Celebrate the Year of the Tiger

February 14th may be Valentine’s Day but in 2010 it is also the time to welcome in the Year of the Tiger as Chinese New Year falls on the same day.

Long haul specialist Hayes & Jarvis suggests jetting off to Hong Kong, Malaysia or San Francisco to party into the new year in style.

Travel east and join the festivities at the International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong. Billed as the ‘World’s Happiest Party’ the parade features elaborately decorated floats, international and local marching bands and cultural performers. Departing on 9th February, Hayes & Jarvis is offering a five-night break at the five-star Harbour Grand Kowloon hotel, located on the Kowloon waterfront with views of Victoria Harbour, for £759 per person. The package includes room-only accommodation and Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow.

Or combine Chinese New Year with a beach holiday by opting for a one-week holiday to Penang. Located on the north-west coast of peninsula Malaysia, the island offers palm-fringed beaches but is also home to one of the largest Buddhist temples in South East Asia – Kek Lok Si. Visit the temple around Chinese New Year for its impressive ‘Display of Lights’, when over 200,000 light bulbs and 10,000 lanterns light up the temple to symbolise peace, luck and prosperity. Departing on 9th February, a one-week holiday at the three-star Bayview Beach Resort on Batu Ferringhi Beach costs £849 per person, including room-only accommodation and Malaysia Airlines flights from London Heathrow.

Alternatively, head Stateside to see in the New Year in San Francisco – said to have the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Aside from soaking up the atmosphere, there is the chance to visit a special 10-day ‘Swinging Chinatown’ exhibition at the Old Mint, focusing on famous nightclubs from a bygone era. Featuring over 100 vintage photographs, costumes, dancing shoes and other mementos, the exhibition aims to bring back to life a long-neglected slice of Asian-American history. Departing on 12th February, a four-night break staying at the boutique four-star Hotel Union Square costs £639 per person, including room-only accommodation and Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow.

Once the Chinese New Year celebrations are over, there are plenty more opportunities for Tigers – everyone born in 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998 – to make 2010 a birthday year to remember, with pound-stretching holiday deals available worldwide with Hayes & Jarvis.

For more information and bookings, visit hayesandjarvis.com.

* All quoted prices are based on two people sharing a room.