https://www.scmp.com/rss/325286/feed The place to read about new accommodation, travel services, travel guides and publications, smart travel, developments in aviation and, for readers in Hong Kong, travel deals and holiday bargains. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carolina Malis Carolina Malis French souvenir shops are certainly cute. But if you’re even mildly skincare obsessed, you already know the real French flex isn’t a beret: it’s a pharmacy bag heavy enough to count as hand luggage. TikTok has helped turn French pharmacy shopping into a travel ritual, with #frenchpharmacy reaching more than 130 million views. In Paris, the best known is Citypharma – the kind of place you can get lost in, even if you swear you’re just grabbing sunscreen. This multilevel pharmacy is known for deep... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3351570/8-pharmacy-products-worth-buying-france-la-roche-posay-bioderma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3351570/8-pharmacy-products-worth-buying-france-la-roche-posay-bioderma?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa Taking a “golden gap year” is an emerging trend among retirees, with increasing numbers of older people planning to see the world when they retire. Retirement travel is being widely documented on social media by people like retired British teachers Jackie and Richard Pickles, whose Early Retirement Wanderlust YouTube channel shares their campervan travels through the UK and Europe. Another experienced retirement traveller is Tina (who does not like to reveal her surname), who started the YouTube... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350445/10-tips-retirement-travel-planning-ai-what-pack-your-bag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350445/10-tips-retirement-travel-planning-ai-what-pack-your-bag?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong travellers in Japan were reported safe by at least one major tour operator while the Immigration Department said it was closely monitoring the situation after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s northeast coast on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said the operator currently had about 40 tour groups in Japan, including three in the northeast and four in Hokkaido, areas covered by the alert. “All our customers are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:02:36 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Travel trends in 2026 include immersive, experiential, mindful and off-peak travel, and a strong focus on authenticity, nature and cultural engagement. Add one more to the mix: the skillcation. Skillcations blend skill and vacation. While a regular holiday tends to focus on relaxation or sightseeing, a skillcation adds some structured learning or practice to the equation. The “why” of this type of holiday has to do with travellers looking for personal growth and relaxation combined, where they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3349116/latest-skillcation-travel-trend-blends-relaxation-self-improvement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3349116/latest-skillcation-travel-trend-blends-relaxation-self-improvement?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson The Easter break offers a chance of escape for many Hongkongers, but that holiday joy often comes with a hidden tax: jet lag. Jet lag is the cognitive and physical misalignment that your brain and body experience when arriving in a new time zone. Known more formally as desynchronosis, it is more than a lack of sleep – it is a state of biological confusion. Los Angeles Times journalist Horace Sutton may have been the first person to use the term “jet lag”, in a piece he wrote in 1966. “If you’re... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa “It was spooky and I died 10,000 deaths,” says musician Carolin Widmann, recalling a flight from Helsinki to Leipzig with a shudder. At the airport in the Finnish capital, on reaching the Lufthansa check-in counter, she was told she could not take her 244-year-old violin, including its case and bows, onto the plane as hand luggage. So she unpacked the valuable instrument, made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini in 1782, and wound up cradling it on her lap like a baby during the whole flight. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3348382/when-eu2-million-244-year-old-violin-flew-her-lap-spooky-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3348382/when-eu2-million-244-year-old-violin-flew-her-lap-spooky-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347704/visa-free-travel-rising-foreign-visitors-boost-luxury-hotel-growth-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347704/visa-free-travel-rising-foreign-visitors-boost-luxury-hotel-growth-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Mavis Teo Mavis Teo Despite the high crime rates that dogged Johor Bahru from the 1980s to the 2000s, the closest Malaysian city kept luring Singaporeans with its cheap seafood and groceries – and even petrol. The crowds still descend, but these days the capital of Johor state draws visitors for a variety of other reasons. Even in-the-know foreign tourists to Singapore slip across the 1km-long causeway for a change of scene – undeterred by the traffic jams. The five-minute ride on the KTM Shuttle Tebrau train,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3347037/insiders-guide-johor-bahru-malaysia-hipster-fashion-desserts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3347037/insiders-guide-johor-bahru-malaysia-hipster-fashion-desserts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:37 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hawaii-based Christine Kim was an early participant in the KPop Demon Hunters travel trend. In fairness, her trip to Seoul with her husband and children was already booked before the Netflix film came out in June 2025. The plan, initially at least, was to visit grandparents. But then Rumi, Zoey and Mira, the movie’s protagonists, became her five-year-old daughter’s idols, and the itinerary got rewritten. They visited a jjimjilbang (Korean spa) and the Namsan Tower – the setting for the rival... