2017 Year in Review: Our Top 5 International Travel Destinations

Another year, another memory card full of pictures, a head full of memories, and a vague list as to where you want to head next already on the go. One of the reasons Beijing is such a great city to live in is because of the travel – domestic and international – that it opens up. This list should help guide you to some new destinations in 2018 or at least give you inspiration as to where to travel with the family next time they swing by.

Hanoi, Vietnam
We said: "Bordering China’s southern provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, Vietnam’s place in Asia has not only been molded by its mammoth sister to the north, which occupied it almost continuously for over a thousand years between 111BC and 939AD, but also by modern French imperialist aspirations, and of course, the scourge and ultimate failure of the Vietnam War. "

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We said: "Just a six-hour direct flight from Beijing (budget airline Air Asia X flies twice a day, although the times are a little antisocial), Kuala Lumpur is the perfect destination for a short break from Beijing. While there aren’t that many sights to see there is one major attraction – the food. KL is awash with fantastic restaurants, from cheap street stalls to hushed temples of gastronomy. You can find Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian cuisine, the three ethnicities that make up the majority of the population of Malaysia."

Luang Prabang, Laos
We said: "The UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang in northern Laos is close enough to Beijing for a long weekend getaway, yet feels a world away. Sitting at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the sleepy city is a wonderful blend of gilded Buddhist wats and crumbling colonial architecture. China Eastern Airlines offers four flights per week to Luang Prabang from Kunming. If you are traveling during the rainy season, be aware that flights on this route are often canceled due to unpredictable weather, so you may want to consider flying via Bangkok instead."

Yangon, Myanmar
We said: "Yangon is a city on the rise. Once known as Rangoon, Myanmar’s largest city offers tropical breezes, a vibrant and surprisingly cosmopolitan urban culture, and one of the best collections of colonial-era buildings anywhere in Asia. Long a shipping hub between the Indian Ocean and East Asia, the city’s mix of cultures is reflected in Yangon’s diverse culinary and religious traditions."

Ko Tao, Thailand
We said: "Thailand’s Ko Tao, also known as Turtle Island, has the best of both tropical worlds: incredible beaches made to lounge on and deep blue waters perfect for snorkeling and diving. The island gets its name from the fact that it is an important breeding ground for hawksbill and green turtles, both of which you can see while out in the water. Compared to Ko Phi Phi, Ko Tao is much calmer and a little more luxurious (i.e. there are fewer drunken backpackers), and doesn’t get quite as much foot traffic as neighboring Ko Samui. However, if you’re looking for a holiday far removed from any semblance of noise whatsoever, we would recommend Ko Lanta over Ko Tao."

Don't want to travel so far out? Read our top China travel destinations here.

Photos: Tom Arnstein, Pixabay, Wikimedia, Jeremiah Jenne

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