Where to for 2017? We put it to the vote.

With 2017 comes more exciting destinations to visit, and more adventures to embark on. Changi Airport conducted a poll among Singapore-based travellers to find out more about their travel wish lists for this year, as well as their travel habits.

The results are pretty interesting. For example, Japan, including some of her lesser-known cities, features at the top of the to-go list for Singaporeans. Not surprisingly, on the question of must-haves when travelling, an overwhelming 98% mention internet access.  

Here are some of the other results from the survey, conducted with about 800 Singaporeans.

Top Destinations for 2017

1. Japan

Japan is an increasingly popular destination for Singaporean travellers, especially cities such as Kyoto

When asked where they hope to visit in 2017, Japan tops the list of countries to visit, with about 16% of the respondents indicating an interest to make a trip there. Besides the traditional favourites of Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido, respondents also named cities like Kyoto, Okinawa and Fukuoka as places they plan to visit this year. Check out our tips to travel Tokyo like a local here. 

Best time to go:

With cherry blossoms blooming in abundance, the months between March and May is an excellent time to visit Japan. Otherwise, the autumn months of September to November are also popular, with falling leaves adding splashes of colour for your perfect Instagram shot.

How to get there:

Changi Airport is connected to 12 cities in Japan, including daily flights to Tokyo and Osaka. Book your flights here. 

2. South Korea

Other than shopping and great food, there is also plenty about Korean culture to learn about, in places like Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul

Think Korean drama filming locations, yummy street food, and shopping with a wide variety of beauty products. With all these exciting things, it’s no wonder Korea remains a hot favourite, coming in second in our travel poll. Seoul is overwhelmingly the top Korean city to visit, followed by Busan and Jeju Island.

Best time to go:

Like Japan, the best times to visit Korea are autumn and spring – when flowers are in bloom, and the weather is the most comfortable with sunny skies and cool weather.

How to get there:

Various airlines fly to Seoul from Changi Airport several times a week; book your flights here.

3. Australia

Beautiful bathing houses on white sandy beach at Brighton beach in Melbourne, Australia

Australia, with her outback experiences, adorable quokkas and funky cities comes in third as Singaporeans’ top picks for 2017. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are some of the popular cities named. Here are our recommendations for children-friendly activities in Perth!

Best time to go:

As it’s a huge country, the climate (and best time to go) varies depending on which part of Australia you’re intending to visit. Generally, cities up north like Darwin are warmer throughout the year, while the cities in the south experience more varied temperature.

How to get there:

Changi is connected to 42 cities in Australia; including Canberra and all the major cities. Book your next flight out here!

Iceland tops bucket list of places to go

Iceland, with her spectacular waterfalls and frequent sightings of the northern lights, comes in tops for bucket list countries to visit

With the frequency of the Northern Lights expected to decrease over the next decade, it is no surprise that Iceland does not feature prominently as a place to visit in 2017. But it has emerged as the top destination on Singaporeans’ bucket list. On a side note, an alternative is the Aurora Australia - the Southern Lights. If you are still keen about viewing the Aurora Australis in the mean time, here’s a guide to find out where and how.

Other places that come up on Singaporeans’ bucket list include the mysterious kingdom of Bhutan, as well as far-flung exotic locations such as Peru and Alaska.

Internet connectivity has become a MUST when travelling

Only 2% of those surveyed said they can do without internet access when travelling

Do you find yourself constantly posting travel pictures on Facebook and Instagram, snap-chatting beautiful locations or sharing videos via whatsapp when overseas? You’re not alone. In an increasingly connected world, Singaporeans are finding that they cannot do without internet access when travelling.

An overwhelming 98% of the survey respondents indicate that they make arrangements to ensure internet access on-the-go when overseas - either by renting a WiFi router, getting a local SIM card, or subscribing to an international roaming data plan with their telecommunications provider.

Most book travel accommodation through third-party booking sites

With the growing popularity of third-party accommodation booking sites such as Hotels.com and Booking.com; more than half of the respondents say that they book their trip lodging through these websites; while others book through travel aggregators such as TripAdvisor, or directly through the hotel’s website.

The opposite is true when it comes to the purchase of air tickets, with a large majority (72%) preferring to book their flights directly on the airline’s website.

With these new inspirations, where will your next adventure be this year?