Treat yourself
Waves crashing onto a sugar-white beach, palms swaying, a gentle breeze, and the most stunning blues you’ve ever seen… That’s the stuff our daydreams are made of – and exactly what’s in store for you when you visit Coron, one of the amazing destinations that have made Palawan the world’s best island* year after year.
Continue reading “Best things to do in Coron, Philippines – itinerary and travel guide”
Driving in South Korea is a fun way to discover the country. The country’s cities are exciting and a great start to your adventures, of course, but to really get a sense of South Korea, you have to venture to its small quaint towns and have a taste of its amazing countryside.
While it is possible to go around South Korea using public transportation, driving around is a lot more convenient and fun. It definitely saves you travel time and if you plan your trip right, it can even save you money. Plus: it’s a lot easier to do than you think – even if you don’t speak their language.
Here are my tips for renting a car and driving in South Korea.
Continue reading “Driving in South Korea – what you need to know”
The evenings are getting cooler and the days shorter. While summer’s impending end may make you feel blue, here’s a thought that could pick your spirits right back up: it’s time to chase the beautiful colors of fall! Let’s start planning!
South Korea is a great place for an autumn holiday. There are plenty of spots to enjoy the beauty of autumn, and even within its capital city, Seoul, you’ll find plenty of parks and open spaces boasting the radiant colors of fall. This itinerary takes you in and around Seoul, then guides you to venture out into the countryside where you’ll see South Korea’s best spots for autumn. Happy leaf-hunting!
Fancy a holiday where you’ll be able to hop from one gorgeous beach to the next, visit all kinds of quirky museums, and see stunning natural landscapes? South Korea’s “island of the gods” – Jeju Island – is the perfect destination for you.
Jeju definitely has a lot to offer. But what most first-time visitors are surprised to find out is that Jeju is huge. Even with a rental car, you can’t go around the whole island in one day. The island’s many attractions are far apart, and this is why you need to make sure you know exactly where to stay in Jeju, depending on what you’re in the mood to see and do. Continue reading “Where to stay in Jeju – a guide to South Korea’s gorgeous holiday island”
Busan is a city with many faces.
At first glance, Busan is a city where you go for a break. Especially if you’re coming from Seoul, Busan’s seaside city vibe is a welcome break from the unrelenting energy of the capital. You can smell the sea even kilometers away from the seashore, which of course, brings with it promises of a lazy, relaxing, and rejuvenating holiday. Continue reading “Where to stay in Busan – a guide to the city’s neighborhoods and best accommodations”
Turquoise seas shimmering under the morning sun, stretches of fine white sand, and sunsets bursting with deep reds and oranges. If you’re like most tourists, these images are probably what drew you to visit the Philippines.
Believe me when I say that I understand the look of confusion (or is it panic?) on your face now that you’ve landed in Manila. Continue reading “3 days in Manila – a taste of the capital’s culture, color, and chaos”
For an island so compact, there’s certainly a lot to see and do in Penang. Not only is its capital, George Town, one of Malaysia’s great cultural and heritage sites, it’s also the country’s best culinary destination and a tropical holiday favorite.
A lot of history and tradition has certainly been cooking in this island since it was established in the 1700s. But this last decade has also given the island a facelift with George Town’s cultural and architectural renaissance happening alongside the fresh strokes of contemporary street art. The tourism industry is quick to jump in on this renewed vigor to draw in the holiday-goers, of course, ultimately giving us an amazing array of gorgeous hotels and luxurious resorts.
If you’re planning a visit to the holiday island soon, here’s where to stay in Penang.
Continue reading “Where to stay in Penang – best hotels in George Town and Batu Ferringhi”
I make my way to Chowrasta in search of Penang’s famed street food and I’m confronted by this scene – a thick and long row of stalls with a colorful and curious assortment of fruits, fabrics and figurines; the cacophony of hawkers and musical trishaws; and droves of people and motorbikes and cats whizzing past.
Continue reading “3 days in Penang, Malaysia – home of great food, art, and culture”
Tokyo is an expensive city –it’s reliably always in the top 10 most expensive cities of any survey, both for locals and travelers. And while a lot of travelers shy away from visiting Tokyo because of this intimidating fact, there are affordable alternatives in the city that you can check out.
Here are 10 hotels in Tokyo that don’t cost an arm and a leg. It’s not all hostels and capsule hotels here! You can still stay in Tokyo in style even with a small budget.
Continue reading “Where to stay in Tokyo: budget hotels that won’t break the bank!”
Siargao, a small island in Northern Mindanao, used to be almost exclusively a surfer’s paradise. I remember hearing about it for the first time over a decade ago from an old college classmate who happened to be a surfing enthusiast, and thought she was just saying “Surigao” with a twang.
In the last few years though, a surfer somewhere let out the secret that ultimately changed the island’s fate: there’s more to Siargao than surfing! And so the island’s tourism picked up. Despite what the island purists may claim – that its popularity has led to its ruin – I think Siargao is taking its sudden fame in stride. I’d even go so far as to propose that if you’re visiting the Philippines for the first time, Siargao is the perfect “gateway” island.
Continue reading “Where to stay in Siargao – catching epic waves, amazing food, and island views”