https://www.scmp.com/rss/325287/feed Tim Pile assesses the good, bad and ugly sides to holiday destinations. Find out about amazing experiences, top attractions, and great services; overcrowding, rip-offs, and when not to visit; bad practices, crime hot spots and dangers. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Does globalisation have a future, given US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and the rise of the far-right in Europe? According to US economist and political analyst Jeffrey Sachs, globalisation did not occur only in recent decades, but began as early as when humans started migrating out of Africa tens of thousands of years ago. Like it or not, globalisation will soldier on unfazed and is merely entering a new phase. As history has shown, its reach and character will evolve with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3319290/are-we-globalising-ourselves-out-community?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3319290/are-we-globalising-ourselves-out-community?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li A new survey from HSBC showed that seven out of 10 members of Generation Z view travel as a key motivation for work and that they started investing at a younger age than previous generations. “Lifestyle preferences and financial needs differ across generations,” said Brian Hui, head of customer propositions and marketing of wealth and personal banking at HSBC Hong Kong. “Nearly half of our Gen Z respondents prioritise saving for short-term goals, often linked to enjoying life.” Members of Gen Z,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3284208/gen-z-saves-enjoy-travel-short-term-goals-and-started-investing-younger-age-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3284208/gen-z-saves-enjoy-travel-short-term-goals-and-started-investing-younger-age-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:08:30 +0000 The words “luxury” and “sustainability” don’t go hand in hand, especially when it comes to travel. The wider travel industry may have woken up to the urgent need to curb its environmental impact – starting with banning single-use plastics or conserving/recycling water, for instance – but these worthy initiatives typically don’t do much to draw in excess-hungry high-end travellers. Things may now be changing though as hoteliers embark on a new chapter in their sustainability story, one which goes... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3268258/can-luxury-travel-ever-be-truly-sustainable-ethical-hotels-giving-back-their-communities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3268258/can-luxury-travel-ever-be-truly-sustainable-ethical-hotels-giving-back-their-communities?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jun 2024 03:00:11 +0000 Characterised by white sand beaches and clear cerulean waters, the Fijian archipelago comprises more than 330 South Pacific islands, most of which were formed more than 150 million years ago through volcanic activity. Early settlers were said to be fierce warriors and cannibals, but a lot has changed since then; much of Fiji’s charm lies in the friendliness of its people and their natural hospitality. It all begins the moment you arrive at the airport – that will most likely be Nadi... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3265812/fijis-clear-waters-white-sand-beaches-and-friendly-islanders-make-it-tropical-paradise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3265812/fijis-clear-waters-white-sand-beaches-and-friendly-islanders-make-it-tropical-paradise?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:15:08 +0000 Baggage fees alone were worth an estimated US$33.3 billion to airlines last year. That’s according to a report from IdeaWorksCompany, a consultancy for airline ancillary revenues, and car rental firm CarTrawler. IdeaWorks’ report analyses revenue disclosures from around 120 major airlines around the world, before collating a global estimate. The fees are mostly for checking baggage, as well as added costs for heavy bags and larger carry-ons. A decade after MH370 disappeared, planes still at risk... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3253417/airlines-made-us33-billion-baggage-fees-worldwide-last-year-and-they-could-make-even-more-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3253417/airlines-made-us33-billion-baggage-fees-worldwide-last-year-and-they-could-make-even-more-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:00:14 +0000 Originally made up of seven islands separated by mosquito-infested swamps, India’s richest and most powerful metropolis is now home to 21 million people. Or is it 23 million? A land of opportunity, Mumbai is known as the City of Dreams. An estimated 10,000 new migrants swell the population every day, most of them arriving at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The railway station was built by the British to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, in 1887. It was a time of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3248161/mumbai-india-good-and-bad-bollywood-british-raj-relics-taj-mahal-palace-hotel-pricey-accommodation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3248161/mumbai-india-good-and-bad-bollywood-british-raj-relics-taj-mahal-palace-hotel-pricey-accommodation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:15:14 +0000 You’ve probably heard of “workations” that combine work travel with leisure trips, often in desirable locations. But there’s a new twist on this trend: the “hush trip”, in which employees don’t tell their bosses they’re actually working from holiday locales. These secret getaways by remote workers while on the clock seem to be gaining in popularity and frequency, although many companies frown upon this activity. A hush trip can be defined as an excursion where an employee works remotely, usually... