Short Trip - Where have you been during Chinese New Year??

[KatnHat]

Hi - I know this is a much discussed topic but I've found nothing which asks/answers:

If you could share with me where you've been during CNY that included (what you considered) a reasonable flight cost & relatively unaffected destination your recommendations would be gratefully received!

We really want to utilise the 4-5 days public holiday and understand that it is extremely late to be thinking about booking cheap flights, but we are still hoping to manage a short break.

Thanks!

[pushan]

you can still book cheap flights (2000 for a return trip, if you call that cheap,) and go to Malaysia.

Alternatively, try various parts of China. Guilin/YangShuo is wonrderful, and it is pretty close by and can be done by train/bus....so flights do not enter the equation.

just my 2 pence,...I am sure there are other wonderful places waiting to be discovered.

[KatnHat]

Hey there - Thanks for your recommendations I'm always up for new places to put on the list of places to see.

But I assumed that China & buses & trains would be a no go zone during Chinese New Year?

[Skyhook]

If you want to go somewhere warm, bumming around the beach inexpensively, then Bali should do the trick.

Another inexpensive location, is Caohagen Island, accessed by boat from Mactan island Cebu, Phillipines is another excellent little spot, if you want to get away from the commercial aspect of a holiday. Enjoying a basic bamboo hut, right on the beach, on an island you can literally walk across in less than 10 minutes. Very basic, but also quiet an adventure, excellent seafood, beach BBQ's, star filled night skies, crystal clear sea water, and soft powder sand beaches.

Shouldn't cost you more than $4000 each for 4- 5 days there, including airfares, accommodation, transit costs and f & b .

[wtbhotia]

you can still book cheap flights (2000 for a return trip, if you call that cheap,) and go to Malaysia.

Alternatively, try various parts of China. Guilin/YangShuo is wonrderful, and it is pretty close by and can be done by train/bus....so flights do not enter the equation.

just my 2 pence,...I am sure there are other wonderful places waiting to be discovered.

Chinese New Year is when the whole of China Moves for holiday, Trains/buses/Planes (internal flights) will be full, Train stations will have hundred of thousands of people trying to get tickets/get on trains, I would not recommend you go to china during CNY. Most shops will be closed as well.

Go somewhere close, somewhere were its warm as CNY will be cold in HK as well.

Thailand (Phuket / Koh Samui) etc
Philippines (Boracay / Cebue) etc
Malaysia
Indonesia

[pushan]

yes, traffic increases greatly...but mostly from the south to the central and north

local people don't actually "travel" during CNY...in a touristy sense.

they just "go home".

so local to local traffic does not increase significantly...that is my personal experience. I do some travelling during every CNY in China. I find that travel within GuangXi and GuangDong province is okay. The crowd does increase, but only by 25%.

Again, it is my personal opinion.

"crowded" is a relative term.

As for the assertion that things are closed during CNY, that is true...we once went to Zuhai to do go-carting at the race track, but it was closed

[8c9]

So do I thinking about to have a short trip in China for the CNY but not make the decision where to go. However, definitely will go. ;-P