These quieter cities are still filled with a plethora of things to see, eat and do
When it comes to planning a trip in Asia, popular destinations such as Tokyo, Bali and Bangkok typically come to mind. While these destinations offer unique experiences, they also come with a cost—having large crowds and selfie sticks in front of you, blocking a beautiful view.
Of course, one way to beat the masses is to visit these places during the off-peak season. Skyscanner travel trends and destinations expert Cyndi Hui shares that based on Skyscanner data, peak booking periods for Singaporean travellers in 2023 were during March, June, November and December. To beat the crowds, opt to travel during the months of February, May, July, August and October instead.
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If you’ve already decided where you want to visit, Hui suggests conducting research into the destinations’ busiest periods, as different vacation spots have varying times of the year when tourist traffic peaks. Consider travelling during shoulder periods—before or after the peak tourist season.
Travelling during the off-peak season isn’t the only way to beat the crowd. Instead of opting for these highly saturated destinations, why not explore lesser-known spots? After all, Asia is home to a treasure trove of towns, villages and cities just waiting to be discovered. Looking at Skyscanner’s data from January, Hui shares that 95 per cent of Singaporean travellers are keen to travel somewhere new, while 35 per cent find it hard to pick a destination to go to.
Below, Skyscanner’s everywhere agent Basanth Sadasivan, who became one of the youngest to have travelled to every country in the world at 25, shares some interesting and lesser-known destinations to visit. If you’re planning on exploring some of Asia’s hidden gems for your next vacation, here are some exciting spots to head to.