Where will you visit in 2019?

How time has passed so quickly. More than half of 2018 has already gone by and we are now in Quarter three of the year. It is also time to start planning for your vacation for 2019.  The dates for next year’s public holidays in Singapore have been released on the Ministry of Manpower website.

* The following Monday will be a public holiday. Holidays in Red are featured in this article.

We picked some of our favourite destinations and checked out the prices of airfares and hotels from Expedia. We hope to inspire you to spend your vacation time which coincides with some of these public holidays in 2019 in some of these beautiful cities. The prices and availability are accurate as at the time of publishing this article.

Also with Expedia’s new Add-On Advantage, you simply need to BOOK a flight to UNLOCK great hotel deals and SAVE on your booking! 

Chinese New Year 5 & 6 February 2019

Proposed travel period: 1 to 9 February 2019

Visit Helsinki

Apply for leave from 4 February 2019 (Monday) and escape Singapore during Chinese New Year. And if you want to pamper yourself take leave on 7^th and 8^th then you can be away for slightly over a week. Depart Singapore on 1 February, Friday night and head off to wintry Helsinki in Finland. Enjoy the warmth and comfort ofthe sauna every night, an all-time favourite ritual of the Finnish people.

There is so much local food and pastries to enjoy. If you are into design and the arts, there’s even a whole enclave to explore. Bring home Finnish branded goods. Pick up a bag or dress from Marimekko or some ceramic tableware from Arabia and glassware from Iittala.

While in Helsinki, you can also visit Nuuksio National Park in Espoo or take a two-hour ferry ride and spend a few nights in Tallinn, Estonia.

Pamper yourself in Helsinki and stay at Hotel Haven or Hotel Lilla Roberts, members of Small Luxury Hotels of The World.

Expedia – Flights to Helsinki (As at 11 September 2018)

Flights start from as low as S$1,192 from Expedia.

Good Friday 19 April 2019

Proposed travel period: 18 to 22 April 2019

Visit Suzhou

Suzhou is a nice quiet getaway. Spend the weekend at Taihu Lake, the Venice of the Orient, away from the main city in Suzhou and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the lake district. Book a flight first and add on your accommodation at the Renaissance Suzhou Taihu Lake Hotel from S$1,184 per person.

Renaissance Suzhou Taihu Lake (Prices correct as at 25 September 2018)

Taihu International Golf Course is located across from the hotel so you and your golfing kakis can just walk across and play one or two rounds of golf. Learn the art of Chinese tea appreciation by checking with the Navigator at Renaissance Suzhou Taihu Lake Hotel, who can arrange a session for you. 

Not sure what to do in Suzhou? Check out Expedia’s guide to touring in Suzhou ranging from Water Village Tours to Garden tours.

Labour Day 1 May 2019

Proposed travel period: 29 April to 3 May 2019

Visit Hua Hin

Labour Day falls on a Wednesday. So if you want to maximise your vacation days you either have to take leave on Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday to enjoy a five-day vacation.

We recommend making a trip to Bangkok and spending a day or two before heading up to Hua Hin. Hua Hin is located some two and a half hours away on road via Route 35 and Route 4 or longer by train from Bangkok. It is in the southern Thai province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. What used to be a quiet fishing village is now an idyllic seaside vacation town for both local Thais and foreigners. It is ideal for getting away from the metropolis of Bangkok and city environment that most of us call home.

Have lunch at the Alpaca Restaurant Cha-Am. Don’t worry, the Alpacas are for petting. You won’t be eating them. Visit the 560-acre Monsoon Valley Vineyard

Stay at the Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort which overlooks pristine white sands. Book a flight first and add-on a hotel from S$638 per person.

Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort(Prices correct as at 25 September 2018)

The new Expedia Add-On-Advantage offers up to 57% discounts on your hotel room bookings when you have booked a flight or package with Expedia. In this case, you can then book a flight to Bangkok with Expedia and then decide later how many days you wish to spend in Bangkok and Hua Hin.

Vesak Day 19 May 2019

Proposed travel period: 17 to 20 May 2019

Visit Cebu

Since Vesak Day falls on a Sunday, Monday is a public holiday. So you can enjoy a long weekend. Get some sun and sea in Cebu, the Philippines. Go diving with whale sharks and enjoy water sports that Cebu is popular for.

In Lapu-Lapu City, where the new Mactan Cebu International Airport is located, you can shop at Mactan Marina Mall, The Outlets at Pueblo Verde as well as Shangs Island Town Centre.

Collins Hotel (Prices Correct as at 25 September 2018)

Airfares from Singapore to Cebu start from S$226. Book your flights with Expedia first and then enjoy the flexibility of booking your accommodation later with Expedia Add-On Advantage to enjoy savings up to 57% off selected hotels.

National Day 9 August 2019 & Hari Raya Haji 11 August 2019

Proposed travel period: 9 to 12 August 2019

Visit Melbourne

Singapore’s National Day in 2019 falls on a Friday while Hari Raya Haji falls on the same weekend’s Sunday which means Monday will be a public holiday. Here’s another long weekend giving you four days to travel.

Visit Melbourne during the winter and enjoy the colder weather for a change. Go to Mount Buller and Ski or ride on a sled dog tour and play with the adorable and extremely friendly huskies. Head over to Yarra Valley and enjoy the chardonnay, pinot noir or sparkling wine as well as pay a visit to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and be sure to enjoy their speciality hot chocolate and pick out some of the 250 different handcrafted chocolate products for your friends back home.

I stayed at the Novotel Melbourne on Collins and loved how central the hotel was. It was connected to a mall and I could also walk around and get to Federation Square, Bourke Street Mall, Chinatown as well as to the highly-recommended Mekong Vietnamese for one of the best Pho (rice noodles) I have ever had.

Deepavali 27 October 2019

Proposed travel period: 25 to 28 October 2019

Visit Hong Kong 

27 October 2019 falls on a Sunday which means Monday is also a Public Holiday. Take a short trip to Hong Kong which is less than 5 hours by flight. You can leave Friday night and have supper in Hong Kong and return on Monday.

Hong Kong has always been one of my favourite Asian destinations. I have to go back at least once every year because I have too many friends there, and I love the food, sights and the city.

The food scene there is so vibrant and you will not go hungry is this cosmopolitan city, even if you do not speak or read Cantonese. Hipster cafes have sprung up throughout the city and you can get the best wonton noodles or roast meats from the cha chaan teng （茶餐厅）. Go to Sai Kung and enjoy seafood or hop onto a ferry to visit some of the islands.

There are a couple of hotels I like to stay at when I am in Hong Kong. The Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel has amazing harbour views and the hotel is one of three hotels under the Wharf Group above Harbour City Mall, Hong Kong’s largest mall. It is also close to Victoria Harbour and excellent food. I always end up walking too much and needing a foot reflexology and back massage at the reasonably priced Bodyzone in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel (Prices correct as at 25 September 2018)

Or stay at the recently opened The Murray in the heart of Hong Kong’s Financial District and enjoy views overlooking skyscrapers such as HSBC Building or the Bank of China Tower.

I usually avoid travelling during the Christmas season just because it is the peak school holiday, year-end peak travel period. That is when everything is expensive. That includes air tickets and hotels.

We hope that this would inspire you with your travel plans in 2019.

Expedia Add On Advantage

This post is sponsored by EXPEDIA.