I’m planning to go to Thailand for New Year. Whereabouts would you recommend I celebrate?
Michelle, via email
The most infamous of Thai parties is, of course, the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, which takes place monthly, and the largest of them all is on New Year’s Eve.
This is a wild event, with tens of thousands of revellers taking over the beaches at Haad Rin, dancing and drinking from the ubiquitous plastic buckets of Thai moonshine and Red Bull.
If you’re after something a little more laid-back, consider the fishing village of Hat Bo Phut on Koh Samui, where the many local bars and restaurants will host parties, and at midnight there is a celebration with pretty lanterns and fireworks on the beach.
My recommendation would be to see in the New Year in Bangkok.
This is always an exciting city to visit, and New Year is no exception. Book accommodation in advance and arrive a few days before to check out where the parties will be held.
Shopping hub Central World Plaza is likely to host the biggest public shindig. There will also be lots of fireworks displays, which are spectacular when viewed from one of Bangkok’s sky bars.
January is also one of the best times to visit Thailand, as it has the lowest rainfall and isn’t too hot. Remember that it is also peak tourist season, so accommodation will be busier and more expensive – you’ll need to factor that into your budget.
I’m considering travelling to Australia next year and would like to take in parts of Asia, too. Is it wise just to book one-way tickets to various places or is there an option where I can pay a flat rate?
Mark, via email
This will all depend on how many stops you’re hoping to include in your trip and the length of time you would like to spend in Asia.
You have three options: you could either book a number of single fare tickets to every destination; book an Asia-focused round the world ticket; or book a return to Australia and make use of the stopover.
If you are looking to spend a large amount of time in Asia, visiting lots of destinations, you will find single fares by far the most expensive option. If you don’t need too much flexibility, you’re better off buying return flights to Australia that include stopovers.
Check out Malaysia Airlines, because they allow you to opt for a six-week stopover, giving you plenty of time to explore Asia. You can also find some great deals using stopovers, such as Singapore Airlines’ Stopover Holiday, which includes discounted hotels and free tickets to attractions such as Singapore Zoo and Sentosa Island.
For a large number of stops, I would advise looking at a round the world package – the Australia Deal from roundtheworldflights.com will get you to Australia and back with two stops in Asia for an £859 ticket.
Lonely Planet’s Laura Lindsaywill give you the benefit of her infinite wisdom if you email a question to
traveltips@tntmagazine.com.
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