Mungyeong Rail Bike to extend operating hours

North Gyeongsang Province’s tourist attraction Mungyeong Rail Bike will extend its operating hours from July 2, the Mungyeong Tourism Promotion Corporation announced Tuesday. According to the MTPC, the 7.4-kilometer roundtrip section between Maseong-myun’s Jinnam Station and Gurang-ri Station will operate bicycles beyond the original ending time of 6 p.m. 　(Instagram @yujin.8781)For three Saturdays -- July 2, 9, and 16 --  bikes will be allowed to leave Chinnam Station at 6 and 7 p.m., finishing

June 28, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news　

Midsummer night’s getaway at W Seoul-Walkerhill 　W Seoul-Walkerhill is offering a signature summer cocktail promotion 2016 W Tiki Night, featuring Polynesian cocktails and an exotic atmosphere at WooBar.　During the promotion, WooBar -- decorated Polynesian style -- will serve Tiki cocktails that have been modified from the popular 1940s and 1950s drinks. The cocktails are served in Tiki-shaped ceramic glasses representing New Zealand’s Maori tribe, or in tropical fruit such as coconuts.　The drin

June 24, 2016

[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

Buyeo Seodong Lotus FestivalThe annual Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is a celebration of all thing lotus flowers, while highlighting the importance of preserving wild flowers. As part of the festival celebrations, the event features a variety of lotus flower experience programs such as lotus paper origami and flower soapmaking. This year’s festivities will run from July 8 to 17 at Buyeo’s Seodong Park. 　Although nowhere near as popular with tourists as Seoul and Busan, Buyeo continues to strength

June 24, 2016

Rome makes history shine for visitors

ROME — Buongiorno, my hundreds of fellow tourists crowding the Trevi Fountain on this bright spring day. Doesn’t it look magnificent? Isn’t it grand? Aren’t you happy to be the first high-season tourists to see the place again without scaffolding? The baroque fountain was recently closed for 17 months while it was cleaned, scrubbed, repaired and restored to the glory intended by sculptor Salvi when he began carving it in 1762.“I am happy to see it. I love ‘La Dolce Vita,’” said Jessie Cantrell,

June 17, 2016

[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

‘Fun Taipei’ all-inclusive discounted travel package In an effort to promote travel to Taiwan’s bustling capital city of Taipei, Fun Taipei has unveiled is new all-inclusive discounted travel package.The Fun Taipei travel deal offers guests round-trip airfare from Incheon to Taipei with China Airlines, hotel accommodation for two nights, two days of free Wi-Fi, a one-day “Easy Pass” travel card as well as a free travel guidebook, all starting at the low price of 274,000 won (excluding taxes and

June 17, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news

Exotic summer vacation at Imperial Palace Seoul HotelImperial Palace Seoul Hotel presents Midsummer Night Package from July 16 to Aug. 31, presenting a perfect summer vacation at the exotic outdoor swimming pool.The package includes one night’s stay at Deluxe or Business room, access to night outdoor pool or voucher for two for happy hour at Lobby Lounge, and two movie tickets. Molton Brown travel kits and Instyle magazines will be given to the guests.Free access to the fitness studio and indoor

June 17, 2016

[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

 American Airlines to reward based on dollars, not miles　American Airlines announced it will no longer reward its airlines members with perks based on how many miles they fly, rather with how much passengers spend on tickets. The change, which matches those at Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, starts with flights on Aug. 1 and rewards the airline’s highest-paying passengers.　Elite-status members of American’s AAdvantage frequent-flier program will earn bonus miles for every dollar they spend.

June 10, 2016

[Weekender] Fun in the sun: Events to brighten up your vacation

Looking for places to go during summer vacation? The Korea Herald has compiled a list of interesting festivals across the peninsula for visitors to see, taste and enjoy the summer fun. Boryeong Mud FestivalBoryeong Mud FestivalSince it began in 1998, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival has been perhaps the premiere event for those from abroad, attracting around 300,000 foreign visitors each year to the country’s western coast for a week filled with muddy fun. The upcoming 19th festival kicks off on

June 10, 2016

[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

Busan Sea FestivalThe annual Busan Sea Festival is gearing up for its 21st year, kicking off this year’s weeklong festivities on Aug. 1. The festival was launched 20 years ago in an effort to promote the harbor city of Busan as a port-side tourist destination and was Korea’s first general ocean festival. However, now the event has grown to be one of the city’s biggest festivals, offering visitors of all ages the opportunity to view and experience various cultural programs and performances. The f

June 3, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news

Beat the summer heat at Sheraton Grande WalkerhillSheraton Grande Walkerhill presents its seasonal bingsu promotion “Frozen Sweet” at the lobby lounge The Pavilion until Sept. 11.The promotion offers a selection of bingsu, including the hotel’s signature Milk Patbingsu with red bean paste and organic condensed milk, and Konggaru Bingsu with bean powder. Visitors can select fruit toppings from among apple mangos or blueberries.All the bingsu items use smooth and sweet iced-milk for well-balanced

June 3, 2016

Beyond Cannery Row: Exploring Monterey, without the crowds

MONTEREY, California -- “So imagine this filled with tables and people, there’s mariachi music from the stage, the wine is flowing,” explained Michael D. Green, a park ranger and enthusiastic tour guide, waving his arm across the flower-filled Memory Garden in the courtyard behind California’s first Custom House.　Green is describing “La Merienda,” the annual Monterey History and Art Association event that re-creates a fiesta from the romantic pre-Gold Rush era, when California belonged to Mexico

June 3, 2016

Sponsors going along for the ride at theme parks

LOS ANGELES -- When Walt Disney opened his famed Anaheim park in 1955, he turned to corporate sponsors to keep construction and operation costs under budget.That helps explain why two of the original attractions were the less-than-thrilling Monsanto Hall of Chemistry, sponsored by the agrochemical giant, and the Aluminum Hall of Fame, sponsored by Kaiser Aluminum.“It was just as bad as it sounds,” said David Koenig, author of several books on Disney.More than 60 years later, sponsorships are on

May 31, 2016

KTO unveils new tourist guide leaflet in 11 languages

In an effort to provide international visitors to Korea easy access to concise and practical travel tips to assist them during their travels, the Korea Tourism Organization has released its newest one-page tourist guide leaflet.　The multilingual pamphlets offer visitors practical tips, such as providing information on where to find free Wi-Fi access, how to purchase transportation cards and emergency numbers and hotlines, as well as a quick overview of tax refund policies.   Korea Tourism Organi

May 30, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news

Grand Hyatt Seoul presents bingsu menu　Grand Hyatt Seoul’s lobby lounge presents the Grand bingsu menu from May 1, more than a month ahead of the season. The hotel presents six kinds of bingsu with various fruits and sauces including traditional red bean paste bingsu with omija (five-flavor berry) jelly and soybean powder and tropical bingsu with shaved milk ice, tropical fruits such as coconut and pineapple, and sesame sauce.　The prices of bingsu items range from 28,000 won to 32,000 won, inclu

May 27, 2016

[Travel bits] Round up of travel news

 Ulsan Grand Park Rose FestivalUlsan Grand Park Rose Festival has launched its 11th annual rose garden festivities. Held every year since 2005, this year’s festival exhibits roughly 3 million roses in a 44,737-square-meter rose garden. Visitors will have the opportunity to marvel at a wide range of premium rose species, which have been planted throughout the park’s expansion garden areas including the Cupid Garden, Venus Garden, Rose Hills and various themed gardens.　Aside from the diverse rose

May 27, 2016