Giant cruise ship heads to Arctic on pioneering journey

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- It is a voyage explorers only dreamed of not so long ago.But thanks to climate change, a luxury cruise ship has undertaken a pioneering journey that will see it sail through the once impassable Northwest Passage during a monthlong trip that is drawing much excitement but also criticism from environmentalists.The Crystal Serenity, which set off from Seward, Alaska on Aug. 16 with nearly 1,000 passengers, is scheduled to dock in New York on Sept. 17.The ship made its last Alas

Aug. 25, 2016

Some vacation spots quietly benefit as travelers avoid Zika

NEW YORK (AP) -- With government officials now warning pregnant women to avoid Miami Beach in addition to Puerto Rico, some sun seekers are desperately scrambling for a Zika-free vacation.And that has left other tourist destinations to capitalize -- quietly.Travel experts say families worried about Zika are now looking to Arizona and Southern California to get some sun, along with cooler weather locales such as New England and Canada.The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or through sex wit

Aug. 25, 2016

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

Water splash parade at Everland　 Everland is paying tribute to the days of summer this year as the amusement park and resort play host to the Summer Splash and Fantastic Summer Night festival. The festival is jam-packed with various programs like splash parades, fireworks and a 3-D mapping show held every night. 　During the day, guests can enjoy Jack’s Splash Parade, which sprays 84 tons of water from 40 water cannons and six floats, three times a day. Then later at night when the heat dies down

Aug. 19, 2016

Nestled in greenery, Suncheon offers look into the past

History still breathes in Sucheon.Located in South Jeolla Province, the mid-size city of nearly 280,000 residents boasts well-preserved traces of the Joseon era, a period when it served as one of the crucial administrative towns of the kingdom. The city also houses the centuries-old Songgwangsa Temple, considered one of the three jewels of Korean Buddhism.Today, the city’s environmental conservation efforts have cultivated biodiversity unparalleled to that found in urban areas: Suncheon boasts n

Aug. 12, 2016

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

 Water splash parade at EverlandEverland is paying tribute to the days of summer this year as the amusement park and resort play host to the Summer Splash and Fantastic Summer Night festival. The festival is jam-packed with various programs like splash parades, fireworks and a 3-D mapping show held every night. During the day, guests can enjoy Jack’s Splash Parade, which sprays 84 tons of water from 40 water cannons and six floats, three times a day. Then later at night when the heat dies down,

Aug. 12, 2016

Shilla Jeju presents ‘adults only’ swimming pool

After a large number of requests from hotel guests to establish an adults-only pool area, the Shilla Jeju luxury resort has done just that.Earlier this June, the hotel established its new outdoor “adults pool” in the tranquil, tropical ambiance of the Soombi Garden just in time for one of the country’s hottest summers on record.The pool area also comes fully equipped with cabanas and a poolside bar, serving up a wide variety of cocktails and fine-dining meals.  “Our focus for the adult pool is n

Aug. 12, 2016

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

Juice It Up Gangnam Set at Park Hyatt SeoulTo help guests reenergize in the midst of peak summer heat, Park Hyatt Seoul is presenting the Juice It Up Gangnam Set promotion at the hotel restaurant The Lounge from now until Aug. 31. The package starts at 70,000 per person for both lunch and dinner, and includes a three-course meal, offering a modern twist to iconic Korean dishes like hoe (raw fish), grilled premium beef, tteokgalbi (grilled short-rib patties), injeolmi (rice cake) ice cream, and m

Aug. 12, 2016

Feeling the heat: public saunas cool again in Finland

HELSINKI (AFP) - Is stripping down and getting sweaty with strangers your kind of thing? In Finland, despite an astounding 2 million private saunas, the hottest trend sweeping the sweat tank loving country is public saunas.They’re Helsinki’s coolest spots this summer, drawing Finns and tourists of all ages to unwind on wooden benches in slick waterfront locales where the mercury hits at least 80 degrees Celsius.A trendy new boutique sauna called Loyly (Finnish for “Steam”) opened its doors on th

Aug. 11, 2016

War tourism in Afghanistan: adventure or reckless hedonism?

