Building a PC remains a badge of honour for enthusiasts. The research and customisation can be as satisfying as the finished system, but fluctuating prices and component availability mean even we sometimes recommend a pre-built PC – a shift reflected in our Tech Awards Readers’ Choice findings for Best Desktop Gaming Brand.
Quite a few of us at HardwareZone enjoy planning a holiday too, and our Singapore-based Forum community often shares travel tips. But late bookings, sold-out attractions and bad weather can throw even a carefully planned trip off course.
With year-end travel around the corner and no holiday booked yet, we wanted to find out whether arranging everything ourselves still offers better value than booking through a tour operator.
To help us assess the options, we spoke with Chan Brothers Travel. Together, we looked at 5 destinations the company says are among its popular year-end choices: Lijiang, Bhutan, Hokkaido, Taiwan and Germany.
Top year-end holiday destinations for Singaporeans
Photo: Getty Images
Chan Brothers Travel says its booking data points to demand for a range of year-end experiences, from winter holidays in Hokkaido and Germany to cultural and nature-focused trips in Bhutan and Yunnan, China, as well as food and family activities in Taiwan.
The 5 destinations also have different planning considerations. For instance, a trip in Yunnan (which is where Lijiang is located) can involve long journeys between regions and attractions, while Bhutan has visa requirements and a daily Sustainable Development Fee.
Busting last-minute travel myths
If you’re like us and haven’t booked your year-end trip yet, a few concerns may be holding you back: whether reasonably priced flight and hotel options can still be found and if there’s enough time to plan everything.
But a late start doesn’t automatically mean it’s too late. A travel specialist can help you see what options remain and whether a package tour makes sense. Before ruling out a trip, let’s look at a few common assumptions.
- Myth 1: Agency tours are always more expensive, especially when it’s booked late and during year-end peak travel seasons.
- Myth 2: All flights and good hotels have been snapped up.
- Myth 3: Package tours mean a rigid schedule with little time to explore independently
Here’s what Chan Brothers Travel has to say about it: “Often, the challenges of going DIY when travelling are the same challenges of booking a year-end holiday late.
When you book flights and hotels separately, you’re competing for what’s left at prevailing prices. Travel agencies of our scale work differently. We have the reach to secure an extensive choice of flight seats and hotel rooms well ahead of peak season, so there can still be good value even when booking later.
We recognise that your holiday should feel like a holiday, not a race. So, tours with Chan Brothers Travel are balanced between the must-sees and time to unwind. It’s definitely not going to be a rushed stop where you just snap a photo and jump back on the bus!”
How we compared the travel costs for the 5 destinations
Photo: Getty Images
To see how these assumptions hold up, we compared the cost and planning involved in arranging each trip independently with the corresponding Chan Brothers Travel package tour.
To make the comparison as fair as possible, we started by pulling out the dates and itineraries of Chan Brothers Travel’s year-end departures. We then used those same dates and trip lengths to price a self-planned alternative, matching the carrier and hotel (where available) and including comparable accomodations, transport and activities.
Here’s a breakdown of how we got our DIY estimates:
- Airfares and accommodation: We checked return airfares on the airlines’ own websites and hotel rates on popular booking platforms, using the same travel dates on a single (or twin-share) room basis.
- Local transportation: Local transport costs were estimated from the intercity and local journeys needed to follow each itinerary, using popular booking platforms where relevant.
- Sightseeing and activities: These costs were based on published admission prices from attraction and operator websites, as well as listings from booking platforms. They do not include guided tours and services that are provided in the package tours.
- Meals: Meals were the hardest to estimate, since budgets vary widely depending on how and where people like to eat. We used a conservative per-person allowance based on our own travel experience and cross-checking it against sample menu prices where available. Prices may not reflect the variety, quality and dining experiences included in each itinerary.
Disclaimer: Prices for flights, accommodation and attraction bookings are accurate as of 20 October 2026.
Lijiang, China
Rooftops of Lijiang Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage), with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background.
Photo: Getty Images
Lijiang offers a good mix of ancient heritage, rich culture and breathtaking landscapes for all ages. Stroll through an 800-year-old UNESCO old town and its picturesque cobblestone alleys; take a cable car up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and admire the dramatic alpine scenery; explore the turquoise waters of Blue Moon Valley.
While Lijiang’s ancient town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lugu Lake make for a great scenic trip, it’s important to know that these attractions are spread out.
On the Chan Brothers Travel website, the 7 Days Lijiang and Lugu Lake package tour stood out. It includes a direct flight from Singapore, private coach transfers, a Glacier Park cable car ride, an Erhai Lake caravan ride and a Mosuo bonfire party.
Lugu Lake.
Photo: Getty Images
Let’s crunch the numbers and see how booking independently stacks up against the Lijiang package tour offered by Chan Brothers Travel.
Indicative cost per person (Departure 12 December 2026 / 7D6N)
| Item cost | DIY estimate | Chan Brothers Travel package tour |
|---|---|---|
| Return flight (Capital Airlines) | ~$1,356 | Included |
| Accommodation | ~$823 (for 6 nights) | Included |
| Local transport | ~$315 | Private coach included |
| Sightseeing and activities | ~$400* | As listed in itinerary |
| Meals | ~$250* | Included |
| Estimated total / package tour fare | From $3,144 | From $2,278 |
*Estimates are based on entry prices and basic dining only. They don’t include the guided tours, services, and dining variety and quality included in the package tour.
There’s a common belief that DIY travel is always cheaper than travelling with a tour group. But based on our estimates, that’s not necessarily the case.
A self-planned trip can look cheaper on paper, until we factor in the regional transfers and time needed to check availability for popular activities. That’s worth considering for Lijiang, where getting between the city and Lugu Lake adds another layer of logistical planning.
Sure, you can book a commercial flight to Lijiang personally, but Chan Brothers Travel also offers a direct flight from Singapore and a wide choice of departure dates for greater flexibility. The package tour also arranges the regional transfers, so we don’t have to piece together different modes of transport or manage each booking along the way.
If the itinerary here sounds like a good balance you’ve been looking for, then the package tour is quite worthwhile beyond saving you the hassles you might face with transport and travel arrangements alone.
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