Making travel plans for 2023? Whether you like to eat your way around the world or shop ’til you drop, we’ve picked five world-class city breaks for you. 

Make your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard^® your travel companion. From hotels located in the heart of “Japan’s kitchen” to tropical wellness retreats, you’ll earn Asia Miles directly when you book your trip – and enjoy a rate of HKD4 = 1 when you spend with your card abroad, with preferential earning rates for overseas spending.  

Go one step further and book your flight and hotel reservations through Cathay Holidays to gain even more miles to put towards your next bucket list trip. From now until 31 March you can earn HKD2=1 when booking with Cathay. 

The party-all-week: Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the world’s nightlife capitals, and the city buzzes seven nights a week: there’s always a party to be found. Khao San Road is famed for its backpacker street parties, while at the other end of the spectrum you can join the hi-so glitterati at a rooftop bar like Cru or Octave , then hit up the 2,000-capacity EDM spot Onyx or the hip-hop-centred Sing Sing Theater , which combines traditional Thai decor with an original cocktail menu that’ll have you coming back for more. 

Stay here: The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon

The Thai capital holds a rightful reputation for revelry, but it also boasts luxuriously chilled-out hotel stays to balance any excesses. Rattan furnishings and other reimagined retro details define the interior of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, the US boutique hotel group’s Asia flagship, which opened in early 2022 and has quickly become a hub for the city’s creative community.

Earn bonus miles by booking The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon through Cathay Holidays with your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard.

The shopaholics’ getaway: Milan

Fashion, food and art: what more could you want from a getaway? As the fashion capital of Italy, Milan boasts no end of luxury stores and sleek emerging designers. Head to Via Monte Napoleone to find designer names such as Bottega Veneta and Valentino, and combine sightseeing with shopping at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery – it's housed in an opulent, Renaissance-revival style 19th-century building, topped with a domed glass ceiling. Lovers of vintage style can head to Corso di Porta Ticinese to score rare finds dating back decades.

Stay here: Bulgari Hotel Milano

You’re in one of the world’s most stylish cities, so why not stay in one of its chicest hotels? This elegant five-star hotel run by the Italian luxury fashion house and jeweller is located less than five minutes’ walk from Via Monte Napoleone, meaning you won’t have far to lug your shopping bags back home. Enjoy the hotel’s calming interiors, sprawling garden, and fine-dining restaurant Il Ristorante, helmed by chef Niko Romito. 

Earn bonus miles by booking Bulgari Hotel Milano through Cathay Holidays with your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard.

The wellness retreat: Manila

While metropolitan Manila may not be what you immediately think of when it comes to a wellness holiday, there are a number of stunning wellness retreats located within a two-hour drive from busy Makati. The Farm at San Benito is easily the country’s most famous wellness destination, and you’ll also find Qiwellness Living up in the lush green hills of Tagaytay, overlooking Taal Lake and its miniature volcano. Before you set off for your retreat, however, make sure to book in for a treatment at The Spa in Makati, which offers traditional Filipino hilot massages among other popular treatments. 

Stay here: The Farm

There’s no arguing with a classic, and The Farm delivers time and time again. Nestled in 19 hectares of jungle, this remote getaway is where Asia’s most fabulous come to recharge. Enjoy a range of wellness, medical and fitness to help soothe what ails you, from appointments with experienced doctors to a fully vegan, sustainably sourced menu. It’s the ideal sanctuary to hole up in and emerge from feeling like a million bucks.

The long-awaited city break: New York

New York has a level of energy that’s difficult to match, with city slickers, artists and bright-eyed aspiring actors hustling to make their dreams reality. There’s so much to see and do here within the city limits, which is filled with towering skyscrapers, iconic landmarks and unique Art Deco buildings. Hit up a Broadway show, slip into trendy speakeasies, and embrace being a tourist by walking the length of the Brooklyn Bridge to see the skyline in all its glory.

Stay here: Moxy NYC Times Square

Billing itself as a “boutique social hotel”, Moxy is a design-conscious space located in the heart of it all: Times Square. The hotel boasts light, airy interiors and a beautiful coworking space ideal for checking in to the office remotely. Be sure to set aside the evenings to head to Magic Hour: Moxy’s rooftop bar featuring extravagant botanical decor.

Earn bonus miles by booking Moxy NYC Times Square through Cathay Holidays with your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard.

The culinary indulgence: Osaka

Osaka is known as the “kitchen of Japan”, and nowhere is that more evident than its street food haven, Dotonbori. As you pass under giant sculptural restaurant signs depicting puffer fish, dragons and octopus, you’ll be overcome by waves of delicious smells: from sizzling takoyaki stands to rich bowls of tonkotsu ramen at the rightly famed Kinryu Ramen. Nip upstairs to one of the street’s many okonomiyaki joints to enjoy the region’s best savoury pancakes, and join the line at Pablo for their seriously good lava cheese tarts. Don’t forget to stop by one of the city’s many markets - the Kuromon fish market is a favourite.

Stay here: Cross Hotel Osaka

Located close to both Dotonbori (four minutes’ walk) and Kuromon market (13 minutes’ walk), the Cross Hotel Osaka is the ideal base for food-minded travellers. The rooms are modern and full of bold design accents, with some facing out onto Dotonbori across the river and a few even boasting views of Osaka’s famed Glico running man sign. 

Earn bonus miles by booking your stay at Cross Hotel Osaka through Cathay Holidays with your Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard.