Tim Pile

Tim Pile has written more than 200 travel articles for the South China Morning Post. He has been to over 100 countries and has a Master’s degree in Tourism Environment and Development.

A father and son fight the tourist hordes and make their way across Europe on a sobering journey through 20th-century history

Travel

Paris to Amsterdam tour of world war sites gives pause for thought

20 Sep 2018 - 8:36pm

The highlands of India’s tear drop boast breathtaking scenery and one of the world’s great train journeys, but spare a thought for the tea pickers, who toil for pittance and are at increasing risk from landslides

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to Sri Lanka’s tea country

19 Sep 2018 - 2:31pm

From ‘coal mines’ beneath the DMZ to the Viet Cong’s extensive network near Ho Chi Minh City, these subterranean must-sees reveal more about a destination’s history, or provide a useful way of getting there

Travel

Going underground: seven of the world’s best tunnel tours

13 Sep 2018 - 11:12am

September is not only the best time to summit the 5,895-metre mountain, it is also the most popular, so choose your route carefully to avoid the crowds

Travel

The ups and downs of climbing Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro

6 Sep 2018 - 6:22am

From the old-school glamour of Long Island and the thatched cottages of southern England, to the watering holes of Havana and the Kenyan coast, explore seven landscapes straight from the pages of literature

Travel

You’ve read the books – now visit the places where they’re set

30 Aug 2018 - 10:27am

The Irish capital is a drinker’s paradise, but with the tourist hordes homing in, prices are shooting up and elbow space is going down

Travel

The best and worst of a trip to Dublin, ‘Europe’s largest village’

23 Aug 2018 - 2:58pm 2

Whether it’s playing arcade games in New Hampshire or getting to customise your own cup noodle in Japan, these interactive museum exhibitions are worth a visit

Travel

Seven of the weirdest and most wonderful museums in the world

16 Aug 2018 - 9:55am

The West Coast city may score high on global liveability surveys but the unaffordable housing, often dismal weather and bad roads all contribute to making it Canada’s least happy city

Travel

Vancouver – Canada’s most livable yet most unhappy city?

12 Aug 2018 - 1:00am 7

From Albania to Ukraine, the eastern half of the European continent offers an antidote to the overrun, conventional crowd-pleasers of France, Italy and Spain

Travel

Eastern Europe in August: six crowd-free high-season holiday spots

3 Aug 2018 - 12:07pm 3

The South American nation’s allure lies in its multitude of wonders, which encompass hot-blooded cities and dramatic landscapes, all of which can be enjoyed from the comfort of a luxury long-distance bus

Travel

Argentina by bus: a long-haul trip in the beautiful south

3 Aug 2018 - 2:21pm

The Italian capital boasts endless architectural, cultural and historical treasures, but its sense of civic inertia and inadequate public-transport system lure surprisingly few repeat visitors

Travel

Has Trevi Fountain lost its mojo? The good, bad and ugly sides to Rome

26 Jul 2018 - 6:48am

A who’s who of roads around the world named after astronauts, authors, pop stars, politicians and more

Travel

Where the streets have known names: celebrity road names

19 Jul 2018 - 3:08pm

From wandering nomads to the summer festival of Naadam, Mongolia has much to offer, just remember to mind your manners and leave the dinosaur fossils where you find them

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday in Mongolia

11 Jul 2018 - 8:02pm

From the Beatles to Bob Marley, Elvis to Abba and Mozart to Jim Morrison, fans are making pilgrimages to sites of their musical icons

Travel

Seven bucket-list travel destinations for music lovers

7 Jul 2018 - 1:54pm

The cannibals may have been replaced with smiling locals in the South Pacific islands, but keep an eye on your wallet

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday in Fiji

28 Jun 2018 - 7:09pm

Is London ever sunny? When is the best time to visit Bangkok? What about New York? From Athens to Zagreb, we work out when to holiday in 26 of the world’s top destinations

Travel

An A to Z of holiday destinations: where to go and when

23 Jun 2018 - 5:05am 1

With the Danes consistently ranking among the happiest people on the planet, we take a cycling tour of the Danish capital to see what all the fuss is about

Travel

Copenhagen: in pursuit of happiness in the Danish capital

21 Jun 2018 - 10:37am 1

A favourite haunt of Britain’s Prince Charles, the region is a myth-filled medieval marvel, but Dracula-based tourism trade can be a far-fetched pain in the neck

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to travelling in Dracula’s Transylvania

14 Jun 2018 - 10:28am

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to see countries like Croatia, Colombia and Costa Rica, the World Cup is it: visit these eight nations, cheer on their teams with the locals or see the sights while everyone else is in the bar

Travel

World Cup: cheer with the locals as these eight nations do battle

7 Jun 2018 - 11:15am

The ‘Island of the Gods’ has big plans for tourism, but how do they tally with its green ambitions after a Chinese travel ban blew a hole in tourist numbers

Travel

The Hawaii of South Korea? The good, bad, ugly sides to Jeju Island

5 Jun 2018 - 4:11pm 2

From deadly alcohol-induced stunts to wild animal encounters, there are plenty of ways to meet your maker while on holiday

Travel

Six of the worst ways to go – the leading causes of tourist deaths

24 May 2018 - 11:13am 4

Snake charmers, acrobats and fortune-tellers enrich an already exotic destination but keep an eye on your wallet and dine with the locals

Travel

From souks to snakes: the good, bad and ugly sides to Marrakech

18 May 2018 - 12:26pm

Ancient Incan architecture, Spanish colonial splendour, protests, pan pipes and, if you’re lucky, panoramas excite the senses in two South American countries

