Agoda Offers Asian Alternatives for Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations

As 2008 winds down, festivities crank up all over the world and Asian destinations are becoming ever more popular with unique and interesting variations of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Agoda.com, an online hotel booking company, encourages travelers to spend a memorable holiday season away from the cold and snow, with a number of last minute hot Asian hotel deals to light up the season.

Various countries celebrate the holiday season with their own flavors and distinctive cultural influences. Singapore sweetens the occasion with “A Sweet Christmas”, where famed shopping malls and sights, from Orchard Road to Marina Bay, are transformed into a candy themed wonderland, perfect for kids and parents alike.

Japan has adapted the western style of Christmas festivities, creating their own unique version with Christmas lights and Western flavors that have a Japanese flair. Tokyo Disneyland hosts “Christmas Fantasy”, a spectacular that can only be experienced at Japan’s Magic Kingdom. The breathtaking beauty of winter and hidden cultural heritage sites, normally not opened to the public, will dazzle tourists during the Kyoto Winter Special starting from December until March 2009, making Japan an ideal holiday destination.

Hong Kong offers up “WinterFest”, an inspired set of sights and sounds on Victoria Harbor. The Christmas light spectacular, next to the Avenue of Stars Wishing Parade, rings in the holiday season with merriment, while the entire city is decorated with Christmas splendor. An antique Christmas Tram, themed trucks with carol singers, a multimedia Christmas tree display at Ocean Park’s ice skating extravaganza, and the huge Christmas Tree of Statue Square have established Hong Kong as a premier holiday destination.

Macau, China’s own “Las Vegas”, decorates the town with even more lights throughout the festive season. From December 24-27th, Macau lights up, with music and dance spectaculars on Fisherman’s Wharf. All the sights, sounds and smells of Macau include both Chinese and Italian flavors, making this a great holiday destination for international travelers.

The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in South East Asia, a place where Christmas is a mixture of Western and native Filipino traditions. Also known as the “Land of Fiestas”, the celebrations revolve around food and family, with festivities beginning on December 16th through January 4th. Manila shines as a magnificent example of the mixture of cultures, with jovial decorations and elaborate seasonal crafts that make Christmas in the Philippines truly special.

“There are absolutely no limits to what you can do in Asia for the holidays,” says Agoda Vice President of Business Development, Mr. Wilfred Fan “Its diverse choice of celebrations blending western and local traditions make experiencing the holidays even more exciting. As a specialist in finding the best hotel deals in Asia, Agoda.com is offering special hotel rates throughout Asia for that fantastic year-end trip.”

Agoda presents special deals at the following hotel locations:

Singapore
- Traders Hotel, Singapore 5 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 159 (normally USD 185)
- Grand Plaza Park Hotel City Hall, Singapore 4 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 122 (normally USD 150)

Hong Kong
- Regal Hongkong Hotel 5 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 155 (normally USD 189)
- Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, Hong Kong 4 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 156 (normally USD 192)

Macau
- The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Macau 5 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 235 (normally USD 257)
- Casa Real Hotel, Macau 4 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 74 (normally USD 118)

Japan
- Hotel Pacific Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 4 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 207 (normally USD 310)
- Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, Kyoto, Japan 3 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 119 (normally USD 178)

Philippines
- The A Venue Hotel, Manila Philippines, 3.5 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 70 (normally USD 100)
- Bayview Park Hotel Manila, Philippines, 3 star hotel, Rate starting at USD 42 (normally USD80)

For more information regarding Agoda, please visit the website at http://www.agoda.com or contact the Agoda customer service team via telephone at +66 2 625 9100 or e-mail at info@agoda.com

About Agoda Company:

Agoda (agoda.com) is an online hotel reservations service which specializes in securing the lowest discount hotel prices in Asia. Agoda is part of Priceline.com (Nasdaq:PCLN). Agoda's network includes 8,290 hotels in Asia and more than 49,700 worldwide. The staff of approximately 300 professionals, located throughout Asia, provides a first-rate reservation service that uniquely combines local knowledge and local connections to provide the best hotel deals to both business and leisure travelers.

In addition, Agoda customers participate in the Agoda Rewards Program, earning further discounts and free stays. Unlike programs that limit travelers to a single chain, the Agoda Rewards Program allows customers to redeem Rewards Points at thousands of hotels around the globe, at any time. A member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Agoda's aim is to promote travel by making it more affordable and more accessible to more people.

AGODA SERVICE CO.,LTD.

27th Floor, The Offices at Central world,
999/9 Rama I Road,
Pathumwan Bangkok 10330

Tel: 66 2 625 9200
Fax: 66 2 646 1224
Email: info@agoda.com

This release was published on openPR.