Top destinations to uncover in 2015
FROM cosmopolitan cities to breathtaking landscapes and vestiges of arts and culture, these dynamic places across the Asia-Pacific are places to put on your travel bucket list in the new year.
With the G20 Summit in November 2014, Brisbane has cemented itself on the world stage as a global city; something Lonely Planet also recognised earlier this year when it named it Australia’s hippest city. Thanks to various urban renewal projects over the past decade or so, the river city has become a vibrant centre for performing arts, cafes, restaurants and events. Brisbane makes the most of its river location with plenty of walking and cycling trails along its banks, the wonderful Southbank Parklands in the inner city and the fabulous cultural shows that come to centres like Goma, the Cultural Centre, the Brisbane Powerhouse and Judith Wright Centre. There’s aways something on here and fabulous weather to enjoy it in thanks to a sub tropical climate. Brisbane’s location in the south east corner of Queensland also provides it fantastic access to the Moreton Bay islands, plenty of golden coast, inland rainforests and regional farming areas. 2015 could be Brisbane’s year to shine; go see it.
The river city – Brisbane. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
This little gem on New Zealand’s south island is actually the second largest city on the island. Thanks to the presence of the University of Otago in the city, New Zealand’s first university, it retains a vibrant, youthful population that makes up a large proportion of the populace. Part of Dunedin’s charms include its bluestone Victorian buildings, energetic local bars, connection to Scottish heritage and its position on the shores of the Otago Harbour with access to the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula that is home to a variety of wildlife that includes albatross, seal and penguin. Dunedin also has an interesting array of annual events that are worth more than just a cursory glance. The Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival is held every year in July, with a range of chocolate themed activities, the most iconic of which is the jaffa race down Baldwin Street, billed as the world’s steepest.
The beautiful views from Tairoa Head on Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
In 2015 the city state of Singapore will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee – 50 years since independence – and they’re planning to celebrate it in style with an array of activities which is reason enough to put it on the travel map in 2015. These festivities will kick off on December 31, 2014 on New Year’s Eve at Marina Bay when there will be a countdown to usher in the Golden Jubilee and 25,000 wishing spheres set afloat. More events will span the calendar year (see www.singapore50.sg for details). Apart from all that there are plenty of other reasons to visit and not just for its malls, sci fi geekiness and organised sterility. Singapore has a blossoming art scene, excellent coffee shops, wonderful gardens, old Chinese shophouses, amazing eating and plenty of shopping that ranges from Chinese herbal medicines and dusty antiques to high end glam and bling.
Singapore. Pic: Shutterstock.com
This is a bit of a wild card addition this year but it’s time to get the Pacific into this Asia-Pacific list. It may also be interesting to note for travel history buffs of WWI and the recent centenary that from 1900 to 1914 the islands of Upolu, Savai’i, Apolima and Manono were part of a German protectorate that was liberated by New Zealand troops in August 1914. Beautiful, enticing, lush, idyllic, paradisal and engimatic are just some of the superlatives that can be heaped on this languid tropical location. There are coral reefs and marine life to see, waterfalls and rainforest inland to explore, lava flows and lava tubes to experience and all the wonderful laid-back culture of the Samoans itself. This is the kind of place to throw away your schedule and go troppo – the perfect place for a holiday.
Java’s former capital Yogyakarta is one of the cultural epicentres of Indonesia and some have even called it the spiritual capital of the island. Far more relaxed than the modern capital it brims with art and culture. vVsitors can pick from an array of performances including Ramayana ballet at the thousand year old Prambanan temples, a visit to the huge walled palace complex of the sultans at Kraton where classical Javanese dance and gamelan orchestras perform daily or regular shadow-puppet plays known as the wayung kulit held most nights in the city. Apart from that Yogyakarta has vibrant markets where you can watch batik cloth being made or just stock up on your supplies. There’s also the colourful Yogya bird market Pasar Ngasem where there are song birds and pigeons and even snakes and lizards. If museums are your thing there’s plenty to choose from, otherwise cruise around the city by traditional horse pulled carts or the three wheeled becak. The 800 AD Buddhist temple of Borobudur is only an hour away.