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3239908/hush-trips-secretly-going-work-remotely-are-travel-trend-their-pros-and-cons-and-how-stop-your-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3239908/hush-trips-secretly-going-work-remotely-are-travel-trend-their-pros-and-cons-and-how-stop-your-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:15:08 +0000 If you’ve been to Thailand, the chances are you’ve met people from Isaan without realising it. The hotel receptionist in Phuket, the tuk-tuk driver in Chiang Mai, the bartender in Hua Hin or the masseuse in Koh Samui could all be from the region that borders Laos and the Mekong River to the north and east, and Cambodia to the south. Isaan is mostly populated by ethnically Lao people and has much in common with its neighbour from historical, linguistic and cultural standpoints. But despite making... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3239148/isaan-thailand-good-and-bad-khmer-temples-dinosaur-fossils-and-vibrant-festivals-unhealthy-food-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3239148/isaan-thailand-good-and-bad-khmer-temples-dinosaur-fossils-and-vibrant-festivals-unhealthy-food-air?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:15:12 +0000 Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog on Thursday urged travellers to be extra vigilant amid increasing complaints over roaming services and inconsistent compensation amounts for mishandled baggage across airlines. The Consumer Council said it received 1,213 complaints against telecom services between January and August, a jump of 70 per cent from 711 in the same period last year, and nearly equalling the 1,246 reports logged for the whole of 2021. “With the vast variety of services available on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234487/hk10100-phone-bill-while-travelling-hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-warns-users-against-roaming-charges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234487/hk10100-phone-bill-while-travelling-hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-warns-users-against-roaming-charges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:14:16 +0000 While the long-term impact may be minimal, natural disasters usually deter holidaymakers from visiting the affected area in the immediate aftermath. This can trigger a chain reaction, leading to the closure of tourism-related businesses and lay-offs, which in turn reverberates throughout the local community. Here are eight natural disasters – and disasters exacerbated by human-influenced climate breakdown – that left their mark on tourists and their hosts. 1. Venice – 2019 floods Hong Kong had a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3234262/8-natural-disasters-shook-tourists-their-core?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3234262/8-natural-disasters-shook-tourists-their-core?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Sep 2023 20:15:20 +0000 As the summer holidays approach, parents across Hong Kong are starting to plan the perfect getaway for their families. An all-inclusive resort is usually on the cards as they allow for a hassle-free and convenient holiday for families. A wealth of entertainment options allow children to let loose and have fun, while the safe, supervised environments allow parents to switch off and truly relax – perhaps get caught up on your sleep even! However, selecting the right resort that caters to the needs... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3226793/how-choose-child-friendly-luxury-resort-summer-these-holiday-hotspots-bali-thailand-and-maldives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3226793/how-choose-child-friendly-luxury-resort-summer-these-holiday-hotspots-bali-thailand-and-maldives?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jul 2023 03:00:12 +0000 No artist has ever made more than US$1 billion in sales, but Taylor Swift is on track to do so with her soon-to-be record-breaking Eras Tour. Fans in Asia made headlines this week after crashing ticketing firm Ticketmaster, as demand for presale tickets for Tay Tay’s Singapore shows literally exploded the internet. The Eras Tour has made US$300 million from 22 shows so far, and with ticket sales of more than US$13 million each night while on the road, it’s set to become the highest-grossing... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3226738/should-you-see-taylor-swift-singapore-or-tokyo-getting-tickets-eras-tour-asia-hot-mess-fans-face?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3226738/should-you-see-taylor-swift-singapore-or-tokyo-getting-tickets-eras-tour-asia-hot-mess-fans-face?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:52:27 +0000 Europeans are gearing up for their beloved summer holiday season, and new data from the European Travel Commission shows that they’re prioritising a new trip-planning criterion as a result of the last three years: A lack of crowds. After pleasant weather and attractive deals, the report finds, Europeans say the next most important criteria for choosing a destination on their continent is that it “is not crowded”. That’s a bump from fourth to third place since the commission’s survey introduced... