Jamaica’s sweet lodgings over the water, atop the sea

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- I totally admit this is a first-world problem. But for the life of me I can’t remember what my private butler said about how to turn on the underwater lights so I can see through the window on my bedroom floor.The headaches! The difficulty of being the first guest in this entrancing villa! I think I need a soak in my private infinity pool or a rest on the overwater hammock to calm down.Suddenly, a breakthrough. I push a small button labeled “ripples” on the wall. And alth

Dec. 9, 2016

New SR railway company to launch super rapid trains

On a small peninsula just over 100,000 square kilometers in area, Korea’s vastly extensive railways have made domestic flying a virtually unnecessary expense and hassle. 　Since 2005, the country’s railways have been dominated by Korail, which has been running competition-free over the past decade. However, all that is set to change on Dec. 9.　On Friday, travelers will find themselves with an alternative option, as Korea welcomes its newest contender to railway and bullet train travel -- SR.  An

Dec. 5, 2016

Busan, magnet for MICE industry

BUSAN -- Korea’s second-largest city and a major maritime hub, Busan is harnessing its capacities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, known as the MICE industry. Scores of convention centers, hotels, tourism attractions and cruise terminals are being built or renewed to make way for Asia’s top commercial port with 2020 in sight.Strewn with mesmeric beaches, cultural amenities, efficient infrastructure and telecommunications lines, Busan has all the ingredients necessary to att

Dec. 4, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Everland Romantic IlluminationsEverland’s Romantic Illumination festival is continuing its celebrations until March 1 with beautiful and enchanting illuminations for a romantic and memorable holiday season.The festival will feature an extravagant 26-meter-high Romantic Tower Tree, which will be displayed at the fountain area between Four Seasons Garden and Rose Garden. The hollowed out Christmas tree tower can accommodate up to 50 people.The tree’s interior showers the visitors with enchanting l

Dec. 2, 2016

Christmas destinations that even Scrooge would love

If this is the year that you decide you’ve had it with untangling Christmas lights, fighting mall crowds to find that “must-have” action figure or video game, and fighting over whose turn it is to host the holiday dinner, there is an alternative.At all of the following destinations, the lights will already be on the tree; the holiday dinner will be handled by a renowned chef and the angry, shoving mall crowds will be replaced by like-minded guests who have one thing in common — a desire for a ha

Dec. 2, 2016

Busan recognized as top incentive tourism destination

As Korea’s second-largest city, Busan boasts a wide array of unique cultural experiences, from hosting the largest international film festival in Asia to offering fresh local seafood. However, in addition to being a popular place to vacation, the port city is now recognized as a leading incentive tour destination for travel related to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.In fact, as a result of the city’s proactive marketing efforts, 12 medium-sized to large companies have visited B

Dec. 1, 2016

How to see Chichen Itza without the crowds

Sounds of the jungle were as thick as the humidity. Birds chirped and trilled. A deep hoot added a bass note. An almost mechanical staccato clicking joined in. I was following a Mayan guide, Juan Gualberto Tun Pat, down a garden path on the grounds of my hotel, where life is so insistent that young trees sprout in the middle of the gravel walkway.At a wrought iron gate, two guys sat at a weathered Formica-topped table, the young one working on math problems, the older one tuning a radio. They pa

Nov. 25, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte World is gearing up to play host to its annual Christmas Festival every day until Dec. 27. This year’s festival will tackle the theme of “A White Christmas,” allowing visitors the chance to see spectacular Christmas decorations at every corner of the theme park. The park will also feature a Santa Village and a snowman photo zone for the children.There will also be a special snowfall show twice a day at the Adventure Park and during the new Christmas Parade. The

Nov. 25, 2016

[Travel Bits] Sights to see in Korea

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte World is gearing up to play host to its annual Christmas Festival every day until Dec. 27. This year’s festival will tackle the theme of “A White Christmas,” allowing visitors the chance to see spectacular Christmas decorations at every corner of the theme park. The park will also feature a Santa Village and a snowman photo zone for the children.There will also be a special snowfall show twice a day at the Adventure Park and during the new Christmas Parade. The

