Asia Archives - Short Holiday Breaks

Where to Fly to From Bangkok

July 24, 2019 by admin

Around the world there are some places which are considered ‘hub locations’ because of the access which they have to a wide number of destinations. One of the best hubs in Asia is Bangkok and not only is this an awesome city to spend some time in, you can fin d a huge array of short breaks from the Thai capital, for great prices and which will arrive in little time at all. If you are in Bangkok and you are looking for a new adventure, we have the perfect list of places where you could consider.

Although many of these are so close to Bangkok, you will notice a huge difference in culture and way of life, which is why it is recommended that you use Bangkok as a hub to reach these places. Once you have had some fun in Bangkok, get yourself onto www.justfly.com and check out the brilliant prices which they have for these exciting destinations.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has long been something of a mecca for backpackers and the result is a city which offers a blend of eco-tourism and Thai tradition. You can get to Chiang Mai in just an hour and 15 minutes from Bangkok and you can often find flights priced as low as £40. Chiang Mai has a new-age vibe to it with many restaurants offering organic and vegetarian choices, yoga and pilates experiences, outdoor endeavors and a lively night scene. Beyond this you can find many ancient temples here and for the animal lovers among you the Elephant Sanctuary is an absolute must.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong can be reached in just under 3 hours from Bangkok and although it is just a short journey away the difference in the cities is absolutely huge. The Hong Kong skyline is the first thing that will strike you about this city and as you spend more time there and scratch beneath the surface, you will find so many experiences and activities to light up the senses. From vast botanical gardens to futuristic art museums and theme parks to the wide range of food choices and high end bars. Hong Kong’s kitchen is a result of colonialism and heavy local influence and it is widely considered to offer the highest quality and widest range of cuisine anywhere on the planet.

Seoul

Some Asian cities are deeply traditional, others are tech-driven futurescapes, here in Seoul you will find both of these combined with one another. The flight from Bangkok is just over 5 and a half hours but despite the distance you can get flights to South Korea’s capital for less than £200 return. Seoul offers all manner of activities from nature trails through the mountains, ancient temples and remote villages, to a bustling center which is famed for its cutting edge design, use of technology and rich music scene. This makes for a great break from Bangkok and it is a city which will provide you with something new each day that you spend there.

Singapore

Singapore is 2 and a half hours away from Bangkok and you can pick up flights for around £150. In the last 5 years this has become one of the hottest destinations in Asia and there has been a huge amount of investment into the city in order to bth meet the tourism demand, and drive it forward. Singapore is famed for its meeting of cultures and owing to the fact that it was an international business hub for such a long time, the result is a city which can offer just about every type of cuisine, entertainment and activities that a tourist could want. Here you’ll find one of the biggest zoos on the planet, museums which focus on ancient civilizations, a theme park which occupies an entire island, not to mention a packed calendar of local events and displays which showcase just what this city can do. As if this wasn’t enough, Singapore juxtaposes a futuristic skyline with thousands of hectares of natural splendor, giving its visitors the best of both worlds.

If you are looking to see more of Asia and want to base yourself somewhere, Bangkok is the ultimate place to do so, a great city and one with plenty of access to the rest of the continent.

Bangkok – Top Rated Tourist Destination of 2017

December 22, 2017 by admin

Bangkok is the top tourism destination again. So, shouldn’t you be checking out what makes it top the charts year after year? Every discerning traveler has either been to the Thai capital or has plans to visit it soon. It is a tourist’s paradise. Just the right balance of culture and urbanization makes it a great destination for families, honeymooners and for solo explorers. The Thai capital is everything you expect it to be and much more. The cherry on the cake is the warmth that the people in Bangkok exude. You will come back beaming with a happy smile from your Bangkok trip. Getting the right price on your tickets is an important part of any trip, and Bangkok is no different. There are numerous airlines that fly to the Thai capital; to get a good budget deal you can opt to book cheap flights from Mumbai to Bangkok. There is a lot to do in Bangkok, and here are some things you should definitely see and experience.

