TOILETRIES, check. Nightgown, check. Passport, check. Dancing shoes and sexy party clothes? Check and check.

Whenever Ms Serena Tan travels, the last two items are must-brings in her luggage.

That's because the 31-year-old, an executive in the insurance industry, goes abroad to party at least six weekends a year.

'I go to Bangkok and when I'm there, I'll be at Hollywood every night,' she says, referring to a nightspot in the Thai capital that is popular with Singapore revellers for its value-for-money entertainment.

She and her group of nine friends fly to Bangkok on Thursday morning on SilkAir or Thai Airways, check into a hotel, rest for a bit and then party the night away.

Then it's eating, shopping and more clubbing till they return home on Sunday.

They are not alone in hitting the overseas nightclub circuit.

While it is not unknown for Singaporeans to head to regional cities like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta to let down their hair, their numbers have gone up in recent years.

This is primarily due to affordable airfares ever since budget airlines entered the scene in 2004.

Two airlines, Tiger Airways and Jetstar, fly to Bangkok and Jakarta, with the flights taking no more than four hours one-way.

Kuala Lumpur is a mere four-hour drive away.

Jetstar flies to Jakarta and Bangkok daily with rates as low as $68 for a return ticket to the Indonesian capital and $58 to Bangkok.

Tiger flies daily to Bangkok, charging from $79.96 for a return ticket. It doesn't fly to Jakarta.

Although it is hard to put a figure on how many people fly away to party on weekends, what's clear is that these folks, aged from 20 to 40, are enticed by the cities' triple promise of more exciting entertainment, better service and cheaper drinks than that offered here.

Their numbers can be big. Up to 1,000 Singaporeans were estimated to have attended the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, a resort island near Koh Samui in Thailand, on Oct 6.

The event is a beach rave party organised by the bars on the island. Revellers travel from as far away as Europe to stay for a few nights.

As its name says, the merry making occurs on the full moon nights of each month.

Organisers see more Singaporeans turning up for it, especially during the peak season at the end of the year.

Mr Paul Daff, head of Commercial for Jetstar, has noticed 'a solid increase in younger people travelling on weekends', heading to places such as Bangkok or Phuket for parties, sports, relaxation or shopping.

Similarly, Tiger reports ferrying a rising number of younger travellers to sample entertainment overseas, like the Bangkok 100 Rock Festival in February. Both airlines are unable to give figures.

Entertainment on a grander scale

THE nightclub scene in the region is evolving. Jakarta's nightlife may have been overshadowed by Bangkok's in the past but it is now getting a buzz of its own.

It got a boost when the Thai government imposed a 2am closing time on nightspots in Bangkok in 2002, in a bid to fight the drug problem there. The rule is still in place.

Singapore clubs like Centro, Indochine and Momo, which have an outlet each in Jakarta, report that business is thriving.

Mr John Lee, 40, owner of Momo at Central Mall, runs J Lounge, a 3,000 sq ft upmarket dance club, in the Indonesian capital. He says about 10 to 20 per cent of his customers at the 400-capacity club are Singaporeans. The club opened in April this year.

Zouk, which opened a similarly-named outlet in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, also reports seeing a growing number of Singaporeans at its KL club.

Wherever they are heading to, a big part of the destination's appeal is the grander scale of entertainment.

Take Ms Tan's favourite hangout, Hollywood, where 20 dancers and 10 singers are backed by two bands. Most Singapore clubs feature only a four- to six-piece band on a small stage.

'The Thais are very friendly,' she adds. 'The tables are crammed closely together and packed, but it doesn't matter if you accidentally bump into someone.

'They won't get mad, not like in Singapore, where a little bump or a stare can cause a big fight in a disco.'

Ms Phet Tea, 36, an Australian who has been working in Singapore for the past five years, says the people in KL are much friendlier.

'People here are so uptight. They have to get pretty tipsy before they can really relax and enjoy themselves. It's much easier to make friends in clubs in KL,' says the membership manager who frequents the clubs there every three months.

Service is another thing, say revellers. 'Everyone who has been to Bangkok knows the service there is the best,' says Ms Tan. 'In some clubs here, most service staff are rude and look at the status of the customer before deciding whether to be attentive to them.'

Overseas clubs also boast a liquid asset - cheap drinks. Clubs here charge about $188 for a bottle of brandy but Thai nightspots like Hollywood charge customers only $70.

Prices of bottles in KL range from RM180 to more than RM200, which works out to around $80 to $100 per bottle.

The flip side, though, is that ice and water are chargeable in Bangkok and some clubs in Jakarta. In Singapore clubs, they come free with every bottle of alcohol ordered.

Still, that is a small price to pay, says Ms Tan, who now favours Hollywood in Bangkok over her old hangout, Shanghai, in Marina South here.

While she won't be able to fly there for the next two months as she will be busy with work, she says: 'I can hardly wait till January comes, when you'll see me there once again.'

The trend, however, isn't ruffling any feathers in the local night scene.

Industry players say the number of people who travel to party is not significant enough to rock the boat, which is worth an estimated $200 million annually.

Besides, they say, these partygoers can't possibly club overseas every week, and so most of them will still have to step into local clubs to get their dose of action.

And Mr Dennis Foo, 54, CEO of nightspot St James PowerStation at the HarbourFront, thinks Singapore is no slouch in the night scene.

'Here, we have the best security, hotel and infrastructure, and I think there are many more coming from all these cities than there are going there from Singapore.'

