All tagged Singapore
With some countries opening up in Asia, but no way to get there because many airlines have grounded their international flights, small group travel on private jets offers a way around the restrictions for those who can afford it. We take a look at what one Singapore charter operator is doing to help travellers get around the region.
International travel won’t be the same after Covid-19. The attitudes of travellers will change, as will the circumstances they encounter on their journeys. How will older travellers in Asia be affected? We look at some of the changes they’ll face and the decisions they’ll have to make.
Some people like to travel on their own while others prefer to travel with partners, friends or in groups. We take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of solo travelling to help you decide whether it’s something you’d like to try in Asia when we are able to get back on the road again.
A self-organised themed tour is a different way to travel but can be a satisfying and enjoyable way to learn about the culture and history of Asian countries. This tour focuses on the Peranakan culture of the Straits Chinese and takes travellers from Singapore to Melaka and Penang in Malaysia where there are many opportunities to learn about how these entrepreneurial pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to the development of those countries.
During periods that we are unable to travel because of coronavirus lockdowns, closed borders or quarantine restrictions, there is only one way to satisfy the travel bug — and that’s through virtual travel from our computers and tablets. We take a look at which websites offer the best virtual travel experiences for when we are stuck at home.
With thousands of international travellers still stranded in Asia, those affected are placing the blame squarely on airlines who prematurely cancelled flights and provided no alternative options for them to get home. Slow and disorganised responses by some governments in mounting repatriation flights have also come in for criticism. However, with death tolls still increasing in the U.S. and some European countries, some travellers have decided to sit out the pandemic in Asia.
The novel coronavirus pandemic is causing many older travellers to put on hold their plans to travel in Asia. People over 60 face the highest risk of dying if they contract the virus. But those who choose to stay at home can still find ways of giving rein to their wanderlust. Here are a few ways how.
As tropical Asia hurtles into the future, much of its colonial heritage is being lost. But reminders of those times are being preserved in the form of some fine old hotels that have been renovated and converted into luxury accommodation. They’re likely to appeal to anyone with an interest in Asia’s colonial history. We take a look at six of them. If staying there is beyond your budget, you can always go for a meal or a drink and take a look around.
Older travellers may not rush around as much as they did in their younger days, but they still seek adventure – and Asia has excitement a plenty to offer. Here’s a look at how travel can help people stay young at heart even in their golden years.
Many older travellers to the tropical countries of Asia like to keep fit whilst they are on holiday. One way to do this is through running or jogging. However, if you normally run only in temperate climates, there are some precautions that you need to take in the tropics. This guide contains some practical advice from a Thailand-based ultra runner on how to maintain your fitness regime in a tropical climate, and also some important tips on personal safety.
Paintings make great souvenirs to bring home from a trip to Asia. They not only serve as a reminder of places that you’ve visited, but will look great on the walls of your home. Original paintings may appreciate in value and are a better buy than reproductions. Our guide to buying art in Asia tells you where the best places are to buy original paintings, how to transport your paintings home, and where to see the best art if you aren’t in the mood to buy yet.
There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.
There are many different tropical fruits available from markets and street stalls throughout Asia. Not all of them may be familiar to visitors from other parts of the world because some tropical fruits do not travel well, so are only readily available in the countries where they are grown. Travellers should therefore try to sample local fruits that are in season whenever the opportunity arises. Here are six of our “must try” fruits for visitors to the region.
Jewel Changi Airport is Singapore’s latest attraction. A huge glass and steel dome, it’s designed to add to the Changi experience and increase visitor numbers, with its remarkable indoor waterfall, entertainment areas, shops, gardens and over 100 eateries. We take a look at what Jewel has to offer senior travellers.
Singapore may be one of Asia’s wealthiest and most advanced countries but it has taken care to preserve memories of its colourful past as a British colony. This is particularly true of the pivotal role it played in World War II. Older travellers with an interest in history are likely to find a visit to the country’s only surviving coastal fort, Fort Siloso, absorbing. Built on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, the fort is today a military museum focusing on the tumultuous events of the war.
For those who enjoy a tipple, one of the pleasures of travelling in Asia is sampling some of the locally-produced drinks. A wide selection of alcoholic drinks is available, with many countries producing not only their own beer and wine but a sometimes surprising range of spirits.