Travel

Adventure in the Andes – from Peru to Bolivia and back again

10 May 2018 - 10:03pm

From Malta to the Maldives, these are economies whose health is largely determined by how much they earn from tourism, and where your choices about where to stay and eat can disproportionately benefit families

Travel

Seven holiday destinations where our spending choices really matter

10 May 2018 - 11:50am

Slough, one of the ‘ugliest’ towns in the country, and Eton, one of the most attractive, are both within a bridal bouquet’s toss of the famous castle

Travel

Good, bad and ugly sides to Windsor, where Harry and Meghan to wed

3 May 2018 - 10:35am

From Bolivia’s Road of Death to Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway, these are some of the deadliest drives on the planet

Travel

The world’s most dangerous roads: not for the faint-hearted

26 Apr 2018 - 9:58am 2

Go before it gets too hot and try not to miss the Petra by Night show, but be prepared for the steep entrance fee and the mistreatment of animals at the site

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to visiting Petra

2 May 2018 - 1:44pm

Destinations such as Malta, Cyprus, Ibiza, and Crete offer clement and cultured getaways at this time of year – just ask Prince Harry, Gwyneth Paltrow and Steven Spielberg

Travel

Seven European island destinations for springtime sun

13 Apr 2018 - 11:30am

The Eiffel Tower is a fixture at the top of “World’s Most Romantic Destinations” polls. Pictures: Alamy

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to Paris for tourists

7 Apr 2018 - 8:30pm 1

From a 100 hour bus ride between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Lima, Peru to a 4,455km cycle path connecting Canada to the southern United States, these are lengthy odysseys

Travel

Six superlative journeys: the longest train, plane and ferry rides

28 Mar 2018 - 7:41pm

Arguably the world’s top adventure destination, this compact city is being overwhelmed by tourism – and by the international ultra-rich on the run from the apocalypse

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to visiting New Zealand’s Queenstown

25 Mar 2018 - 11:29am 4

A growing number of tourists are seeking out experiences, taking trips to learn new skills or boost their wellness. Others indulge their morbid fascinations. These are among the most popular alternatives to mass-market tours

Travel

Don’t follow the herd: six of the most popular activity holidays

15 Mar 2018 - 10:48am

A kitesurfer off Boracay, in the Philippines. Picture: AFP

Travel

Boracay: the good, bad and ugly sides for tourists

6 Apr 2018 - 4:14pm 2

Venice’s plague island, the French Riviera of Cyprus, a London subway station – even for the most adventurous traveller certain places remain restricted, and usually there is a good reason why

Travel & Leisure

Forbidden destinations: the places off-limits to tourists

5 Mar 2018 - 10:21am 3

From resplendent forts to luxury locomotives, Rajasthan has much in the way of cultural riches – just remember to take your rubbish with you when you leave

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday in India’s Rajasthan state

22 Feb 2018 - 11:27pm

Renovations, natural disasters, terrorist attacks – whatever the reason, these popular tourist attractions are best avoided, at least temporarily

Travel

From Big Ben to the Taj Mahal, holiday spots to avoid - for now

15 Feb 2018 - 11:39am 1

Tourists aren’t the only ones drawn to the Brazilian city’s abundant attractions

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to Rio de Janeiro

22 Feb 2018 - 11:46am 1

From crime-fighting judges and the James Bond author to presidents, explorers, and a Beatle, airports across the planet have been named in honour of the great and the good

Travel

Airports named after famous people ... now who was that Mr O’Hare?

27 Jan 2018 - 7:17pm 2

The ‘second most dynamic city in the world’, once known as Saigon, is a charming mix of old and new despite its notorious traffic

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday in Ho Chi Minh City

18 Jan 2018 - 9:31am 2

From Bern and Brasilia to Wellington, these first cities remain under the radar

Travel

The unsung capitals of the world

10 Jan 2018 - 11:52pm

Low-cost living, stunning scenery and a Chinatown – albeit devoid of one key ingredient – are among the attractions that reward visitors to the largest island in the Caribbean

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to Cuba for tourists

4 Jan 2018 - 5:57pm 1

Whether it’s World Heritage Day or Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, the next year has plenty to keep us occupied

Travel

Eight travel-related “days” to put in your 2018 calendar

29 Dec 2017 - 10:28pm

From Northern Ireland (Game of Thrones) and Albuquerque (Breaking Bad) to Nathan Road’s Chungking Mansions, top filming locations you can visit in real life

Travel

Seven film and TV locations drawing the tourists

13 Dec 2017 - 8:04pm

From Ski-Dooing in Finland to browsing through Europe’s bustling Christmas markets, sometimes the holiday spirit isn’t what it used to be

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to visiting winter wonderlands

9 Dec 2017 - 7:33pm

Otherworldly archipelago where Mother Nature reigns supreme is chilly at the best of times, but don’t let that put you off; superb vistas and stylish knitwear will reward the hardy visitor

Travel

Faroe Islands: the stunning Nordic land is not for the faint-hearted

7 Dec 2017 - 5:55am

have crunched the data from guidebook and magazine go-to lists so you can book your holiday getaway before the hordes

Travel

Where to visit in 2018

2 Dec 2017 - 8:38pm 1

Sandy beaches, theme parks, shopping malls, golf courses – the city has it all. No wonder more than 3.6 million Chinese rate it their favourite Western tourist destination. Downsides include horrendous traffic and drug-related crime

Travel

The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday on Australia’s Gold Coast

24 Nov 2017 - 10:10am 4