In Asia travel tips

In September New York City introduced stringent restrictions on short-term rentals leading to news very quickly that Airbnb bookings in the city had “dried up”.  And this is by no means new, cities like Barcelona and Berlin already have strict restrictions on short-term rental properties, requiring hosts to obtain a licence to operate.

With a population of almost 10 million, Seoul is one of Asia's largest and most vibrant metropolises. City workers spill out of futuristic skyscrapers at the end of the day, heading to the city's delicious and varied restaurants. On the weekends, nightlife rules—think neon-signed karaoke spots and lively bars in addition to the popular grab-and-go eateries. By day, however, the city is an underrated shopper's paradise. Forget the high-fashion boutiques (although you'll find those here, too), as it's all about neighborhood hotspots. From ceramic studios to sustainable zero-waste havens, these are the best places for shopping in Seoul.

It’s official, Asia is back—brighter, bolder, and more ambitious than ever. The region took longer than others to shake off pandemic-related travel restrictions and border closures, but has returned in full force, eager to remind international travelers what they’ve been missing.

Travelers in Asia are showing growing interest in vacation rentals according to Trip101.

From today’s Daily Lodging Report newsletter: Nikkei Asia published an article on Hilton planning to expand its luxury offerings in Asia. Hilton will be bringing its Waldorf Astoria brand to Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and other countries for the first time as part of its plans to open 25 new luxury hotels in the Asia Pacific region over the next few years. That’s up from the 33 luxury hotels it currently runs in the Asia Pacific.

Hilton hopes to have 1,000 hotels operating in Asia Pacific by 2025 and sees opportunity at all tiers, but particularly in luxury brands and entry-level hotels.

The days when most Qantas travelers to the U.S. arrived in Los Angeles to connect on to other points across the country are numbered. The airline has ordered two-dozen new long-range planes for the Asia and U.S. markets that will see it add more nonstop flights to both regions, overflying traditional gateways like Los Angeles.

Asia is home to several of the world's greatest mega-cities, from Tokyo to Bangkok, Hong Kong to Shanghai. And while each of these is undoubtedly a fascinating, thrilling place to visit, sometimes it's nice to revert back to life on a more human scale. Here's six small cities in Asia well worth a visit.

From spectacular temples to awe-inspiring natural wonders, the world’s largest continent is home to UNESCO sites aplenty. Its sheer size makes it exceptionally diverse – culturally, ethnically and in terms of its natural environment.

Elephants are born free, but are everywhere in chains – and it’s tourism which is increasingly to blame. Riding an elephant used to be on every visitor’s list of must-do activities during a visit to Asia, although growing awareness of elephant rights – and, increasingly, wrongs – means that over the past five years almost all major tourist companies have stopped offering trips featuring elephant rides or other pachyderm-related attractions and activities deemed cruel. Here’s why.

From China’s full reopening to growing interest in long-distance destinations by U.S. travelers, Asia is at the center of some of the most significant shifts happening in the travel industry. To explore these trends and what they mean for travel advisers and the wider market, a panel of thought leaders from Northstar Travel Group recently gathered for the latest episode of Travel Talk. In this video, leading editors from across Northstar discuss the latest developments they are seeing in Asia, including longer stays, greater interest in wellness and sustainable travel, and rapid adoption of technologies ranging from biometric screening to artificial intelligence.Moderated by Mary Pat Sullivan, executive vice president of marketing for Northstar Travel Group, this panel consists of:

United Airlines will become the first United States carrier to fly direct to Manila in the Philippines from the continental U.S. when the carrier launches flights there in October.