Top destinations for skiers & non-skiers

With the coming of winter (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), there sometimes comes a divide amongst travelers: Are you taking a warm winter getaway or a snow-filled adventure? What’s a couple to do if one traveler skis and the other half does not? In response to this traveling issue, many ski towns and resorts have made ramping up their activities for non-skiers as big a priority as providing great powder. In case one member of your party is more bunny slope than snow bunny, the editors and

Dec. 7, 2012

Mayfield Hotel opens residential suites

Mayfield Hotel has opened residential suites targeting business travelers and long-term visitors to Korea.Located in western Seoul, the hotel is 5 minutes and 30 minutes away from Gimpo and Incheon International Airports, respectively. It also offers easy and fast access to major destinations in the city center such as Yeouido and the Kintex convention center. The hotel offers a unique blend of warm hospitality and comfort from nature as it is built in a forest. A total of 57 suite rooms with ni

Dec. 3, 2012

Templestay at Geumsunsa: We all needed that

There are those moments when nothing is really wrong but you feel weary, let down and ready to cry. Or sometimes you may just want to isolate yourself from the bustling life in the city and be in silence for a day or two. Templestay, where participants stay for a night or two at a Buddhist temple and follow the lives of the Buddhist monks, might be one destination for those in such a mood. Geumsunsa, in Gugi-dong at the foot of Mt. Bukhan in northern Seoul, is a shelter for citizens to lay down

Nov. 30, 2012

Travel books as gifts: From coffee table to memoir

NEW YORK (AP) ― From memoirs and maps to beautiful hard-covers suitable for coffee-table display, here are some ideas for holiday gifts from this year’s crop of travel books and publications. (Prices shown are cover list prices.)National Geographic’s “World’s Best Travel Experiences” ($40) looks at wild places, urban spaces, man-made wonders and other extraordinary destinations, from beach paradises to religious pilgrimage sites. There’s even a list of best places for dance lessons, whether you

Nov. 30, 2012

Mercure’s Sky lounge ‘Kloud’ sets new standard for Gangnam bars

Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed. Though Korea is known to have some of the best night life in Asia, very few bars provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy a drink with a view of night sky and the fresh air. Though many would like to enjoy their drink with a nice breeze and a view of Seoul, they are usually trapped in dark bars and clubs, bombarded with neon lights and the obnoxious smell of smoke. It might be the weather; unlike tropical cities with many

Nov. 28, 2012

5 free things to do in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY (AP) ― For many foreigners, Mexico City invokes images of urban chaos, choking air pollution and pervasive street crime. And it can be an intimidating place for tourists, with maddeningly heavy traffic, a confusing public transportation system and neighborhoods cut off from each other by multi-lane highways plowed through the center of the city.But the capital has changed radically in recent years, and almost entirely for the better. Street crime and air pollution are down and the ci

Nov. 23, 2012

Big Island’s lush, isolated North Kohala nurtures music and arts

HAWI, Hawaii ― You don’t get to North Kohala unless you mean to, or you’ve made a wrong turn.All the better for local musicians and artists to hide away and find their Polynesian muses.This lush district at the Big Island of Hawaii’s north shore is isolated from the busy Kona Coast by the ranch-dotted, horse-heaven hill that is Kohala, an extinct volcano. On its windward side, it squeezes up like an accordion into deep and wild valleys navigated only by ancient trails.A two-lane road transits th

Nov. 23, 2012

American grill at Imperial Palace Seoul

The hotel’s Italian restaurant, Verona, presents “Enjoy the American Grill at Verona” promotion of authentic steak menu from Nov. 26-Dec. 31. The promotion will feature various authentic steak grill menus using American prime-grade meat and guests may choose to have a single dish of steak by parts according to their taste. Diners may enjoy the world’s top delicacies of truffles, foie gras and Sicilian olives at Verona. The price starts from 19,000 won per 100g. In addition, there is a lunch set

Nov. 23, 2012

Club Phantom strictly for hip-hop lovers

Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed. Hip-hop is a trend, culture and generation reminiscent of baggy pants, XXL shirts, rap music and spray paint on walls in the ’80s and ’90s. Fast-forward to the 21st century and now hip-hop music is considered much like heavy metal or punk rock, which bloomed in one generation but are now a thing for a small group of loyal fans. The current trend among party lovers in Seoul seems to be house and electronic music ― a genre that

Nov. 21, 2012

One-month countdown to the end of Mayan calendar cycle

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) ― From Mexico’s Maya Riviera to ancient sites in Guatemala, the region foresees a tourism bonanza from the fateful Dec. 21 date in the Mayan calendar, but indigenous groups are fed up with the doomsday myth.With one month to go before the end of the calendar’s 5,200-year cycle, tourists will find all-inclusive excursions and religious ceremonies in holy sites across Central America and Mexico.It is also a chance to celebrate the contributions of the Mayan civilization to man

Nov. 21, 2012

Foreign tourist arrivals to Korea reach 10 million

Korea welcomed the 10 millionth visitor of the year on Wednesday ― a landmark figure for Korea’s tourism industry as it aims to become a top travel destination. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the total number of foreign visitors to the country is expected to reach 11.3 million by the end of the year, up about 15 percent from the previous year. The number of inbound travelers has grown an average of 15 percent since 1978, higher than other major tourist destinations such as the U.S.

Nov. 21, 2012

Explore the geological marvels of ‘The island of the gods’

  JEJU ISLAND ― Whether it be the abundance of prehistoric volcanic remains, lava tubes or caves, Jeju Island is truly a geological wonder. The surreal scenery of the island will undoubtedly make for an unforgettable trip. The island of Jeju itself is one giant extinct volcano, created by a massive eruption almost 2 million years ago. It is also home to 368 mountains and more than 160 lava tubes. The natural geology of Jeju Island is like none other in the world. The island is the world’s first

Nov. 16, 2012