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China announced visa-free entry for Canadian and British nationals on February 17, allowing citizens of the two countries to cross the border and stay for up to 30 days with no more than a passport. The move was just the latest expansion of China’s visa-free policies, which have eased entry rules for citizens of dozens of nations over the past few years as part of an effort to boost tourism. Immigration officials now allow travellers from dozens of countries to stay without a visa for up to 10... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346504/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346504/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Natasha Tang Natasha Tang Paris’ dining scene spans Michelin temples to market-fresh bistros. One night, you’ll chase truffle-infused classics near the Louvre; the next, fusion plates in a Marais atelier or natural wines by the canal. Whether you’re here for Paris Fashion Week, art museum exhibitions, long strolls by the Seine or garden escapes, seek out these under-the-radar spots for a real taste of the city. Jaja This courtyard spot sits at the back of a quiet Marais passage, part historic town house, part... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346077/unsung-eats-5-best-places-eat-and-drink-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346077/unsung-eats-5-best-places-eat-and-drink-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa A long flight can feel like the perfect opportunity to power through a backlog of emails or to finally finish a novel. However, this urge to be productive disappears for many of us and feelings of sluggishness begin to creep in. We asked some experts to break down some key reasons why flying can leave us feeling so bloated and exhausted. They also share their top tips on how to prevent a mid-flight slump. First, here is why flying can make us feel lethargic. 1. Routine disruption “When we are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344575/why-flying-makes-you-feel-fatigued-and-expert-tips-avoid-mid-flight-slumps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344575/why-flying-makes-you-feel-fatigued-and-expert-tips-avoid-mid-flight-slumps?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Evian Yu Evian Yu As someone who grew up in Hong Kong’s concrete jungle and spent years navigating London’s streets, I thought I understood cities. Yet nothing prepared me for Chongqing. Locals call this the “8D city”, a metropolis of overlapping levels where the ground floor of one building might simultaneously be the 10th floor of another building. After five days, I understood why. Chongqing defies conventional city planning, shaped instead by mountains and rivers. As I stepped out of Chongqing Jiangbei... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344328/how-chongqing-china-offers-enthralling-8d-experience-nothing-else?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344328/how-chongqing-china-offers-enthralling-8d-experience-nothing-else?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport. The FAA said in a social media post that it has lifted the temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying there was no threat to commercial aviation and that all flights will resume. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on social media... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343217/el-paso-texas-airport-grounds-all-flights-due-special-security-reasons-10-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343217/el-paso-texas-airport-grounds-all-flights-due-special-security-reasons-10-days?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:35:42 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu I have never been a yoga, meditation or sound-bowl-therapy type of person, but suddenly here I was in Bali, a popular Indonesian island that I did not know much about other than its glorious beaches and an over-saturation of foreign-owned “matcha Pilates” studios. I arrived at Desa Potato Head in the Seminyak area with eager curiosity to check out the five-star beach club and resort to which I had been invited. Designed to be a sustainable, creative village open to all, the resort has been... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342345/amazing-detox-balis-5-star-desa-potato-head-resort-both-wellness-and-bali-belly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342345/amazing-detox-balis-5-star-desa-potato-head-resort-both-wellness-and-bali-belly?