All in Travel
The Authors’ Lounge in the historic Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, pays homage to the many writers and artists who have frequented the hotel since the late 19th century during their visits to the city. It’s well worth a visit to learn about the history of the hotel and its many famous guests, and to enjoy the sweet and savoury delicacies served for the Oriental Afternoon Tea in the beautiful Somerset Maugham lounge.
Tripadvisor has just published it’s annual top hotel awards for 2023, based on the reviews that travellers leave on its website, and Asian hotels rate highly. Six Asian properties ranked in the prestigious World’s Top 10 Hotels category, and of the Top 25 Hottest New Hotels globally, 12 are in Asia. Here’s a rundown of the Asian winners.
For travellers interested in the unique customs, language, culture, and history of the hill tribes of northern Thailand, a trip to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai provides the opportunity to visit these ethnic minorities in their villages or compounds. It’s a chance to get off the beaten track. Most hill tribes welcome visitors and in return you can support their local community initiatives.
Are you a first-time or infrequent traveller to Asia and wondering which countries are the safest to visit? No country is 100 percent safe, but this guide will tell you which are the safest to start with and what to look out for in those countries. The guide is based both on institutional rankings and the personal experience of a long-time traveller who has visited them all.
Vietnamese property developers are turning Phu Quoc island into a tourist mecca by building replicas of Mediterranean towns, theme parks, resorts, hotels and condominiums, but in the process they are destroying some pristine tropical environments and replacing them with artificial landscapes. The new facilities are impressive, but does the island have much to offer older travellers, and will the lack of eco-tourism destinations turn travellers away?
Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, is the country’s safest city, and the gateway to the spectacular western Himalayas in the north of the country. Many governments advise against travel to Pakistan, but by flying in and out of Islamabad you can avoid the dangerous areas and spend a few days sightseeing around a green and well-planned city that has enough to keep most travellers occupied for 2-3 days.
The Ancient City (Muang Boran), also known as Ancient Siam, is an historical park and open-air museum in Samut Prakan province, not far from Bangkok. It features ancient buildings that have been relocated from other parts of Thailand and meticulously constructed replicas of temples and palaces from the country’s different regions. It provides an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Thailand if you don’t have time to travel the whole country.
The Mae Hong Son Loop is Thailand’s most well-known scenic drive. It’s a 600 km roughly circular drive around the mountains to the west of Chiang Mai. The driving time is about 12 hours, but most people do the trip over four days so that they can stop to admire the scenery and waterfalls or spend time in the national parks along the way. The route provides many options for interesting side-trips as well.
Most travellers to southern Thailand dismiss the city of Surat Thani as nothing more than a jumping-off point to Koh Samui. However, the province of Surat Thani abounds with many unique experiences from exciting cave tours to floating bungalows on the spectacular Cheow Lan Lake, and off-the-beaten track attractions from scarcely known lookouts to authentic riverside markets.
The island of Palawan is an eco-tourism destination which has good roads, beautiful scenery, and uncrowded beaches. It’s one of the few places in the Philippines where it is safe for visitors who don’t have a lot of driving experience in Southeast Asia to hire a car for a self-drive holiday. Here’s a suggested 7-day itinerary that will enable you to see the best of what Palawan has to offer.
One of the most unusual of the historical attractions in the ancient city of Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern. This underground water storage facility is a gigantic architectural and engineering feat which can again be visited since it reopened last year after structural renovations. With a new light show now incorporated into the experience, it’s been described as both magical and mystical.
Luang Prabang was once known as Southeast Asia’s best kept travel secret. But now with high-speed rail links bringing in tour groups from Thailand and China, and direct Airbus flights from regional capitals, the tourist crowds in this former French colonial outpost with its UNESCO World Heritage listed old town are becoming unsustainable. So, is it still worth making the trip?
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park, a Buddhist temple area southeast of Khao Sok National Park, in Surat Thani province, Thailand, is well off the beaten track for both international and domestic tourists, but those who make the effort to visit are enthralled at its beauty and magnificent setting surrounded by rainforest-clad limestone karst mountains.
With its rich history and mix of cultures, Melaka is one of Malaysia’s most popular destinations. Like most cities that rely heavily on tourism, it was hard hit by the Covid pandemic. Although it is well on the road to recovery, now is a good time to visit before the pre-pandemic crowds return. One of the best ways to explore this historic city is on foot.
Busan is a charming and trendy coastal city and is cheaper than South Korea’s capital, Seoul. It’s possibly one of the most underrated cities in Asia with a lot to do and see for older travellers. You’ll find stretches of spectacular sandy beaches, beautiful mountain surrounds, and tranquil nature reserves ideal for hiking.
The most economical way to travel in Cambodia is by bus. It’s cheap and provides an opportunity to see parts of the country that would be missed when travelling by air. But sometimes a ticket sold for what you expect to be a journey in a comfortable coach might turn out to be a cramped seat in a minivan. It’s important to research in advance what the mode of transport will be before buying tickets to avoid unpleasant surprises.
