Add up your unused annual leave days and hatch a plan for your next getaway already. From music and arts festivals in Melacca and Hong Kong to Scoot and SIA' s new routes, there are plenty of good excuses to travel.

1. Clockenflap  (Nov 27-29)

Hong Kong's biggest music and arts festival is around the corner, with indie bands like New Order and The Libertines taking to the stage. There will be movie screenings like Amy, a film that attempts to uncover the real Amy Winehouse. Look out for a10m intasllation by street artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas (UK) and stuff from LED artist Teddy Lo. AirAsia flies to Hong Kong at $282, while Malaysia Airlines flights are priced at $382 and above.

2. Melaka Festival (Nov 27-29)

The chill town of Malacca is throwing its very own Arts and Performance Festival with contemporary artists exhibiting their work. Don't miss the existential video by Indonesian Bambang N Karim; the looping video is analogous to the repetition found in life. There are also film screenings, in particular, 12.12, about an old lady who wonders if she should turn in a Rohingya refugee to the authorities. LuxuryCoach and Easybook make roundtrips to Malacca, ranging from $30-$40.

3. Direct flights to Melbourne on Scoot

There are lots of new flight options to get excited about, too: Scoot just launched direct flights to both Melbourne and Hangzhou. Other options include Qingdao, Shenyang, Hong Kong and Tokyo, all of which are recent additions. Fares start as low as $98 and are $338 for business fares. 

4. Non-stop flights to New York

Come April, you’ll be able to fly direct from Changi to Nadi with Fiji Airways. Oh, and masochists may like to know that Singapore Airlines will bag the title of world’s longest non-stop passenger flight when it begins direct flights to New York on-board the new A350 in 2018.

5. Exciting new things to do in Thailand

Instead of shopping at Bangkok's tried and tested flea markets and malls, download our Thailand guide for free here. You'll get insider's details on where to eat, drink, and what to do. The guide covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket, Samui and more.