KABUL (AFP) -- Thousands of people are fleeing the conflict roiling Afghanistan, but American backpacker John Milton recently made the reverse journey to the war-ravaged country -- for a holiday.Armed with little more than travel guidebooks and an unflagging spirit of adventure, hardy bands of “war tourists” such as Milton visit Afghanistan’s pristine mountains and medieval ruins every year, ignoring warnings of kidnappings and bombings.A Taliban attack on Thursday on a group of American and Eur

Aug. 8, 2016

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

Nighttime walk in JeonjuOne of the country’s most traditional cities, Jeonju is gearing up to host its first “Walk in Jeonju (Heritage Night and Heritage Story)” nighttime sightseeing and walking tour event. From Aug. 12 to 13 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, Jeonju’s historic Hanok Village will welcome local and international visitors to attend its unique nighttime festivities. The upcoming event will include free outdoor performances, movie screenings and light shows, as well as moonlight tours to some

July 29, 2016

Pyeongchang’s Yongpyong Resort has all one’s summer needs

Although it is located in the country’s mecca of winter sports, the iconic Yongpyong Resort is pulling out all the stops celebrating the summer season. Opened in 1975, the resort located at the foot of Mount Balwangsan in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, was the first ever modern facility of its kind in Korea. With an annual snowfall of around 250 cm, and the site of the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics, the surrounding area of the resort allows for the enjoyment of a wide array of winter sports incl

July 29, 2016

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

Taste of Peru at Grand Hyatt SeoulHosted by Grand Hyatt Seoul, a special Peru Food Festival promotion will take place at the hotel’s buffet restaurant The Terrace from July 29 to Aug. 11. In collaboration with the Peruvian Embassy, the event will offer some of the most iconic Peruvian dishes, including ceviche (raw seafood), chicharron (fried pork rind), Seco de Cordero (lamb stew) and aji de gallina (creamy chicken curry), all prepared by a visiting native chef. Diners can get a taste of Peru f

July 29, 2016

Bermuda’s gentle beauty, easygoing lifestyle makes being shipwrecked enticing

HAMILTON, Bermuda — This small island — only 55 square kilometers in size and 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina — gave the world its eponymous shorts (still used as part of the island uniform), onions (still used in island cuisine), and grass (still used on the island’s ubiquitous golf courses).　Bermuda has earned literary cred as well. An early chronicler of its infamous Triangle, William Shakespeare used it as the shipwreck setting for his play “The Tempest,” maki

July 29, 2016

Next stop, your future spouse?

The Airport Express said on Sunday it will launch a monthly train service designed to provide romantic day trips to single men and women who want a relationship. Dubbed “Airport Express of Love,” this train will make a round trip from Seoul Station to Incheon’s Yongyudo beach with potential dates. Those wanting to come aboard can sign up at http://arex.couple.net and provide some personal details (name, age, education level, etc.) and a short bio. Selected participants will be asked to pay a fee

July 25, 2016

Jeonju to launch new nighttime tours through historic city

One of the country’s most traditional cities, Jeonju, is gearing up to host its first “Walk in Jeonju (Heritage Night and Heritage Story)” nighttime sightseeing and walking tour event starting next month. From Aug. 12 to 13 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, Jeonju’s Hanok Village will welcome visitors to attend night time festivities. The walking tours programs will include free outdoor performances, movie screenings and light shows as well as moonlight tours to some of the city’s most popular attractions

July 25, 2016

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

K-Travel Bus summer promotion　Visit Korea Committee is conducting a summer promotion event for the K-Travel Bus service from July 18 to Aug. 31, offering travelers discounted rates.　Participants who reserve a trip with the K-Travel bus during that timeframe via its homepage will receive a discount coupon worth $30, as well as an additional $10 discount for international students who present a university/college or language school ID card. 　A drawing will also be held for those who post reviews o

July 22, 2016