Travel Deals, Asia special report

Junk on Hong Kong harbour, traveltheworld.com.au

$ LAOS

Three World Heritage-listed buildings make up the teeny 3 Nagas hotel, which comprises just 15 rooms, in the ancient Laotian capital Luang Prabang.  The hotel is a showcase of traditional architecture set amongst serene gardens, in the city’s Old Quarter. Stay three nights, pay two, with breakfast and afternoon tea also in the deal, until September 18. Costs from $147 a night, 0011 800 3746 8357, designhotels.com/3_nagas

$$ CAMBODIA

If you’re a seat-of-the-pants kinda person, you need to get to Cambodia now, to experience local life by staying with a Cambodian family, pedalling through the countryside and, of course, visiting Angkor’s magical temples.  Save 25 percent on the 12-day Cambodia Discovery small group tour which departs from Ho Chi Minh City on June 30. Book by June 27, was $745 a person, now $550, 1300 018 871, intrepidtravel.com

$ VIETNAM Anantara

You won’t be dodging mopeds amidst the quiet sand dunes of Mui Ne beaches. Set on serene coastline four hours from Ho Chi Minh city, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa has taken 25 percent off rooms, including breakfast, until June 30. Of course, you’ll find infinity pools, seafront dining, dedicated wine rooms and the scents of spa as only Vietnam can do. Who needs to find the gym? Costs from $569.25 a room for six nights, +84 62 3741 888, anantara.com

$$$ THAILAND

Heaven is on sale as Asia’s best destination spa of the year, Kamalaya, offers free nights on extended stays. Detoxing never was done so beautifully as at the Koh Samui World Spa awards winner, which has a dedicated following for its spa cuisine, yoga retreats and weight-loss programs. Stay nine nights, pay for six between June 30 – September 30. Includes a wellness consultation, holistic activities, use of the steam cavern and fitness centre and a body bio-impedance analysis. Save $656, costs from $1313 a person for nine nights, +66 77 429 800 kamalaya.com

$$$ JAPAN

Three hours from Tokyo and you’re in Happo, amidst the Alps; the Japanese Alps, that is. Luckily, snow has no language, so snap up a family package with Hakuba Springs Hotel. Two kids go free in the deal which includes a junior suite, six-day lift pass, airport transfers from Narita and breakfast, as well as a steamy onsen to soothe ski-strafed muscles. Book before June 30, travel from December 1- April 1. Save $2000, costs $3190 for two adults, (03) 9017 1142, ski-resorts-japan.com

$$$$$ MALDIVES

Why rush the Maldives? All the things you do on the islands take time – diving, snorkelling, spotting dolphins, taking the catamaran or dhow out for a spin, or hours of beautiful beachcombing. Stay 14 nights, pay for 10 at Cocoa Island, which gives you plenty of time to explore on land and underwater, or just relish the beauty of its overwater bungalows. Includes complementary meditation and daily yoga. Travel until October 31, costs $8850 a room for 14 nights, +960 664 1818, cocoaisland.como.bz 

Source: Belinda Jackson, Sun Herald newspaper 13/5/2012