We help you understand vaccine passports, how do they function, and where you can expect to need one. This is our explainer on the COVID-19 vaccine passport.
When fire tore through Notre-Dame Cathedral in the heart of Paris, centuries of history that had survived revolution, two world wars, and natural disasters was swept from existence. It was a reminder that our most precious constructions can vanish before our eyes. Here is a look at 11 of the world's most majestic cathedrals and why you shouldn't wait to see them.
Singapore has announced a gradual return of travel tourism. We'll let you know just who is allowed to visit and what is required both pre-departure and on arrival. Come discover the Garden City at the crossroads of the world!
Billions of people today organize their lives around religious teachings and consider a variety of places around the world sacred. We've put together this list of the world's most important holy places. Though necessarily incomplete, these locations are intangible cultural treasures. These are nine of the most important religious sites on Earth.
Shanghai is the biggest city in China and a hub of global finance. Its rapid growth beginning in the 1990s has propelled Shanghai into the ranks of great international cities like New York, London, and Tokyo. Located at the mouth of the mighty Yangtze River, Shanghai is renowned for its famous architecture, great food, and numerous cultural attractions. Here’s a look at 10 places you will certainly want to visit.
Looking for the hottest places to visit in Shanghai? Want to find where all the cool kids go to take selfies and be seen? Here we're recommending Shanghai's top-10 internet-famous check-in spots.
To celebrate #IWD21, we’ve invited Wonji Lee to share with us her solo travel story. To get to know her a little bit, she is a travel blogger from Korea and she delivers her travel experience and stories through various forms of content - Youtube, Blog (Wonji Daily Life/원지의 하루). She is also the writer behind the inspirational travel book 제 마음대로 살아보겠습니다 (I will live my own way).
If you have one day in Kyoto, Nijō Castle is a must-see. The castle lies in the heart of Kyoto and has a very scenic charm owing to the historical architecture as well as the castle's many manicured gardens, which are especially lovely throughout the year. Nijō Castle has deep roots in Japanese history dating back to the 16th century.
There are many things to do in Seoul like visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, exploring Hongik University Street, and more. A good plan for exploring and experiencing this city is very necessary. Here is a suggested guide for an amazing 5-day tour that will help you discover and enjoy Seoul to the fullest.
Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto is a place significant not just to Zen Buddhists, but to all those who love beauty and magnificence. The gold-leaf-covered pavilion surrounded by tall pine trees and reflected in the calm lake waters is simply breathtaking!
Known as the “country of a thousand islands,” the Philippines is full of surprises. Travelers can explore history and the arts in Manila, relax along some of the world’s best beaches on Boracay, dive under the waves on Bohol, or explore countless coves and bays on Palawan. With delicious cuisine, friendly people, and a proud culture, there are near infinite possibilities available to travelers. In this short article, we will survey several popular destinations and recommend things to see. When planning a trip to the Philippines, focus on what you hope to experience and narrow your focus to a few locations.
Picture for a moment slender palm trees swaying as the sun’s morning rays throw long shadows across sands still cool from night’s embrace. Seabirds circle aloft and track a school of snapper just offshore. The calm seems overwhelming, interrupted only by waves caressing the shore. You unfurl your blanket and sit before azure waters as emerald green hills guard the approach. Can you picture it? Are you almost able to smell the seawater and fresh air? If so, you’re like us…absolutely in love with a great beach. Believe us when we say we’ve searched long and hard to make a list of the world’s 10 best beaches to visit in 2019. From the sunshine coast in the US to Queensland Down Under, from remote Bora Bora to Grand Cayman. Without further ado, these are the top-10 best beaches to visit in 2019.
It was once said about the Maldives that this is “where the blue sky and white clouds, the coconut trees and shadows, the clear water and white sand, are located in the paradise of the Indian Ocean.” This relatively small country comprises some 26 atolls. It is a place travelers yearn to visit, a place where couples venture for the perfect honeymoon, and a place to truly find rest and relaxation. In this short article, we will take a closer look at the Maldives and opportunities visitors will find there. We will profile some of the more developed atolls, and highlight some excellent sightseeing opportunities.
Singapore is a wealthy and developed island nation located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. A global financial center with a thriving high-tech sector, Singapore attracts visitors from around the world. Cosmopolitan culture, delicious street food, beautiful gardens, amazing luxury, all of these can be found in Singapore. In this article we’ll take a closer look and concentrate on several must-see districts. The aim is to provide a way to maximize your time and enjoyment.
Travel lovers have undoubtedly heard of or even visited Bali at some point. Beautiful scenery, divine beaches, dramatic volcanoes, temples, and genuine people…there’s much to appreciate. In recent years however, over-commercialization, large crowds, and pollution have begun to detract from Bali’s reputation as a tropical paradise.
Picturing beach resorts in Southeast Asia, Thailand’s Phuket, Indonesia’s Bali, and Philippines' Boracay probably come to mind. With tourists flocking to those locations, however, people who seek less populated shores must look elsewhere. White sand beaches, diving hotspots, fresh-from-the-ocean seafood, and a rapidly growing casino scene make Cambodia’s premier beach town of Sihanoukville a worthwhile destination.
For many, nature exists as a curiosity, as somewhere to visit or occasionally recreate. There are those rare places, however, where one finds harmony in nature. Places time seems to have forgotten. Places where ancient creatures roam, and where the landscape seems conjured from the imagination. Komodo National Park is such a place.
Spring is a time of rebirth. A time to cast off winter’s embrace. In Japan, spring heralds the coming cherry blossoms. For what seems like a fleeting instance, cherry trees flower in exquisitely delicate shades of white and pink. The soft colors signal promising times ahead. Some spend their entire lives chasing the bloom, looking for that perfect flower. For travelers aspiring to catch a glimpse of the annual miracle, this short article offers some background and suggests a few places to visit.
