Cover image via Asia TourismOne of the best ways to experience the city you're travelling in is to attend a local festival or event
Image via Charming Place Hotel
Apart from visiting all the must-see sites, another way to get the most out of your travels is to attend a cultural festival or event that is popular among the locals. You'll get to learn more about their traditions, and even explore new places.
Here are some events you can take part in when you travel anytime between now and April:
Hot Spring and Fine Cuisine Festival @ Taipei
Image via Tsuwu Hot Spring / Instagram
Dates: Now – 30 June 2018
Taiwan has many beautiful hot springs for tourists to enjoy, and five of them are situated in Taipei. For a few months each year, they will organise a Hot Spring and Fine Cuisine Festival where visitors can soak in comfortable waters and enjoy performances or special activities there.
Rates: From RM1,026 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Image via Taiwan Tourism Events
Image via Taiwan
Image via Taiwan
St. Jerome's Laneway Festival @ Singapore
Image via Honeycombers
Image via Laneway Festival
Image via Marie France Asia
Image via Popspoken
Date: 27 January 2018
Laneway is probably the most popular indie music festivals in the world, and it will be held in Singapore again this year. The 2018 line-up includes Wolf Alice, Slowdive, THELIONCITYBOY, alextbh, and more.
Rates: From RM1,266 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Chinese New Year Lantern Display @ Hong Kong
Image via Hong Kong Traveller
Image via Hong Kong Traveller
Image via Harbour City / Twitter
Image via New Year's Eve Blog
Dates: 9 February – 4 March 2018
If you're planning to celebrate Chinese New Year overseas, Hong Kong is one of the best places to go to. This year, they're having a fish-themed lantern display at the Cultural Centre Piazza. The event starts at 6pm, but do go there early as they're expecting a large crowd.
Rates: From RM1,189 per person for flight + 4D3N hotel*
Phuket Old Town Festival
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Image via Class Act Media
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Image via Dreams Time
Dates: 23 – 25 February 2018
Every year, the locals in Phuket will organise an Old Town Festival to celebrate and conserve the city's unique culture. During this time, the main streets of the Old Town will be turned into walking streets and there will be live performances held every day, like the Baba Light show and folk dances. There will also be food stalls and free boat rides along the canal.
Rates: From RM836 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Blooming of the weeping cherry tree @ Tokyo
Image via Japanfly
Image via meauxtaku
Dates: 21 March – 5 April 2018
Tokyo's Rikugi-en Garden is famous for its Weeping Higan Cherry trees, with long branches that stretch up to 7m-long. Its branches will be fully covered with cherry blossoms during spring time, which is around late March till early April. The 17th century traditional Japanese garden will then extend its opening hours till 9pm and the whole park will be lit up.
Rates: From RM1,832 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Image via SagasWhat Tokyo
Image via Rakuten Travel
Yeouido Spring Flower Festival @ Seoul
Image via Seoul Selection
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Image via Pinterest
Image via The Korea Times
Dates: 6 – 13 April 2018
This is the cherry blossom season in Seoul. So if you're visiting the city during this time, do head to Yunjung-no street for the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. You'll be able to see thousands of cherry blossom trees in full bloom along the Han River. There will also be street performances and floral decorations throughout the festival.
Rates: From RM1,462 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Songkran @ Bangkok
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Image via Foto Candiny Photography / YouTube
Image via Foodpanda
Image via Asia Tourism
Dates: 13 – 15 April 2018
Songkran is Thailand's New Year Festival. The locals would usually visit the temples in the morning to pray, then start performing the water pouring ritual on the Buddha statues and their family members. A public celebration will be held in the streets of Bangkok after that – some even have water fights! Certain hotels will also have a Songkran-themed party by their pools during this week.
Rates: From RM584 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
Tuba Trail Run @ Langkawi
Image via Nor Aznan Sulaiman / Facebook
Image via Aktion Series / Facebook
Image via Aktion Series / Facebook
Image via Aktion Series / Facebook
Date: 21 April 2018
If you're into sports and the great outdoors, you should definitely check out the Tuba Trail Run in Langkawi. This is a marathon that will be held on Pulau Tuba, the second biggest island near Langkawi, so runners can take in the view during the race. While the highlight is the 30km-run, there's also a 5km fun run designed for kids above five years old.
Rates: RM731 per person for flight + 3D2N hotel*
You can now enjoy great deals when you book a flight and hotel package with Expedia's Wow Wow Chinese New Year promo
Expedia is currently having a special Chinese New Year promo, so you can enjoy great savings when you're travelling to any of these destinations from now till April. Here are the promo details:
Booking period: 8 January – 28 February 2018
Travel period: 8 January – 30 April 2018
Image via Expedia
Click here to check out their other deals
*Prices as of 15 January 2018. This promotion is only available on participating hotels for bookings made between 8 Jan 2018 and 28 Feb 2018, for travel between 8 Jan 2018 and 30 April 2018, unless otherwise sold out prior. For more terms and conditions, kindly visit Expedia's website.
