Holiday Ideas

With the school holidays just around the corner, this is the time to bundle up your children and pack your bags for some much-needed time off from stressful exams and hectic work life. Not really sure where to start? Here are some holiday destinations to pique your wanderlust and hopefully inspire your travel decisions.

Asian Beaches

Those unwilling to travel the tumultuous distance to some far-flung country can consider visiting surrounding regions. Being nestled near the equator has its perks. Most countries that are situated around Singapore feature tropical weather all year round, making for great beach weather.

Some of the world’s best beaches are right here. Bali and Lombok, both in Indonesia, have beaches that are popular among young couples and families alike. For those seeking a quieter experience, try Ko Lanta, a quaint and beautiful island just 70 kilometres from Krabi Town in Thailand. One of the most memorable beaches worldwide, White Beach in Boracay, Philippines, features stretches of powdery sand and clear aquamarine waters. It is almost picture perfect. The more adventurous can travel further to Iho Beach in Jeju Island, which remains a top choice among honeymooners as well as other Korean travellers.

Culture Feast 

For the culture buffs, book a 12 hours flight to Paris, the capital city of France, and immerse yourselves in its sophisticated aura that spreads over the city like a thin blanket. Arts, music, museums, festivals – you name it, Paris has it. Places that might be interesting to visit would be the Louvre, Musée Rodin, Père Lachaise Cemetary, Notre Dame de Paris, the iconic Eiffel Tower as well as the Moulin Rouge.

From Paris, hop on the Eurostar and you will be bound for London within two short hours. In London, you will want to visit the Natural History Museum, the Buckingham Palace, grab a quick picture with iconic Big Ben and the London Eye, just some steps from each other. For a sensory experience, go to the West End of London, the central area of London that is rife with entertainment and art, and book tickets for a play, or reserve a table at Gordon Ramsay’s prestigious Petrus, which has been awarded two Michelin stars, for an out-of-this-world gastronomic journey.

The Outback… 

If you fancy a holiday that involves a bit of adventure like roughing it out in the wilderness, then Australia is right up your alley. Filled with wildlife, such as kangaroos, dingoes and various species of bird, the Outback is definitely a place to go for animal lovers. Visitors to the outback usually participate in organised tours, or you can choose to pay a rent for your own set of wheels throughout your trip. Some popular destinations in the outback include Birdsville in Queensland, Alice Springs in Northern Territory and Coober Pedy in South Australia.

Go Where Your Heart (& Pocket) Takes You 

Saint Augustine, a Latin philosopher, theologian and Bishop of Hippo Regius – present-day Annaba, Algeria – once said, “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”.

Travel is an activity best enjoyed by the free spirit; so, keep an open mind and an open heart and you will see more during your travels than you first intended to see.