Plan your 2017 holidays around the long weekends

I hate to brag but "forward-thinking" is one of my strong suits.

I am great at planning holidays a year in advance. And if you're anything like me, travelling on a long weekend gives you the same euphoria as a 30 per cent surprise discount from yesterday's 12.12 sale.

Besides, planning ahead gives you time to scour the Net for the best deals.

And Singaporeans, 2017 has seven long weekends for us to scratch that travel itch.

Here is a guide to planning your vacation next year and even better, have it coincide with some of the best happenings around the world.

CHINESE NEW YEAR: JAN 28-29 (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY)

Tennis fans, luck is on your side.

Chinese New Year on Jan 28 and 29 coincides with the Australian Open finals in Melbourne. Finals weekend tickets (both days) for adults start from A$601 (S$640), available at event.ausopen.com/tickets.

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GOOD FRIDAY: APRIL 14

• COACHELLA 

The first weekend of Coachella, one of the world's biggest music festivals, takes place from April 14 to 16 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

If rumours prove to be true, the 2017 edition is set to be a festival-goer's dream, with a power-packed headlining bill that includes Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and Radiohead.

The advance and general sales are sold out but additional tickets are expected to be released next month when the line-up is confirmed.

For more information, visit splash.coachella.com

• THINGYAN AND SONGKRAN

April 13 also marks the start of Thingyan and Songkran celebrations in Myanmar and Thailand respectively to celebrate their new year.

Water festivals are par for the course so prepare to get very, very wet.

• STAR WARS CELEBRATION

This long weekend will also give Star Wars fans plenty of reasons to rejoice.

A four-day Star Wars Celebration starting April 13 promises plenty of fun activities and surprises for fans, as part of the Star Wars celebration in Orlando, Florida.

The events are yet to be confirmed but one can expect to rub shoulders with directors or stars from the movies, engage in panel discussions, marvel at iconic costumes and props and perhaps, catch a teaser of the much-awaited Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is slated for release next December.

For more information, visit www.starwarscelebration.com

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HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI: JUNE 25 (SUNDAY)

This is something both you and your little ones can look forward to during the June holidays.

Pandora - The World of Avatar, a new attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park in Orlando's Walt Disney World Resort, will come to life in summer next year.

Fans of James Cameron's 2009 fantasy flick, Avatar, will get to experience the land of Pandora and life of its Na'vi inhabitants as they cruise on a boat ride through a bioluminescent rainforest, dine at a themed restaurant and more.

This is the perfect way to gear up for the release of the sequel in December 2018.

For more information, visit www.disneyworld.disney.go.com

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CHRISTMAS: DEC 25 (MONDAY)

Finland celebrates its centennial in 2017. One can expect a flurry of activities in the country throughout the year, and especially so in the city of Rovaniemi during Christmastime.

After all, it is famously known as Santa Claus HQ.

Experience the magic of Christmas by going on husky sled or reindeer rides, meeting the elves at the post office, basking in the warmth of festivities and, of course, popping in to say hello to Father Christmas himself.

If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, visible from mid-August to early April.

For more information, visit www.visitrovaniemi.fi