Winter holiday ideas for Singaporeans
After 11 months of surviving Singapore’s never-ending summer, the year-end holidays are the perfect opportunity to whisk ourselves away to a wintery paradise. Instead of just heading overseas to see snow, there are a ton of unique activities all around the globe that’ll take your winter holiday experience to the next level.
From playing Santa and riding on his reindeer sleigh to trying your luck at catching the Northern Lights, here are 9 winter holiday ideas for Singaporeans to add to your travel bucket list.
– Asia –
1. Try ice fishing in Hwacheon, South Korea
Image credit: @hanran_camfishing
Take fishing to the next level by doing so in a frozen lake at one of South Korea’s most popular winter festivals, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.
The winter festival – which takes place in the Hwacheon county of Gangwon province – has even been dubbed one of the “Seven Winter Wonders” by CNN, and hosts multiple fun activities like ice fishing and sledding. As a reward for a long day’s work, you’ll also get to cook and taste your fresh catches on the spot.
Those looking for a convenient way to get around at the festival can book the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Tour via Klook from late September onwards, which will provide convenient transportation to and from the festival grounds.
If you’re a DBS or POSB Cardmember, you’ll also get to enjoy these Klook promos until 31st December 2022:
- S$10 and S$50 off a minimum spend of S$60 and S$300 respectively with the promo codes <DBS2210OFFXXX> and <DBS2250OFFXXX>, with XXX being the first 3 letters of the current month. E.g. for the month of August, the promo codes will be <DBS2210OFFAUG> and <DBS2250OFFAUG>.
- 20% off hotel bookings of S$250 and above using <VTLHOTELDBS>
2. Visit Harbin’s Ice and Snow World in China
If you’ve looked up things to do in Harbin online before, the scene from the picture above may be familiar to you. One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, Harbin’s Ice and Snow World has ginormous ice sculptures of bridges, castles, and buildings – all decked out in multi-coloured lights.
From sightseeing to partaking in winter sports activities, the unique theme park will give you the kind of winter wonderland experience you’ve only seen in movies while making for a fab photo spot at the same time. Those who need help getting there can opt for a private touring experience of Harbin’s Ice and Snow World (from S$189.54/pax) on Agoda.
Save on accommodation costs for your trip with the Agoda promo for DBS/POSB Cards. Get 12% off selected local and international hotels until 31st March 2023, with bookings made by 30th September 2022 on the Agoda x DBS webpage.
3. Challenge yourself to snowshoe hiking in Sapporo, Japan
Image credit: Trip Advisor
When we think of hiking in Singapore, we often associate it with blistering heat and very, very unflattering amounts of sweat. If this puts you off, perhaps hiking in the snow will sound more appealing to you.
In Sapporo, you can book a Snowshoe Hike Tour (from S$123.82/pax) on Trip.com to enjoy a unique experience hiking in sub-zero temperatures instead of the usual 30-degree weather we’re used to.
The guided tour will have a stopover at Nakayama Pass, a scenic mountain pass on the Oū Mountains, as well as the Hoheikyo Onsen, an open-air hot spring to relax your muscles after the hike.
Plus, with the Trip.com promo, DBS/POSB Cardmembers can enjoy S$50 off Singapore Airlines flight tickets costing S$450 and above from now till 31st December 2022. You’ll also be able to save S$50 or S$10 off a minimum spending of S$400 or S$150 on hotels with the codes <DBS50TRIP> and <DBS10TRIP> respectively.
4. Go on a guided tour of Mount Fuji & Tokyo Disneyland
Image credit: @2505otama
It can be tough planning a sightseeing itinerary that’ll entertain both you and your little ones, especially since kids get pretty restless without physical activities to keep them occupied.
If you’re looking for a tour package for the entire fam when you’re visiting Japan, check out the Royal Wings 6D5N Tokyo + Mt Fuji + Disneyland tour (from S$2119/pax). The fully guided tour ensures a jam-packed itinerary with stops at Tokyo’s most famous attractions, including Ginza, Shibuya SKY, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo Disneyland or Disneysea.
So while adults enjoy sightseeing at historical places and landmarks, tots will have theme parks to look forward to.
Plus, till 31st December 2022, the DBS Royal Wings promo entitles DBS/POSB Cardmembers to 10% off tour package bookings to Batam, Bintan, Finland, Japan, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Those holding a DBS/POSB Visa or Mastercard can also use Pay Later over 3, 6 , or 12 months at 0% interest, and even receive S$100 off a minimum spending of S$2000 with the code <DBSPL100>. Do note that the 10% off discounts and Pay Later promos are non-stackable.
– Europe –
5. Chase the Northern Lights in Reykjavik, Iceland
Image credit: @amex.photo
One of the most popular things on every traveller’s bucket list is witnessing the Northern Lights first-hand. The stunning aurora is something we usually only get to see through pictures, but you’ll get a chance to chase it down in real life if you visit Iceland.
If you’re unsure where to start, book guided tours like the Northern Lights bus tour (from S$74/pax) on Trip.com, which will take you on a bus chase of the spectacular phenomenon.
