Mekong Floating Bungalows
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fancy escaping the city (and technology) and spending your afternoons staring out at the calm river as fishermen go about their day? Cambodia’s sexy new Mekong Floating Bungalows lets you do just that. Located on the Mekong River itself, this hotel consists only of two wooden bungalows: the bedroom and the restaurant/bar, making for the perfect unplugged holiday. No pesky neighbors to speak of either.
Port Autonomy
Yangon, Myanmar
It might be one of South East Asia’s grittier cities but the former capital is booming and has a growing hipster scene to match. One of the newest pop-up restaurants-cum-bars to watch out for is Port Autonomy and its cool retro-interior of neon signs and a laid back outdoor dining area overlooking a peaceful jetty. Plus, exciting things are also happening on the nightlife front, with upmarket watering holes like Union Bar and Grill popping up.
Krabi, Thailand
Whether you’re a luxury traveler or a hardened backpacker, there’s something for you among the beaches and cliffs of Krabi. The towering limestone karsts on famous Railay Beach are a rock climber’s dream, with over 700 climbing routes for all levels. Plus, on our recent trip, we found a serene hot water lagoon, the Emerald Pool, which is perfect for a mid-day dip and drooled over the ultra-luxe Rayavadee Resort, surrounded by three beaches.
Bhutan; credit: Tourism council of Bhutan
Bhutan
2015 is a big year for the Bhutan. For starters, there are a bunch of big festivals taking place, including their first ever international art and film festival in February. If you’re the active holiday type, there’s also a marathon happening in the same period. What’s more, a swanky new Starwood property, Le Meridien Thimphu, just opened last month with another slated for an April opening. Bonus: you can now keep track of all the exciting happenings on their new-ish Visit Bhutan website.
Montigo Resorts
Batam, Indonesia
If you’re in need of a quick, fuss-free and luxurious beach getaway, Batam makes a solid option. Before you write it off, consider this: the island’s first and only five-star beach resort, Montigo Resorts, has 88 three-storey villas that all come with a private infinity pool and your very own spacious sky terrace. With rooms starting from $371 a night and with each villa being able to sleep up to five people, we say it’s a pretty sweet deal.
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, Laos
This charming old town tucked away in the north of Laos is known for its rich Buddhist traditions, intricate golden temples and natural wonders. We went recently and did all that and more: breath-taking three-tiered waterfalls, ancient caves and even some French food and evening drinks. It’s not that hard to get to either. Thai Airways operates flights via Bangkok with prices starting from $573 for a return trip.
Koh Kood
Koh Kood, Thailand
Can’t afford to fly to the Maldives? We’ve got a cheaper alternative for you. Try the Away Koh Kood Resort located on Thailand’s eastern coast. It’s all about luxurious ocean facing bungalows and unspoiled beaches. Aside from the usual snorkeling and scuba diving, there’s a local fishing village open to visitors. They’ve also got a promo that includes a two night stay, round trip ferry from Trat (the closest airport) to Koh Kood and all meals.
Mongolia
Mongolia
Active holiday types, if you’re looking to go on an off-the-beaten track type of holiday, Mongolia is the place to be. And traveling there just got easier, with direct flights now available between Ulaanbaatar and Singapore, via Beijing. Or, if you’ve don’t mind taking a few more days off work to make the most of your trip, we know of an epic nine-day tour around Mongolia’s mountainous earthy terrains that involves plenty of cycling, trekking and horse riding.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
How did our neighbor get so hip, so fast? Well, to be fair, they’re still in the middle of their transformation but it’s definitely high time for a revisit. For starters, it looks to be an exciting year for KL’s entertainment and nightlife scene. Trec, KL’s largest lifestyle enclave, is set to open in early 2015 and will also be Zouk KL’s new home. There will also be plenty of food and drink options ranging from casual to fine dining, indie cafes, wine bars, pubs and lounges.
Lombok; credit AirAsia
Lombok, Indonesia
If you’ve grown weary of the traffic of Jakarta and the crowds of Bali then you might want to consider a more out of the way Indonesian destination: Lombok. Located near Bali, Lombok is often overshadowed by its popular neighbor but that also means that it’s managed to remain relatively untouched. Think: gorgeous, unspoiled beaches. Oh and it also makes for a great base to go island hopping at the nearby Gili Islands.
