Accidental Travel Writer

Travel: Korea, Sri Lanka Lead Asia Pacific with 25% Growth in Arrivals

Business

The Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka led the Asia Pacific, registering 25% and 27% growth, respectively, in foreign arrivals for January and and February 2012 against a 7% increase for the Asia Pacific as a whole, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reports.

Macau: from Peking Duck to Dan Dan Noodles, Wynn Has It All

Hidden Treasure

As Michael Taylor revisits Macau, the city he once called home, he discovers that some of the best deals in town aren't to be found in the former Portuguese enclave's back alleys but tucked away in its most luxurious five star resorts.

Macau: Regency Hotel, Five Star Ambience at Bargain Basement Prices

Hidden Treasure

Twenty years have passed since I called Macau home, but despite all the changes that have taken place in recent years, one of my favourite spots continues to be the Regency Hotel, Macau, which used to be known as the Hyatt Regency, Macau.

Macau: Wine Bar to Chill Out at in the Shadows of St Paul's

Hidden Treasure

Macau Soul – known as Alma de Macau em português – is one of those places you either stumble upon by accident – or somebody in the know takes you there.

Macau: World's Largest Holiday Inn Opens on Cotai Strip

Hotels and Resorts

Last week's grand opening of the Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central and the Conrad Macao, Cotai Central, was billed as Asia's largest Launch Party of the year.

Happy Easter!

It's Easter Sunday.

There was a massive exodus from Hong Kong earlier in the week as grave sweepers headed north of the border to family grave sites in Guangdong Province to celebrate Ching Ming, also known as the Grave Sweepeing Ceremony.

On Good Friday, more of the city's residents tooke advantage of a rare four day weekend. Students and teachers, meanwhile, get an entire week off.

Ching Ming Festival: Large Crowds Expected at Hong Kong - China Border

Travel Advisory

A mass exodus from Hong Kong is underway as hundreds of thousands of people pass through the border at Lo Wu, which connects Hong Kong with Shenzhen, China, during the Ching Ming Festival, which takes place on 4 April 2012.

Top Six Deals: Hong Kong 2012 Spring and Summer Travel Planner

Special Packages

Here's our first annual Spring and Early Summer Travel Planner for travelers in Hong Kong's Pearl River Delta.

Included are cherry blossom tours, Easter tours, and short getaways to four of Hong Kong's most popular travel destinations - Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tokyo, Japan.

Cherry Blossom Front Moves North

As the Cherry Blossom Front moves north through the Japanese Islands, time is running out to book packages. If you want to view cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo, there is still time, but you'd better act fast. 

The further North you move, the more time you will have, with the front reaching Hokaido weeks after it leaves the country's Southern most islands.

Other popular destinations to view cherry blossoms in Asia are China, Korea, and Taiwan. Hangzhou, which is a couple of hours south of Shanghai,  is especially recommeded.

Washington, DC

It might be too late to view cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, which had one of its earliest cherry blossom seasons this year owing to a mild winter. Unfortunately, heavy rains over the weekend cut this year's cherry blossom season short.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival, with hundreds of performances and activities, however, will continue in full swing through late April.

Spring – or Easter – vacation is also practically upon us, so if you haven't already done so, you should make your reservations now.

Top Six Spring and Summer Travel Packages

We've put together links to six money saving getaway packages for spring and early summer 2012. Click on the following links for more details:

1. Easter - Find your perfect Easter holiday (flight+hotel) from as little as HK$2,561..
2. Cherry Blossom - Find your Cherry Blossom holiday (flight+hotel) from HK$1,384..
3. Bangkok, Thailand - 3 Days, 2 Nights in Bangkok from HK$1,310. Find your perfect Bangkok weekend getaway at the best price with ZUJI. Offer ends 28 June 2012..
4. Singapore - 3 Days, 2 Nights in Singapore from HK$1,520. Find your perfect Singapore weekend getaway at the best price with ZUJI. Offer ends 12 July 2012..
5. Taipei, Taiwan - 3 Days, 2 Nights in Taipei from HK$1,310. Find your perfect Taipei weekend getaway at the best price with ZUJI. Offer ends 27 June 2012..
6. Tokyo, Japan - 3 Days, 2 Nights in Tokyo from HK$1,915. Find your perfect Tokyo weekend getaway at the best price with ZUJI. Offer ends 19 July 2012.

Copyright: Michael Taylor

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

 

 

Aviation: Sneak Preview of Lufthansa's New China First Class Menu

Consumer Information

For reasons that I don't fully understand, cooked dishes served on board aircraft need to be cooked on the ground and then reheated on board – rather than being cooked on the plane.

Hong Kong: Wine Consumption Soars 200% in Five Years!

Food and Beverage

Changing lifestyles, a belief that wine is good for your health, and the scrapping of import duties on wine have contributed to a stunning 200% increase in the consumption of wine in Hong Kong over the last five years.