Especially when they are handed a red envelope with enough cash to
live off of for long enough to find a better job.

The away direction. I went to Niseko last year, glad I did.

Hi, all. I'm bumping this thread because I'm now starting to get more serious about escaping from China on January 23 (new year's day); I do want to see the festivities on the night of the 22nd because I've never witnessed a Dragon CNY before.

The $64,000 question is where to go. I have 3 criteria: 1) warmer than Beijing; 2) some place that doesn't celebrate CNY; and 3) as cheap as possible. Regarding #3, I'm thinking of a $1,200 budget.

I have lots of miles that I could use for the ticket, but I'll probably end up just using cash. I've been monitoring fares from PEK to pretty much all of SE Asia (haven't checked Air Asia out of TSN yet), and KUL is the cheapest I've found thus far ($700 RT). I'm also willing to try to one way and come back over land, as far as Nanning, but I'm not so sure what visas I would need (VN only?) and where I should get them.

This is the year of the BIG dragon, the real one. next year is the year of the snake, or 'little' dragon. In 2013, the CNY is on feb. 10th, or after the feb. 3rd super bowl in new orleans in 2013....

So 2012 is a get warm year....

Oh, BTW, the NFC conference championship game will be on at 7:30 am on the morning of the 23rd. & i am on UA 888 at 1:40 pm that day !.

See if you can find some way to get to Thailand? Koh Samet or Koh Chang are wonderful and easily reachable from BKK. Overland trip sounds tough in my opinion- may be very interesting but I would anticipate a LOT of time. I think you could go from Thailand into Cambodia (Visa available at the border near Koh Kong) then go to the south of Cambodia near Kep (can get a visa in 24 hours express one entry to VN) then go to Vietnam without a problem. A long trip though very beautiful and interesting.

BKK is the cheapest option now, at $583. I've been to both of the places you mentioned, and would like to return to Ko Chang. What's more, I know I can pull off the land portion for less than $600, so this is a possibility. REP also pencils @ $800. DPS and VTE are out of the running, at this stage. HAN is also on the radar (@800), but my friend there tells me it's cold (I have a hard time believing this, but she is there and lives in BJ, so she understands what "cold" means).

Hanoi can be quite cold at this time of year with temperatures around 15C which is still much warmer than Beijing however hardly warm and I have seen snow once in Hanoi which makes it very cold indeed.

Ko Chang is very nice- I like the hotel Dewa which can usually be found for excellent prices at agoda.

The land portion can be less than $600 I am sure. Factor in $25 for the Visa to enter Cambodia plus IIRC $60 for the same day service for VN visa. The only open part would be to understand any restrictions VN to CN entering overland, however I cannot think of any (just something to check- the train a few years ago was a bit bureaucratic however those days are probably long past now).

If I read the posts correctly, someone suggested Vietnam during Chinese New Year. They celebrate TET the same time. From my correspondence with a Hanoi agency, Hanoi is dead quiet beginning New Years Eve onward. Try to find a restaurant - nope, they shut down the day prior to New Years Eve and are closed for 8 to 10 days. Same with foot massage places. Same with attractions. Folks don't want to do any work during the first few days of Tet. They believe how they begin the new year is how they will spend the year, and they want it filled with more agreeable activities.

In the current context, "land" means getting from Bangkok to Ko Chang and back, and perhaps slipping into Cambodia.

If we had a "least favorite flights" thread, UA 888 would win my vote. I've done it many times in all three classes, and have learned to dread it. I actually like the crews in the human sense (they stay at the Ren, and are great story tellers), but I must confess that they aren't in the same league as their peers at Air China (I am serious). All that having been said, you'll be in good shape to unwind after you arrive in Mexico.

By land, since Vietnam celebrates New Year, the southeastern neighbours of China are Laos and Burma.

How easy is a land crossing to Laos?

$25. It's the trains that give me pause.

moondog, using cash for a ticket during CNY, oh the crime!!! Just think of all the new CC offers 2012 will bring!

Since you said warmer, why not head to Taiwan and check out the east coast via train, or SE asia?

Since when does Taiwan not celebrate CNY?

Can you get to Hong Kong on an award ticket? If so, Cebu have some return flights to Manila for just over 300 USD return. It wouldn't be my first choice SE Asia destination - but at least it does the job in terms of weather (and no visa needed for short stays for many passport holders).