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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.
A fresco at the Musée International d’Horlogerie in Switzerland. Photo: Handout
Timepieces

Horology’s most storied addresses: watch museums, workshops and archives

These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history.

Tourism

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

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

Forget TikTok recommendations and soulless one-star restaurants; focus instead on the experiences you want to taste, drink, and enjoy.

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Snakes and Lattes, a board game cafe in Toronto, has many games on site. Play games in places like this to connect with locals when you are on your travels. Photo: Toronto Star via Getty Images
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.

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.

The Shangri-La Chengdu stands by the city’s river. Photo: Handout
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.

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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An Airbus A320 is seen in Toulouse, south western France, in February 2001. Photo: AFP
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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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.

People travel through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, which marks day 38 of the government shutdown. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
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.

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.

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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.

Amber culinary director Richard Ekkebus (centre) and chef de cuisine Terry Ho (left) receive the restaurant’s award for its third Michelin star at the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2025 awards ceremony at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau on March 13, 2025.
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.

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.

Hongkonger Kaylie Lau stands outside Kalan Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo: Kaylie Lau
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.

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.

Travel blogger Gastronomictraveler from Taiwan describes his experience on the National Geographic Endurance as “unreal”
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.

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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