BAY tips

Opened on 27 April 2010 Singapore Marina Bay Sands is part of the mega $5.5 billion resort project aiming to make Singapore as the top Southeast Asia’s entertainment destination…

There's something soulful about being on Oahu's North Shore. I've heard other people tell me how that particular place is special in some indescribable way, and when we rounded Kamehameha Highway and looked down on Waimea Bay, I felt it, too.

Not all islands are created equal. Some people may believe one speck of sand is the same in the Maldives as one in Indonesia or that the pitons in St. Lucia are close enough to Mount Otemanu in Bora Bora. Still others may assume all of Hawaii’s 137 islands, including the eight large ones, are alike. If there’s one thing my travel has proved, it’s that islands are vastly distinct. Among those in Hawaii, Kauai, the oldest of them all in the region, is the prize place.

A dream vacation became a maritime nightmare for those onboard a cruise ship caught in a fierce storm in the Bay of Biscay that left 100 people injured over the weekend, according to media reports.

Many people on the mainland remain unaware of the truth behind the Maui wildfires. They wrongfully believe that the entire island of Maui is closed – and nothing could be further from the truth. As of this writing, Maui’s upscale resort area of Kapalua is open – and welcoming tourists with its famous warm aloha.

If money were no object, what would the ultimate golfer’s paradise look like?

Northern California’s Tomales Bay – a long, narrow inlet located along West Marin’s scenic coastline – has long been known for its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor pursuits, vineyards, creameries, and oyster farms. Lodge at Marconi, a historic fixture of the area for decades, is now open and welcoming guests after a multi-million-dollar renovation under the astute purview of Oliver Hospitality. The upscale, modern coastal retreat sits on 62 sprawling acres off Highway Route 1 within Marconi State Historic Park, offering visitors immersive access to the region’s intoxicating woodland setting.

While Boston is no stranger to charming neighborhoods packed full of historic landmarks, few districts can match the splendor of Back Bay. Established in the mid-1800s, this storied section of the city was constructed on reclaimed land, imbuing the area with an easily-navigable grid system that’s a far cry from the chaotic maze of streets found across downtown Boston—and as an added bonus, Back Bay is renowned for its gorgeous Victorian brownstone homes, offering ample attractions for architecture aficionados to enjoy.

The view across Hanalei Bay to rugged Mount Makana and the Emerald Mountains is so soothing, draped in fog in the mornings and in grades of magenta after sunset, that just looking at it from 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay could be a wellness experience on its own. But there’s a lot more at this hotel which opened in February in Princeville on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i. A new program, Within Wellness, was just introduced as a comprehensive, integrated plan, establishing this already tranquil place as a serious option for real rejuvenation.

Following two flat months, Hillsborough County’s hospitality industry saw a large surge in growth in July according to the latest reports from STR, Inc. July’s hotel revenues were up 13.8% while occupancy increased by 3.4% to 70.4%, average daily rate (ADR) up 11.5% to $143.55 and RevPAR up 15.3% to $101.08.  July tourist development tax collections for Hillsborough County, which reflect June collections, came in at $4,347,279, bringing the total collection for the fiscal year to $56,732,408. Total taxable hotel revenue through June has reached more than $900 million for the fiscal year-to-date indicating that Hillsborough County will surpass $1 billion for the second continuous fiscal year.

In 2012, the government of Singapore set out to create a “City in a Garden,” a futuristic botanical garden that would showcase the city-state’s embrace of the future and add to its already distinct skyline. Singapore is small — 274 square miles — yet it managed to fit Gardens by the Bay, an area containing several hundred acres of lush greenery, a waterfall, 1.5 million plants, and the largest glass greenhouse in the world into its tiny frame. Many visitors to Gardens by the Bay come for the iconic Supertrees, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome, but there are a number of lesser-known exhibits to walk through on a day trip to the Gardens by the Bay.

THIS ARTICLE IS ADAPTED FROM THE AUGUST 26, 2023, EDITION OF GASTRO OBSCURA’S FAVORITE THINGS NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE .

On any given day in Thailand’s Maya Bay, up to 40 blacktip reef sharks cruise in the cyan shallows while about 4,000 tourists visit its white-sand beach flanked by towering cliffs.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel has launched a series of new Smart Hotel features within its mobile app.

At the far north of New Zealand’s South Island, visitors flock to the Nelson Tasman region to hike and kayak in spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. The turquoise waters and sheltered bays of this protected coastline are undeniably beautiful, but increased visitor numbers in New Zealand's smallest national park are putting pressure on infrastructure – particularly along the popular 60-kilometre Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Just beyond Abel Tasman’s northern rocky headland, peaceful Golden Bay sees a fraction of the park’s visitors.

Hailed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America - rubbing shoulders with celebrated spectacles like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls and Yosemite, Canada’s Bay of Fundy is one of the most remarkable places on Earth, famed for its phenomenal tides — the highest in the world, no less. If that’s piqued your interest, read on to discover what makes the area so special, and what marvels await when you visit Bay of Fundy.

ITV's Broadchurch is back for series two, so we asked Matthew Hancock to take us on a tour of the hit show's location, West Bay in Dorset.

The stunning karst pinnacles of Ha Long Bay are one of the jewels in Vietnam’s crown, but as Ron Emmons discovers, nearby Bai Tu Long Bay boasts the same beguiling scenery – without the crowds.