Where to Travel for Chinese New Year

The Lunar New Year is one of the busiest travel seasons in Asia. This year, with the two public holidays falling just ahead of a weekend, on Feb. 3-4, even more people are looking to escape during those four days.“Travel this year has definitely increased,” says Gloria Chan, senior manager of leisure travel at Hong Kong-based Swire Travel.

The high demand has ratcheted up prices, and with mainland China declaring a weeklong holiday in observance of the new year, many will be traveling for a nine-day period. But Sarah-Jane Jones, travel specialist with concierge service Quintessentially Hong Kong, says there are still deals to be had.

“People are being a lot more last-minute—we are only now just seeing a surge of inquiries for Chinese New Year,” she says. “Flights are busy but hotels are coming up with offers.” For instance, she says, the luxury Aman Resorts brand is offering an exclusive deal for Hong Kong residents at its five locations in Indonesia.

Where to go? “A last-minute escape to the sun is still the top request,” says Ms. Jones. Places such as Phuket, Thailand, are traditional mainstays during Lunar New Year. For those who are looking to escape the crowds, there are a number less-popular destinations that are proving to be good vacations this time of year, too.

Source = blogs.wsj