2014 is already history and 2015 is our fresh new beginning. At the start of the year, many people might start asking about your upcoming travel plans. If you are still unsure about where to go, this article is just right for you.
Based on the 57 countries I have visited, I will recommend some cool places to visit in 2015. 12, to be exact – one for each month. While I am tempted to recommend all 57, let’s not be too ambitious. Let’s see my personal travel picks and recommendations for you in 2015:
Also Read: Weekend Getaways from Singapore: 12 Destinations for 2015
January: Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
January is a great month to travel because many people are going back to work or school after the December festive season. Generally, flight and accommodation prices will begin to dip around this time. Americans, Europeans, or East Asians who wish to escape the harsh winter should consider travelling to Myanmar. In January, it rains the least in Myanmar, and it is not so hot and humid as compared to the rest of the year. The March to May period is the hottest time of the year, and may not so comfortable for visitors.
Till now, Myanmar has remained a McDonald- or Starbucks-free nation. As the country makes small progressive steps towards democracy, sanctions are being reduced, and the rest of the curious world is rushing to do business in Myanmar. In recent years convenient services such as mobile phone coverage, internet and ATMs have all improved or made their entry into the country. Relaxation of censorship has led to an evolution in new media and an openness in public discussions of once-taboo topics, including politics. Swathes of the county, previously off-limits, can now be freely visited by many nationalities. Thankfully, the pace of change is not overwhelming at the moment, leaving the simple pleasures of travel in Myanmar intact. So, if you wish to see the real Myanmar, you have be really fast.
Danyingon Market
With the friendly Burmese Monk
I always tell people that they need to visit Myanmar if they wish to know how our (Singapore) forefathers led their lives in the past – 1940s. The people of Myanmar basically “preserved” the living standard, and some say they have remained stagnant since 1940s. In my opinion, that’s the true beauty of Myanmar. The human nature and cultures are also well-preserved, people are warm, genuine, helpful, gentle, humorous, engaging, considerate, inquisitive and passionate. It is the best place to go where you can make that level of genuine human connection with people. You won’t find scams, jacked-up prices or petty crime albeit being in a rather poor Southeast Asian nation. Isn’t these beautiful enough for a visit?
You can sail across the Irrawaddy River in an old river steamer, or enjoy the beach on the beautiful Bay of Bengal. You can also trek through the pine forests to minority villages scattered across the Shan region without jostling with scores of other travellers.
Also Read: Baring My Soles in Bagan, Myanmar
February: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
February is a great month for chasing after the sun, which is starting to be missed by those who live in the far northern countries. A good idea for sun-seeking travellers in February is to visit Cambodia. The best period to visit Siem Reap, or the Southeast Asian region in general, is November till February; so this is your last chance to visit Cambodia, unless you want to wait till later in the year. The weather in Cambodia in February is dry, but it won’t be insanely hot. Therefore, you can look forward to spending time outdoors in pleasant weather. Do visit the Angkor Wat temples just north of Siem Reap.
In February, you should be able to find good deals. There are plenty of cheap guesthouses for the backpacker crowd, even if you arrive without a reservation, The downside is that all the best places are booked well in advance this time of year. Food and drinks are very cheap in Siem Reap, all times of year. Isn’t it awesome?
The friendly locals
Read about my adventures in Tonle Sap Floating Village, Cambodia
Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Cambodia Should Be On Your Bucket List
*Note: Avoid travelling to China in February if you do not want a “squeezy” holiday. The Lunar New Year mostly fall in February every year and millions of Chinese commute across the country to return home for the family reunion dinner. Hence, transportation is a major problem plus many shops will shut for at least 15 days. Not a very good idea for travellers.
March: Cape Town, South Africa
Sitting on top of Table Top Mountain for Sunset
Couple @ Table Top Mountain
March is a dry month in Cape Town, and temperatures tend to be pretty much perfect all day and all night as well. In March, hotel prices should have dipped a little so this is a perfect time to be in Cape Town.