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:15:11 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service In 2025, the Earth reached the first of six progressively worse “climate tipping points”, which scientists say pose catastrophic risk to billions of people. The tipping point we have already reached is the dieback of warm-water coral reefs. Loss of those reefs threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who depend on them, according to The Global Tipping Points Report 2025, which was produced by 160 scientists from 23 countries. In addition to providing critical habitats for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342270/6-sustainable-travel-tips-make-your-2026-holiday-more-climate-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342270/6-sustainable-travel-tips-make-your-2026-holiday-more-climate-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:15:40 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Cortina d’Ampezzo may not be as well known as St Moritz, Courchevel, Gstaad, Vail or Aspen, but things are set to change soon as the ski resort in northern Italy is co-hosting the Winter Olympics, along with the Italian fashion capital Milan, this year. Part of the Dolomites, a mountain range in the northeast of the country, Cortina first held the Winter Olympics in 1956 and has since become a favourite destination among in-the-know Italians who flock there every year for their annual settimana... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3341485/cortina-dampezzo-celebrated-new-book-assouline-ahead-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3341485/cortina-dampezzo-celebrated-new-book-assouline-ahead-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:00:08 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee For Choi Yu-jin, a 31-year-old Seoul-based fashion designer, the perfect getaway requires three elements: value, spotless streetscapes and unforgettable flavours. And Shanghai, she says, delivers on all counts. Three visits since 2024, with a fourth planned for April, are testament to a city that is increasingly capturing the imagination – and wallets – of South Korean travellers, buoyed by visa-free access and a burgeoning reputation for cosmopolitan appeal. “Restaurants and streets were... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341851/chinas-visa-free-waivers-spark-korean-travel-boom-underpin-tourism-revival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341851/chinas-visa-free-waivers-spark-korean-travel-boom-underpin-tourism-revival?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings During his state visit to Beijing in January, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that China had agreed to grant citizens of the United Kingdom visa-free entry for trips lasting up to 30 days. Only days before, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that China had committed to exploring a similar deal for his country’s nationals. Over the past two years, Beijing has been steadily lowering visa requirements for inbound travellers – or removing them outright – to stimulate China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341857/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341857/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Zinara Rathnayake Zinara Rathnayake Bengaluru, the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is an adopted home that food stylist and photographer Sanskriti Bist never tires of. Bist, whose recent projects have included learning the techniques of hand-pulled noodles in northwestern China and documenting the kitchens of Berlin, Germany, says her favourite aspect of Bengaluru is the city’s embrace. “People are so welcoming,” says Bist, who moved from Raipur, in central India, to Bengaluru – formerly known as Bangalore –... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3339535/insiders-guide-bengaluru-city-welcomes-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3339535/insiders-guide-bengaluru-city-welcomes-you?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:15 +0000 Joshua Hendren Joshua Hendren Whether you’re a collector or simply curious about watchmaking, travel can offer a way to connect with horology beyond boutiques. From specialist museums to historic workshops and brand archives, these destinations reveal the places and stories that have helped shape the craft. German Watch Museum, Glashütte, Germany The small town of Glashütte has been synonymous with German watchmaking since the mid-19th century, and its dedicated museum presents a thorough review of that legacy. The German... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3340134/worlds-best-watch-museums-workshops-and-archives-panerai-seiko?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3340134/worlds-best-watch-museums-workshops-and-archives-panerai-seiko?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press One of the best-preserved ancient Roman homes on the Palatine Hill is opening to the public for the first time, albeit via a live-streamed tour of its hard-to-reach underground frescoes and mosaics. The House of the Griffins was first discovered during early 20th century excavations of the Palatine Hill, which rises up from the Roman Forum and dominates views of central Rome today with its striking red-brick ruins. The verdant hill, located just off the Colosseum, was the site of temples and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3340116/steps-colosseum-virtual-tour-offers-peek-inside-ancient-roman-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3340116/steps-colosseum-virtual-tour-offers-peek-inside-ancient-roman-house?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa If you are already making travel plans for this year, these emerging trends might provide some inspiration. Here is what is going to be hot in 2026. 1. Astrotourism Forget views of great landscapes or mountains, the latest travel trend as we build up to the total solar eclipse on August 12 is a view of the night sky. Some of the best places to experience dark skies around the world are Chile’s Atacama Desert, New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie Reserve and the US state of Arizona. But it is the US... