AFTER the holiday spending, saving up must be a New Year’s resolution for many. Sorry, this won’t be the case with those bitten by the travel bug. This month and the next will just prove how strong your will to resist the airline promotions flooding the net and the malls.
Philippine Airlines welcomed the year with a web promotion. So did AirAsia and Singapore Airlines. Did you score a ticket or two from the seat sale? Don’t just put that credit card away yet because two big travel sale events are coming your way — the Great BDO Travel Sale at SM Lanang Premier on January 18 to 20, and the Mega Travel Sale in Abreeza on February 15 to 17.
If you do give in to your lust for travel and looking at new destinations to explore or return to favorite spots, then this is time to shop for great deals.
Here are places travelers and airlines suggest where you should be heading off to this year.
Pinky Angala, Philippine Airlines sales and services manager, shared that PAL is flying to new direct routes directly from Manila—Hanoi (starting March 31), Phnom Penh (starting April 1) and New Delhi (targeting April). The three cities make exciting destinations for summer.
Hazel Tagimacruz, Cathay Pacific district sales and marketing Manager, said that since the launch of Cathay Dragon’s Davao-Hong Kong link (from $150), HK has become a favorite weekend destination for food trips, Disneyland or retail therapy. From HK, Davaoeños can connect to over 200 destinations. Head to Australia (from $290), for amazing road trips, wildlife and sunsets; and Europe (from $460), including Cathay’s new destinations- Brussels, Dublin and Copenhagen.
Rea Yap, SilkAir’s sales and reservation officer, said that aside from Singapore, the most in demand destinations of Singapore Airlines during its recent travel fair are Paris and Capetown.
Evelyn Chua, sales manager of Asiana Airlines, says to visit Korea, the main hub of Asiana, to experience the vibrant Korean culture of the most tech savvy country in the world; the USA; and in Europe, Barcelona and Venice.
Nikki Honasan, who is recommending Rajasthan in India, Cyclades Islands in Greece and Donsol in Sorsogon, is looking forward to go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights; Darjeeling to visit one of India’s hill stations set at the foot of the Himalayas, a great trekking area, too; and Siquijor before it gets too touristy. Witchcraft aside, friends say it’s an enchanting place.
Glen Santillan, travel blogger at escapemanila.com, plans to go to India to experience the beauty of Ladakh, Nepal to see the highest mountain in the world and Tanzania to do a Serengeti safari. He recommends you to visit Machu Picchu in Peru, witness the cherry blossom in Japan and take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
Nikki Tan fell in love with London, a melting pot of cultures and historical sites; Bangkok, for its unforgettable food at every turn; and Paris, for the romance of the city’s architecture and French cuisine. She wants to visit Mexico, to roam the taquerias and explore the vivid culture; Italy to dine at Osteria Francescana in Modena and see the Colosseum in Rome; and Russia to explore Moscow and eat at The White Rabbit.
Debbi Hao urges you to visit Positano in Amalfi coast, for the remarkable views of the Mediterranean; Riga in Latvia, for its flamboyant art nouveau architecture; and Bergen, Norway, for its stunning fjords. On her list this year is Slovenia, to marvel on Pstojna cave; Tasmania, for its wilderness reserves; and Georgia, to soak in sulphur bath in the 17th/18th-century bath houses in Tbilsi.
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