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3217884/far-madding-crowd-new-post-covid-holiday-criteria-europeans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3217884/far-madding-crowd-new-post-covid-holiday-criteria-europeans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:02:05 +0000 The 26-year-old jogger found dead near a forest path in the northern Italian province of Trentino was attacked and killed by a bear, Italian authorities said. The man’s body was found near a forest path in the Val di Sole valley, which is popular with hikers and tourists. The cause of death was determined after an autopsy, though authorities had already suspected a bear attack, given the nature of the man’s injuries. His family had alerted the authorities after he didn’t return from jogging in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3216430/jogger-killed-bear-tourist-hotspot-northern-italy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3216430/jogger-killed-bear-tourist-hotspot-northern-italy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Apr 2023 15:47:00 +0000 Songkran comes from the Sanskrit word sankranti, which roughly translates as “astrological transition”. The Buddhist festival, which is celebrated from April 13 to 15, marks the Thai New Year. It’s a time for personal cleansing, making merit and keeping cool amid searing heat. It’s also an opportunity for families to get together and enjoy specially prepared meals. In readiness for the holiday, Thais deep-clean their homes and public places, including offices and schools. Parks and pavements are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3215821/songkran-thailands-water-festival-its-buddhist-rituals-family-traditions-mass-water-fights-and-dark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3215821/songkran-thailands-water-festival-its-buddhist-rituals-family-traditions-mass-water-fights-and-dark?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:45:08 +0000 Renowned for its sugary white sand and foaming Atlantic Ocean rollers, Camps Bay, in Cape Town, was once voted as having the best beach in South Africa by TripAdvisor reviewers and is backed by the Twelve Apostles mountain range, which forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Wade into the surf, though, and you’ll quickly wish you hadn’t. The chilly water is influenced by ocean currents from Antarctica. No one tells you this before you visit. Certainly not Cape Town Tourism – and you... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3205083/most-dangerous-wonder-world-and-more-things-tourists-dont-get-told-travel-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3205083/most-dangerous-wonder-world-and-more-things-tourists-dont-get-told-travel-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jan 2023 11:15:08 +0000 The Thai seaside city of Hua Hin received the royal seal of approval as long ago as 1923, when King Rama VI built a summer palace in the area. Constructed entirely of teak, the aesthetically soothing property is open to the public and easy to get to – assuming the tuk tuk or taxi driver understands your attempts to pronounce Maruekhathaiyawan Palace. Nowadays, the Gulf of Thailand resort is a popular spot for ordinary commoners – from foreign tourists and retirees to Thai holidaymakers and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3197403/white-sand-beach-golf-fabulous-food-hua-hin-thailand-has-lot-offer-visitors-if-youre-happy-pines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3197403/white-sand-beach-golf-fabulous-food-hua-hin-thailand-has-lot-offer-visitors-if-youre-happy-pines?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Oct 2022 05:15:10 +0000 Taking a break from her laptop to gaze upon the ancient forests outside her temporary workspace, Liu Nian momentarily loses herself in the surrounding mountain range – with birds chirping and sunbeams piercing through towering trees, accenting the nearby nunnery gardens dotted with brightly coloured hydrangeas and succulents. Sure beats the average view from an office cubicle. Feeling refreshed while teleworking at a hidden cafe at the idyllic Jizhao nunnery in southwest China’s Yunnan province,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3184744/chinese-workers-ditch-cramped-cubicles-remote-locales-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3184744/chinese-workers-ditch-cramped-cubicles-remote-locales-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jul 2022 22:00:12 +0000 Australia is training its sights on tourists from Hong Kong amid an anticipated recovery in tourism as Canberra welcomes visitors to its shores after two years of Covid-19 curbs. Visitor numbers from Hong Kong remain at a fraction of pre-pandemic levels, but Tourism Australia expects that to change if and when the city relaxes quarantine requirements. “Hong Kong was a top 10 international market before Covid-19 and the first to achieve its tourism spend goal,” said Andrew Hogg, executive general... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3184636/australia-woos-hong-kong-tourists-help-restore-pandemic-battered-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3184636/australia-woos-hong-kong-tourists-help-restore-pandemic-battered-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jul 2022 02:00:19 +0000 Before Covid-19 struck, I flew around the world to produce travel stores for about 10 months of every year. But for the past two-and-a-half years I haven’t set foot far outside my home in Indonesia. As things slowly returned to normal, I decided to fly to Europe to reboot my career, starting in Romania. But I was shocked to discover the going rate for the most direct one-way fare from Denpasar, on Indonesia’s Bali island, to Bucharest, the Romanian capital – with only one stop – had skyrocketed... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3181870/cheap-flights-kiwicom-saved-me-us1500-was-it-worth-it-my?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3181870/cheap-flights-kiwicom-saved-me-us1500-was-it-worth-it-my?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:15:18 +0000 Is Sri Lanka the canary in the coal mine or the elephant in the room? The erstwhile tourist magnet of 22 million people, off India’s southern tip, is struggling through its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain, in 1948. Sri Lanka “has a long history of rising foreign obligations, driven partly by incessant government deficits, and this has been worsened by a loss of tourism revenue in the pandemic and, this year, by surging fuel costs”, explains Reuters. “The resulting severe... