The best place to go in February?
I want to go away in February 2011, when I have a big birthday. I don’t just want a beach holiday, but want to do some sightseeing as well. I was thinking maybe Malaysia, Thailand or the Caribbean. Where would you suggest?
Lynn, Lewisham
Simon Calder
The problem with going west to the Caribbean or Mexico in February is that it is the time of peak demand from the Americans. It is Spring Break, so thousands of university students stream to those places. That increases prices and reduces availability.
I think you are right to go east. For this February, I booked flights to Singapore for just £400. The depth of culture in the Far East is amazing.
If you are going for 10 days, please do this: fly out to Singapore, because that is a great place to tune into the South East Asian buzz. It’s a great city with a wonderful buzz. You can also get a boat over to Indonesia for a day-trip, which only takes an hour.
Then go up through Malaysia and head to Melaka and Kuala Lumpur. Then head to the island of Penang, which is a miraculous place. Then get a cheap flight up to the Thai island of Phuket, which is an earthier version of SE Asia. Then make your way up by train to Bangkok and come home from there.