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338943/2026-travel-trends-astrotourism-nostalgia-trips-and-even-more-solo-holidays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338943/2026-travel-trends-astrotourism-nostalgia-trips-and-even-more-solo-holidays?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:15:15 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Lately, each passing year feels like an entirely new era of travel as trends shift with the speed of a centrifuge. A decade ago, independent media recommendations were made after unearthing new, cool things all over the world and bringing them to light. Today, it is just as much about testing all the things everyone on social media is buzzing about and determining whether they pass the sniff test in real life. Reflecting on it all, here is a report on the state of travel now, packed with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338095/7-travel-tips-2026-play-board-games-locals-skip-michelin-restaurants-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338095/7-travel-tips-2026-play-board-games-locals-skip-michelin-restaurants-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When the MetroCard replaced the New York City subway token in 1994, the swipeable plastic card infused much-needed modernity into one of the world’s oldest and largest transit systems. Now, more than three decades later, the gold-hued fare card and its notoriously finicky magnetic strip are following the token into retirement. The last day to buy or refill a MetroCard is December 31, 2025, as the transit system fully transitions to OMNY, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337953/new-yorks-subway-joins-london-singapore-and-retires-metrocard-and-embraces-tap-and-go-fares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337953/new-yorks-subway-joins-london-singapore-and-retires-metrocard-and-embraces-tap-and-go-fares?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:00:09 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil is preparing to waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens travelling for tourism and business, local media reported on Wednesday citing government sources, in a move that would mark a significant shift in policy and deepen ties with its largest trading partner. The planned measure, expected to be announced in early 2026, would put Brazil on a reciprocal footing after China unilaterally granted visa-free entry to Brazilians for short stays. According to local newspaper Valor Economico,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337667/brazil-weighs-visa-free-travel-chinese-nationals-capture-booming-outbound-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337667/brazil-weighs-visa-free-travel-chinese-nationals-capture-booming-outbound-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:38:37 +0000 Carla Thomas Carla Thomas Chengdu is a bucket-list destination for anyone exploring China. It’s often said that it’s a city of contrasts: where famously fiery Sichuan cuisine coexists with the placid rituals of teahouse culture; where thousand-year-old temples, alleyways and city walls sit steps away from glassy skyscrapers; and where the hum of traffic and packed shopping streets give way to one of the world’s leading panda conservation bases. It’s a city that truly has it all – and the same can be said for its hotels.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3337329/6-best-hotels-chengdu-upper-house-and-shangri-la-crowne-plaza-ihg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3337329/6-best-hotels-chengdu-upper-house-and-shangri-la-crowne-plaza-ihg?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:27 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Atop one of Egypt’s Sinai mountains, near where the three Abrahamic faiths say God spoke with Moses, another unmistakable sound rings out: the incessant drilling of construction work. In the remote, rugged terrain of southern Sinai, Egypt has undertaken a vast megaproject aimed at drawing mass tourism to the once serene mountain town of Saint Catherine. Heritage experts and locals say the state’s bulldozers have already damaged the nature reserve and Unesco World Heritage site, home to the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3335279/saint-catherine-we-knew-gone-egyptian-locals-say-sinai-mountain-megaproject?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3335279/saint-catherine-we-knew-gone-egyptian-locals-say-sinai-mountain-megaproject?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 04:15:09 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Fans of “romantasy”, a literary genre that blends romance and fantasy, find happiness in mythical storybook worlds in which characters do things like slay dragons and hang out in castles, all while finding love at the same time. Now some are taking their passion for the genre into the real world by embracing “romantasy” travel, holidaying to destinations inspired by settings in their favourite novels such as snow-capped mountains, lush forests and ancient castles. This is one of the global... