Travel off-season to snag great deals: Big price drops in Australia, many promotions in Hong Kong

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

It's currently the travel off-season, and those looking to save money might want to take a trip now. Especially in Northeast Asia and Canada, late March onwards is the prime cherry blossom season; the euro is weakening, making travel and shopping in Europe more economical; in the Southern Hemisphere, the weather is crisp in autumn with great opportunities to view maple leaves and enjoy delicious food. Additionally, airlines are offering discounted fares, and the Travel Quality Assurance Association has announced the increases in tour package prices from April to June. Routes to Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia have all seen price drops compared to the previous quarter, with Australia seeing the largest reduction of NT$9,000.

Japan’s cherry blossom season starts in late March from south to north and lasts until the end of April; in 2012, the Shironeko Snow Wall in Kurobe is expected to open on April 17, with the wall estimated to be about 16 meters high; Hokkaido’s Hanamiyama is expected to bloom gradually in late May, with the most famous lavender blooming in mid-June. Prices in the Kanto and Kyushu regions have seen little fluctuation, dropping by around NT$1,000 to NT$2,000, while Hokkaido and Kansai have seen average drops of about NT$3,000 and NT$5,000 respectively; South Korea, which will host the Yeosu World Expo this May, has seen Seoul prices drop by NT$1,000 to NT$2,000, while Busan, influenced by the Yeosu Expo, has seen surrounding area hotel and flight prices start to rise, with an expected increase of NT$3,000 from mid-May.

As cross-strait travel becomes more frequent, airlines continue to add more mainland China routes. By the end of March, China Airlines plans to launch a new route between Songshan and Wenzhou. Since launching direct flights to Huangshan in January, EVA Air has seen a surge in travelers to the area, and the Anhui Tourism Bureau has introduced an online campaign called “Search for the Legend of Huangshan – Travel Cash Challenge” (www.anhuitravel.com.tw/event/travelcash/default.aspx) from now until mid-March, where netizens can accumulate points to earn travel cash. For Hong Kong and Macau, with Hong Kong Airlines joining the competition, various airlines are offering ultra-discounted fares from now until late March. China Airlines is even offering a three-day, two-night Taipei self-guided tour departing before March 24 for as low as NT$7,999 including taxes and fees.

European route prices remain stable, but it’s the rare once-in-10-years Floriade Horticultural Expo and Keukenhof Flower Festival in the Netherlands, coupled with KLM’s direct flights to Amsterdam starting March 25, making spring the perfect time to visit the Netherlands for flowers. In contrast, the UK has seen higher price increases due to the 2012 London Olympics from July 27 to August 12 and the Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9, which have impacted local accommodation and transportation prices.

Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australia, now entering autumn, are in their best travel season. Travel operators often arrange itineraries in New Zealand’s South Island, especially in Arrowtown, while in Australia, the snow mountain areas north of Melbourne offer stunning views of maple, euonymus, and birch trees turning shades of red and yellow. As the previous quarter was peak season for New Zealand and Australia, tour group prices for these destinations have been reduced after April, especially in Australia, where prices have dropped by NT$9,000—the largest decrease.

● Read more: Jungfrau Railway Centennial—New Facilities Built Under the Glacier Debut April 1

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