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 - 13:15 / cntraveler.com
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.
Falling in love with Koh Samui is not hard. I did when I first visited in 2009 with my mother. Though I'm a Thai native, I'd rarely ventured beyond chaotic Bangkok, so the island was like a salve to my system, the salty sea breeze an antidote to my hometown's dizzying traffic and persistent smog. Our destination was Chaweng Beach, a place of pale sand and gentle waves that lap at the feet of a few low-key eateries. We stayed at a family friend's resort in a tiny one-room bungalow with creaky floorboards. We ate poached shrimp porridge in the mornings, roasted squid with chili-lime sauce in the afternoons, and salt-crusted baked fish in the evenings. We spent long days strolling along the sandbars and floating in the clear waters. At night, under the fluttering mosquito nets that hung above our beds, we listened to the dull gnawing of termites feasting on the property's wood structures. Everything about the visit felt supremely Thai, especially the unapologetic, eager hospitality I found at each food stall and bar, shoreline and street corner. Everyone on Samui smiled, always personifying sabai-sabai, a Thai expression that loosely means “Take it easy.” And so we did.
Dragon fruit and other produce at Plaza the Green Night Market
Diners enjoy a light meal with fresh coconut water at Khao Horm restaurant
Thailand has had a few It destinations during my lifetime. In the early '90s the place to go, especially for travelers looking for beach parties, was Pattaya, a former fishing village just a two-hour drive from the capital. When it became overrun with cabaret clubs and high-rise condos, in-the-know vacationers shifted to the Andaman Sea. The Hollywood film The Beach chose Koh Phi Phi to depict its fictional secret idyll—doing such a good job of capturing its allure that the island has since fallen victim to severe overcrowding. By comparison, Samui, tucked away in the Gulf of Thailand, felt like a local secret. But of course, secrets get out.
As this year's number one island in Asia, Samui has long been a favorite of Condé Nast Traveler readers; others will become hip to its charms when it takes a starring role in the third season of the HBO dramedy The White Lotus, expected out next year. Given the show's far-reaching influence—tourism in Sicily boomed after its second season, which was shot in Taormina and Cefalù—it's only a matter of time before one of Thailand's most popular beach getaways attains superstar status.
Pool toys for sale on the beach
This island is always evolving. When I went in 2009, a tide of global brands had already moved in. One was the Four
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.
Oct 4, 2024 • 15 min read
“It’s a Dall sheep!” the train tour guide exclaims as we swoop past a jagged cliffside dotted with fuzzy white creatures impressively balanced on their rocky perch.
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.
This story ran as part of the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. To find out all the winning cruises, read here.
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.
Some developing tropical storm systems could potentially create more headaches for travelers in the days and weeks to come.
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