Travelling around Cape Town is relatively cheap, but flying into Cape Town can be rather expensive. Most of the time you will need to transit via Johannesburg. Since many people are coming from far away, they tend to stay longer by combining a trip to Cape Town with a safari or other activities. Staying for just a few days might not be worth the airfare. Ultimately, it’s about variable and fixed cost. When your fixed cost is high (air tickets), you need to fill it with more activities (variable cost) to make your overall spending worthwhile.
April: Bali, Indonesia
Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
The Balinese pose!
April is the first dry month of the year in Bali. Even if storms should strike, it tend to come and go quickly. April is also the time of year between the dual high seasons, so hotel prices are at or near their all year low.
The hotels, resorts or villas at the famous Kuta area in Bali are the most expensive relative to the rest of Bali. Fortunately, food and shopping on other entire island is quite cheap (base on the exchange rate, and a strong Singapore dollar), except for the purposely-built resort area of Nusa Dua. My personal recommendation is to rent a car (you can also rent one with a driver), and not to stay at Nusa Dua. It’s a good idea to stay in several different parts of Bali on the same trip, if you can.
In the middle of no where in Bali
May: Iceland
The Amazing Skogafoss
May is springtime in Iceland while June is considered summer, and both months are fairly dry. However, weather can never really be predicted in Iceland. When I visited Iceland last year in 2014, the locals educated me about their 10 minutes weather. Snow –> Sleek –> Storm –> Sunshine –> Snow on and on. Refer to Iceland Article.
Some of the highland tracks open during June or July but all roads are open by May. Attractions (glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and hot springs) are open year-round.
Random pic of fellow backpacker in Iceland
Even though visiting in May will mean that you’ve missed your chance to see the Northern Aurora Borealis, in exchange you’ll have milder weather, thanks to the warm current from Mexico. In Iceland, you’ll find amazing unique landscapes which you can’t find in anywhere else in the world! That’s how amazing Iceland is!
Also Read: How to Travel Iceland on a Budget
Vanilla Ice Mountain in Iceland
5 minutes of clear sky
Read more about my trip to Iceland here.
June: Greece
Santorini, Greece
The weather at the end of June can be sweltering, so you probably don’t even want to think about visiting Greece even later in July or August. Visiting Greece, and their romantic islands in the romantic Aegean Sea is great in June. This isn’t exactly a cheap destination (well, maybe cheaper than other major European countries), but it’s very much worth seeing at least once in the lifetime, with some of the world’s finest sights. Warning: It’s extremely romantic in my opinion, so choose your travel partner wisely!
History-lovers, will find themselves drawn into the Greek history. This is the land that has given us the Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia, and brought us back to 200 years ago to the time of Lord Elgin.
Dancing with Greek dancers at Crete, Greece
The popular Greek Islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos and Rhodes have beautiful beaches, restaurants, nightlife and archaeological sites. Maybe it is the allure of the Peloponessos with its high mountains and beautiful coast, its rich history and the seaports of Gythion and Napflion which have seen sailors from all over the world for centuries. In all, these are fascinating islands that will lure your heart away in Greece! Greece will not fail to give you a trip of a lifetime!
Check out article on Santorini.
July: Grand Canyon, USA
Helping to stop the rock from failing at Grand Canyon, USA
Admiring the beautiful Grand Canyon scenery
Summer is peak season in Grand Canyon. From mid-May to mid-September, the park enjoys long, sunny days with temperature hovering between 11 to 29 degree celsius. Just be mindful and remember to put on sunblock and wear a hat because even though the breeze may be cool, the sun is still intense.
Temperatures can also vary throughout the park. Heavy rainstorms are common throughout July, but they never last long. This is also the time when both park’s facilities on both South and North Rim are open for business. If you plan on staying in the park, book in advance since rooms and campgrounds tend to fill up very quickly.
