Just follow our tips to help your dollar go further, and make the most of your spending spree, in this Asian shopping mecca.

Treat yourself to a few extra presents; after Christmas it seems like every store in Hong Kong is having a sale. Look for bargains at the major shopping malls rather than markets and family-owned boutiques; The Landmark, The Galleria, Alexandra House, and Prince’s Building should offer up some great bargains, particularly on designer goods.

Hong Kong celebrates its annual Shopping Festival from the end of June to the end of August. Keep your eyes peeled for stores displaying the Hong Kong Festival signs. You can expect to save more than 50% on plenty of goods in these stores, especially on end-of-season fashion items. And that’s just the prices on the shelves. For even bigger savings, get your hands on a promotional brochure released by Hong Kong Tourism. It’s filled with discount coupons to help you save even more. With most stores extending their trading hours during the festival until at least 10 pm, you’ll have even longer to snap up those bargains.

If you are planning a Hong Kong shopping spree it’s important to be prepared. Make sure you dress comfortably and wear sensible shoes. Take a good handbag stocked up with a list of stores you hope to hit, a bottle of water, your discount coupons, and of course a well stocked wallet. And most of all, remember to have fun! Don’t let the crowds or too-small stilettos discourage you, because shopping in Hong Kong is meant to be enjoyed.

You’ll save money on hotels and transport, you’ll dodge the crowds, and you’ll see your destination in a whole new light. In this article we suggest some great times to visit Australia’s biggest tourist towns, and they’re not what you would expect.

Queensland’s Gold Coast is most popular in spring and summer, but the area actually enjoys sunshine most of the year. The temperate conditions in June are perfect for enjoying the area’s theme parks without the long ride queues. Hotels are also desperate to fill their rooms, so you can expect some big accommodation bargains.

New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains are teeming with tourists in winter, but wait a few months and you’ll see this beautiful area differently. In spring you need not spend money on a ski resort, as the conditions are mild enough to enjoy the area’s campsites. With only remnants of snow remaining, the area’s gorgeous mountains are ideal for hiking in September and October.

In January, music fans from Australia over flock to Tamworth for the town’s famous country music festival. But most travelers don’t know that the area stages a similar festival in July. The weather’s a bit colder for Hats Off to Country, but you’ll enjoy cheap accommodation and the performances of some great up and coming acts.

Don’t be scared away from the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park in the wet season. From December to March you’ll enjoy all of the regular tourist experiences without the crowds. The animals seem to respond to these quieter conditions, so you never know what you’ll see. If you don’t mind getting a bit wet, the area’s storms can be awe inspiring.

Many tourists are scared of traveling down south during winter, but provided you pack some thick sweaters Hobart can be a wonderful place to explore during the chilly months. Its waterfront cafes and buzzing pubs provide a warm refuge from the dreary weather outside. The Festival of Voices, Australia’s only choir festival held each July, is also an event worth traveling for.

So why travel when everyone else is? You may find your journey is richer and more memorable if you dare to be different!

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You don’t need to go island hopping to feel pampered in far north Queensland, as this hidden mainland gem has you covered.

Airlie’s main beach is located at roughly the same latitude as The Bahamas and Tahiti, which means that the swimming is perfect all year round. The water rarely dips under 20°C, although you’ll need to look out for stinging blue bottles between November and May.

Days spent on the beach are the ultimate indulgence, and happily this experience is free. With plenty of backpackers hostels and caravan parks around, that makes Airlie Beach a great spot for budget holidaymakers.

But if you want to enjoy real luxury, consider a stay at Peppers Coral Coast. This is the only five-star resort in the area, and delivers everything you’d expect from this prestigious rating.

While many plush resorts cater for couples, Peppers welcomes families. The resort has one, two, and three-bedroom apartments so parents can have privacy while the kids enjoy their space.

The pool is a great alternative to the beach if you’re visiting while the stingers are about. Just imagine sipping cocktails by the pool’s edge as you soak up the picturesque views of the Whitsunday Passage. The famous Endota Spa chain also has facilities on site if you’re in the mood for even more indulgence.

Airlie Beach has a great range of restaurants, from fine-dining options to cheap and cheerful cafes. But if you’d prefer to stay in, Tides Restaurant and Bar won’t disappoint.

A stay at Peppers Coral Coast Resort starts at $151 per night for a one-bedroom apartment suite. At that price, this is a luxury holiday that most travelers can afford.

This unique experience, hosted by Queenstown Rafting, combines a high-flying helicopter ride with an adrenalin-packed white-water rafting adventure.

