back on the last afternoon) and you can fly into Pakse using Lao Air, which I found fine (being one who likes their "major" airlines!). One day flying there, one back and 3 days on the river. I'm not a cruise person by any means; I like to keep moving, but this was great. Great food, cabins (aircon at night), sights and great relaxing.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Leaving from where?
How about Lord Howe Island

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

I know you said not Bali but if you stay away from Kuta then it can be a fantastic quick getaway destination just don't expect it to be cheap....

Stay in a villa in Seminyak/canggu, eat around seminyak, pettinget area.

Some fantastic restaurants we went to that are owned and run by Aussie expats include Mamasans (an amazing restaurant which we went to twice - try the creame brûlée for dessert which my husband went and had at 11pm one night after eating somewhere else), barbacoa which just opened last November and is a fantastic open BBQ tapas style place, Métis, Jemme, Biku for high tea, slippery stone ( hopefully it's now open again), sarong, sardine, sunset coughtails at Potato head, ku de ta, mosaic beach. Breakfast at La luciola.

We go twice a year and I don't go into Kuta or Legian, I don't barter, I don't shop......relax, eat good food and drink coughtails!!!

If you don't like 'Bali' just don't go to Legian/Kuta although we did see bintang singlet wearing, board shorts and beer drinking group of guys trying to find potato head one walking up jalan keroborkan.....tried to tell then they were wasting their time as they wouldn't get in dressed as they were at 9pm at night.....they didn't listen and continued their druken walk to 'find the place'..... But that was the only time in 12 days we saw that.

Seminyak/Canggu area is more full of expats and people that want to get away from the 'Kuta' style Bali!!

Just don't expect it to be a cheap holiday.

 

[scwappy]

Queenstown is great for a short break. Ticks everybox

 

[hazel]

Vanuatu or New Zealand

 

[boomy]

Taipei or Seoul for urban holiday.
Fiji for relaxation.

 

[casanovawa]

Cambodia, and going to see Angkor Wat, is on my list of things to do....

I have only stayed in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon for a couple of days, but would like to go back and see some other parts of Vietnam as well...

As with most destinations it probably depends on what floats your boat, do you like history and culture and tours, natural beauty, fun and adventure (watersports/adventure sports), pampering, nightlife, chilling by a beach etc...

 

[mrfreeze]

Vanuatu or New Zealand

Consider Fiji as well.
Depending on flight times you can be out on the Islands the same day.
We are heading back in July for 18 nights with 14 of them split between Manta Ray Resort and Blue Lagoon Beach Resort in the Yasawa Island group.

 

[RooFlyer]

I know you said not Bali but if you stay away from Kuta then it can be a fantastic quick getaway destination just don't expect it to be cheap....

Stay in a villa in Seminyak/canggu, eat around seminyak, pettinget area.

<snip>.

Thanks for posting that Auckland10 . I've heard similar for a number of years, but when I think to go there, it occurs to me "No, it must be spoiled by now ... "

Indonesia as a whole is on my personal 'no fly list', and I shudder every time I thinks of 'Bali', but I guess I should do some more research and have a go, before it really is over-run.

How do you avoid the Kuta-goers on the plane over?

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Don't fly around schoolies time and football end of season.

We usually fly jetstar as we buy he plus bundles and frequently change our travel days/times as we have our own business.

Everyone it has been fine and no 'Kuta' people in the plane....otherwise pay for the upfront seats as they don't spend more money than they need too!!! I would say avoid air Asia as it's the cheapest airline to fly there too...

I would def give Bali a go....aim to spend around $100 per day and eat at those restaurants I mentioned above!!! You would hardly know you were in Bali if you just keep up around Seminyak

Any questions...just ask

 

[Buzzard]

Mrs B and I are going to AKL over the Easter break

 

[Katalyze]

Thanks for the suggestions I live in Adelaide at the moment. I like to travel solo and don't like the resorts/tropical island destinations. I much prefer to experience the culture of a new country/city.

At the moment I'm looking at Kuching and Pontianak.

New Zealand is a great suggestion but it's a lot more expensive to get to Queenstown than Asia.