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Travel news and advice

Travel news and advice
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.
Colosseum Archeological Park guide Valentina uses a head-mounted device to livestream a guided tour of the newly restored underground House of the Griffins, dated between the second and first century BC, on the Palatine Hill next to the Colosseum, in Rome, Italy. Photo: AP
Tourism

Steps from the Colosseum, virtual tour offers a peek inside ancient Roman house

The House of the Griffins and its frescoes can now be explored via an onsite virtual tour into otherwise off-limits underground areas.

Tourism

2026 travel trends: astrotourism, nostalgia trips and even more solo holidays

Tourism

7 travel tips for 2026 – one of them is to play board games with locals

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United States

End of the line: New York retires iconic MetroCard and embraces tap-and-go fares

December 31 is the final day to refill MetroCards after that New York City transitions to OMNY tap-to-pay via credit cards and smart devices.

A New York subway rider swipes his MetroCard in a turnstile as he enters a subway station. Photo: AP
China-Latin America relations

Brazil weighs visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and business travellers

Brazil saw nearly 80 per cent growth in Chinese tourists in 2024 and would join only two neighbours offering visa-free entry.

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Asia travel

6 of the best hotels in Chengdu from which to explore the city or mountains

Whether you’re going there for the pandas and city vibes, or the mountains and teahouses, these are the best places to check into in Chengdu.

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Tourism

Egypt’s Saint Catherine town is getting an overhaul. Not everyone is happy

A US$300 million project is under way to draw tourists to the biblical mountain town, but experts fear more harm is being done than good.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery, in South Sinai, Egypt, pictured in September 2016. Hotels and other large building projects under construction in the Saint Catherine valley as part of Egypt’s “Great Transfiguration” tourism megaproject are sparking outrage among locals and heritage experts alike. Photo: AFP
Asia travel

Top 10 travel trends for Hongkongers in 2026, from road trips to ‘romantasy’

Booking.com’s ‘Travel Predictions 2026’ survey also finds Hongkongers are seeking nature, thinking of their skin and open to robot help.

Aviation

Airbus issues major A320 recall, threatening global flight disruption

The aviation giant has ordered immediate repairs to 6,000 of the aircraft, right around the busiest travel weekend of the year in the US.

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Trip Inspiration

Travel like Gen Z and try shoulder-season escapes from Seoul to Santorini

That sweet spot – when the tourist crowds have yet to descend or they have just left – is what travellers are now searching for.

Sunset on the Greek island of Santorini. Photo: Shutterstock
China travel

491,000 Japan-bound air tickets cancelled as China warns people to avoid travel

Lost ticket revenue could be in the billions of yuan, analyst says, as carriers brace for short-term capacity shifts if diplomatic tensions fail to ease.

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An aviation analyst said Shanghai-Tokyo and Shanghai-Osaka flights have been most affected in recent days by cancellations stemming from a diplomatic dispute between China and Japan. Photo: Xinhua
China travel

‘Interest surged’: Canada travel searches spike in China as group tours resume

Chinese travel platforms recorded a major uptick in Canada-related searches after Beijing ended a ban on group tours to the country.

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United States

US cuts over 1,000 flights due to shutdown, with Thanksgiving just weeks away

Forty airports are affected, including major hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Tourism

Follow the route of a Pan Am Clipper on a Caribbean cruise to Colombia

A nostalgic 28-day cruise on the MS Zuiderdam will call at ports across the Caribbean on its way to Colombia, before returning to Miami.

A 28-day Caribbean cruise follows the route of old Pan Am Clippers, long-distance planes from the 1930s. Photo: TNS
China travel

Editorial | Steps to make Hong Kong-mainland China travel more efficient are welcome

Recent measures underline Beijing’s awareness of the need to ease entry and exit restrictions which could hold back the pace of integration.

People arrive at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, on December 29, 2024. Photo: Edmond So
Luxury Hotels

10 independent luxury hotel chains to have on your radar

Italy’s Adler, France’s Airelles and Barrière, Britain’s The Hoxton, Palisociety from the US and Raas from India all offer hotels with a more individual and local vibe.

Food and Drinks

Michelin reveals how its guides make money. Are they still credible?

The French brand’s confirmation that it takes cash from tourism boards gives those who doubt its impartiality ‘ammunition’, an expert says.

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Hong Kong tourism

Editorial | New cross-border driving scheme a win-win for Hong Kong and Guangdong

The arrangement for southbound drivers is a positive step towards travel convenience for mainland motorists and economic opportunities for Hong Kong.

The Zhuhai section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is pictured on June 12, 2020. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Tourism

Japan eyes boost from digital nomads despite overtourism crisis

Local authorities across Japan are stepping up efforts to attract more digital nomads, even as major cities grapple with tourist overload.

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Tourism

‘No flights, one backpack’ – a Hongkonger’s 20,000km overland odyssey

Kaylie Lau, 24, is travelling to more than 65 cities while shattering the stereotype of what a traditional backpacker looks like.

Locals' Guide

Insiders’ guide to Lombok and the Gilis, where island life meets quiet beaches

Lombok offers plenty to satisfy jaded Bali goers – from the turquoise waters of Meno to exquisite cocktails in Selong Belanak Bay.

The beach at Kuta, Lombok. Photo: Shutterstock
Tourism

What to do in Brighton, from the Palace Pier to Kemptown and The Lanes

Brighton’s bathing tradition began in the 1700s as a place for people to boost their health. Now it attracts over 8 million visitors a year.

Brighton Palace Pier is a mixture of old-world magic, funfair and casino. The city on Britain’s south coast was one of Europe’s first seaside resorts. Photo: Alexandra Stahl/dpa
Octopus

Editorial | Octopus’ Japan deal can be a springboard for further innovation

More benefits await if the company can keep up the momentum with strategies that capitalise on its international reputation.

Tourism

‘Unreal’: spend a night in a glass igloo atop an Arctic cruise ship at sea

Cantilevered over the ship’s edge, the National Geographic Endurance’s glass igloos let passengers enjoy an incredible night amid the fjords.

European travel

I explored Utrecht and found much more than an Amsterdam alternative

Just 45km from the capital, Utrecht welcomes visitors with canal-side dining, secret churches and a newly restored 112-metre tower.

The newly renovated Dom Tower and the adjoining St Martin’s Cathedral, in Utrecht. Photo: Getty Images
Tourism

Why Hongkongers should venture beyond travel comfort zones like Japan

A Hong Kong psychiatrist explains how travel offers mental and emotional benefits, especially to countries that offer new life perspectives.

(From left) Hong Kong psychiatrist Dr Ivan Mak’s two daughters pose with their new Sri Lankan friends on a family trip to the country. Mak says he and his family learned valuable lessons about mental well-being and making connections on the trip. Photo: courtesy of Ivan Mak
China travel

Explainer | By land, sea or air: 5 ways to enter China without a visa

From 24 hours to 30 days, visiting China is getting easier for many tourists – how long will your passport let you stay?

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Tourism

What is a ‘micro cruise’? The rise of highly catered adventure-filled voyages

Smaller cruise ships offer luxury like huge liners but are able to access remote ports, allowing passengers to visit different holiday spots.

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