Taiwan is set to join the growing list of East Asian countries offering digital nomad visas.
13.07.2024 - 09:47 / insider.com
As soon as I arrived in Tokyo to a near-silent Narita Airport, I knew I was in for a bit of culture shock.
Already, the Japanese culture felt far different from what I'm used to in the United States: Most US airports are incredibly noisy.
As I left, I was surprised again when I got into a taxi on the right side of the car. I quickly learned from the driver's panicked reaction that I was apparently supposed to enter from the left.
The next few days were a crash course in learning the local etiquette.
Although I'm considered pretty soft-spoken back home, in Japan, I felt too assertive and found myself quieting my voice and being more gentle in my body language to adapt to my surroundings.
I found myself appreciating Japan's politeness, extreme cleanliness, and order, whether I was lining up to board the subway or using the immaculate public bathrooms.
The harsh return to loud and chaotic New York City made me miss many of the norms I witnessed on my trip. Here are some I wish the US would adopt.
Compared to the public bathrooms in the US, Japanese public bathrooms feel like they belong in a five-star hotel.
Each one I encountered in Japan looked spotlessly clean, and the toilets were more technologically advanced than anything I've seen back home.
They don't just flush automatically when you're finished — they can also sense when you're approaching and lift the lid accordingly.
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Almost all have multi-functional, electronic bidets. Some have heated seats, and many are self-cleaning.
I returned home from Japan with a full tube of toothpaste because I barely touched my toiletry bag during my trip.
Every hotel in Japan I stayed at had an impressive toiletry kit that included a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, and single-use size packets of facial cleanser and moisturizer — often from a luxury skincare brand.
I've never gotten freebies on this scale at nice hotels in the US, where the standard is just one tiny bottle each of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.
In Japan, I'd usually also find a set of pajamas and slippers in the closet for guests to use. At some of the finer hotels I stayed in, they were from designer names. The Derek Rose set I wore at The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka was so silky I considered buying them.
The complimentary items made traveling more efficient since I barely had to unpack at each new hotel I stayed in.
As someone who awkwardly tip-toes through security because I'm grossed out by walking on the airport floor, I was thrilled to find slippers available to borrow at several airports throughout the country.
In Japan, it's customary to remove your shoes before entering many indoor spaces. I loved that this extended beyond the airport to hotels, spas, and sometimes
Taiwan is set to join the growing list of East Asian countries offering digital nomad visas.
I'm an independent traveler who likes making my own arrangements. (Or, to rephrase that for the people who know me and will want me to tell you the truth: I'm a travel obsessive with a need to usually control every aspect of a trip.)
United Airlines will have one less pin on its route map later this year.
I graduated from college two years ago and set a goal for myself to visit at least 50 countries before I turn 30.
Crowdstrike, a cybersecurity firm with thousands of customers globally, admitted on Friday that a defective software update had caused the major IT outage that brought airports, banks, hospitals, media outlets, and businesses to a halt worldwide.
A new first class cabin is on the way at Qatar Airways, but it might take a little longer to arrive than expected. Speaking to , Badr Mohammed Al-Meer revealed that he is due to see a prototype of the new top-tier seat on Thursday.
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The dream of free night awards at luxury hotels: It’s the carrot-on-a-stick that drives many of us to get into credit card points in the first place. One sure-fire way to earn these perks is through co-branded hotel credit cards that run sign-up bonuses or annual free night awards. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers three free nights when you open a new card and meet certain spending requirements. The Hilton Surpass is also currently running a promo for an additional free night, and all the major brands offer free nights to celebrate cardmember anniversaries for having cards like the IHG One Rewards Premier.
I spend about half my year in Europe , an arrangement that's existed for the last few years mostly due to my partner's job as an international basketball trainer. The perks are tough to beat, and my work as a journalist means it's easy to jump on a flight as long as I have my computer with me. My teen son joins us frequently, mostly made possible because he homeschools and agenerally likes to travel.