A becak driver awaiting a fare in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
With Hong Kong possibly off the tourism radar for the near future, Taiwan is looming as a fantastic democratic alternate place to enjoy Chinese cuisine on a beautiful island. Taiwan not only has plenty of religious and political expression, but they’re very serious about their food as well. Night markets, day markets and everything in between in Taipei serve dumplings, shrimp rolls and even stinky tofu. The island is also surprisingly beautiful with gorges like Taroko, forests, sea cliffs, hiking trails around areas such as the Yushan Peaks, beaches and coral walls and other beautiful landscapes.
This city was once the seat of the wealthy Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties and the age old monuments like mosques, palaces and tombs that dot the city come from this era. Arguably the two most famous attractions are the 16th Century fortress of Golconda Fort where a nightly light show is held, and Charminah, a landmark of the same era in a district known for its diamond and pearl trading. Both are worth visiting and like something out of Arabian Nights. Today the modern city is still royally endowed but this time with shopping malls, coffee shops, high end fashion and perfume and even flyovers. Hyderabad is one of the great examples of an Indian city that has come of age. Hyderabad also has an excellent zoo and you can’t leave without trying the local biriyani, one of the classic rice dishes of this part of India that blends basmati rice, meat, yoghurt, onions, spices and more.
The famed Charminar in Hyderabad. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Check out some of the previous destination lists in 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Agoda
FROM the beaches of Malaysia and India to the cool climes of Tasmania, we’ve chosen six top Asian destinations for your Christmas holiday Christmas is a great time to visit Asia for a number of reasons. First, if it’s cold at Christmas where you live, rest assured you’ll enjoy the balmy, temperate climes of Asia…>
THE start of a new year is the perfect time to start flirting with the idea of exciting and different travel destinations. They could be places you’ve long wanted to visit, or somewhere that just offers something different for the 2012 travel palate. Whatever your wish might be here are six places to consider ticking…>
Villa Kiara Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Barefoot Sakau Lodge
River Guesthouse
Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Peninsula
Urban, Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Shangri La Bangkok
Urban Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 175 per night
The Heritage House & Gardens
Boutique Resort
Chiang Mai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ $115 per night
Dream Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 84 per night
Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa
Boutique Resorts
Koh Phangan, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 184 per night
Sala Samui
Boutique Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 225 per night
Panviman Resort
Boutique Resort
Bantai, Koh Phangan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
The Racha
Luxury Resort
Racha Island, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Lebua At State Tower
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, Bangrak, Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
The Sukhothai Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 190 per night
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Zeavola Resort
Boutique Resort
Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi , Thailand
Deal USD $ 210 per night
Rachamankha Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Changmai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
LUXX
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Nam Hai
Luxury Villa
Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 550 per night
Hotel Penaga
Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, , Malaysia
Deal 150 per night
Hibiscus Villa
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Borneo
Deal USD $ 750 per night
Sepilok Jungle Resort
Nature Resort
Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Old Penang Guesthouse
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Penang, Georgetown, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Marco Polo Hotel
Urban Luxury Hotel
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Pearl Farm Resort
Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
Davao, Samal, Philippines
Deal USD $ 119 per night
Bohol Beach Club
Beach Adventure Resort
panglao, Bohol, Philippines
Deal USD $ 111 per night
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel
Urban Hotel
Metro Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 94 per night
Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel
Urban, Boutique
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 67 per night
Satrisna Home
Urban Guesthouse
Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Manila Hotel
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Dusit Thani Manila
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 140 per night
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
Beach Resort
Kapali, Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 1000 per night
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Eco River Retreat
Kinabatangan River, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 400 per night
Casa Nicaros Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 50 per night
The Poseidon House
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 363 per night
Abaca Boutique Resort
Spa & Wellness Resort
Lapu Lapu City , Mactan Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 340 per night
Sangria Langkawi
Luxury Beach Villa
Pantai Tengah, Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 530 per night
Eternity Springs Art Farm
Eco Wellness Retreat
Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Bali Dynasty Resort
Beach Resort
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 132 per night
Club Bali Hawaii
Beach, Adventure
Anyer, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 90 per night
Desa Seni
Boutique Spa Resort
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Alila Ubud
Boutique Retreat Resort
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 163 per night
Long Life Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 28 per night
Grace Hotel Beijing
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, 798 Art District, China
Deal USD $ 135 per night
Life Heritage Resort Hoi An
Urban Retreat