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3334714/top-10-travel-trends-hongkongers-2026-road-trips-romantasy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3334714/top-10-travel-trends-hongkongers-2026-road-trips-romantasy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 04:44:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters Europe’s Airbus said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet, threatening upheaval during the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States and disruption worldwide. The setback appears to be among the largest recalls affecting Airbus in its 55-year history and comes weeks after the A320 overtook the Boeing 737 as the most delivered model. At the time Airbus issued its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:13:25 +0000 Mark Footer Mark Footer Asked what he foresaw as the next significant travel trend, CNN International anchor Richard Quest, guest speaker at the TravMedia Summit in Singapore last month, identified shoulder-season adventures. It’s a trend being taken up especially fervently by Gen Z, who are choosing just-off-peak times to travel to make their money go further and avoid the worst of the tourist crowds. Recent reports including Airbnb’s “2025 Fall Travel Trends” point to the fact that those born between 1997 and 2012... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3334043/travel-gen-z-and-try-these-5-shoulder-season-destinations-seoul-santorini?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3334043/travel-gen-z-and-try-these-5-shoulder-season-destinations-seoul-santorini?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese airlines have recorded about 491,000 cancellations of tickets to Japan since Saturday – roughly 32 per cent of their total bookings to the typically popular destination – after Beijing advised citizens to avoid travelling there amid a diplomatic spat, according to a veteran aviation analyst. The percentage of flights affected skyrocketed to 82.14 per cent on Sunday and 75.6 per cent on Monday, according to independent analyst Li Hanming, citing his research data covering all mainland... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3333106/491000-japan-bound-air-tickets-cancelled-china-warns-people-avoid-travel-amid-spat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3333106/491000-japan-bound-air-tickets-cancelled-china-warns-people-avoid-travel-amid-spat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:32:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Beijing’s decision to allow group travel to Canada to resume for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a surge in interest in visiting the country among Chinese consumers, with Chinese travel platforms recording a jump in related searches. China announced it was ending the group tour ban in early November, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in South Korea and called for relations between the two countries to get “back onto the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331957/canada-travel-searches-spike-china-group-tours-resume-interest-surged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331957/canada-travel-searches-spike-china-group-tours-resume-interest-surged?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse More than 1,000 flights were cancelled across the US on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers working without pay amid a federal government shutdown. Forty airports were slated for the cuts, including major hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. With Republicans and Democrats in a bitter stand-off, particularly over health insurance subsidies, federal agencies have been grinding to halt since funding lapsed... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3331996/us-airline-chaos-cancels-800-flights-budget-crisis-hits-air-traffic-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3331996/us-airline-chaos-cancels-800-flights-budget-crisis-hits-air-traffic-control?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:33:23 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Nostalgia for Pan American World Airways, an aviation pioneer born in South Florida, has reached the high seas. Cruise line Holland America and Pan American World Airways are teaming up to offer a 28-day cruise to the Caribbean and Latin America that retraces the original flying Clipper routes. The voyage, timed for the 100th anniversary of Pan Am’s founding, will depart PortMiami in the US state of Florida on October 30, 2027, and return the following month. The MS Zuiderdam will visit 18... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331720/new-caribbean-and-latin-american-cruise-follows-old-pan-am-clipper-route?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331720/new-caribbean-and-latin-american-cruise-follows-old-pan-am-clipper-route?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Travel convenience is fundamental to Hong Kong’s integration with the mainland. The need to further enhance travel has become more important under an intensifying drive to accelerate the pace of development within the Greater Bay Area. Thanks to the advances in technology in recent years, visitors can breeze through immigration by simply showing their face to a reading machine. Those who have experienced the hassle-free arrangement would appreciate the efficiency, especially when they are caught... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331593/steps-make-hong-kong-mainland-travel-more-efficient-are-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331593/steps-make-hong-kong-mainland-travel-more-efficient-are-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:45:09 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Had enough of swish but samey high-end hotel chains? These days it can be quite difficult to tell one stay from another, even at the luxury end of the market. Clearly enough people have noticed as there is now an increasing number of smaller chains whose properties reflect more local flavour, and who offer a homelier and more personal touch. If this sounds more your style, then look out for these names when booking your next getaway. Aethos Hotels Known for its mindful hospitality concept, this... