X-MAS IN ASIA
 

We will have two weeks around X-Mas break. We are going to spend a few days in Thailand (flying from USA) and wondering about other countries that we can add to this trip. We have 16 and 14-year-old girls. Singapore, Japan, China? Some places that are fun around that time (cold?)and not too out of the way (Expensive air).

I'm not at all a fan of Singapore but it has some of the biggest Christmas decorations I've ever seen. They go all out for the holiday. It will be warm and easy to get to from Bangkok. If your teenage daughters like to shop they will find plenty of that there.

Japan will be cold as will China.

Have you thought about spending the entire two weeks in Thailand?

We did spend 2 weeks in Thailand last time, so we like to try something different. They do like shopping! We will explore options in Singapore. Thank you for the good advice.

Philippines is close by- we were there in march and had a great time. Everyone speaks english- I would say spend some time in Manila.

One thing about Singapore -- it's someplace that I don't think warrants more than 3 or 4 days. Have you considered Hong Kong?

If you don't mind cold weather Japan could be fun and you can do it without paying any more for your fare if you do it as a stop over either going to coming to Bangkok.

Do you feel safe in the Phillipines, Manila, etc?
We could stop at a couple of different places beside Thailand. We will add Japan to the list.

Manila is safe- and if budget is a consideration believe me Japan is way way more expensive than Manila.

If you like pearls- you can buy South Sea Baby pearls (and other types) for only a few dollars- we bought quite a bit at very very low prices- and these had 10k gold fittings!
Only one example here- you won't find anything like that in Japan.

Christmas is a good time to visit Hong Kong. Lots of the highrise buildings on both sides of the harbor have decorative lights, and the whole city has a very festive atmosphere.

Airfare between Thailand and Hong Kong is always cheap, and weather is almost always nice in HK at that time.

A lot of the Asian countries have festivals and lights at Xmass. make your choice based on what your budget dictakes and what your interest are.
Hong Kong, Singapore,Manila - they all have their own charms- I have visited all of these. Cost- Manila is tops, food- Singapore, Shopping- Hong Kong.
So many choices!

hong kong is fabulous at christmas....bali would be a nice place as well, but outside of the hotels i do not think there would be a christmas look particualrily....

You probably will be connecting in Tokyo and could probably make a stopover there for free. Some flights from the US to Bangkok connect in Osaka, so you could have an enroute stopover there to visit Kyoto.

I'd suggest that you may want to choose just one climate to pack for. SO if you want cold, think Japan and China. If you want hot, think Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Cambodia (for the temples at Angkor), Laos. Also, I don't know where you went when you were in Thailand, but there are a huge variety of experience to be had there (and the tourist infrstructure is excellent).

gopath- is this your first trip to Asia?

Another approach that would save time/monmey is to spend a week in BKK and then head for one of Thailand's beach resorts for a week.

This will be my family's second trip to Asia. The first one was just for Thailand (including Bangkok, Chieng Mai and Phuket). I heard Hong Kong shopping was better than Singapore.

Yes - Hong Kong is far better shopping than Singapore and in my opinion there is more culture exposure there. Sing is a bit too westernized (some would have a different opinion)

Its fun to ride the ferry, plenty of places to shop- especially the markets- bargain hard there!

A lot of good ideas. I think the cold vs warm climate theme is excellent!
Thanks

Hong kong is a MUCH more interesting place than Singapore and the shopping is definitely better.

To me, Christmas brings the thoughts of cold weather, snow, decorations, shopping, holiday sounds, etc. Without these, Christmast won't be the same. SE Asia is too warm to get that feeling. Japan does not really celebrate Christmas, although they do offer a lot, like shopping. Hong Kong has lots of shopping but no snow.

This leaves Korea and China. I think Seoul or Beijing will offer you the best X-mas experience. But whereever you choose to go, I am sure it will be great.

Hong Kong has more culture than Singapore? Hong Kong is more homogenous with a predominately Chinese population. I would think Singapore would be more multi-cultural due to the various races living here.