Queenstown Rafting offers two heli-rafting trips. The first flies across the Wakatipu Basin and Coronet Peak ski fields before reaching the stunning Shotover River. When viewing them from the air, you may be a little nervous about tackling the rapids! They’re actually graded from three to five, so novices may want to steer clear. If you’ve got the stomach for it though, this is the tour to take. The journey through the pitch-black Oxenbridge Tunnel, as well as all those twists and turns, makes for one wild ride.

Rafting down the Kawarau River, Queenstown

If you’re a first timer consider the tamer trip down the Kawarau River. You might recognize this stretch of water as River Anduin from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. There’s plenty of white water, but also enough time to soak up the scenery. The helicopter trip is just as beautiful with views of the Gibbston Valley wine region and The Remarkables.

Heli-rafting rides cost NZD$295 per person. This price includes transfers to and from Queenstown, wetsuit and safety equipment hire, and the use of hot showers and a sauna once you’re done. The tour is appropriate for water-confident children aged 13 and weighing at least 40 kilos, although kids between 13 and 17 must ride with a guardian.

[Image Source: Abir Anwar/Flickr]

Tour founder Shelagh Coleman and her team take chocoholics on three-hour walking tours around Sydney’s central business district and Darlinghurst.

On the way you’ll learn lots about the history of this delectable dessert, and of course have plenty of time for tasting. After burning all those calories walking, you definitely deserve it!

There are a range of tours to suit all tastes, from the traditional Chocolate Shots and Teatime Treats tour to the more indulgent Espressos and Exotic Chocs experience. If you enjoy champers with your chocolate, consider the Soft Centers, Short Blacks, and Sparkles tour.

There are a few notable highlights on the tours. One of the key stops is Haigh’s Chocolates, the oldest chocolate company in Australia. It serves up old favorites and many uniquely Australian creations flavored with lilly pilly, lemon myrtle, and quandong.

Lindt may be a Swiss icon, but the world’s first Lindt Café was actually established in Sydney. Here you’ll enjoy gourmet chocolate treats including Delice macarons filled with chocolate cream and nut covered truffles.

Chocolate Espresso tours start from $70 and operate all year round. This price includes a guide, chocolate samples, and hot drinks. Bookings are essential, and can be made over the phone or via e-mail.

The temperate seasons of fall and spring are the ideal time to travel. During these seasons weather tends to hover between 50 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rain is infrequent during fall, although you may experience some showers during spring. Spring temperatures may also fluctuate, so it’s worth packing coats and jackets for cooler weather.

In summer conditions are hot and humid, with temperatures often rising above 72. To stay cool during this period avoid the areas known as the “four furnaces”: Tianjin, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanchang. Summer showers are also common, so pack a light rain coat and fold-up umbrella in your suitcase.

Winter weather can be very cold, especially in China’s northern regions, so make sure you rug up if traveling then.

The attractions you want to see are also worth considering before setting off to China. Visit in September if you plan to visit the Beijing Palace Museum. This is the only month when the valuable ancient paintings are displayed, as the Chinese fear they will depreciate in more humid conditions.

While winter in China is bitterly cold, some suggest it’s worth enduring for the Harbin Winter Ice Lantern Festival. This festival in the Heilongjiang Province is the country’s greatest celebration of ice artworks and sculpture. The month-long event is held every January.

There are many other festivals in China which celebrate all the country’s nationalities and cultural traditions. It’s worth researching which events interest you before setting off to China.

But how should you manage your money once you get there?

Tongan pa’anga banknotes are available in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, and 50. One hundred seniti is equivalent to one TS$1. Seniti coins come in denominations of one, five, 10, 20, and 50.

Tongan banks are generally open between 9 am and 3:30 pm, although these trading hours may be extended in major tourist centers including Nuku’alofa and Neiafu. These cities have automatic teller machines; find them at the ANZ Banks in both cities and the Westpac Bank in Nuku’alofa. However, the machines can be fickle so make sure you don’t wait until your cash is running low to get more.

Few businesses accept foreign currencies, so it’s important to exchange cash from your homeland. Australian, New Zealand, Fijian, and US dollars and pounds sterling are easily exchanged, although you also shouldn’t have any problems trading euros or yen. Foreign monies can be exchanged at the Tongatapu airport and the Treasury offices on the islands of Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.

Credit cards are widely accepted in most tourist centers, but they tend to attract a 5% fee. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are the most commonly used cards, although JCB is also accepted in many places. EFTPOS, however, is not commonly used in Tonga.

Travelers checks are also a good way for tourists to carry their funds. They fetch 4% to 5% more than cash, and transaction charges are small when compared to credit cards. Tongan businesses commonly accept all brands of travelers checks.

