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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.
Skillcations blend travel with learning, such as at the Tombstone Monument Ranch in Tucson, in the US state of Arizona, which offers experiences like horse riding and ranching. Photo: courtesy of Tombstone Monument Ranch
Tourism

Latest ‘skillcation’ travel trend blends relaxation with self-improvement

From winemaking and beekeeping to kitesurfing and ranching, ‘skillcations’ add structured learning or practice to relaxation or sightseeing.

Wellness

Hate jet lag? How fliers are using apps to beat the common travel trouble

When a €2 million, 244-year-old violin flew on her lap on ‘spooky’ flight

China’s private sector

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China

China’s luxury hotels thrive as visa-free policies drive international tourism, with Shanghai and Beijing seeing significant growth in high-end stays.

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Tourists pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
Locals' Guide

Insider’s guide to Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Derelict houses reborn as hip cafes and a showcase for local fashion talent are some of the draws in Johor’s capital, actress Debbie Goh reveals.

Asia travel

How the KPop Demon Hunters travel trend is shaking up ‘Korean wave’ tourism

While previous ‘hallyu’-driven tourist waves focused on K-pop culture, KPop Demon Hunters fans are embracing Korean culture on another level.

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China travel

Here are 5 ways to enter China without a visa – by land, sea or air

China has continually expanded its visa-free policies in recent years. Here is a breakdown of the latest rules.

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A police officer helps an American tourist fill out an entry registration card at Beijing Capital International Airport. Photo: Xinhua
Food and Drinks

Unsung Eats: 5 best places to eat – and drink – in Paris

Beyond the usual tourist spots lie the city’s hidden culinary gems, in quiet courtyards, basement micro-cinemas and neighbourhood bistros.

Wellness

Do you feel fatigued when flying? Expert tips to avoid mid-flight slumps

Doctors break down key reasons why flying can leave you feeling so bloated and exhausted and give advice on how to stay feeling productive.

Tourism

How Chongqing in China offers an enthralling ‘8D’ experience like nothing else

With its vertical landscape, vibrant food scene and captivating chaos, the Chinese city of Chongqing is certain to catch you unprepared.

Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street in Chongqing bursts into neon splendour at night, with Hongya Cave - a sprawling “stilt building” complex that is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions - glowing against the Chinese city’s skyscrapers. Photo: Evian Yu
United States

Trump administration says El Paso airspace closure due to Mexican cartel drones

The FAA lifted a 10-day airspace closure after mere hours, assuring the public the drone incursion was resolved and travel could continue.

A satellite image of El Paso International Airport taken on February 6. Photo: Planet Labs PBC/Reuters
Asia travel

Amazing detox at 5-star Desa Potato Head – from both wellness and Bali belly

Glorious beachfront dinners and sunrise meditations kicked off this reporter’s stay at Desa Potato Head before the dreaded Bali belly struck.

Tourism

6 easy ways to make your 2026 holiday more sustainable and eco-friendly

Earth reached a ‘climate tipping point’ in 2025 and we all need to act to prevent more disasters. Here are six tips to travel sustainably.

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Assouline spotlights Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy’s chic Winter Olympics co-host

Co-hosting with Milan, the Italian ski resort is known as the Queen of the Dolomites and was a favourite of 1940s-60s English film star David Niven.

Last light on a mountaintop in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the northern Italian ski resort set to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan. Photo: Handout
China travel

China’s visa-free waivers spark Korean travel boom, underpin tourism revival

Shanghai bookings surge as visitors flock to cosmopolitan streets and affordable dining, with analysts predicting the trend will spread inland.

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A food seller prepares dishes at a restaurant in Shanghai on January 21. Photo: AFP
China travel

Here are 5 ways to enter China without a visa – by land, sea or air

With more countries joining the visa exemption list and more points of entry for other passport holders, travel to China has never been easier.

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Locals' Guide

Insider’s guide to Bengaluru: from flower markets to late-night bars

Lush parks, buzzing markets and a thriving music scene define the Silicon Valley of India.

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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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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