More Chinese travelers are discovering that the best time to take a trip is after a holiday, according to an article by China Daily. Taking a holiday after the holiday is, they find, cheaper and more enjoyable.
That is what Shanghai local Liang Jing discovered when she decided to forego the Spring Festival travel rush.
Instead of joining most of her countrymen who were crowding in airports and train stations, she stayed in Shanghai and only left the country with her friend after the weeklong national vacation. As a result, her five-day holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand, cost her much less, and enjoyed a slew of other benefits.
"Scenic spots are less crowded after the festival, and tourism services and experiences are better," Liang said in an interview with China Daily.
Thailand is one of the top three destinations among outbound Chinese tourists. For her five-day trip, Liang only paid 14,000 yuan ($2,150)--half of the original holiday price.
Office workers, students and retirees are also taking post-holiday trips, according to tourism experts. Utour International Travel Service, a travel agency based in Beijing, has already booked 80 percent of their products from late February to mid-March.
"Most of our guests are white-collar workers who've decided to take their annual paid leave after the holiday to enjoy cheaper, cheerful trips," said Li Mengran, Utour's publicity manager.
Aside from Thailand, short-distance destinations such as South Korea, Japan and other Southeast Asian islands are popular among post-festival travelers, Li said.
In a report by Ctrip, cheaper airfares and accommodations have led to 20-60 percent savings, about 1,000 to 6,000 yuan, for outbound travelers.
"Demand has become strong," said Dai Yu, Ctrip's marketing manager. "So timing is key to saving."
Working during the holiday can also prove to be beneficial to a traveler's wallet, as overtime pay and reduced costs can lead to over 10,000 yuan in savings, according to Ctrip.
By March, prices are expected to rise again. For travelers planning to take outbound trips during that period, experts suggest booking trips as early as now while promos are offered.