As with any holiday destination, the amount you’ll spend in Tonga each day depends on your vacation style. You can laze about on most Tongan beaches for nothing, but scuba diving trips and surfing safaris will quickly empty your wallet. Frequenting the local bars and fine dining options will also drain your finances quicker than eating at cafes and other small eateries. Visitors staying at average hotels and dining at mid-range restaurants can expect to spend around $125 a day.

When traveling about Tonga it’s important to carry small denominations of money. People operating public transport and eateries often cannot change big bills, so having smaller notes available can avoid a lot of hassle.

Tipping and bargaining are not customs practiced in Tonga as they are in many parts of the world. However some high class establishments will accept tips from tourists who wish to express their gratitude for good service.

If your funds become low it’s good to know that international transfers are easily organized. There are many Western Union offices throughout Tonga, and visitors can also transfer funds using Moneygram through the Bank of Tonga. Funds can be transferred in a matter of minutes, so it need not slow your vacation down.

After all, with more rain and clouds than any other city in Oz it’s certainly gloomy enough. Add plenty of gothic characters and a rich crime history and you’ve got a recipe for horror. Dig underneath Melbourne’s cosmopolitan surface and you’ll find a city that’s deliciously dark. You can learn more about this creepy underbelly on the following guided tours.

Is there anything scarier than a ghoulish tour led by a real life vampire? Darren Sinton may be one creepy character, but that only adds to the Haunted Melbourne Ghost Tour’s allure. It travels from The Haunted Bookshop on McKillop Street to some of Melbourne’s eeriest places, including the Mitre Tavern, where the Queen Street massacre took place in 1987, and the site of the Queen Victoria Market, which is now reportedly haunted by three bush rangers. The tour costs just $20, but be warned. It’s targeted at adults with strong stomachs so children should probably stay away.

By day Como House is a marvel of 19th century architecture with beautiful gardens and a tasty café. But there’s a much more sinister side to this heritage listed property. Mediums from Spookspotters Paranormal Research investigated the house and discovered incredibly high levels of paranormal activity. You can experience this for yourself on one the house’s Twilight Tours. You’ll learn about Como House’s history, and perhaps meet one of its spectral residents! Even if you don’t encounter a ghost there’s something very creepy about walking the house’s halls with only the light of a lamp to guide you.

Tours run on Thursday evenings during winter, and are unsuitable for children under 15 years of age. They cost $30 for adults, and $27 for concession holders. Numbers are strictly limited to 12, so make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Melbourne’s crime history is so famous it’s been the subject of two of the wildly popular Australian drama series Underbelly. The Melbourne Crime Tour strips away the facts from the fiction and takes guests to the sites of some of Victoria’s most infamous crimes. After four hours on your feet you’re bound to get hungry, and what better place to satisfy a craving than Brunetti’s cake shop, owned by underworld figure Mick Gatto. The Melbourne Crime Tour costs $55, and places can be reserved online.

[Image Source: Matt Wi1s0n/Flickr]

Hoi An is the place to come if you want to experience cosmopolitan Vietnam without the traffic or the crowds. With relatively few cars on the roads, pedestrians rule here. It’s becoming increasingly popular with tourists, especially backpackers who flock to the city for its inexpensive dining and interesting array of shops.

Hoi An was a major international seaport in the 16th and 17th century, and these foreign influences are still apparent today. Hoi An is a cultural melting pot, with the flavors of France, The Netherlands, Spain, China, and Japan informing the city’s food, architecture and culture.

The streets are lined with stores peddling arts and crafts, silver jewelry, and made-to-measure clothes and shoes. Such stylish indulgences would cost a small fortune in the West, but the services of tailors and shoemakers here are surprisingly inexpensive.  While these stores cater to the tourist trade, Hoi An’s buildings have been largely preserved. This makes walking around the city an exciting experience, even if your wallet is bare.

Tourists must purchase a sightseeing pass before entering Hoi An’s Old Town. They cost approximately US$5 and include a pass to a historic house, a landmark, a museum, an assembly hall, and a cultural experience. Visitors can choose which of the local attractions interest them most in each category.

These tickets are available at various entry points to the area including some of the attractions and Hai Ba Trung Street.

While a dress code is not strictly enforced, tourists are advised to dress conservatively when visiting the Old Town. Sleeveless blouses and short skirts are frowned upon, particularly when visiting sites of culture significance.

Da Nang is the closest airport to Hoi An. You can catch a connecting flight from major Vietnamese cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and international destinations such as Bangkok, Singapore, and Cambodia. A taxi from Da Nang airport to Hoi An costs approximately US$15.