All by David Astley
Kanchanaburi is a province in Thailand that is best known for its World War 2 memorial sites and national parks. But it also has many hot springs along the valley of the River Kwai which may help you to ease any aches and pains that you may acquire on your travels. This comprehensive guide to all of the hot springs in the valley and their mineral water pools recommends the best ones for international travellers to visit and which ones to avoid.
Asia has many destinations that often exceed our expectations, and when we leave, we lament that we did not spend more time there. Here are seven of those special places that draw travellers back and to which the xyzAsia travel writers believe are worth the time and money to go back in preference to travelling to somewhere new. They are all destinations worth revisiting.
If the theme parks, shopping malls and noisy bars of Phuket don’t appeal, but you want a tropical beach holiday in a quiet location that’s easy to reach with a good selection of accommodation options and restaurants, then you don’t have to travel far from Phuket to find it. Khao Lak fits the bill and offers the bonus of being a great base for a wide range of nature activities.
Kampot in southern Cambodia has gained a well-deserved reputation as a destination for foodies in Southeast Asia. But there is more to do in this laidback river town than just eating your way through the menus of the many excellent restaurants. It’s a great spot to unwind and enjoy some relaxing back-to-nature experiences.
If you’re visiting Manila’s historic walled city of Intramuros, it’s best to stay nearby or inside Intramuros if you want to avoid Metro Manila’s notorious traffic jams. We review the accommodation options on offer which includes one of the best and one of the worst hotels in the Philippines. This helpful guide will help you to make the right choice.
Koh Rong is the largest resort island off the coast of Cambodia. It’s well known as the location of at least six international series of the TV show ‘Survivor’. But how does it match up as a beach holiday destination and compare with all the longer established island resorts in Thailand and the Philippines. We visit Koh Rong to find out.
If you are looking for a hotel in the $50-100 price range close to the Royal Palace and Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh, then these reviews of the best value budget hotels in Cambodia’s capital should help you to select a hotel that meets your needs. Phnom Penh offers some of the best value-for-money accommodation options in Asia and is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations on the continent for food lovers.
The Thailand tourism authorities have come in for a lot of criticism in recent months for not being able to handle the volume of Thailand Pass applications that were made once destinations were opened to international tourists under their ‘Test & Go’ and ‘Sandbox’ schemes for vaccinated travellers. But now there’s evidence that the backlog has been cleared and travellers are receiving their Thailand Passes within the seven days promised.
Anyone travelling internationally these days knows about the hassles involved in getting PCR tests completed within the right timeframe. Many travellers have missed flights because their test certificates didn't arrive in time. But it’s not just timing that’s important — it’s the format of the test certificate too. If the format doesn’t match the entry requirements of the country to which you are travelling, you may be denied boarding.
World Expo 2020 which is currently being held in Dubai has lived up to all expectations and is highly recommended for those currently able to travel. With two and a half months remaining, many older travellers may be concerned about getting there during a pandemic and being around crowds. Here are some tips to make your Expo visit less stressful and enjoy the events, entertainment, experiences and cuisines on offer.
Bahrain is a small country that doesn't have as much to offer visitors as most other Gulf states (aside from the annual F1 Grand Prix), but this oil-rich kingdom does have enough to see and do to fill 2-3 days of an itinerary touring the Middle East. If you are interested in ancient history, or local music, there may be reasons to stay longer, depending on the time of year.
Tourists visiting Dubai have been scammed out of thousands of dollars in recent years through a scam known as the ‘Black Seed Powder Scam’ or the ‘Black Seed Oil Scam’. If you are heading to the UAE, be aware of this scam and follow the advice of the Dubai Police contained in this article. The scam is also prevalent in Abu Dhabi and has been copied in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Pakistan.
In a recent awards list of the top 100 sustainable tourist destinations in the world, 22 in Asia were recognised for their efforts in providing tourism experiences that had a positive impact on the local environment or culture. Many of these will appeal to older travellers seeking destinations that are off-the-beaten-track and travel experiences that are supporting local communities.
World Expo 2020 is being held in Dubai, UAE, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The event offers visitors the opportunity to see how new technology is changing the world, sample cuisine from many different nations, and learn about the culture of different countries through live music, dance performances and art exhibitions.
Cambodia has a sad recent history suffering bombings and genocide that has left it with infrastructure that is ill-equipped to handle the millions of tourists that visit each year. Nevertheless, if you’ve not visited this country before, it is worth doing so at least once, not only to see the UNESCO World Heritage listed Angkor archeological park but also to experience some of its many other interesting destinations.
Asia has a surprisingly good number of locations where it is possible to take hot air balloon flights. Drifting over a scenic landscape as the sun rises is both exciting and relaxing, and many travellers who are nervous about flying or suffer vertigo in tall buildings have said that flying in a hot air balloon was one of their most exhilarating experiences ever. It’s a wonderful way to see places from a new perspective.