As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon certainly inspires a visit. Read more about my trip to Grand Canyon!
August: Singapore (my home country!)
Marina Bay from the highest Alfresco Bar in the world, 1 Altitude
Daily Free Laser Light Water Fountain Show, Wonder Full at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore has a good reason to party hard in 2015 – it’s our Golden Jubilee year, where we’ll be celebrating our 50th birthday! Since our independence in 1965, Singapore’s heritage buildings, the luring gourmet hawker centres, and fascinating shopping malls have lured many travellers around the world. Now, new developments have elevated the Singapore experience to a whole new level. Singapore introduced the beautified Marina Bay area, a new entertainment precinct, then the new batch of swanky hotels. There’s the iconic Infinity Pool in Marina Bay Sands, new attractions on Sentosa Island, such as the Universal Studios, South East Asia Sea Aquarium, Adventure Cove, as well as the Night Safari, World Renowned Singapore Zoological Gardens, River Safari, the National Art Gallery, Singapore Flyer, Gardens By The Bay, and the Singapore Sports Hub etc. With the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) train extensions to enhance the already-effective transport network, Singapore is definitely worth more than a short stopover.
Some people ask “Why why why? Why did Lonely Planet ranked Singapore as top number 1 destination to visit in 2015?” Being a Singaporean, I definitely know where Lonely Planet is coming from. Hopefully I can convinced you that 2015 is indeed a year for Singapore.
Universal Studio Singapore
We Singaporeans can look forward to an exciting year in 2015 to celebrate our nation’s 50th year of independence. Throughout the year in 2015, there will be many programmes lined up under the Singapore50 (SG50) tag. Not only Singaporeans are able to enjoy these celebrations, promotions and events, but visitors can also benefit as well. Basically, it’s a whole year of celebration for our 50th birthday! A 365 days of hype up celebration, parties and events. Bound to be many promotions, sales, and interesting giveaways. Doesn’t it sound great already?
So, come visit Singapore this year, our SG50. Well, it represents the little red dot that we’ve come so far from a small fishing village to an economic powerhouse in South East Asia. A good mix and bridge between the East and West, be it culturally or language wise. It celebrates the Singaporean spirit, signifying our dreams which are not limited by the physical size of our island nation. Yes we are a small nation, but we’ve work hard to achieve happiness, prosperity, harmony and peace across all religious and races. These are what every Singaporeans are proud of. These values have passed down from generation to generations, from our pioneer and to our future.
What’s more, the 9th of August is our national day (independence day), there will bound to be a massive celebration in the country. Long endless fireworks and many more fascinating events definitely a BIG WOW of the year! Do not miss it and do visit Singapore in August if you are in Asia! It’s always very easy to fly here. Furthermore, there will be many exciting events i.e Hosting of South East Asia games and Formula One etc… It’s gonna be an exciting year for everyone in Singapore.
September: Masai Mara, Kenya or Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
With the Masai Mara Tribe Chief
The main reason to visit East Africa is the amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery of Kenya and Tanzania. If you are on a safari during the dry season, you will find many animals congregating around the waterholes. If you go between the end of July to September, you’ll have a chance to glimpse into the migration of 1.4 million wildebeest from Tanzania to Kenya.
Spotting wildlife in Masai Mara (Kenya) or Ngorongoro (Tanzania) is easy because the bush is not so dense and the animals tend to gather around waterholes and rivers. In September, the days tend to be sunny with clear skies and there are few mosquitoes. It is the perfect time to visit especially if you plan to live in the wild and go camping at night. Good photographs, good sightings of animals – it’s definitely the best time indeed.
The magnificent view in Masai Mara National Park
The cheetah in action
1.4 millions of wildebeest migrating from Tanzania to Kenya
July to October are the best months to see the wildebeest migration between the river border of Kenya and Tanzania. Seeing the migration taking place right in front of you is truly an amazing experience. Imagine that you are navigating through a swarm of wildebeest, across one of the most amazing Savannah terrain. It is a sight that most people could only see on television. I think just the thought of it can instigate you to book a trip to Africa immediately!