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3180864/it-takes-hardy-tourist-visit-sri-lanka-amid-protests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3180864/it-takes-hardy-tourist-visit-sri-lanka-amid-protests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2022 00:45:10 +0000 Jim Kitchen knows travel. The 57-year-old entrepreneur and investor says he’s the only person on Earth to have visited all 193 UN-recognised countries as well as space – he was part of the civilian crew on Blue Origin’s rocket, the same trip on which comedian Pete Davidson was originally expected to fly in March. In addition to that 62-mile (100km) milestone, Kitchen estimates he’s logged from 7 million to 10 million miles in the air. Having worked in various ways in the travel industry for most... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3177281/travel-tips-and-hacks-expert-who-has-been-every-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3177281/travel-tips-and-hacks-expert-who-has-been-every-country?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 May 2022 09:15:14 +0000 Honestly, I do realise that there are bigger problems in the world. I acknowledge that being denied access to an airport lounge is, in the cliché du jour, a first-world problem. But the manner of that denial: another story. Decades spent in Hong Kong taught me that its uniforms (particularly its traffic police) are not paid to think. Leaving Hong Kong International Airport recently, thoughts of that zombiefication returned. Much had happened to Hong Kong in my almost three years away. But some... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3167903/people-uniforms-blindly-follow-orders-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3167903/people-uniforms-blindly-follow-orders-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Feb 2022 04:26:22 +0000 Plenty of sightseeing attractions and beauty spots are loved as much by locals as tourists. In pre-Covid-19 times, the inhabitants of Agra joined millions of fellow Indians and foreigners at the Taj Mahal, and Machu Picchu swarms with Peruvians every Sunday, when residents of the nearby city of Cusco get in free. Sydneysiders attend concerts at their beloved Opera House, Cariocas outnumber overseas visitors at Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, and who hasn’t been to the Big Buddha and The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3152287/times-square-new-york-las-ramblas-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3152287/times-square-new-york-las-ramblas-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 10:15:11 +0000 A long time ago, when we used to travel far, far away, there were some countries most of us never seemed to visit even when we could. Some didn’t want us, some had little room for us, and some were just too awkward to get to or failed to offer enough of interest to make the effort worthwhile. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) annual International Tourism Highlights 2020 sets out just where the crowds went in the last pre-pandemic year of 2019, but also reveals from where... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3147255/least-visited-countries-world-revealed-island-states?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3147255/least-visited-countries-world-revealed-island-states?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Sep 2021 10:15:12 +0000 Long before Covid-19 brought global travel to a screeching halt, the problems associated with large numbers of people moving around the planet were becoming obvious. Published last month, Sustainable Travel: The Essential Guide to Positive-Impact Adventures (White Lion Publishing), by Holly Tuppen, is a guide written for travellers wishing to minimise the harm they do as they negotiate the world’s ethical and climate-related challenges. Below are a few of the concerns that are addressed within... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3139825/how-travel-responsibly-9-ethical-and-climate-related?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3139825/how-travel-responsibly-9-ethical-and-climate-related?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:15:07 +0000 Hongkonger Marsha Jean is not exactly sure where she is. “I left Berlin a few weeks ago, by train to Frankfurt, then flew to Spain. Now I’m in a little town one hour from Malaga,” she says, referring to the province on the southern Mediterranean coast, in Andalusia. “I had to have a negative Covid-19 test result to enter Malaga province, and quarantine is not required. Each province/ community in Spain has different rules. “Now I’m on a permaculture farm run by a lovely couple in their sixties.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3127916/fearful-teenager-who-found-her-freedom-through-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3127916/fearful-teenager-who-found-her-freedom-through-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Apr 2021 23:15:10 +0000 Close to foam-flecked rocks, where the big waves roar and crash, a posse of China’s elite surfers are in action, performing dizzyingly complex twists, turns and flips on their short boards. Slightly further down the beach, groups of athletic young women catch gentler waves, hollering with delight when they manage to stand up and gently guide their long boards towards the shore. This scene plays out daily at Shimei Bay, on Hainan island, where serious wave riders and neophyte surfers share ocean... