Are you and your boyfriend or hubby planning to a romantic getaway this holiday season? A visit to one (or many!) of our neighboring countries can prove to be the best Christmas preset you can give each other. Here are a few that are in our personal bucket lists:
1. Japan
Spring isn’t the only season to book your trip to Japan. Winter is also a beauty of its own. Aside from visiting the country’s picturesque snow-covered landscapes, you can also join their on-going Winter Light Festival, which runs until March 2017. Kanto-based Tobu Railway is currently offering routes through Tokyo and four neighboring prefectures, which allows you to visit destinations participating in the celebrations, including the Ashikaga Flower Park, which boasts as of 3.5 million lights decorating the area’s expanse. You can also drop by Sendai Pageant of Starlight, where you and your man can have a romantic stroll underneath 160 zelkova trees illuminated by 600,000 LED lights, or visit Tokyo Skytree Town and marvel at the world’s tallest tower dressed as a giant Christmas tree. Other stops in the tour include the Tobu World Square Illumination and the Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination.
For more information on the Toby Railway tour, visit www.facebook.com/tobugroup.en or www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/.
2. Hong Kong
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Christmas in Hong Kong is definitely a must-see. With the Hong Kong WinterFest starting on November 25 and capping with a New Year’s countdown, now is the time to book your accommodations to this bustling destination. Jump in the famous Big Bus Night Tour which will take you through the sights of Kowloon, the Temple Street Night Market, Canton Road, the Clock Tower, and the Hong Kong Coliseum. The tour ends at Avenue of Stars just in time for you to check out “A Symphony of Lights,” an impressive lights and sounds show show spanning both sides of Victoria Harbor. Don’t forget to include the Pulse 3D Light Show in your itinerary at the Open Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon!
Book your Big Bus Tour tour at www.bigbustours.com/eng/hongkong. For more information on the Pulse 3D Light Show, visit www.discoverhongkong.com.
3. Singapore
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Granted that their climate is more or less as warm as ours (at times even warmer), Singapore is definitely a great holiday option for you. Orchard Road is magnificently lit up at this time of the year, with interesting and interactive attractions including “Christmas on a Great Street,” a six-week event from November 12 to January 2, 2016 featuring street performances and store promotions that will give you that nostalgic Christmas carnival feel. Stay until New Year’s and bid 2016 farewell with a bang at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, where an eight-minute firework display beautifully ushers in 2017.
Pro tip: Singapore’s New Year’s Celebrations are also the beginning of the country’s Golden Jubilee, so watch out for more surprise activities!
For more information, visit www.yoursingapore.com.
4. South Korea
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Better bundle up and cuddle together as you head to South Korea, as winter is just about to kick into full gear. A country with a great deal of official and unofficial holidays such as Kiss Day (when you can confess your love to your S.O.) and Black Day (when all singles come together and eat black bean noodles), South Korea knows how to celebrate Christmas. Join in the Lotte World Christmas Festival, a yearly event in one of its most famous amusement parks where you can watch Christmas parades and performances featuring characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Red Riding Hood, and even Cinderella. If you’re into ballets, you and your beau can appreciate the Universal Ballet’s rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” a traditional show by the troupe. Or if you want a little more action, try skiing at Konjiam Resort, which also offers lessons.
For more information visit global.lotteworld.com, www.universalballet.com, and www.konjiamresort.co.kr.
Do you have any more suggestions on the best out-of-the-country places to celebrate the holidays? Join the discussion on GirlTalk.
