WE'RE fresh out of year-end holidays.

But as the Year of the Rat approaches, you'll find that many Singaporeans have already planned and booked their travel packages for the next festive holiday - the upcoming Chinese NewYear.

As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm.

Over the past few years, more Singaporeans have been hit by the travel bug, going out of the country at every opportunity, especially during long weekends.

Those who have tried to book air tickets or packages at the last minute (or even not so last minute, like one month prior) may have lucked out.

Travel agents say that peak travel periods during school holidays and long public holidays like Chinese New Year often get sold out months in advance.

For example, during the December holidays just past, many found themselves stuck in Singapore because many holiday packages were sold out since August during the bi-annual Natas travel fair.

SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES

Naturally then, packages for the upcoming Chinese New Year public holidays, which stretch over a four-day weekend, from 7 to 10 Feb, have been selling like hot cakes.

ASA Holidays' senior manager for marketing communications, Ms Eileen Oh, said: "Many Singaporeans are taking the opportunity to get away, especially for short to mid-haul breaks.

"Compared to a similar period this year, we see an increase of at least 20per cent more inquiries."
Furthermore, she added, they've been receiving inquiries for Chinese New Year travel packages from as early as last August.

To date, Ms Oh said its most popular destinations for Chinese New Year are Australia, Taiwan and China, to name a few.

More than 80 per cent of packages to these destinations have beensold.

To meet with the seemingly insatiable appetite of Singaporean travellers, ASA Holidays has specially chartered flights on SilkAir to Yunnan and Guizhou.

And Ms Oh said the chartered flight to Yunnan has already been sold out. There are "a handful" of seats still available on the chartered flight to Guizhou.

Ms Oh said: "Customers can indulge in traditional Chinese New Year experiences such as playing with firecrackers and tucking into authentic new year delicacies."

There's a similar situation over at CTC Holidays.

CTC's marketing and PR manager Lee Cheun Kiat said some other popular destinations among Singaporeans for this period include Japan and even Europe.

CTC, too, have sold over 70 per cent of their tour and free-and-easy packages offered during that period.

Nevertheless, for those who are still eager to make full use of the long weekend next month, take heart. There are still air tickets to fly you out.

For those who prefer package tours, some options still available include trips to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Australia.

So you see, still lots to choose from.

However, travel agents warn: If you don't want to be disappointed, better book now.

Free-and-easy travel to Thailand and Hong Kong are still open for bookings too, but not for long.

And of course, there's also the option of taking a cruise.

Then, it all boils down to your budget, and how many additional days of annual leave you can take together with the Chinese New Year public holidays.

Bon voyage!

maelynn@sph.com.sg

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