Since it can be pretty hard to predict, the package comes with free entry to a different Northern Lights tour if yours ends up unsuccessful. Each ticket also comes with free admission to the Aurora Museum, so your trip will still be worthwhile even if you don’t manage to catch the lights.
Likewise, don’t forget to claim your Trip.com flight and hotel promos with either a DBS or POSB Card while you’re making these activity bookings.
6. Go on a reindeer sleigh ride in Finland
Image credit: Agoda
Whether or not you believe in Santa, there’s no denying that he’s one of the most iconic figures that comes to mind every December. And if you’ve ever wanted to experience riding on his reindeer sleigh, you can get the most authentic experience at the Arctic Farm in Finland.
There are tours you can book, like the Arctic Farm Tour Package (from S$270.53/pax) on Agoda that’ll give you an all-rounded experience of the area. This package will also take visitors on a quick 3-hour Northern Lights hunt before ending off with a yummy traditional Finnish BBQ to wrap up the experience.
Plus, if you’re a DBS or POSB Cardmember, be sure to use the Agoda discounts when booking your accommodation in Finland.
7. Go on a ski tour at the Dolomites in Italy
Image credit: @cornel_simons
If you’re an active person, skiing is an absolute must-do activity on a winter holiday. In Italy, you can go on a ski tour at the famous Dolomites mountain range via the Sellaronda Ski and Snowboard Safari Tour (from S$196.02/pax) on Agoda.
If you’ve never visited the mountains before, the tour will make it much easier to navigate the unfamiliar terrain by bringing visitors to different skiing circuits like Sellaronda, Kronplatz, and Alta Badia.
While you’re busy planning, you can use the Agoda promos for DBS/POSB Cardmembers to efficiently book hotels at cheaper rates too.
– North America –
8. See a “frozen” waterfall at Niagara Falls, Canada
Image credit: Niagara Falls Canada
When you visit Canada, Niagara Falls is a must-see attraction – after all, it’s one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. And if you want an even more unique viewing experience, you’ve got to see it in the winter time, in a half-frozen state straight out of a scene from Frozen.
From late September onwards, you could book a 3-hour Niagara Falls Winter Tour from Klook, where you’ll get to learn about the history of the falls and enjoy panoramic views of it from the American Observation Tower. Don’t forget to claim your Klook discounts when planning your Canada trip itinerary with a DBS/POSB Card too.
9. Enjoy a ski resort vacay at South Lake Tahoe, USA
Image credit: Visit Lake Tahoe
Those who want a taste of a resort-like holiday can check out the South Lake Tahoe 3-Day Tour Package on Klook. Lake Tahoe is known for its spectacular scenery, and you’ll get to enjoy its wintery landscape through a range of activities in the tour package, from comfy sightseeing tours in cars to more adventurous skiing and hiking adventures.
Likewise for this trip, DBS/POSB Cardmembers can make use of the Klook promos for a cheaper holiday when you visit the USA.
Get savings on your winter holidays with DBS
While I’m sure we’re all excited to plan our travel itineraries for December, it’s no secret that flying ourselves to these winter wonderlands can work up to some pretty hefty costs. Thankfully, you’ll be able to snag some pretty good savings by using DBS/POSB Cards.
Besides the promos listed above for Agoda, Klook, and Trip.com, here is a list of flight deals to look forward to:
- 10% off flights to Europe, USA and Canada with the code <AFDBS10OFF>
*Bookings must be made by 30th September 2022 and used by 30th June 2023
- S$100 off flight tickets with a minimum spending of S$800, for DBS/POSB Mastercard Cardmembers only
*Limited to the first 200 transactions. Bookings must be made between 10th August 2022 and 31st December 2022, for travel by 1st January 2023
- 5% off flights to Finland and Sweden
- 10% off flights to the remaining European Economic Area
Use the promo code <DBSAY2022> for both deals.
*Bookings must be made by 30th November 2022 and used by 30th November 2022
- 10% off flights to Europe, USA and Canada with the code <KLDBS10OFF>
*Bookings must be made by 30th September 2022 and used by 30th June 2023
- 10% off Business Class Comfort and Economy Class Convenience fares
- 7% off Economy and Business Class flights
Use the promo code <DBSQR21> for both deals.
* Bookings must be made by 31st October 2022 and used by 31st December 2022
- 10% off flight bookings with the code <FLYCC22>
*Bookings must be made by 31st December 2022 and used by 31st December 2023
- Fares from S$168
- Get S$50 KrisShop eVoucher for every S$800 spent, for DBS/POSB Mastercard Cardmembers only
*Book by 7th September 2022. Terms and conditions apply.
With flight promos to places as far as the USA and Canada, plus discounts on overseas activities, you’ll be able to live your winter holiday dreams without feeling too big of a pinch on your finances.
Find out more about DBS/POSB Card travel deals here
This post was brought to you by DBS.
Cover image adapted from: @amex.photo, Agoda, @kingddsimba