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3125636/bikini-brigade-chinese-women-take-surfing-big-way-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3125636/bikini-brigade-chinese-women-take-surfing-big-way-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:15:17 +0000 Next to his limousine, a wealthy Indian bridegroom dances with friends to the sounds of a traditional band on a closed road. From the nearby Taj Mahal Palace, luxury hotel guests can see the wedding, but also the boats rocking in the bay and the city’s landmark, The Gateway of India, a mighty stone triumphal arch. Countless locals and tourists are enjoying the colourful spectacle. Families go for a stroll, sit around, have a picnic. Many women are wearing elegant saris, others traditional... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3118861/priyanka-chopra-and-shah-rukh-khans-stomping-ground-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3118861/priyanka-chopra-and-shah-rukh-khans-stomping-ground-how?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jan 2021 04:00:07 +0000 As much of the world tightens lockdowns to stem coronavirus, Dubai has flung its doors open, branding itself as a sunny, quarantine-free escape – despite a sharp rise in cases. While mask-wearing and social distancing are strictly enforced, life in the tourism-reliant emirate looks much like normal, with its restaurants, hotels and mega-malls open for business. Images of sports stars and television personalities enjoying life at beach clubs and cocktail bars have flooded social media – sometimes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3118282/dubai-draws-worlds-tourists-amid-coronavirus-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3118282/dubai-draws-worlds-tourists-amid-coronavirus-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Jan 2021 08:00:12 +0000 The coronavirus pandemic has forced famous tourist destinations to question their business model, though economic realities are likely to stand in the way of major changes. Nature has quickly replaced hordes of visitors at sites like Machu Picchu, in Peru, where sightings of elusive Andean bears have caused a buzz among conservationists. And in Thailand, which has seen a drop in arrivals of more than 83 per cent, marine fauna including dugongs, turtles and whale sharks are enjoying a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3117889/tourism-after-covid-19-more-exclusive-more-responsible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3117889/tourism-after-covid-19-more-exclusive-more-responsible?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:15:06 +0000 Leisure travel is full of contradictions, such as how rushing halfway around the world for a last chance to see Greenland’s glaciers, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or some palm-fringed speck of an island only hastens all these sights’ demise. Other travel paradoxes are as old as travel itself. As early as the fifth century BC, the Greek philosopher Socrates observed that change rarely turns out to be as good as a rest. “How can you wonder your travels do you no good, when you carry yourself... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3115512/hidden-travel-gems-you-cant-wait-share-and-other-great?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3115512/hidden-travel-gems-you-cant-wait-share-and-other-great?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Dec 2020 05:43:10 +0000 As with just about every other destination reliant on tourism, the economy of the Philippine island of Boracay has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. In August, Patrick Cuartero, a managing partner at cocktail bar Prisma Boracay, told the South China Morning Post that he wasn’t sure how long business owners on the island would be able to survive. “I’ve already heard of many businesses shuttering. I’d only give it a few more months before things get critical,” he said. Since then, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3114773/boracay-update-how-philippine-tourist-island-coping-covid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3114773/boracay-update-how-philippine-tourist-island-coping-covid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Dec 2020 09:45:13 +0000 At one point or another, most people will have dreamt about globetrotting in a private jet. And while for some that dream is already a reality, others continue to strive to make such an ambition happen. Even Oprah Winfrey flew by commercial jet most of her life, until the day a female fan asked her for a hug at the airport … “I stood up and I gave her a hug and then I went to the phone and called my lawyer,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, “And I said, ‘I’m going to do it, I’m going to get the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3110913/oprah-winfrey-bought-herself-private-jet-avoid-flight-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3110913/oprah-winfrey-bought-herself-private-jet-avoid-flight-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Nov 2020 00:00:15 +0000 From my overwater villa I’m staring into the Studio 54 of the fish world; jade and purple parrotfish pass by in flocks, tubular blue needlefish dart and dodge, black-tip reef sharks sashay about like they own the place. Inky eagle rays and huge stingrays, like magic carpets, steal the show – until the dolphins make an appearance and upstage them all. My new aquatic friends are oblivious to the carnage 2020 has wrought upon the world and for a few, all too brief days, I’ve been able to share... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3110555/mask-free-maldives-what-its-now-tourist-idyll-beautiful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3110555/mask-free-maldives-what-its-now-tourist-idyll-beautiful?