A new year means more vacation days and a new list of places where to spend them! Lucky for us, Asia is teeming with interesting destinations full of amazing food, beautiful nature, world-class shopping, and much, much more. Here are our recommendations on where to travel in the new year!
Palembang is a hub of amazing natural sites, as well as unique cultural experiences. From the Musi River in the heart of the city, where you can go on a whitewater rafting adventure, to Kamoro Island, home of Indonesia’s ancient Chinese heritage. If you’re a foodie, try Pempek, a savoury fishcake from
Palembang that combines fish and tapioca, served with rich sweet and sour sauce over noodles. And, don’t leave the city without an iconic photo at Ampera Bridge! It’s only a 15-minute drive from centrally located
Red Planet Palembang.
There is always something to be discovered in
Bangkok. To start, visit the spectacular Grand Palace, the city’s most famous landmark and the former residence of the monarchy. Nearby is the iconic Emerald Buddha, as well as another amazing temple, Wat Po—all of which is just a short taxi ride from
Red Planet Bangkok Surawong. After getting your history fix, go shopping at the largest flea market in Thailand, Chatuchak. Here, you’ll find more than 1,000 shops selling everything from clothes to plants to books to pets! It’s an easy ride on the BTS Skytrain from
Red Planet Bangkok Asoke. For high street brands, visit the newly opened river-bordering Icon Siam mall, right off BTS Krung Thonburi. When it comes to food, challenge yourself to try a few less known Thai dishes. We’ve recommended a few on
our last blog post!
There’s a reason that “Spirit of Java” is the slogan of
Solo. As the centre of Javanese culture,
Solo is full of charm, history, food, shopping, and nature. Stop by the Keraton Surakarta, an icon of the former empire, to enjoy a day of history and culture just 10 minutes from
Red Planet Solo. When it comes to culinary delights, there are endless options in Solo. Think satay, curry fries, meatballs, fried duck, and more! Use our hotel’s free high-speed Wi-Fi to download the Red Planet Hotels app. Tons of restaurant recommendations will ensure you never get hungry.
Mactan Island in
Cebu is home to one of the most popular beaches in the Philippines. The white, powder-soft sand beach is a crowd favourite for a reason! The water here is crystal clear and ideal for snorkelling, diving, jet skiing, and sailing. Enough said, right? This beautiful island is only one hour from
Red Planet Cebu!
Tokyo can rightfully be on our travel lists every year, with amazing food (Sushi heaven!), unique culture, and unrivalled technology. When staying at
Red Planet Tokyo Asakusa, you’ll be just a block away from the famous Sensoji temple, the oldest in the city. The area is famous for great bites (see our Asakusa late-night food guide
here) and souvenir shopping. Stock up on snacks like crispy rice crackers, agemanju (deep fried cakes with a red bean filling), and ningyo-yaki (cakes moulded into special shapes and filled with custard) to bring back home. The best part? This area is much cheaper compared to other shopping districts in
Tokyo.
Think of Red Planet when you plan your 2019 adventures! As Asia’s favourite budget hotel brand, we make it possible for you to do more for less. Plus, we are tech savvy. You can do everything from booking a room to chatting with the front desk to calling a GRAB all from the Red Planet Hotels app. 
