ASIA STOPOVERS DESTINATIONS
cite Hong Kong as one of their most popular stopover destinations. “The buzz of Hong Kong is often a
3 Colombo
Sri Lanka is on the radar with a wealth of new hotels, and the free 48-hour
visa available on arrival is a key selling point for a short stopover here.
Beijing
This history-rich city is a popular connecting point for trips to Japan on Air China, with visa-free transits valid for up to six days.
Ho Chi Minh City For flights
touching down in Vietnam,
it’s well worth tagging on an
extra few days. Look to Isango! for unusual
experiences including a guided Vespa
tour and Saigon River dinner cruise, plus a
commissionable hop-on, hop-off bus tour visiting the key sites.
ABOVE: Big Buddha, Hong Kong
LEFT: Dinner cruise, Ho Chi Minh City
good contrast with other parts of Asia and it’s an easy city to navigate due to the widespread use of English,” says John Warr, global sales director for Wendy Wu Tours. “It’s our number-one stopover choice.” Add in good transport links, a
ALTERNATIVE STOPOVERS
relatively compact size and a unique fusion of east meets west and you have a city that’s easy to see in a short space of time and appealing to a diverse market. The highlights: For clients on a quick stopover, Dawn Page, Hong Kong tourist board director UK & northern Europe, recommends Victoria Peak and the Ocean Terminal Deck, which both offer panoramic views over the city, and the ‘Big Buddha’ statue on Lantau Island. Other highlights include the Sham Shui Po district, which boasts one of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants, Tim Ho Wan, and the Symphony of Lights, a nightly music and laser show that sees 40 buildings illuminated in a mesmerising spectacle. Upsell: Encourage clients to linger a little to get under the skin of the city and boost your booking with a multi-day tour. Trafalgar’s Singapore and Macau Experience is a good option, combining more unusual activities such as a sampan ride at Aberdeen Fishing Village and a visit to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant
Singapore combines diverse cultural influences, world-class shopping, a buzzing arts scene and world-renowned cuisine
with casino-filled Macao. The four-day guided trip starts at £1,325, including B&B accommodation, transport and hand-picked Insider Experiences.
◗ SINGAPORE Why: For stopovers on the way to the likes of Bali, Thailand, Australia and
New Zealand, Singapore is an excellent option, combining diverse cultural influences with world-class shopping, and a buzzing arts scene with world-renowned cuisine. “I’d always recommend travelling via here when flying to further afield destinations such as New Zealand,” says Rebecca Turner, senior product manager for Asia & Australia at Gold Medal. The highlights: Nature lovers should make a beeline for the Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, a sprawling park that hosts the daily Supertree light and sound show, while shopaholics will find plenty to please on Orchard Road, scattered with almost 30 malls. Beyond that, there’s Sentosa Island – home to the British- built Fort Siloso and Universal Studios Singapore – and the Marina Bay Sands, where you’ll find one of the most Instagrammable rooftop infinity pools on Earth. Upsell: Add a day tour to a hotel package, so clients can whizz through the highlights in a short time without the stress of organising it themselves, and boost the booking value in the process. Cox & Kings offers a half-day excursion visiting one of the oldest temples in Singapore, Thian Hock Keng, plus Little India, Chinatown, Merlion Park and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, available on its tailor- made packages.
◗ KUALA LUMPUR Why: The tourist board has made a particular effort to promote Kuala Lumpur as a stopover point for
24 May 2018
travelweekly.co.uk 47
PICTURES: ISTOCK/TAWATCHAIPRAKOBIT; HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD
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