Real estate services company JLL estimates that by the end of this year, hotel transactions in India will amount to a total of $413 million. Last year, the industry saw investments worth $401 million.
04.10.2024 - 13:35 / lonelyplanet.com
Oct 4, 2024 • 15 min read
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and for good reason – there's an incredible amount to see and do, costs are moderate and the food is out of this world!
This Southeast Asian nation has been a must-visit stop for as long as backpackers have been grabbing their backpacks, and with so many places to see, many travelers are lured back time after time. But if this is your first time visiting Thailand, it pays to read up on what to expect when you get here.
First of all, it's important to not be too ambitious – whether you plan to visit Thailand's gleaming beaches, its pristine coral reefs, its wildlife-filled national parks or its cultured cities, you'll want to stop and smell the jasmine. A whistlestop itinerary will just leave you longing for more.
On the other hand, Thailand is easy to navigate for first-timers, and the country is wholeheartedly hospitable and famously welcoming to new arrivals. Before you pack your sandals and sunhat, let us answer the questions that every first-time visitor to Thailand is asking.
Ask a local and they’ll say the best time to visit Thailand is during the “winter” from November to February, when the weather is dry and temperatures are manageable, but with warm weather throughout the year, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad time to visit.
During the northern hemisphere winter, post-monsoon winds cut the humidity and pull temperatures down a few degrees, with daytime highs mostly staying below 30°C (86°F). It might seem odd to seek out the colder months for a holiday, but in the steamy tropics, it makes travel more pleasurable.
Winter coincides, of course, with the Christmas and New Year holidays, so you can expect to share the beaches, bars and buses with busy crowds of Thai travelers and foreigners. Book ahead for accommodation and transport at this time of year. On the flip side, this is the best time of year for scuba diving and snorkeling.
The Thai "summer" from March to June is mostly dry, particularly in the north, but sometimes uncomfortably humid and significantly hotter, with the mercury regularly reaching 35°C (95°F). This is a time to stay close to the sea or pay a little extra for a hotel with a pool (or visit local swimming holes).
By April, temperatures can climb to 40°C (104°F) and Thais avoid being out in the heat more than is necessary. Tourism and prices dip, except during Songkran, Thailand’s three-day New Year celebrations, marked by a nationwide water fight in mid- to late-April.
The rainy monsoon season usually arrives by late June and continues through to October, but it doesn't rain every day. Towards the end of the wet season, weeklong stretches of dry, overcast weather are a real
Real estate services company JLL estimates that by the end of this year, hotel transactions in India will amount to a total of $413 million. Last year, the industry saw investments worth $401 million.
MGM Resorts International president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle discussed the company’s strategy and outlook on stage at Skift Global Forum 2024.
When I first visited Montreal, it was during a blizzard. I was in my 20s, at an inflection point in my life, and the weather felt portentous. Somewhere between having a smoked-meat sandwich at the counter of Schwartz's and barely making it up the charming but icy spiral staircases that are characteristic of the city's architecture, I fell hard for the place—though, luckily, not down the stairs. Before I knew it, I had abandoned my plans for grad school and moved to La Belle Province to start a new life.
Koh Samui was voted one of The Top Islands in the World in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. To find out all the winning islands, read here.
Celebrity Cruises will sail its longest-ever cruise from Canada all the way to Asia in 2026, stopping in more than 50 destinations across multiple continents.
India’s wedding season is around the corner, and this year, about 4.8 million weddings are expected, according to a study by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). That could mean revenue of $70.4 billion.
Travelers hoping to explore the world by sea have a new option — and on a newly refurbished vessel.
For me, September is a hard one to see go. With it, those last little moments of summer slip away, the temperature starts to change and it's time to start pulling out your warm coats. My September was especially great, though. It started with cruising around the Mediterranean and checking out a few dreamy hotels in Italy, followed by a quick trip to Mexico to check out Hyatt's new all-inclusive brand.
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Anu Verma, a trauma recovery coach , podcast host, and author of the book "Victim 2 Victor."
Oct 1, 2024 • 8 min read
Japan is a popular spot for tourists, and a new initiative will make it easier – and more affordable – to visit than ever before.
Sep 27, 2024 • 9 min read