Tag: Tourism
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Pinang Island is a private island that costs $1,000 per night
When Richard Kvech first set foot on Pinang four years ago, a dilapidated bungalow used by passing fishermen was the only sign of human life on the island. Kvech and three friends, all from the Czech Republic, slept in hammocks and cooked on the beach, while dreaming of creating an eco-retreat on the 50-hectare Indonesian…
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Where to take an alcohol-free, sober-curious trip
Years ago, the manager of a hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand told me about an unusual booking that he once received during the middle of the night. A traveler had flown his entire family via private jet from Brunei to the Thai island after learning upon landing in Brunei that it is a “dry country”…
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What is the best country to visit? One top traveler picks his top five
I’m often asked: “What is your favorite country to visit?” For an avid adventurer, it’s a confounding question. How to distill culture, vibes, food, scenery, and all the other factors that shape the international travel experience? Identifying the nations I have explored in depth over multiple visits — popular places like Turkey, Nepal, South Africa…
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What is civet coffee? PETA issues a new warning to Bali tourists
If the idea of drinking civet cat coffee, which is made from feces from the Asian palm civet, is a turn-off, there may be yet another reason to rethink the drink. This week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a warning aimed at tourists in Bali after an investigator showed undercover footage…
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Where to travel in 2024? Here are five spots to avoid crowds
Tired of the usual sights or craving a break from the travel herd? These five travel spots may be the getaway you’re looking for. Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel’s new “Not Hot” list is out — spotlighting overlooked travel spots around the world. The company’s annual list attempts to combat overtourism by helping travelers “beat…
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Cities are fighting back against overtourism: Venice, Amsterdam, Bali
From overtourism to no tourism — and back again. Many cities have come full circle to worrying about too many tourists rather than too few. The rise of budget airlines, short-term home rentals and cruise ships are part of the problem, said Lionel Saul, a research assistant and visiting lecturer at EHL Hospitality Business…
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A ban ends dog and cat meat trade in Sulawesi
The Tomohon Extreme Market was once a top tourist attraction in the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi — a live animal market filled with everything from fileted pythons to skewered bats and rats. But the market drew international condemnation in 2018 after animal activists shot videos of dogs and cats being brutally beaten and blowtorched…
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A new private island opened near Singapore and Batam
Travelers from Singapore will soon have a new vacation option — one that doesn’t require a flight. A new Indonesian private island, named ONE°15 Marina Nirup Island, opened in July nine miles south of Singapore. The launch — the first of two phases — included the opening of a restaurant and bar, ferry terminal and…
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Hong Kong retains spot as most expensive business destination in Asia
Hong Kong has been named the most expensive location in Asia for business travelers — for the second year in a row, according to a new report. ECA International’s latest Daily Rates research ranked countries based on costs for short trip expenses: four-star hotel rooms, meals, laundry, alcoholic and soft drinks, journeys by taxi and…
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Does being a digital nomad save money? It depends on where you go
Sipping a cold pint of beer in Budapest can cost $2. Dinner for two in a pub in Prague? About $22. And a month’s rental for a sleek studio apartment in the center of the Portuguese city of Porto can set you back $650. With these sorts of living costs, it’s no surprise that many are…