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3330456/10-independent-luxury-hotel-chains-around-world-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3330456/10-independent-luxury-hotel-chains-around-world-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg At an event at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris on the evening of October 8, the Michelin Guide unveiled its first global selection of keys – the equivalent of stars, but for hotels. But hours before, at a separate event, it unveiled something more controversial: an honest look into the ways that it makes money from such reviews, both on the hotel and restaurant sides of its operations. It was the first time that the French company spoke explicitly about what many have known to be true for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329670/michelin-reveals-how-its-restaurant-and-hotel-guides-make-money-are-they-still-credible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329670/michelin-reveals-how-its-restaurant-and-hotel-guides-make-money-are-they-still-credible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Cross-border trips have long become part and parcel of city life under the national drive for closer integration within the Greater Bay Area. While travelling via public transport is as easy as hopping on a bus or a train, access for private vehicles is still lagging behind. The much-touted reciprocal arrangement for Guangdong vehicles to head south is finally gearing up for implementation next month, after a northbound scheme has been in place for Hong Kong drivers for more than two years. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329443/new-cross-border-driving-scheme-win-win-hong-kong-and-guangdong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329443/new-cross-border-driving-scheme-win-win-hong-kong-and-guangdong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 22:45:14 +0000 Jayson Albano Jayson Albano Until recently, Lin Lo commuted daily to her nine-to-five office job in Melbourne, Australia. Any big travel plans often consisted of visiting her home in Taiwan every two to three years. The digital marketer’s company, however, has now ditched its office in favour of a co-working space. “Once they said we were allowed to work remotely, the first thing I thought was, ‘Where could I go?’” Lo said. “Outside Melbourne, outside Australia.” She decided on a two-week “workcation” in Tokyo, Japan,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329326/japan-eyes-boost-digital-nomads-despite-overtourism-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329326/japan-eyes-boost-digital-nomads-despite-overtourism-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 01:00:15 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Hongkonger Kaylie Lau was working at a “fairly ordinary” corporate job in fashion marketing when she made a lifestyle U-turn. “I was lacking spark from my job and I thought, ‘I’m still young, so I’m going to explore something different, something challenging,’” she says. Now the 24-year-old is on an adventure, one that has already seen her travel 10,000km (6,200 miles) overland – “no flights, one backpack” – from Hong Kong to Europe, which she is documenting on her Instagram page,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329185/no-flights-one-backpack-20000km-travel-odyssey-young-hongkonger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329185/no-flights-one-backpack-20000km-travel-odyssey-young-hongkonger?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Ian Lloyd Neubauer Ian Lloyd Neubauer It’s about the same size as neighbouring Bali, with the same lush green jungles, terraced rice paddies, palm-fringed beaches, volcanoes with lake-filled craters and rich indigenous culture. But unlike Bali, it’s not overburdened by traffic and tourists. Add islets and atolls that wouldn’t look out of place in the Maldives, reefs brimming with turtles, world-class surf breaks and an expanding selection of sophisticated places in which to eat, drink and stay, and you’ll begin to see why Lombok... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328908/insiders-guide-indonesias-lombok-worthy-new-bali-volcanic-craters-and-horse-drawn-carts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328908/insiders-guide-indonesias-lombok-worthy-new-bali-volcanic-craters-and-horse-drawn-carts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa Brighton, one of Europe’s first seaside resorts, is as quirky, bizarre and charming as anyone could wish. It rose to fame in part thanks to Richard Russell, a man whose health theories surrounding seawater in the 18th century brought people flocking to this coastal spot in England. You will not find a statue to commemorate him anywhere, just a plaque affixed to the house – now the Hotel Royal Albion – where the doctor once lived. The city’s most famous feature is Brighton Palace Pier, whose... