| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 37 |
| Copyright: Other |
Stopovers by Linsey McNeill
Excellent shopping and great value make it worth stopping
Cities offer a wealth of options en route to Australia
It costs very little for passengers flying between the UK and Australia to break their journey in the Far East, and most choose to spend at least one or two nights in either Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.As each of the four cities also offers a tremendous amount of sightseeing, unique cultural attractions, excellent shopping and varied nightlife, it is well worthwhile passengers breaking their journey in a different city on their outward and return legs.
Singapore is the most popular stopover destination in the Far East, followed by Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, according to long-haul specialist Travel 2.
Product manager Alastair Scott said: “The wide choice of airlines operating via Singapore is probably the biggest factor in this success, coupled with its compact size and great value hotels, shops and restaurants.
“Singapore has also worked hard on promoting itself, creating a range of tours and attractions which emphasise the variety it offers,” heconcluded.
Shop ’til you drop:visitorslooking for local handicrafts should head to the night markets
Bangkok
Bangkok’s appeal as a stopover destination has increased with the opening of a new overhead light railway, which has reduced the journey time from the airport to the city centre to just 30mins.
The Skytrain, as it is commonly known, has also made it much easier to get around the traffic-clogged city, meaning visitors can see and do a lot more in a short time.
It connects eight major shopping areas and there are stops close to most major hotels and attractions. The Skytrain is also very cheap, clean and efficient and there is little danger of getting lost as the train maps are easy to follow.
Sightseeing attractions include an array of magnificent temples, the most famous of which are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of Dawn. The Grand Palace takes at least half a day to explore but is definitely worth it. Tours can be pre-booked through several UK operators.
Out-of-city excursions, which can also be pre-booked, include the Floating Market, River Kwai, the Rose Garden and the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
Bangkok offers a wide range of shopping, from modern malls, where prices are usually lower than in the UK, to busy night markets, of which the most famous is Patpong. Tailors will run up a designer outfit in two to three days for a fraction of the cost in the UK.
Travel 2 has three-night packages from £88, including accommodation, transfers, a half-day and a full-day tour.
Bright lights, big city: even though Hong Kong is verywesternised, it still has a strong Chinese feel
Hong Kong
If you look at a map of the world, it looks like you have to go out of your way to stop off in Hong Kong en route to Australia. However, the travelling time is almost the same as it would be if you were to stop in Singapore or Bangkok.
Hong Kong is arguably the most exciting city in the Far East. It is a modern, westernised city, which has nevertheless retained an authenticChinese flavour mixed with a strong colonial influence.
Its hotels are modern, stylish and comfortable but when you step outside, you are confronted with a Chinese city where locals still practise Tai Chi in the parks and you can wander among street markets which sell everything from snakes to traditional herbs.
Sightseeing attractions include the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the Peak Tram which climbs to 554 metres above sea level, the Sung Dynasty Village where you can experience life as it was 1,000 years ago, the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the Ocean Park leisure park, and horse racing at Happy Valley.
Hong Kong has some of the best duty-free shopping in the world, and terrific street markets. It also has some of the best dining in the Far East.
British Airways Holidays has stopover packages from £18 per person per night, staying at the three-star Grand Tower hotel.
Travel 2 has three-night packages from £123 per person, including accommodation, airport transfers, a half-day island tour and a cocktail cruise.
Kuala Lumpur
This is the cheapest of the four main stopover destinations, due largely to the weak Malaysian ringgit, which makes hotels and restaurants particularly good value for UK visitors.
Travel 2 has three-night stopover packages in Kuala Lumpur from £76 per person including accommodation, airport transfers and two half-day tours. A two-mile taxi ride costs less than 50p and an evening meal in a modest restaurant costs a few pounds.
Hotels are of a good standard and many also offer a nightly entertainment programme. It is easy to get around the city by taxi, although a transfer from the airport to the centre takes at least an hour.
Sightseeing attractions include the Petronas Twin Towers – currently the world’s tallest building, ancient Chinese temples and mosques, Chinatown, and the magnificent colonial-style railway station. There are also numerous attractions outside the city. Kuala Lumpur does not have as much shopping as Singapore or Hong Kong but the prices tend to be lower. Night markets and Sunday markets are good places to pick up local handicrafts.
The Grand Palace: takes at least half a day to explore
Singapore
Singapore has the best tourism infrastructure in the Far East, and the city is so compact and easy to get around that it is possible to cram a lot of sightseeing into just a couple of days.
Travelling time from the airport to city centre is an important consideration for those planning a short visit. In Singapore, you can be relaxing in your hotel room just 40mins after leaving the airport.
Most hotels are centrally located and it is safe to walk around the city, even at night, although taxis are so reasonable that most visitors use these to get around. There is also an efficient underground service, which is cheap and easy to use.
Sightseeing attractions include Chinatown and the ethnic Arab Street and Little India areas; the Botanical Gardens; various museums and the old colonial churches. There is also the world’s first night safari park and some of Asia’s best hawker-food stalls.
Shopping in Singapore is still good value, particularly for electronic goods, and there are plenty of air-conditioned, modern shopping malls.
For those who want to relax on a beach, Sentosa Island is just a short hop from the mainland, and the Indonesian island of Bintan is only a 30min boat ride away.
British Airways Holidays has stopovers in Singapore from £23 per person per night, staying at the three-star Plaza Park Royal hotel. Travel 2 has three-night stopover packages from £96 per person, including hotel accommodation, return airport transfers and two half-day tours.
Japanese Gardens: well worth a visit during a short stay