Pai
Thailand
Mountain-town value: top marks for budget, 9/10 for nature*

Triptakeo report
From Sydney, 5 places where January is one of the best times to visit come in under A$4,000 for two people for a week (est. flights, stay & food), starting at A$3,509 for Pai, plus the road transfer from Chiang Mai.
Prices checked on 4 November 2026
We priced a week for two to 94 destinations from Sydney and 95 from Brisbane for January, then kept only the places where January falls in the best time to go. From Sydney, 5 came in under A$4,000. Here's what each one is best for, and what a week there is likely to cost.
Thailand
Mountain-town value: top marks for budget, 9/10 for nature*

Philippines
10/10 for beaches and nature, 9/10 for romance

Philippines
10/10 beaches, 8/10 for nightlife
New Zealand
Summer in the South Island: 10/10 for nature, 9/10 for adventure

Laos
A slow week of temples and culture, 10/10 for value
*Pai: flights go as far as Chiang Mai. The road transfer to Pai isn't included.
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10 January getaways for two under A$4,000 (est. flights, stay & food), from A$3,443*.
Thailand

Philippines

Philippines

Vietnam

Philippines

Laos
New Zealand
New Zealand

Thailand

Thailand
*Pai: flights go as far as Chiang Mai. The road transfer to Pai isn't included.
9 January getaways for two under A$4,000 (est. flights, stay & food), from A$3,622.

Vietnam

Philippines

Philippines

Philippines
New Zealand
Thailand

Laos

Thailand

Malaysia
*Pai: flights go as far as Chiang Mai. The road transfer to Pai isn't included.
11 January getaways for two under A$4,000 (est. flights, stay & food), from A$3,016*.
Thailand

Vietnam

Philippines

Laos

Philippines

Thailand

Philippines

Malaysia

Thailand

Vietnam

Cambodia
*Pai: flights go as far as Chiang Mai. The road transfer to Pai isn't included.
10 January getaways for two under A$4,000 (est. flights, stay & food), from A$3,332*.
Thailand

Vietnam

Philippines

Philippines

Laos

Philippines

Thailand

Malaysia

Thailand
New Zealand
*Pai: flights go as far as Chiang Mai. The road transfer to Pai isn't included.
5 places where January is one of the best times to visit come in under A$4,000 for two for a week, est. flights, stay and food: Pai (est. A$3,509, plus the road transfer from Chiang Mai), Palawan (est. A$3,692), Boracay (est. A$3,717), Christchurch (est. A$3,729), Luang Prabang (est. A$3,829).
They're estimates, not live January fares. The hotel rates are January (peak-season) rates. Flights start from fares checked on 20–21 October 2026 or fare-model estimates (4 of 5 from Sydney, 9 of 10 from Brisbane, 7 of 9 from Melbourne, 9 of 11 from Perth, 9 of 10 from Adelaide), plus a typical January increase for each region. Christmas week and other peak dates can cost more.
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Estimates are for 7 nights and 2 travellers at Triptakeo's "Comfortable" level, using January (peak-season) hotel rates. We only kept destinations with January in their best time to visit. Flights start from fares checked on 20–21 Oct 2026, or fare-model estimates (4 of 5 from Sydney, 9 of 10 from Brisbane, 7 of 9 from Melbourne, 9 of 11 from Perth, 9 of 10 from Adelaide). Flight prices for January include a typical school-holiday and peak-season increase for this region. Christmas week and other peak dates can cost more. Pai covers flights to Chiang Mai only. Travelling solo? See where to go in January from Sydney.