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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.
Cruise tourists on their way to visit the city of Palma in Mallorca after disembarking at the port. A growing awareness of overtourism is expected to shape holiday decisions in the coming years. Photo: Clara Margais/dpa
Tourism

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

What does 2026 have in store for travel? Experts talk about dark sky gazing, trips that make us feel like children, solo cruises and more.

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

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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If confirmed, the visa waiver would simplify travel for Chinese visitors to Brazil and could accelerate arrivals to destinations such as Iguazu Falls. Photo: Handout
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.

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.

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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.

Road trips that embrace spontaneity and discovery will be popular among Hongkongers in 2026, according to a travel survey by Booking.com. Photo: Sinclair Communications
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.

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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Banff National Park in Canada is particularly popular with Chinese tourists, travel analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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.

The Hôtel Barrière L’Hermitage La Baule in France. Photo: Handout
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.

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.

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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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A street in Osaka, Japan overflows with people. Despite several cities in the country grappling with an overtourism crisis, local authorities are looking at taking measures to appeal more to digital nomads. Photo: Jonathan Vit
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.

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.

Pedestrians walk along the Ameyoko shopping street in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Getty Images
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.

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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A police officer helps an American tourist fill out an entry registration card at an airport in Beijing. China’s visa-free entry policies have sparked a surge in overseas tourism over the past two years. Photo: Xinhua
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.

Tourism

Hiking on Yosemite’s lesser-known trails offers epic views – and solitude

Seeing California’s Yosemite National Park in all its beauty usually means dealing with crowds. Not on this hike. You may even spot a bear.

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