[Fresher]

Have friends on holidays in January and want to go via HK (to visit me!)....where would be good for R&R with good weather and not more than 3 hours. Would appreciate any recommendations

[saltwater]

Singapore, Bali and Manila come to mind. If they're happy to travel a bit further anywhere in Australia would be pretty hot that time of year too.

[angiebaby80]

what about thailand?...i'm planning to go away at the end of jan..need some tan!!

[PDLM]

If it's around CNY and you are expecting cheap flights then you'll need to get them booked soon.

Bali and Singapore are a bit over 3 hours, but Cebu or various bits of Thailand would work.

[caroline13]

book your trip and hotel reservations soon. End of January is chinese new year and lots of people head to resorts for the entire week so be prepared for family vacationing crowds all over south east asia.

if you want your trip less than 3 hours away, you could head over to vietnam or cambodia.

[saltwater]

Originally Posted by PDLM

Bali and Singapore are a bit over 3 hours, but Cebu or various bits of Thailand would work.

Think you'll find that Bali's way over 3 hours. Its more like 4 to be exact. Worth it though...

[kirlex]

If you just want to loaf around on the beach and try some good food, head for Thailand. Avoid Pattaya if your trip is family oriented.

If you want a cultural experience and see some amazing sights, go to Vietnam. Travelling to Vietnam requires a Visa, so be sure to plan ahead.

[angiebaby80]

Originally Posted by kirlex

Avoid Pattaya if your trip is family oriented.

so pattaya is good for single girls like us?

[kirlex]

I found Pattaya to have too much of the 'adult industry', to put it politely. When I went there with my gf, we were shocked at how open it was. But if you just want to sit on the beach, it is an OK place. However if you are a single girl and look asian, avoid the bars at all costs!!

[mrcheese321]

I'm going to be in Koh Samui and Phuket in January. Both places are supposed to have spectacular beaches.

North Vietnam is not warm in January. It gets down to 14C during that month. I believe that South Vietnam is okay though.

I would go to either Bali, the Phillipines or to Thailand if you were looking for somewhere warm that wasn't too far away.

Tickets to the Phillipines are really cheap and Thailand isn't that bad either.

C