I have been on my share of package tours around Asia in the past decade. The first I can remember was on Dragonair to Beijing for 5 days/4 nights. Now, clearly the airline must have been Dragonair but I cannot remember the name, location or even details of the hotel that was bundled into the package. I also received a lovely red and grey carry-on bag emblazoned with the Dragonair logo that was blessed with the power to make me feel like a complete and utter tourist.
I am happy to report that things have improved since that trip and now I find myself getting online and tracking down flights on one website and accommodation on another. I can find tours and things to do and build an itinerary myself with some flights from here, three nights in this place, then a few more in another place. After planning my trip using this method for a trip to Lijiang, China I now find the offerings from flight+hotel packages to be lacking.
If you are willing to do a bit of the work yourself and hunt around online for flights and accommodation, you can score some cracking deals. It is not only booking flights and accommodation that’s easier but the destination websites and online travel guides give that Lonely Planet or LUXE guidebook a run for its money.
Below I have compiled a short list of some good websites to use.
Flights and budget airlines
- Zuji
- Wego (also has accommodation)
- Air Asia (Airline)
- Bangkok Airways (Airline)
- Singapore Air (Airline)
- Viva Macau Airlines (Airline)
- Jetstar Airways (Airline)
- Tiger Airways (Airline)
- Firefly (Airline)
Hotels & Accommodation
Destination Guides & information
Did I miss anything? Please leave a comment letting me know of any additions and I’ll update the list.