Pick a destination: New Year 2016

[laffer]

Good afternoon all. As always, I am keen to draw on the collective wisdom of our community.

It seems that my workplace has decided to 'shut down' for the week of 4 January 2016 with the consequence I am being forced to take some annual leave. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass, I started thinking of places I might be able to travel to for a bit of a relax and new experience. Australia is just so expensive at this time of year. So further afield is being considered.

Do you all have some suggestions for someone with a week or so to kill around this time? I recognize the flights out will be steep but hopefully accommodation will not be too steep (especially in Asia). Given it is only a little over a week a stretch to Europe would be too far afield (as much as I would love it and dream of it again) so perhaps something a little closer to home? As always, if you are aware of any great deals, feel free to share.

Hopefully this thread might of use for those of you with some spare time (and no doubt money) on your hands in the early new year.

 

[ShaneN]

Good afternoon all. As always, I am keen to draw on the collective wisdom of our community.

It seems that my workplace has decided to 'shut down' for the week of 4 January 2016 with the consequence I am being forced to take some annual leave. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass, I started thinking of places I might be able to travel to for a bit of a relax and new experience. Australia is just so expensive at this time of year. So further afield is being considered.

Do you all have some suggestions for someone with a week or so to kill around this time? I recognize the flights out will be steep but hopefully accommodation will not be too steep (especially in Asia). Given it is only a little over a week a stretch to Europe would be too far afield (as much as I would love it and dream of it again) so perhaps something a little closer to home? As always, if you are aware of any great deals, feel free to share.

Hopefully this thread might of use for those of you with some spare time (and no doubt money) on your hands in the early new year.

I have been in a similar position for the past few years, and again this year, and would also welcome suggestions. It seems that the major Asian cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong also love to party on New Years Eve, so hotels with views are expensive, as well as the costly flights. I suspect that the favourite budget Australian haunts such as Bali and coughet will be full of drunken Australians.

While tourist areas in Australia are expensive at that time of year, there is very little business travel. This may make it a good time for a city stay holiday, as hotels catering mainly to business travellers will have relatively cheap rates (except those with fireworks views on New Years Eve of course). I spent New Year this year in Perth, and am tentatively planning on Adelaide this year - both great cities to explore for a few days. There is also New Zealand. Last year I spent New Year in Wellington, then a few days in Napier looking around the Hawkes Bay area.

Other suggestions welcome.

 

[Pushka]

We are going to Dubai to see the Burj Khalifa's 30 minute firework display for NYE.

 

[Melburnian1]

Boracay, Philippines should have far fewer drunken Australians than Bali or coughet if that is one of your criteria to avoid. I have not been there on NYE but suspect it would be noisy with many firecrackers going off.

Accommodation there will shoot up in price over Christmas though, but as always if interested do an extensive Internet search and see what that brings up. There are many other beautiful beaches in that country that don't have the number of visitors Boracay has. Look up a website like virtualtourist, Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor if in need of alternate destinations.

 

[laffer]

I will probably not leave Australia until either New Years Day or the 2nd (so as to avoid the whole NYE tariffs). So that might keep costs down.

Hong Kong is a city I love and enjoy so it is looming large.

How easy is it to go across into China these days?

 

[laffer]

Boracay, Philippines should have far fewer drunken Australians than Bali or coughet if that is one of your criteria to avoid. I have not been there on NYE but suspect it would be noisy with many firecrackers going off.

Thanks Melburnian.

Do people generally fly into Manilla and onto Boracay or they fly in to somewhere else and get one of the cheap(er) Asian LCC to go into Boracay.

I have never been to the Philippines before so it is of interest and the suggestion has prompted some further consideration.

Many thanks

 

[Denali]

My first thought was Cebu, thats via Manilla as well

 

[Solid]

Seoul. Really interesting, will be cold though if warmth is a thing.

 

[Melburnian1]

Solid, yes, South Korea generally and Seoul are good destinations but I have not visited in winter. South Korea is surprisingly easy to get around and quite attractive in its own way. Like Manila in Philippines (not 'Manilla' as in 'folders'), Seoul has a real buzz to it. Busan is also worth a visit.

laffer, you can now get to Kalibo (the closest larger airport to Boracay - it's roughly 55 - 65km by road to Caticlan) from a small number of international destinations including Singapore. Kalibo airport is gaining in passenger numbers every year. Last time I was there the terminal was small and in need of an extension (as well as modernisation), but it would normally be a less stressful entrance to Philippines than Manila (although sometimes at the latter immigration can be faster than Oz - but the traffic on the main roads outside is like Jakarta - can be horrendous depending on day of week and time of day).

You could also enter via Cebu and then (perhaps after a compulsory overnight in an hotel) get a flight from Cebu to Caticlan, which is less than 20 minutes by boat from Boracay Island. Cebu Pacific and Cathay Pacific fly from Hong Kong to Cebu as one possible route. Caticlan is only used by turboprops and the like such as ATRs as the runway remains very short but there is some incomplete work on extending it I gather.

SQ subsidiaries Tigerair and Silk Air are among carriers serving some or all smaller Filipino airports from other nations. Cebu Pacific and to a lesser extent Philippine Airlines have extensive route networks into some smaller cities in Philippines. For instance, I think Cebu Pacific even flies from Hong Kong to Iloilo City which is on the same island (Panay) as Caticlan and Kalibo airports. Look up a detailed map to see where these places are.