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328753/what-do-brighton-palace-pier-and-i360-kemptown-and-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328753/what-do-brighton-palace-pier-and-i360-kemptown-and-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Octopus is making a splash in Japan after the electronic payment system from Hong Kong struck a deal for its mobile app to be accepted by millions of merchants across the country. The expansion to a destination popular with Hongkongers is to be welcomed and should spur the company on to innovate and extend further. To take advantage of the tie-up, users planning trips to Japan must upgrade their Octopus wallet accounts to Plus or Pro. Verification and linkage to an Octopus card with automatic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3328770/octopus-japan-deal-can-be-springboard-further-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3328770/octopus-japan-deal-can-be-springboard-further-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service It was a cool, clear night as the National Geographic Endurance sailed out of Storefjord, one of the many beautiful fjords along the eastern coast of Greenland. We were just a few days into “Iceland’s Wild West Coast to East Greenland”, a voyage offered by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, but I was eager to leave my stateroom behind. While other guests were getting cosy in their beds after the day’s adventures, I headed up to the top deck with a small overnight bag. I was going to spend... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328740/unique-arctic-cruise-experience-spend-night-glass-igloo-atop-cruise-ship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328740/unique-arctic-cruise-experience-spend-night-glass-igloo-atop-cruise-ship?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 04:15:07 +0000 Ron Gluckman Ron Gluckman Once the tour buses have finished the spring trips to colourful tulip fields, dazzling in blazes of red, magenta and purple, much of the Netherlands returns to its favourite pastime, arguing over how to save Amsterdam from drunken stag parties, drugs, a surplus of souvenir shops and all the other detritus of tourism overload. This is, of course, not unique to Amsterdam. European cities from Barcelona to Venice also struggle with mass tourism, enacting tourist taxes and other means to limit... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328387/utrecht-home-miffy-more-great-alternative-amsterdam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328387/utrecht-home-miffy-more-great-alternative-amsterdam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Erika Na Erika Na A decade ago, Hong Kong psychiatrist Dr Ivan Mak visited Cuba. There, he took numerous photos of the locals, from children mischievously grinning at the camera to ordinary people sitting outside their homes, whiling away their time. These photos became the backbone of his first travel photo book, Souvenirs for the Soul – A Hong Kong Doctor Travels in Cuba, some of which now line a wall in the waiting room of his clinic in Central. This summer, Mak published another photo book, also in Chinese,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3327329/health-benefits-travel-beyond-your-comfort-zone-and-seeing-world-differently?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3327329/health-benefits-travel-beyond-your-comfort-zone-and-seeing-world-differently?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Obtaining a visa to enter mainland China often requires filling out pages of paperwork, paying more than US$100, and waiting days for the documents to be processed. But for a growing number of visitors, some hurdles have been lowered or removed entirely as Beijing continues to relax visa-free entry rules to attract more foreign visitors and boost the nation’s tourism sector. Immigration officials now allow travellers from certain countries who are transiting through China to stay without a visa... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3326978/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3326978/here-are-5-ways-enter-china-without-visa-land-sea-or-air?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 06:00:16 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Cruise ships these days are truly massive. Just this year, Royal Caribbean unveiled the Star of the Seas family holiday cruise liner. With a capacity of 5,610 passengers, the vessel has a “population” larger than many small towns. But bigger is not always better. Smaller ships can offer the same luxury but with more adventures to explore. According to the Cruise Lines International Association’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report, more than 70 per cent of cruise ships sailing right now,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326550/what-micro-cruise-rising-trend-highly-catered-adventure-filled-voyages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326550/what-micro-cruise-rising-trend-highly-catered-adventure-filled-voyages?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:15:10 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Let’s just get this out of the way: hiking through California’s Yosemite Valley, whether it be to the Vernal and Nevada falls or through Cook’s Meadow, is a mesmerising and special experience. The hulking granite walls will remind you how small you are – and how remarkable our world is. Listening as waterfalls thunder down the mountain can place you in a meditative trance if you let it. The beauty of the valley is the best kind of sensory overload. It’s the reason that, at times, Yosemite can... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326466/hiking-yosemite-along-lesser-known-trails-where-wildlife-epic-views-and-solitude-abound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326466/hiking-yosemite-along-lesser-known-trails-where-wildlife-epic-views-and-solitude-abound?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:15:07 +0000