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Nov 2020 04:15:17 +0000 Before the coronavirus, a decades-long aviation boom spawned a network of nearly 50,000 air routes that traversed the world. In less than a year, the pandemic has wiped almost a third of them off the map. Border closures, nationwide lockdowns and the fear of catching Covid-19 from fellow passengers have crippled commercial travel. As thousands of domestic and international connections disappear completely from airline timetables, the world has suddenly stopped shrinking. Hong Kong travel bubble:... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3109664/coronavirus-pandemic-has-forced-one-third-air-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3109664/coronavirus-pandemic-has-forced-one-third-air-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:45:13 +0000 As the Covid-19 pandemic has been brought under control in some Asian countries, and social distancing measures are slowly relaxed, the long-repressed travel itch is for many now growing ever more insistent. High up on the list of relatively lightly affected global destinations, Taiwan has emerged as the most-popular searched destination for travel until year-end, followed by Thailand and Japan, according to search data revealed by Agoda. Cruise to nowhere? Singapore launches pandemic-friendly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3105512/taiwans-pandemic-response-made-it-2020s-most-popular?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3105512/taiwans-pandemic-response-made-it-2020s-most-popular?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2020 00:00:22 +0000 From next month, two cruise ships will start sailing from Singapore into the open seas and back as the city state aims to give residents some outlet for their wanderlust amid Covid-19. Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream and Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas will begin round-trip journeys from November and December respectively, according to the Singapore Tourism Board.         View this post on Instagram                   We’re thrilled to announce that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3105309/singapores-cruises-nowhere-royal-caribbean-international-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3105309/singapores-cruises-nowhere-royal-caribbean-international-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:00:08 +0000 On a visit to the Canary Islands a few years ago, I got chatting to a tour guide who told me he’d just been approved for a mortgage. I didn’t give it much thought at the time but looking back, I realise how unusual that was. Jobs in the tourism industry are invariably low paid and seasonal. While it might be possible to keep up the bank payments during peak months, when the sun is shining and the sightseers are spending, it’s a different matter when the weather turns cold or the monsoon arrives... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/3104474/bali-nepal-human-impact-tourisms-collapse-and-what-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/3104474/bali-nepal-human-impact-tourisms-collapse-and-what-being?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:15:16 +0000 Brazil has officially reopened its borders to tourists arriving by air, with President Jair Bolsonaro’s government ending the strictest travel restrictions on July 29, in an attempt to dig the nation out of even deeper economic hardship. The largest country in South America has been hit especially hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, clocking the third-highest number of infections and second-highest number of fatalities on the globe, standing at more than 4.5 million infections and over 138,000 deaths... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3102713/brazil-now-open-tourism-how-safe-it-zero-testing-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3102713/brazil-now-open-tourism-how-safe-it-zero-testing-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2020 09:38:56 +0000 A scant half year ago, a hotel launch in China would have seemed ludicrous. With the world on Covid-19 lockdown and pictures of grounded planes and empty check-in counters flooding our news feed, one would expect the hospitality industry to hunker down and brave out the coronavirus storm with cost-cutting measures or even closures. Instead, there are travel-related webinars almost every single day, announcing – of all things – new luxury hotel openings. Covid-19 crippled aviation, but private... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098358/despite-covid-19-plenty-new-luxury-hotels-are-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098358/despite-covid-19-plenty-new-luxury-hotels-are-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Aug 2020 06:00:17 +0000 South Africa’s luxury game lodges are empty and safari vehicles gather dust, with borders closed and airlines struggling due to the coronavirus crisis. For Somkhanda, a community-owned game reserve, selling game meat has thrown it a lifeline as Africa’s multibillion-dollar safari industry unravels. The reserve normally gives away or sells at low cost the meat from grazers such as impala and nyala, a spiral-horned antelope, that it culls each year to manage stocks, depending on the weather and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3098082/impala-steaks-anyone-african-game-reserve-sells-bush-meat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3098082/impala-steaks-anyone-african-game-reserve-sells-bush-meat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:15:17 +0000 Holidays may be on a hiatus at the moment, but many of us are perpetually dreaming about where we’ll escape to once borders open and travel restrictions lift. Will we go to a luxurious Caribbean beach? Take a glamorous city break to Europe? Or would we prefer herding cows while knee-deep in mud in a field in Indonesia? Well, it may just be the latter. According to experts, agritourism – where farming and tourism collide – will be at the top of our post-pandemic travel list, with a need for... