Hotels.com tracked our travel habits in the first half of 2014, and the results are out: the currently unstable Hong Kong has overtaken the Land of Smiles as the most popular destination amongst Singapore travellers. Here, we reveal the top five Asian destinations (in which Bangkok came in second) of the survey, and our corresponding guides to these bustling cities:
1. Hong Kong
It might be experiencing some unrest at the moment, but the Chinese city has surprisingly surpassed Bangkok to become the most desirable place to head to. With a plethora of dim sum joints, night markets and high-end shopping malls, Hong Kong has every foodie and shopaholic’s interests at heart. Go down the alternative route and discover a different side of Hong Kong, where taking a junk trip is a must-do.
2. Bangkok, Thailand
It’s no secret that the Honeycombers team is head over heels in love with everything Thai. From the spicy food to its booming café culture, Bangkok has us returning time and time again (and always with nearly-empty luggages in tow). We’ve clued you in on the hippest, coolest ‘burbs in Bangkok – now share the love!
3. Taipei, Taiwan
This modern metropolis is a cultural gem at heart – a lovely national park, picturesque temples, and museums are some of its most popular attractions. And just thinking about the glorious street snacks makes our salivary glands go into overdrive. This December, grab the opportunity to arrive in style with Eva Air’s Hello Kitty themed flight, where everything (even the toilet paper) bears images of the wildly popular cartoon cat – oops, we mean little girl.
4. Seoul, South Korea
K-pop and Laneige: easily two of the most popular South Korean exports, and probably two of the biggest reasons why the six-hour flight to Seoul is more than worth it. Korean street style is now in high demand in Singas, so keep an eye on these brands when you make a trip there.
5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Going across the Causeway has hit a few snags lately with the increase in toll charges, but KL rounds up the list as the fifth most popular city to visit for Singaporean travellers. There’s definitely more to this city than cookie-cutter shopping malls, rooftop bars, and hip clubs – just check out our travel guide on what to do, shop, and eat when you drive up for the weekend.
The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index is based on bookings made on Hotels.com sites around the world and tracks the real prices paid per hotel room (rather than advertised rates).