Nov. 18, 2016

Wonderful Waikiki: 5 ideas for millennials, 5 ideas for boomers

HONOLULU — If you consider yourself a traveler rather than a tourist, you might tend to avoid Waikiki Beach. It’s too commercial. Overcrowded. Too much of a South Seas cliche.But if you’ve been there you know there’s lots to love about the crazy scene: the platoons of newbie surfers dodging catamarans and outrigger canoes. The beach bars. The perfect sandy beach, with visitors from around the world playing beneath windblown palms in the shadow of distinctive Diamond Head.It’s fun for young and o

Nov. 18, 2016

[Weekender] From Grandma’s home to store shelves, Boksoondoga makgeolli goes global

ULSAN -- A recipe for homemade rice wine that started out as one humble grandmother’s hobby is now well on its way to becoming one of the country’s top brands. Architect Kim Min-kyu and mathematician Kim Min-kook took their grandmother’s recipe for Korean rice wine -- known as makgeolli -- and established Boksoondoga brewery last year just outside Ulsan.Min-kook focused on the science of said makgeolli, systemizing a larger-scale fermentation process, while his older brother Min-kyu focused on t

Nov. 11, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Bangeo Festival on JejudoThe annual Bangeo Festival returns to Moseulpo Port this month. This popular festival is held every year in November on the southern island of Jejudo. It celebrates the yellowtail fish, which is a prized seasonal delicacy of the area. Visitors can try fishing for yellowtail as well as sample other Jejudo specialties such as grilled black pig and galchi jorim (spicy braised white fish). Festival participants can not only enjoy fresh bangeo at the festival, but can also pa

Nov. 11, 2016

Flee crowded San Francisco for the serenity of Point Reyes

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, California -- You’re in San Francisco and need a break from clanging cable cars and overpriced hotels? Break for the beach. Point Reyes is an hour and a world away.Before leaving home, sign up for a plein air pastel workshop with an overnight stay in a historic former Coast Guard lifeboat station hanging over the azure bay where Sir Francis Drake anchored in 1579. It’s just one of dozens of regular offerings by the park’s Field Institute. Awake to sea lions barking

Nov. 11, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Gunsan, Seocheon Migratory Bird FestivalThe annual Gunsan and Seocheon Migratory Bird Festival will take place from Nov. 18 to 20. The festival will be held throughout the Geumgang River Migratory Bird Observatory, Geumgang Wetland Ecological Park and the Seocheon Bird Village Exhibition Hall.Held by Gunsan-si and Seocheon-gun, the festival kicks off with an opening ceremony in Gunsan-si and will continue to offer participants a wide a variety of nature-intensive programs such as ecological hand

Nov. 4, 2016

Escaping to a writer’s colony in Eureka Springs

EUREKA SPRINGS, Arkansas — People suffering pain and illness were once lured to this spot nestled in the forested Ozark Mountains, tucked in the northwest corner of the state.Native American folklore told of healing springs with miraculous abilities to cure the infirm. This area of isolated wilderness, dotted with bubbling water, sprung into a town 137 years ago. The surrounding geography made the water mineral rich and word of its healing attributes spread and attracted settlers.Today, its fame

Nov. 4, 2016

[Travel Bits] Travel news from around the world

Gunsan, Seocheon Migratory Bird FestivalThe annual Gunsan and Seocheon Migratory Bird Festival will take place from Nov. 18 to 20. The festival will be held throughout the Geumgang River Migratory Bird Observatory, Geumgang Wetland Ecological Park and the Seocheon Bird Village Exhibition Hall.Held by Gunsan-si and Seocheon-gun, the festival kicks off with an opening ceremony in Gunsan-si and will continue to offer participants a wide a variety of nature-intensive programs such as ecological hand

Oct. 28, 2016

Despite its struggles, Acapulco still sparkles

ACAPULCO, Mexico -- Sorry, but for this story we’ll skip the standard references to Elizabeth Taylor’s third wedding, JFK’s honeymoon and cliff divers.Acapulco. Gorgeous, still -- much of it. But it has problems.First, the news: Grupo Autofin, already a strong tourism-industry presence here, announced plans this summer to invest $1 billion in new construction and upgrades along the Pacific coastline well south of the heart of the city and its famous bay. Included are high-end hotels, renovation

Oct. 28, 2016