Experts name three vibrant cities as the best destinations in Asia to book now

Share the article

From the aromatic street stalls and carefully designed temples to the otherworldly nature, a trip to Asia is always one for the books.

The question always comes down to ‘where’ and ‘when’, not ‘how’ or ‘why’.

Experts at Time-out has done the hard work for us and revealed the answer to both: now, and these 3 incredible destinations across the continent.

To be honest, none of them are probably where you expect them to be, but they are all practically overflowing with cultural delights and unforgettable experiences in their own right.

PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find out which one is perfect for you, so stick around!

Shanghai: Are travelers embracing China again?

After Brad Pitt made a real-life one Benjamin Knoop and suited as an F1 driver, one of the world’s fastest growing sports has transcended cultures and continents, even into a country largely shunned, especially by Americans.

It’s not just Miami and Austin anymore. Shanghai has entered the chat and hosts the exciting race every spring.

This year’s event has already flown by, but there’s still time to enjoy a late spring adventure in one of the world’s best old-versus-new cities.

One moment you can be gazing at modern wonders, the next you’re witnessing the temples of the Old City, boarding a boat tour in Venice and discovering alleyway vendors who have been setting up shop for decades.

But no matter how big the culture shock in Shanghai is, the question travelers want to know is:

Is it safe?

It is clear that Chinese tourism has taken a dip during and after the global pandemic. Extra security warnings and the general annoyance of having to pay for everything digitally and needing a VPN for guilty pleasures at home haven’t helped either.

But what about now?

The State Department has since reversed the stricter designations and reduced them to a common one Level 2: Be extra careful status.

This is what travelers say:

Fukuoka: Japan’s new hotspot and springboard to unsung paradises

We’re not ready to say “Move over, Tokyo,” but we are ready to say that Fukuoka is Japan’s newest hotspot.

Powered by TimeOut, there’s no better place to visit before summer starts.

Less frequented and glossy with the same photo-popping cherry blossom streetscape, there is also a burgeoning food scene that steals some of Tokyo’s tourists for its lip-burning bowls of tonkotsu ramen.

Better yet, if you thought about Tokyo’s Park Hyatt, made famous by Lost in translation And Parts unknownthat’s because you didn’t have the chance to stay at Fukuoka Ritz Carlton.

That said, this gem of a city isn’t nearly as expensive. You can find 4 stars hotels by double digits.

The most impressive thing is what lies outside the city…

Tokyo is not the only springboard in Japan. Fukuoka plays this role seamlessly, especially since it is also Japan’s fastest growing destination – at least according to TripAdvisor.

You see, Fukuoka is located on the north coast of Kyushu. Japan’s third largest island deserves its own paragraph, but hey, we’re on borrowed time here…

Finding new fame on TripAdvisor, this lush island of waterfalls, hot springs and volcanic black sand shores outside the city is more of a cardinal sin not to visit if you are in the area than to answer a phone call in the Tokyo subway.

As you might imagine, the rest of Kyushu is super easy to explore from Fukuoka by train, making it a breeze to get out of the city and onto more of the island’s wellness tourist hotspots and surprisingly beautiful beaches – all without having to fly into the world’s unluckiest airport code (FUK).

Best of all, no matter where you are in Japan, the country is largely considered extremely safe – barring last year’s strange numbers alert issued by the US Embassy regarding wild bear attacks.

This is what travelers say:

Luang Prabang: Laos is ready to amaze you

One of Laos’ most fascinating cities never seems to live up to its expectations.

Now that I think about it, neither does Laos in general in the Western world…

But TimeOut is right: Luang Prabang is an incredible late spring adventure that, if timed right, spills over into summer.

Often compared to Thailand in terms of scenery, culture and perhaps even greater affordability as more travelers complain about price increases across the board, that’s no problem in one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept secrets.

While you may have just missed the most endorphin-boosting festival in the world, Pi Maiwe’re pretty sure your endorphins will still be peaking as you wander through gilded temples, cool off at Kuang Si Waterfalls, and watch the Mekong glow during golden hour – all bucket list worthy if you ask us.

You’ll want to get started making plans to avoid the unbearable monsoon season. As we sip at the edge of the pool under the bright sun, Laos experiences heavy rainfall during the summer.

There are no direct flights from the US, but many travelers double-dip into countries, whether it’s Thailand or neighboring Cambodia.

Laos is another country with fairly recent embassy security warnings, currently at ‘Level 2’ status like China.

This is what travelers say:

Take this quiz now to find your perfect match!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego, has visited 44 countries and written more than 1,500 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.