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal 131 per night
Princess D’Annam Resort & Spa
Boutique Resort
Binh Thuan, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Evason Ana Mandara Hideaway
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Chau Doc , , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 125 per night
The Terraces
Boutique Hotel
Kanatal, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 240 per night
The Orchid
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Gulou, China
Deal USD $ 110 per night
The Quay
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 70 per night
Luang Prabang River Lodge
Urban Budget Hotel
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 40 per night
Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort
Urban Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 60 per night
Knai Bang Chatt
Beach Resort
Kep, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
City Inn
Urban Budget Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ $60 per night
Independence Hotel
Luxury Beach Hotel
Sihanoukville, , Southern Cambodia
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Amanjaya Pancam
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sala Luang Prabang
Urban Budget Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 50 per night
La Residence d’Angkor
Luxury Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ USD $285 per night
Settha Palace Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Wanderlust
Urban Boutique Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 158 per night
The Mercer
Designer Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Club Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
China Town, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 188 per night
L’Hotel Nina at Convention Center
Urban Budget Hotel
Hong Kong, The New Territories, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Hotel Fort Canning
Urban Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 240 per night
Marina Bay Sands
Urban Hotel
Marina Bay, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 341 per night
Hullet House
Urban Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 500 per night
Hotel De Edge
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 134 per night
Maya Ubud Resort and Spa
Mountain Luxury Retreat
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 295 per night
Batu Karang Lembongan Resort
Luxury Beach Resort
Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 230 per night
Bon Ton Resort
Beach Luxury Villa
Pantai Cenang, Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Clove Hall
Urban Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, Pulau Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 180 per night
The Secret Sanctuary Boutique Cottage
Boutique Guesthouse
Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 35 per night
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Boutique Resort
Canungra, Queensland, Australia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Argonauta Boracay
Beach Boutique Hotel
Hagdan, Boracay Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 120 per night
Anggun Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Soria Moria
Urban Retreat
Siem Reap, Old French Quarter, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 40 per night
La Villa Battambang
Boutique Guesthouse
Battambang, Rattanak Srok, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 55 per night
The Apsara
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Salana Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, Wat Chan , Laos
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Villa Santi Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Luang Prabang, Ban Wat Sene, Laos
Deal USD $ 90 per night
TenFace Bangkok
Boutique Hotels
Bangkok, Pathumwan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 87 per night
Villa Lomchoy
Luxury Villa
Chaweng, Koh Samui, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass
Rivers Glamping
Kanchanaburi, River Kwai, Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Luang Poj Boutique Hostel
Boutique Guesthouse
Ranong, City Centre, Thailand
Deal USD $ 13 per night
The Chedi, Chiang Mai
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Chiang Mai, Chang Khlan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Villa Blubambu
Luxury Spa Villas
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
Santi Sari
Luxury Guesthouse
Goris, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
La Residence Hue
Boutique Hotel
Hue City, Tha Thien-Hue, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 118 per night
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Deal USD $ USD $175 per night
Hotel G
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 170 per night
Tiger Rock
Luxury Boutique Guesthouse
Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Opposite House
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 330 per night
The T Hotel
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Pokfulam, China
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Hotel ICON
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 335 per night
Hotel 1929
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 136 per night
The Scarlet Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 200 per night
New Majestic Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 196 per night
Rohet Garh
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Rohet Garh, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Padmini Niwas
Luxury Hotel Test
Mussoorie, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 33 per night
Orange County
Boutique Luxury Resort
Coorg, Karnataka, India
Deal USD $ 380 per night
Old Harbour Hotel
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Fort Kochi, Kerala, India
Deal USD $ USD $185 per night
Nilaya Hermitage
Boutique Luxury Hotel
Arpora, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 397 per night
Maneland Jungle Lodge
Adventure Resort Retreat
Sasan Gir, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 65 per night
House of MG
Urban Boutique Hotel
Ahmedabad, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Hotel Bougainvillea
Budget Boutique Guesthouse
Anjuna, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 15 per night
Fort Tiracol
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Tiracol, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 172 per night
Fort Chanwa Luni
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Fernhills Palace
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Ooty, Tamil Nadu , India
Deal USD $ 235 per night
Carlton Plaisance
Luxury Hotel
Mussoorie, Uttaranchal, India
Deal USD $55 per night