Best Winter Vacations Asia: South East Asia Holidays

In the winter months, many travelers look for winter vacations in South East Asia, as the warm climate of countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are the perfect getaways between the months of November to February.

Thailand Resorts

Tourists looking for the resort scene of South East Asia travel will probably head to Thailand first. With all-inclusive resorts, beautiful pristine white beaches, and low prices, Thailand is the perfect destination for the budget traveler.

During the peak season in the winter months, travelers can find many discount vacation packages in Thailand that may include flights as well as all-inclusive hotel stays. The popular resort areas are in Phuket and Ko Samui, where you can find most of the big chains and large beach resorts. For those on a budget, the less developed islands of Ko Phangan and Ko Phi Phi offer a more rustic, adventurous experience.

Thailand also offers experiences inland, from the urbanized bustle of Bangkok to the beautiful tropical rainforests of Chiang Mai. Bangkok offers a look into the big city, with some of the most famous Thailand hotels. Chiang Mai is a more laid-back destination, with elephant excursions and treks into the jungle. Both cities have good budget accommodation and often travelers can find Thailand travel packages that include excursions with the price of accommodation.

Winter Vacations in Malaysia

While Malaysia does not have as many white sand beaches as Thailand, this diverse country offers a glimpse into a fascinating culture, beautiful tropical jungles, as well as a few excellent beaches that are less crowded with tourists than the popular beaches of Thailand.

The capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is a well developed city featuring the twin Petronas towers, an iconic sight. Kuala Lumpur is also the airport hub for the country and neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. Deeply discounted regional flights can be found for South East Asia travel on Malaysia’s national airline, Air Asia.

From Kuala Lumpur, excellent bus lines connect travelers throughout the country. The town of Melaka (also known as Melacca), has a unique cultural heritage – the Baba Nonya, Chinese immigrants, historically settled here and developed their own fusion of Chinese and Malaysian culture. The historic shophouses in the downtown area have been well-preserved, and this is a unique place to glimpse Malaysia’s diverse culture.

The island of Penang in the west features some of Malaysia’s most famous cuisine, and there are some nice beaches and tropical rainforest to explore.

On the east coast, the Perhentian Islands are the best kept secret of Malaysia tourism. These breathtaking tropical islands are only accessible between March and October (the monsoon season makes the waters impossible to navigate during the winter months), but for sun-starved tourists in March, the Perhentian Islands offer the coral reefs and white beaches of Thailand, without the crowds. Excellent snorkeling and scuba diving can be enjoyed right off the beach in the crystal clear turquoise waters, and dozens of budget resorts and chalets have sprung up on the beach.

Traveling to Singapore in Winter

Singapore is more expensive than both Thailand and Malaysia, but is a pristine example of a developed Southeast Asian country. Western prices means that hotels are not cheap, but that is amply made up for by the cheap, plentiful and delicious food. Singapore is a big city with many cultural attractions and famous buildings, as well as shopping, and the excellent subway system is an easy way to get around. There are just a few beaches, and they are mostly man-made, so hop over to Malaysia for more of a beach scene. Singapore is hot year-round, so if tourists looking for warm weather have come to the right place.