Around the hotels

Spa for men at Park Hyatt SeoulThe hotel presents “Park Club Spa for Men,” which includes a 60-minute full body treatment plus a 30-minute facial treatment. Highly trained therapists will provide customized treatments based on the guest’s physical condition and preferences. Facial treatment provides a deep cleansing to remove excess sebum and debris. Those who visit Monday through Friday before 8 p.m. will receive a complementary shirt dry cleaning and shoe-shine service. The package also includ

June 21, 2013

Wining and dining on the African railway

CAPE TOWN ― The landscape transformed as we neared Cape Town. Mountainous scrubland that could have been plucked from a Hollywood Western gave way to the vineyards of Hex River Valley, the source of 20 percent of South Africa’s wine production.Copper peaks, ringed by low-hanging clouds, soared above endless vineyards turned red and gold by the South African autumn. Inside our dining car, we drank the fruits of the region in the form of a dry Thelema Riesling, recommended by our waiter to accompa

June 14, 2013

Mexico’s Mazatlan is getting its mojo back

MAZATLAN, Mexico ― The atmosphere in the Plaza de Toros, hot in the afternoon sun, crackled like popcorn, leaving visitors wondering just how long the crowd, growing larger by the minute, would sit patiently and wait. But as late arrivals searched for the last free seats, their concerns melted away.Suntanned cowboys in big-brimmed hats spotted distant friends and waved. Vendors selling beer worked the aisles and ladies spread sunscreen on their children. Clean-shaven men, eyes hidden behind blac

June 14, 2013

Cruising Alaska? Alternatives to pricey excursions

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) ― It’s cruise season in Alaska, with more than 1 million cruise passengers expected between April and September in port towns from Ketchikan to Seward.Cruise passengers who sign up for shore excursions can spend hundreds of dollars, if not more in the case of families, in each port they visit. Taking a helicopter to see Juneau-area ice fields can easily run $1,000 for a family of four for a one-hour trip. A nature tour near the tiny town of Ketchikan can run $89 for adults an

June 14, 2013

[Graphic News] Seoul 27th-cheapest city for luxury night out

A lavish night stay in Seoul costs $304 (340,000 won) on average, according to data released by TripAdvisor on Wednesday.Seoul ranked the 27th-least expensive city to stay overnight among 49 cities worldwide. The cost includes a one-night stay at a four-star hotel for two persons, a dinner with a bottle of wine, cocktails at a five-star hotel and taxi fare traveling 6.4 kilometers. At $158, or half of the cost of Seoul, Bulgaria’s capital Sofia was found to be the least expensive city for a luxu

June 13, 2013

A historic walk on Ganghwado Island

Walking on Ganghwado Island never leaves you bored of the view. South Korea’s fourth-largest island, located at the northwest end of the country, has a variety of landscapes that reflect its dramatic history. Several times a key place where Korea resisted foreign invaders ― not always successfully ― the island features well-preserved historic remains, in the downtown area, rural villages and along the coastline. The island is also a place where hikers can get a close look at North Korean territo

June 12, 2013

KTO publishes guideline for English names of Korean food

The Korea Tourism Organization has published a guideline on English menus for Korean food and basic conversations for servers who receive foreign guests. The booklet offers names of about 4,300 Korean, Chinese and Japanese dishes frequently found in Korea, in the English, Japanese and Chinese languages. “We standardized the Korean names of more than 4,000 dishes in foreign languages. And I hope it solves the problems we’ve had with poor translation of food menus in small and mid-size restaurants

June 9, 2013

Philippines’ great outdoors

CEBU, Philippines ― There are many reasons to choose a resort island as a holiday destination. If one’s ideal holiday consists of reading books on the beach and swimming in the ocean, staying at a good resort will be the first choice. But for those looking for a more dynamic experience, staying on a remote island might leave something to be desired. The islands of Cebu and Bohol in the Philippines have plenty to offer to satisfy travelers seeking a holiday that’s both relaxing and dynamic. The n

June 7, 2013

In Australia’s Byron Bay, beach meets boho

BYRON BAY, Australia ― My face flushed cherry red and my sweat-soaked sundress clung to my body. I stood, elated, on a wooden platform at the summit of Mt. Warning, a jagged peak in the Gondwana rain forest. The mountain, in the far northeastern corner of New South Wales, Australia, bears witness to the first flicker of sunlight on the continent.By the time I reached it, however, the sun was setting and fog had crept in. Dappled twilight pierced the mist, affording glimpses of the vast subtropic

June 7, 2013

A trip to the heart of the DMZ

Located within the Demilitarized Zone, the Joint Security Area is the most forward location that can be visited by people in South Korea. It sits in the western portion of the DMZ on the Military Demarcation Line that divides the two Koreas according to the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953. Also often referred to as a “Truce Village,” Panmunjeom, or the JSA as it is formally called, is where South and North Korean troops stand on guard, staring at one another from a distance. Although this yea

May 31, 2013