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3096931/why-agritourism-will-be-post-coronavirus-luxury-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3096931/why-agritourism-will-be-post-coronavirus-luxury-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2020 19:00:05 +0000 For much of the world this summer, flying to a destination holiday is likely off the table. Analysts have warned that air travel demand won’t go back to pre-outbreak levels until at least midway through next year. Instead, a recent survey conducted by the US Travel Association and MMGY Travel Intelligence found that 67 per cent of Americans are likely to travel with their personal cars during the next six months – which is “more than double the percentage planning to travel by air during the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3093931/coronavirus-made-road-trips-2020s-summer-holiday-choice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3093931/coronavirus-made-road-trips-2020s-summer-holiday-choice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:00:17 +0000 Many of the world’s cities, Hong Kong included, have long had love-hate relationships with al fresco dining; diners would like to see more of it, while motorists and others who benefit from restaurants remaining indoors usually get the backing of the authorities. As one particularly bold city emerges from Covid-19 lockdown, however, its residents are getting a taste of what a more outdoor dining scene feels like. Should Hong Kong diners dare to dream? From Montmartre to Saint-Germain, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3090663/first-paris-soon-london-what-hong-kong-outdoor-dining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3090663/first-paris-soon-london-what-hong-kong-outdoor-dining?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jun 2020 05:45:11 +0000 Almost overnight, the coronavirus pandemic upended most of our lives. While travel for many rightly remains an afterthought, as the world cautiously begins to reopen, many are looking to escape the months of confinement with some much-needed holiday time. But have the past few months changed the way we’ll travel forever? Ethical tourism, particularly that involving animals and their welfare, was already a growing trend and the disruption that the travel industry is currently facing presents a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3089189/could-coronavirus-usher-era-ethical-wildlife-tourism-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3089189/could-coronavirus-usher-era-ethical-wildlife-tourism-5?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:00:05 +0000 Fed up with the same old surroundings? Bored of your bedroom and sick of your sofa? Change up your view and curb cabin fever with these travel live-streams. One click speeds you straight from your home and straight into some of the most diverting destinations around the world, no matter what time of day – and no passport required. How will luxury brands like Chanel survive post-coronavirus? Walk the cobbled streets of Venice Italy has suffered greatly from Covid-19, so it’s a joy to watch the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3088226/holiday-cancelled-visit-venice-soak-sydney-or-take-safari?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3088226/holiday-cancelled-visit-venice-soak-sydney-or-take-safari?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:00:12 +0000 Songs about places are almost as popular as songs about love. Here’s a list of location-themed ditties that namecheck cities, countries and continents the writer may or may not have visited. Some are protest songs, others are unoffi­cial national anthems and a few are so loved, they’ve been covered countless times. In 1980, British electro-rockers Ultravox had a huge hit with Vienna – a song about a love affair and a city with Cold War connec­tions. The atmospheric video hinted at Iron Curtain... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3087315/totos-africa-vienna-ultravox-around-world-16-songs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3087315/totos-africa-vienna-ultravox-around-world-16-songs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2020 18:00:16 +0000 Not so long ago, it was common to see travellers walking along with their heads stuck between the pages of a guidebook, as if it were some kind of bible that had to be stuck to – often at the expense of serendipity. These days, it is mobile devices and Google Maps that lead us to a pre-booked hotel room, which often come rated on TripAdvisor by someone who spent a night there. Although websites may be kept more up to date, a guidebook written by a professional travel writer holds more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3086943/who-needs-google-maps-go-analogue-next-time-you-travel-get?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3086943/who-needs-google-maps-go-analogue-next-time-you-travel-get?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2020 11:00:06 +0000 Habits formed during these days of social distancing will stay with us when we do start travelling again, which means wide open spaces are more likely to tempt us than busy cities. Here are some of the world’s least densely populated countries and territories (Hong Kong has 7,140 people per square kilometre, for comparison), accompanied by sightseeing suggestions and a few snippets of trivia to impress friends with. Russia, 8.9 people per sq km The world’s largest country shares a border with 14... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3086095/worlds-least-inhabited-places-or-where-enjoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3086095/worlds-least-inhabited-places-or-where-enjoy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 20:00:12 +0000