Many of us will be busy visiting friends and relatives, but for those who aren’t, Hotels.com have listed 3 top destinations with tips on "what not to miss” and “where to stay” to get the most out of this festive season.

1. Taiwan: The Lunar New Year in Taiwan is a time for tourists to witness Lion Dances, vivid scenes of beautifully decorated temples and fireworks. During this time, the city is populated with tourists who are eager to experience the festival with a local Taiwanese touch.  

What not to miss?

Taiwan Lantern Festival. The main lantern for this year, is an installation of a 26-meter-tall Monkey King or better known as Sun Wukong (孫悟空). It is the main character in the famous Chinese classic "Journey to the West”. The 2016 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in the plaza in front of the Taoyuan high-speed railway station.

Where to stay?

Caesar Park Taipei – (4 stars)

Save 20% on your stay

Rooms start from S$142* per night on Hotels.comThe Sherwood Taipei – (4.5 stars)

Save 60% on your stay

Rooms start from S$192* per night on Hotels.com

2. Macau: Like the other cities in China, Macau also celebrates Lunar New Year every year with its own unique touch. It is one of the best cities to visit during this period.

What not to miss?

PARADES, PARADES, PARADES! The biggest attraction of this celebration is the long parade that marches through the streets of Macau. Lion / dragon dances as well as unicorn troupes can be spotted everywhere. This parade is known as the ‘must-go' event during this time. Expect to see up to 18 lion dancers perform on the main streets of Macau and ‘dragons’ roaming around during the parade. Most importantly, allow yourself to be captivated by the beauty of the season in the heart of Macau.

Where to stay?Grand Lapa, Macau – (4.5 stars)

Save 50% on your stay

Rooms start from S$136* per night on Hotels.comHotel Royal Macau – (4 stars)

Save 33% on your stay

Rooms start from S$136* per night on Hotels.com

3. Hong Kong: The city takes Lunar New Year very seriously. In fact, Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration was listed as one of the world's 10 best festival extravaganzas by Forbes.

What not to miss?

The truth is – you WON’T miss out on anything. The festive season is the biggest and most vibrant one in Hong Kong. The city would be surrounded by gorgeous red lanterns, stunning fireworks and of course the heart-pounding action at the race track. So there is no way you can arrive at a corner of Hong Kong with no festive atmosphere. Allow yourself to experience Lunar New Year like no other. This is the best time to try local delights and witness the glory of Hong Kong.

Where to stay?Conrad Hong Kong – (5 stars)

Save 25% on your stay

Rooms start from S$424* per night on Hotels.comRegal Riverside Hotel – (4 stars)

Save 18% on your stay

Rooms start from S$97* per night on Hotels.com

4. Penang, Malaysia: The city is filled with festive celebration during this period. Lion dances are all around the city, performing in the streets to welcome this auspicious festival. Penang is also quite affordable and the food is to die for.

What not to miss?

The 18,000 lanterns around the streets in Jalan Raja Uda will be lit to usher in the Lunar New Year of the Monkey. These lanterns symbolize happiness and hope for a brighter future.

Where to stay?Hotel Jen Penang – (4 stars)

Save 10% on your stay

Rooms start from S$96* per night on Hotels.com

Georgetown City Hotel - (4 stars)

Save 29% on your stay

Rooms start from S$72* per night on Hotels.com

Visit the Hotels.com Chinese New Year Sale landing page for more.