11 Unwritten Rules to Know Before Visiting Singapore

Korean Air is among the last airlines still flying the iconic Boeing 747, but it's scheduled to pull the jet from a particularly long US route in 2025.

The west end of orchard road, the bustling, 1.6-mile shopping belt in the heart of Singapore, has always been a slightly strange case. Sandwiched between high-shine mega-malls and the pricey Tanglin district, it's long felt a bit sleepy, with a smattering of karaoke lounges and red-light massage parlors. But the last year has seen the area clean up its act, with a bumper crop of sleek new hotels rising to transform the landscape. They're joined by a wave of food and drink spots from both celebrated expats and local chefs that hold their own in this global capital of cuisine.

Sydney's sun-blasted image as being laid-back has been well exported, so first-time visitors might be surprised that the coastal city has a lot of rules by which Sydneysiders tend to abide. There are the obvious ones, like no littering or speeding (spoiler: you will get fined), but there are more than a few unwritten rules visitors should be aware of. The city may be famous for its coffee, for example, but you might get a blank stare if you ask for a black filter. Catching your own fish can be controversial. And then come the questions: How far is too far from the beach to wear a Speedo? What is swimming etiquette? Why can’t you get a glass of wine on the sand? To tip or not to tip? Plus, you’ll be surprised to read where open-toe shoes are banned.

The most exciting new cruise ship debuting in 2025 comes from a line you might not expect.

When weighing the merits of a long layover at a seemingly out-of-the-way airport (say, 18 hours at Istanbul’s Atatürk when you’re flying from Washington, D.C. to Bordeaux), consider whether it offers a free layover tour for in-transit passengers. Major hubs in Asia and the Middle East now provide connecting travelers with a glimpse of the city beyond the airport, on free tours that are easily booked on arrival or reserved in advance. The well-run programs are so robust, it’s like getting a mini-vacation tacked onto your real vacation.

Dec 13, 2024 • 5 min read

Spend a few days in Siargao, the fig-shaped Filipino island in the country’s southeast, and locals will tell you, with a mix of anxiety and excitement, that the coconut tree-covered enclave is what Bali was in the 1970s. Or they might say, as the documentarian and trans-rights activist Queenmelo Esguerra told me last month, that laid-back hotels and cafes that’ve opened this decade (like Siago), “feel inspired by Tulum, no?”

The holiday season is a time for traditions, some of which are specific to individual cultures.

Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.

Emirates received a new jet type for the first time since 2008 with the arrival of its highly anticipated Airbus A350-900, but ill feelings about the plane's American rival were not absent from the milestone day.

Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar is widely known as one one of the best airports in the world, and for good reason. Its abundant offerings create an immersive, cocoon-like experience for travelers, from its new 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden called "the Orchard,” to its world-class art collection; and of course, its ever-growing roster of places to eat.

Singapore has retained its place at the top of a ranking of the world’s strongest passports, previously knocking Spain off the top spot.