FOR Singaporeans, holidaying seems recession-proof.
Some travel agencies have reported annual growth of 15 to 30 per cent.
Would-be holidaymakers who have not secured their travel plans may be hard pressed to get a seat to 'hot' destinations like Japan, Korea and Australia.
Nevertheless, there are still getaways, which don't burn a hole in your pocket, up for grabs.
Like Thailand, for example.
Besides heading to Bangkok or Phuket, you can consider heading into the hills.
Situated about 700km north of Bangkok, the city of Chiang Mai provides more than its share of attractions and hotspots.
Temples, also known as 'wat', dot the landscape. No visit to Thailand would be complete without a trip to a wat.
In Chiang Mai, a must-see is the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Touted as the city's most famous landmark, the site offers panoramic views of the city from its position at the top of a hill.
Legend has it that the location was chosen after an elephant, with a Buddhist relic strapped on it, had stormed up the hill and circled the perimeter, eventually dying on the spot where the wat now stands.
Besides getting a cultural fix, you'll also get the chance to indulge in traditional northern Thai cuisine and engage in retail therapy.
When night falls, head to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for your shopping fix.
With wide varieties of shirts, jeans, silk, traditional products and souvenirs on offer, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Another recommended attraction is the elephant training centre, where you can watch elephants perform. It's good fun for the whole family.
For more adventurous travellers, try riding in two local forms of transport - the bamboo raft and the cow wagon.
Think gondolas with an oarsman at each end of the boat, except in Chiang Mai, it's a bamboo raft. Or, sit in a wagon pulled by cows and enjoy the ride.
Within easy reach
For those who want to experience winter, you need not travel half-way around the world.
At year-end, Chiang Mai enjoys a cool climate. Average daily temperatures can range from between 14 and 29 degC during this period.
For those with more time to spend, there's the option of extending your trip to the adjacent city of Chiang Rai.
There, you can have a taste of authentic village life, as people from Chiang Rai's indigenous ethnic tribes welcome you to their villages at Baan Tonluang.
Here, get up close with the famed 'Long Neck' and 'Long Ear' members of just some of the hill tribes you can visit.
Here too, you can experience wintry Europe.
Check out the Doi Tung Royal Villa, also referred to as 'Thailand's Switzerland'.
It's a scenic area of mountainous landscapes. The villa is a mix of both Swiss and Thai architectural styles and overlooks the nearby hills and valleys.
The villa was formerly a home of the late Princess Mother, mother of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej .
Today, a memorial hall and garden in her honour can be found next to the villa.
Much like most cities in Thailand, you'll find ample night markets and shopping haunts in Chiang Rai as well.
A sojourn to the northern region of Thailand will leave you smiling in the 'Land of Smiles'.
You'll still rest easy when you return, knowing you haven't been extravagant this holiday season.
Eoin Ee, newsroom intern
Top photo - NIGHT COLOURS: Drink in the beautiful sight of the Wat Phra Singh.
This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 21, 2008.