Read more about my trip to Kenya here.
October: Oman
Stunning Omani Fjords
The Omani Dolphins
October is a good time to visit the Middle East, weather-wise. Some areas do experience an early winter that starts in November, so October is definitely a great time to visit Oman. Daytime temperatures are guaranteed to be reasonably dry and not so hot as compared to “summer months”, while nights won’t be freezing. There’s pretty much zero chance of any rain this month, so it’s an ideal time of the year, just before the slightly chilly months in winter and after the extreme hot and brain-burning weather in summer. It’s a great time to go for a swim with dolphins.
Read more about my experience swimming with dolphins at Khasab, Oman, here.
November: Brazil
Morro Branco, Brazil
Morro Branco, Brazil
Canoa Quebrada, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s weather is pretty good all year round and the prices are still reasonably cheap as compare to many other countries in Europe or North America. November is a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro as the high season for hotels doesn’t begin until December. This means that good hotel bargains can be found.
The Brazilian currency is also weakening a bit recently, and if this continues, visiting Rio de Janeiro will be a great budget destination. Do remember to be cautious and take safety precautions when in Brazil, especially when you are traveling alone. The amazing beaches and scenery will be worth the long flight.
Read about my experience at the 3 beaches of Ceara, Brazil, here.
December: Tropical beaches of Philippines or Thailand
December brings excellent weather to islands like Phuket (Thailand) and Boracay (Philippines), making them both popular destinations, especially for Europeans. The weather for Southeast Asia’s beaches in December is perhaps the best compared to the rest of the year, and in the evening, it is reasonably cool and less humid too. Thailand and Philippines are also the emerging to be great destinations for the party crowd, so it attracts plenty of travellers who spend the day island-hopping and the night partying.
In general, Thailand and Philippines are both inexpensive. You can enjoy good quality resorts or hotels at reasonable prices and, and food and drinks are cheap as well. This also applies to other countries Southeast Asia, except Singapore.
Also Read: 11 Reasons Why Travellers Keep Going Back to Krabi
Sunset in Krabi, Thailand
Big Lagoon, El Nido, Philippines
Helicopter Island, Philippines
December is also a very good month for the party or festival goers to visit both Thailand and Philippines, the two countries that pride themselves for hosting mega party scenes in Asia! I’m sure many people do heard of the Full Moon Party, which is an all-night beach party that originated in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand. It is very popular among local Thais and foreigners. On the other side, Philippines, one of the predominantly Christian countries in Asia, celebrates one of the biggest holidays in the archipelago in December: Christmas. Philippines is renowned for celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season, lasting up to 3 months. Christmas decorations in public and homes would have been put up, and Christmas jingles may begin playing as early as September. I personally felt the Christmas mood way before 25th December when I was in Boracay and El Nido (on two separate occasions). So remember to book early to get the best prices, as prices usually peak towards the end of the year.
Think about this: when everyone in the northern hemisphere is hiding at home to avoid the harsh weather, you will be enjoying delightful drinks in a beautiful tropical beach, looking cool, fit, tanned and happy. Most importantly, you will be warm. Don’t you think you have an edge over your friends when you post beautiful travel photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts?
Read more about my recent trip to El Nido, Palawan, here
I have provided some options for those who are actively looking for a place to visit in 2015. There are truly so many incredible places to visit, I couldn’t manage to squeeze them all in here under 2015 recommendations. Since there are only 12 months in a year, I am only making random picks. Remember, it’s the journey, not the destination, that really matters! Hope everyone travel well and safe in 2015!
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” – Anita Desai
The post Travel Destination Picks: 12 Places to Go in 2015 appeared first on TripZilla Magazine.