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WHERE TO PARTY

THAILAND, BANGKOK

Bed Supperclub (26 Sukhumvit Soi 11)

The interior of this tubular building is stylishly designed and divided into two sections. One is a restaurant, which converts into a bar after dinner, and the other is a hip dance club which has seen well-known DJs like Gilles Peterson behind its console. Cover charge: 600 baht (S$25.50), includes two drinks.

Q Bar (34 Sukhumvit Soi 11)

A New York-style bar and club that offers over 50 brands of vodka, 20 types of tequila and 50 whisky brands. Cover charge: 500 baht on weekdays and 600 baht on weekends.

Concept Cm2 (Novotel Siam Square)

The popular club at the heart of Siam Square houses a live band area, a disco, KTV rooms and an Italian restaurant. Cover charge: 200 baht from Sundays to Thursdays and 300 baht on Fridays and Saturdays, includes two drinks.

Club Astra (Rca Block C, Rama 9 Road)

This is one of Bangkok's most popular nightclub venues and features both local and international DJs. The club has a big dance arena that can take up to 1,500 people. Cover charge: 200 baht, includes one drink.

Club Time Out (Rca Block C, between Route 66 & Astra)

This relatively new club offers an extensive list of exclusive cocktail concoctions like the deadly Red Cherry Iced Tea, luscious Banana Martini and brutal Harvey Wallbanger. DJs play commercial house, trance, electro and techno. Cover charge: 300 baht, includes one drink.

THAILAND, KOH PHANGAN

Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party)

This event is famous for drawing fun-loving people. All the bars in Koh Phangan come together to arrange the party, which is free, and where you can buy drinks from any bar. Take a ferry from Koh Samui to reach the island. Visit www.fullmoon-party.com for booking packages and hotels.

MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR

Beach Club (97 Jalan P. Ramlee)

This iconic pub, well-known among Singaporeans, is one of the most popular clubs in the area. Music is provided by a band and features the latest rock, hip-hop and R&B tunes. Cover charge: RM30 ($13), includes one drink.

Telawi Street Bistro (1-3 Jalan Telawi Tiga, Bangsar Baru)

The hangout of Bangsar hipsters has a bar upstairs that is packed with yuppies grooving to funky tunes while diners enjoy dinner downstairs. The Bangsar area, reputed as the party zone for the well-to-do in Kuala Lumpur, boasts a wide selection of eateries, pubs and bars. No cover charge.

Zouk Kl (113 Jalan Ampang)

The sister outlet of Singapore icon Zouk can be counted on to provide a great night out with its pumping music. The two-year-old club revamped two of its outlets, Terrace Bar and Velvet Underground, in March. The former is a winebar while Velvet has the same classy feel as its Singapore namesake. Cover charge: RM35-40, includes one drink.

Sangria (16 Jalan P. Ramlee, at the corner of Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Sultan Ismail)

This is a Spanish-influenced cocktail bar with Latino house music that gives way to R&B and hip-hop at night. Cover charge: RM30, includes one drink.

Espanda (16 Jalan P. Ramlee)

Big-name international DJs like Roger Sanchez and Paul Van Dyke have played here and this where you can find the latest beats and good dance music. Cover charge: RM30, includes one drink.

INDONESIA, JAKARTA

Hard Rock Cafe (Podium 2/F Sarinah Building 11th, Jalan M.H. Thamrin Jakarta)

Still rocking after all these years, the American export serves great food and provides good music in the two-storey building. It draws a mostly expatriate crowd and is a good place for a beer or two. No cover charge.

Centro (Jalan Dharmawangsa IX, Kebayoran Baru-Jakarta Selatan)

For those who miss the old Centro at One Fullerton, its sister outlet in Jakarta is still very much alive. There's Centro, a 1,500-capacity club; La Dolce Vita, a live music bar on the second storey; Yoshi's, a Japanese haute cuisine restaurant on the third storey, and Cicada, an European bistro on the fourth. Cover charge: Rp75,000 (S$13), includes one drink.

B.A.T.S. (Kota BNI, Jalan Jend, Sudirman Kav 1)

This hip, upscale New York-style bar in the Shangri-La Hotel is a favourite with expatriates. It offers a wide range of Western and Asian cuisines, and after dinner, the dance floor rocks to live music. Cover charge: Rp70,000, includes one drink.

J Lounge (Gran Melia Jakarta Hotel, Jalan H.R.Rasuna Said Kav X-O, Kuningan Jakarta)

Owned by the same people behind Momo at Central Mall here, the place is an upmarket dance club spinning the latest house music. Cover charge: Rp115,000, includes one drink.

Vertigo (Gedung Veteran 16th and 17th floors, Plaza Semanggi. Jalan Jend. Sudirman Kav 50)

Vertigo is described by partygoers as a hip joint and can accommodate up to 1,800 people. The crowd comprises mainly yuppies and expatriates. It is home to X Lounge, a bar with a stunning view of the city, and Charcoal Japanese Grill, which serves grilled food. Cover charge: Rp50,000, includes one drink.

INDONESIA, BINTAN

Silk (Bintan Lagoon Resort)

The newly-opened upmarket club is the first of its kind on the resort island. The resort has a Party-and-Play promotion at $99 per person, which pays for transfers from the ferry terminal, one night's accommodation with breakfast, and one drink at the club. Go to www.bintanlagoon.com for more details.