Long-haul short breaks in Far East push physical boundaries

With many of us opting for several short breaks instead of one long holiday a year there has been an increase in more unusual destinations. It seems we have a liking for getting a taste of an exotic location not matter how far away it is. Many people are now seen as 'cash-rich time-poor' and they feel they need to pack more into their time off.

Hong Kong, Bangkok and Beijing are among some of the more surprising entrants on a new list of the top ten short break locations. Jaded, worldly travellers now consider a long weekend in New York or Dubai passé, claims a leading online travel agency, and are pushing at the boundaries of what is physically achievable over a few days.

The research found that sales of long-haul short breaks were up 35 per cent, with the Far East seen as an unusual and interesting location.

"We want to be able to offer our customers new options when it comes to organising their time off work," said a spokesman for the travel agency.

"While we all love the likes of Paris, Rome, Madrid and Amsterdam – and they are still as popular as ever with our customers – the fact is that their accessibility and familiarity means they just don't have the 'wow' factor they had ten years ago."

New York remains the Big Apple of long weekend getaways, followed by Dubai and Las Vegas, but Bangkok is now in fourth place and Hong Kong ninth. Delays in getting US visas may have contributed to the increasing popularity of far eastern destinations.

Exotic locations may also carry more exotic risks, and comprehensive travel insurance is crucial for even short breaks. Great deals can be had by going online. It is, however, very important to check the small print and make sure the policy covers all the activities you are planning on your holiday.

If you would like to know more about city breaks why not ask AnswerBank Travel.