Philippine Airlines flies nonstop from Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin to Manila and one stop (i.e. Darwin) from Brisbane but unfortunately do not fly nonstop to Cebu or Kalibo, but like competitor Cebu Pacific it has plenty of Manila - Cebu flights (it's the equivalent to Melbourne - Sydney in Philippines in terms of busiest airline route).

Just as the most common route into Australia remains via SYD, the most common route into Philippines remains via MNL. However if you have limited time and want to avoid a huge megacity, the alternatives above may be worth exploring. It's not so bad to have to overnight in an 'intermediate stop' such as Cebu because it will all be new to you.

You could also grab a ferry from Cebu to the island of Bohol which has white sand beaches that are not as busy as Boracay's, along with the neighbouring island of Panglao. Anda Beach is a fair way from Tagbiliran City but its beaches look great (I haven't been to Anda.)

There are also some Filipino festivals in January, among them the one in Kalibo called Ati-Atihan if I have the spelling correct. They are extremely colourful, noisy processions mostly to honour the Christ Child although sometimes a patron saint.

 

[laffer]

Solid, yes, South Korea generally and Seoul are good destinations but I have not visited in winter. South Korea is surprisingly easy to get around and quite attractive in its own way. Like Manila in Philippines (not 'Manilla' as in 'folders'), Seoul has a real buzz to it. Busan is also worth a visit.

I have been to Seoul and I have to say it was really enjoyable. However, I think it will be freezing at time of year and might make getting around a little less than practical.

Hong Kong and the Philippines are rating highly at the moment.

J flights into Manila are not too expensive (they are shocking into HK). Do most people fly either PAL or QF direct to Manila? I have recently shifted quite a few AMEX points to SQ and would like to add to the pile if possible but SQ prices cannot be justified at the moment.

 

[RB]

You would likely strike pretty good weaather in Sri Lanka-sth west should be good & now much easier to get to from Colombo

 

[Melburnian1]

Despite its A330s with nine across Y seating and a funny J layout (look at Airline Seat Maps, Flights shopping and Flight information- Best Airplane Seats - SeatGuru), I like PR as it is most often punctual, staff are good, captains are very experienced but it has a boring MNL terminal: it's all steel and very 'industrial looking': not conducive to rest. Changi in Singapore in comparison is what I'd call 'comforting.'

There are many Filipino travel agents in Sydney and an excellent one in Melbourne's Brunswick (03 93841844.) They usually have better fares than the 'net' or direct airline sites.

The key is to get thyself away from MNL and find a beach holiday in this large archipelago. AFFers such as albatross710 have probably been to more white beaches than I have but it isn't too difficult to find one with few (or no) people on it: it just takes a bit of travel to get there, but can be hugely worth it if you want a beachside experience that is (thankfully) worlds apart from Bali.

I went to Sri Lanka this year. Its beaches are inferior to Philippines.

 

[dajop]

Boracay does rate highly as a beach and is relatively easy to get to but it is rapidly becoming very crowded. I went there in 2004 and again this July and it was a totally different place. The number of passenger movements at Kalibo (nearest airport that handles jets) jumped from 400,000 in 2004 to 1.8m in 2012 and who knows what now. I am sure there are equally nice beaches elsewhere.

As for the bad wrap that Bali gets, people tend to confuse Bali which is a reasonable sized island, with Kuta which is a town on the Island, and home to the worst excesses of partying Australians. There is more to it than that, and whilst Bali's beaches are not las spectacular as many of those in the Philippines, it's resorts are certainly provide an excellent standard for the price paid. Resorts in Boracay on a like for like basis did to me seem more expensive.

Having said all that if you are a little adventurous or don't mind the crowds of Boracay, Philippines is definitely worth a visit. But also remember Bali is more than just the stereotype ( and indonesia itself has some amazing beaches and reefs to, just more difficult to get to than even Philippines).

As for Sri Lanka, it is different again. The beaches are more golden than white generally, but there are other experiences to be had as well, including wildlife safaris (i saw leopards, crocs , elephants and other wildlife), spectular hillside scenery (amongst tea plantations) and other interesting diversions.

 

[JohnK]

Australia is just so expensive at this time of year. So further afield is being considered.

This statement is even more amazing considering the ~30%-40% drop in our currency.

Was thinking of going to Cowra/Young for a couple of days between Christmas and New Year. Looks like ~$110-$120/night for a motel room. Seriously?

 

[Pushka]

Australia is expensive for Australians. Its only cheap for those overseas tourists.

 

[Buzzard]

This statement is even more amazing considering the ~30%-40% drop in our currency.

Was thinking of going to Cowra/Young for a couple of days between Christmas and New Year. Looks like ~$110-$120/night for a motel room. Seriously?

For Australia, that is quite inexpensive.
Twice a year +1 and I drive from Adelaide to Armidale. The cost of a hotel even in a regional area is mindblowing.

 

[JohnK]

Australia is expensive for Australians. Its only cheap for those overseas tourists.

Who aren't going to visit these places in the outback.

Oh and tourists from certain countries don't help our economy anyway.

 

[Pushka]

Who aren't going to visit these places in the outback.

Oh and tourists from certain countries don't help our economy anyway.

Which is a bit irrelevant to my point which is about the value of the AUD.

 

[JohnK]

Which is a bit irrelevant to my point which is about the value of the AUD.

And I can't see why our motels need to be that expensive.

I price up a local trip at around $700-$1,000 for 3 nights including golf and think wow! That's the cost of the airfare to Thailand and save up that much more and there's accommodation and golf for 1 week.

Why would I travel domestically?

 

[Pushka]

And I can't see why our motels need to be that expensive.


Why would I travel domestically?

Wont get any argument from me JohnK!