TripAdvisor’s top 20 in Asia

BANGKOK Three Thai destinations figured on the rankings of the top 20 most popular destinations in Asia for US travellers, according to TripAdvisor’s TripIndex™ Asia.
Chiang Mai came in fourth after Jakarta, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and ahead of Bangkok which was in seventh place and Kathu in 10th slot.
The TripAdvsior index was assessing travel trends and costs for the November through to April season in Asia for US travellers.inside no 1 The index said travel expenses for popular Asian destinations have decreased an average of 12% year-over-year, with travellers are able to save as much as 32% on a trip to the Far East during the next six months.
The TripIndex will help US travellers identify, which destinations offer the best value by comparing the price of a one-week trip to 20 Asian cities between 1 November 2015 and 30 April 2016. It evaluates primary travel expenses, including a seven-night hotel stay and average round-trip airfare from the continental US as well as a year-over-year comparison of overall costs.
TripAdvisor communications director, Brooke Ferencsik, said: “Asia has always piqued the interest of Americans for its rich history and exotic appeal, and now with the cost of travel down 12% to popular Asian destinations, it’s a great time to book.”
“Asia consistently provides outstanding accommodation value and this year US travellers can also take advantage of significantly lower airfares, so winter is a great time for Americans to explore the Far East, with both the weather and prices more moderate.”
Three of the top 10 destinations for best value included in the study are in Thailand, with Chiang Mai providing the lowest cost in the country, as the total price of the trip is USD1,577 down 21% year-over-year, followed by Bangkok at USD1,680 (-9% ) and Kathu in Phuket with a total price tag of USD1,902 (-20%).
Jakarta, Indonesia is the most affordable destination on the TripIndex with a total price tag of USD1,343 for a one week trip, down 32% year-over-year. Hanoi is the next best value at USD1,366 for a week-long visit, a 22% savings.
The most expensive destination on the TripIndex is Hong Kong, China with a one-week trip costing USD2,590.
TripIndex Asia: Average Cost of a One-Week Trip and Year-on-Year Cost Comparison

TripIndex Asia looks at 20 popular Asian destinations, based on traffic on TripAdvisor from US travellers, limited to three per country, one per province.
Hotels: Hotel prices included in the TripIndex reflect the average cost of a seven night stay in a hotel bookable on TripAdvisor, aggregated from hundreds of booking partners, including online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers. Pricing information was sourced for the travel period of 1 November 2015 to 30 April 2016.
Flights: Flight prices included in the TripIndex reflect the average roundtrip airfare from the continental US to each destination’s main airport.
Pricing information was sourced using TripAdvisor Flights and is accurate of fares found between 22 to 27 October 2015 for flights departing and returning between 1 November 2015 and 30 April 2016.
Winter 2014 flight prices reflect fares for flights departing and returning between 1 November 2014 and 30 April 2015. National average prices are based on fares from the top 20 busiest US airports: ATL, BOS, CLT, DEN, DFW, DTW, EWR, IAH, JFK, LAS, LAX, LGA, MCO, MIA, MSP, ORD, PHL, PHX, SEA, and SFO.

sourced:ttrweekly.com