As the undisputed granddaddy of theme parks, Disneyland Resort has been leading the way since 1955, inviting visitors to spend the day in the ultimate land of make-believe. What's the spotlights you cannot miss in these Disneyland parks?
Towards the end of January, a palpable excitement takes hold in places like China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations are a time of great joy and precipitate the world’s largest annual human migration. Hundreds of millions of Chinese people leave major cities to return home to smaller villages or provincial towns. The journey is joyous as people fill all manner of transport, eager to return home to see parents and children. Lunar New Year is central to Chinese cultural life, yet what are the holiday’s major characteristics? Where can you go to experience the festivities for yourself? This short primer will provide some answers to these questions and should, by the end, have you anxiously awaiting your own Red Packet!
Shanghai has, in a mere 25 years, emerged as global financial center and trendsetting modern metropolis. Glittering skyscrapers dot the skyline in Lujiazui, just across the Huangpu River from the stately architecture along the Bund. Chic cafes and restaurants intermingle with street vendors and classic gardens. Known as the “Paris of the East,” Shanghai garnered a reputation for noir and intrigue in the 1920s and ‘30s. The image of Art Deco buildings, gangsters with tommy guns, and cabaret never faded. As China’s undisputed financial capital, Shanghai is a city on the cutting edge. Money talks and glamor abounds; yet the past is never far away.
As lumbering land mammals, we humans can but imagine the freedom experienced by creatures who call the oceans home. Some 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. The oceans remain the last great frontier of Earthly adventure. With new species to discover and countless unexplored regions, let’s take a journey beneath the waves. As mere visitors to the underwater realms, diving affords us a modicum of understanding this part of our great blue planet. Here we will consider some of the world’s best diving locations. For the vast majority of people, diving is both easiest and most enjoyable in the rich tropical waters circling the globe at the equator. Vast coral reefs shelter mesmerizing life forms, ones whose colors and numbers astound. These are the world’s best diving locations.
Macau is a glittering oasis on the Pearl River Delta. The tiny territory covers just over 32 square kilometers, yet it contains a multitude of rich experiences. Narrow streets and tight corners conceal stately Portuguese colonial-era architecture. Across the harbor, towering casinos draw visitors from around the world. The famous Ruins of St. Paul’s stand solemn watch as visitors wander nearby markets and shops. Though Macau is able to claim the title of the world’s most densely populated territory, there’s a tranquility to be found in the fishing villages around Coloane. When you visit Macau, you will instantly recognize the charm and hopefully discover all this unique destination has to offer.
For most people, New Years evokes memories of large celebrations. Perhaps it’s watching the ball drop in New York’s Times Square, perhaps it’s the fireworks from Sydney Harbour Bridge. In Thailand and other places throughout Southeast Asia, New Years is an excuse to have a massive water fight. Thailand’s traditional New Years festival, known as Songkran, is observed every year from April 13-15. To understand Songkran is to gain an appreciation of Thailand and Thai culture. In this travelogue, we explore the traditions around Songkran and delve into some recommendations for great places to participate in the festivities. Make sure you’ve got a change of clothes, because we’re going to get wet.
Even Tokyo where neon lights cast futuristic shadows and digital billboards advertise the latest gadgets, even there you will find Japan’s classic character. Restaurants with exquisite handwritten menus, kimono-wearing shoppers searching for festival gifts, historic facades tucked amongst steel and glass. All of this comes together to create modern Japan. See where ancient opera still graces the stage, where flower festivals and tea ceremonies are enthusiastically passed down through the generations, and where the new world blends seamlessly into the old.
Hong Kong has long been a gateway into China and other parts of Asia. British explorers marveled at the natural beauty and protection offered by Victoria Harbour. The city’s location at the mouth of the Pearl River has helped Hong Kong become a major center for commerce, trade, and manufacturing. When factories started to leave the city in search of cheaper labor on the mainland, Hong Kong responded by developing into Asia’s premier financial center. Through it all, Hong Kong has maintained a remarkable identity and culture. It is a fabulous destination that offers visitors a wealth of options. From luxury shopping and fine dining to pristine natural parks, Hong Kong remains Asia’s gateway city.
Aomori is Japan’s prefecture for all seasons. Set in the northernmost part of Honshu, the largest of Japan’s islands, Aomori is a place for travelers seeking a different experience. The region blends the natural and the urban in surprising ways. Beautiful landscapes and the largest collection of cherry blossoms in all Japan make this an unforgettable destination.
In the western Philippines, there is an island archipelago with unique geology and majestic scenery. Known locally as “Heaven on Earth,” travelers who venture there cannot help but to agree. El Nido sits on the northern tip of Palawan Island, roughly 420 kilometers south-west of Manila. Owing to its location as part of the Sunda tectonic plate, the geology on El Nido is unlike anywhere else in the Philippines.
Seasoned travelers know the best part of going somewhere new is the food. What better way to bond across time and culture than over a plate of delicious local cuisine?Few things bring people together like an elegant meal. Often the biggest challenge in expanding our horizons is not knowing where to start or what to try. Here is a quick guide on some foods you definitely want to sample on your next trip to Taiwan.
While sitting in a café located in Ipoh’s Old Town sipping a cup of white coffee, and enjoying the city’s slow pace and tranquil environment, it’s hard to imagine that about 70 years ago, this city was actually one of the world’s largest producer of tin.Located 200km north of Kuala Lumpur and 130km south of Penang, this capital of Perak used to have a nickname “Millionaires’ City” in the early 20th Century, as many people made a fortune from tin mining in the district.