Wat Pho

It has a huge Reclining Buddha statue which cannot be viewed in its entirety in one go. You can view the statue in sections. Highlights of the statue are the feet, adorned by varied precious stones and the 108 signs of true faith. Admire and revere the lotus-bud formation of the hands, a sign of purity and beauty, and the long earlobes signifying noble birth. Wat Pho is located near the Grand Palace and should be a must-visit in your itinerary. Thailand’s first university was also set up here. You can experience a classic Thai massage at the on-campus medical school but the same will be at a higher cost than in other massage parlors you will find around the city.

The Grand Palace

It leaves everyone who is visiting Bangkok for the first time awestruck. It redefines grandeur and beauty at the same time. It has been the seat of the Thai monarch for over 150 years now and still houses the state offices. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok. It is not only grand but boasts of intricate detailing and stands strong as a pillar of the creativity and craftsmanship of the Thai people. The Royals do not live in the palace anymore but it is still used for important ceremonies. A quick tip; do dress appropriately while visiting the palace. The most comfortable and hassle-free way to explore the Grand Palace is to book a guided tour.

The floating markets

Well, the floating markets are beautiful and Instagram-worthy. A tourist attraction mostly these days, it serves more tourists than locals. It is a chaotic but a unique experience to be buying farm fresh produce off the boats. Take a boat tour and enjoy the Thai delights. Try a couple of local snacks served hot from the boats.

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park is a serene, peaceful place. It was originally designed for Thai crafts and flowers. You can take a stroll and enjoy the greenery it has to offer. The best is to take a boat ride and you may even come across a water monitor lizard, a crocodile-like creature. It will definitely be the highlight of your trip. The park also hosts free, open-air concerts, mostly on Sundays.

Chatuchak Market

You will find everything here, from furniture to clothes, antiques, and numerous other things. You can also enjoy a lot of delectable local fare and enjoy various shows that happen around the market.

Bangkok is a great place to visit any time of the year. It can be a great budget destination too. And your air tickets should not let the trip cross the budget. Booking in advance helps and taking a flight from the right city can matter too. Try cheap flight bookings from Mumbai to Bangkok and you will gain a great deal from them. So don’t overthink, Bangkok is going to be delightful. Take a trip soon.

What to See and Do in Bandung

May 13, 2016 by admin

The capital of West Java, Bandung is fast becoming one of Indonesia’s more popular tourist destinations for visitors to the archipelago. The city resides amongst rugged volcano’s and lush rural lands with tea plantations. The influence of the Dutch is heavily felt in Bandung through it’s colonial art-deco architecture. The climate is cool and tropical and perfect for getting out and about to see the best of this city. If you are heading to Indonesia any time then do what I did last year and head to Bandung, there is much to do and see and honestly I was surprised with how much I loved it, here are the best things for you to do in this cool Indonesian city.

Pattenggang Lake

This beautiful still lake is in the south of Bandung in what is considered to be an area of outstanding natural tourism. The lake is surrounded by and exotic landscape of bright green pastures and rocky hillside, the lake sits at an altitude of over 1,700 metres above sea level so be careful when visiting as you may have difficulty adapting to the altitude.

Tangkuban Perahu

This epic volcano resides around 30 km north of Bandung and is absolutely worth a visit during your stay in the city. The name translates as the ‘upturning of a boat’ due to the monstrous crater that exists at the peak, you can scale the volcano with your tour guide and see it for yourself. At the top of the volcano you get some outstanding views of Bandung and some fantastic photo opportunities. There are plenty of tour operators offering trips to the volcano and many pick you up from the hotel like mine did. I was staying in the Bukit Dago Hotel during my stay and it was fantastic, if you want to follow in my footsteps then go to the site and check it out.

Check out the Architecture

The architecture in Bandung is great to visit, art-deco and neo-classical buildings heavily influenced by the colonial influences that the city has seen. Notable buildings worth visiting are the Gedung Statepublic building which was designed by a Dutch architect who was trying to replicate the Indonesian style. The result of which led to a neoclassical building that features grand rooms and halls and intricate carving around the building. Also worth visiting is the Villa Isola building, a Jetson’s style building that was original the house of a property tycoon, after serving as a hotel for a while the building is now used by the university. Despite the fact that it is still in use, you can still walk all the way around the curved building and even enter into some of it’s hallways and rooms. If you are a lover of architecture then Bandung is a great city for you to explore, there is far more than the aforementioned buildings to visit as well.