At a glance, Indonesia’s bustling capital Jakarta seems like many other metropolitan cities in Southeast Asia. Its streets are lined with cutting-edge skyscrapers and packed with cars and motorbikes that cause heavy congestion. Highrise buildings at the center of Jakarta, Indonesia. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)But only a few hours away, the tropical country, composed of more than 17,500 islands, boasts natural beauty in every corner -- from white sandy beaches and colorful marine treasures to

July 15, 2016

Busan Fireworks FestivalThe annual Busan Fireworks Festival gearing up for its 12th year, kicking off its festivities October 22 along Gwangalli Beach.Along with its breathtaking fireworks display show, the festival will feature a myriad of diverse events, including live music and street performances. The annual festival is one of the city’s biggest and most popular events, attracting more than 1 million national and international visitors every year.Although in the past the festival has been he

July 15, 2016

Summer Family package at Lotte City Hotel JejuLotte City Hotel Jeju is presenting its Summer Family package starting at 280,000 won.To help families traveling with kids make the best out of their stays, the package offers various discounts and amenities including a one-night stay in a standard family twin room, a meal for 2 adults and one child at the hotel’s buffet-style restaurant C’cafe, deluxe chocolate from Hershey’s Kisses, free parking service at Lotte Mall’s Gimpo Airport branch, and mor

July 15, 2016

Ever since the Seomun Night Market first turned on its lights on June 3, the nighttime skies above Daegu have remained as bright and welcoming as the noonday sun.Selected as the first “Global Luxury Market” in a contest hosted by the Small and Medium Business Administration, the Seomun Night Market is the largest night market in Korea, with over 80 sellers, 65 types of food, 15 official product categories, and countless vendors and stalls.  Seomun market, Daegu, South Korea (Yonhap)In addition t

July 13, 2016

Jeju Island was the most traveled to destination for Koreans in the first half of the year, according to a report by the online travel agency Expedia Korea on Monday.  Jeju Island (Instagram user @sosohan_rin)Listing the most in-demand cities by the volume of hotel reservations, Jeju Island, the resort island off the southern coast of Korea, jumped 75 percent compared to the same period last year, pushing it from third to first place. 　Osaka took the No. 2 spot followed by Seoul, Okinawa and Tok

July 11, 2016

Bastille Day Gourmet Dinner at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s French restaurant Seasons will present a Bastille Day Gourmet Dinner on July 14, in celebration of the French National Day.　The gala dinner will start with a welcome cocktail followed by a French-themed dinner paired with French wines.　The menu features a mixed platter of Alaskan King crab, oysters on ice, scallops with crunchy vegetables and sturgeon caviar sauce, and wagyu beef Wellington.　The gala dinner is priced

July 8, 2016

　DAEGU -- Launched on March 25, the foreigner-exclusive K-Travel Bus was rolled out by the Visit Korea Committee with one major aim – to showcase that there is more to Korea than the glitzy urban sprawl of Seoul. The travel bus began as part of the 2016-2018 “Visit Korea Year,” with the goal of attracting more than 20 million international tourists to Korea annually. With a large majority of travelers to Korea choosing to solely remain in the confines of the capital city, the Visit Korea Committ

July 8, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- With the Olympics just a few weeks away, Brazil faces a litany of problems: an economy in freefall, the Zika virus and a political crisis with an impeached president. But for those brave -- or foolhardy -- enough to make the trip, Rio de Janeiro is a city rich with potential rewards. Broadcasters have already deemed the city’s backdrop for the Summer Games the most telegenic ever. But no matter how good this teeming seaside metropolis -- where the urban jungle and the lite

July 7, 2016

Buyeo Seodong Lotus FestivalThe annual Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is a celebration of all thing lotus flowers, while also highlighting the importance of preserving wild flowers. As part of the festival celebrations, the event features a variety of programs such as lotus paper origami and flower soap making. 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 strengthen its image as a t

July 1, 2016

A couple of developments in the travel industry have been making headlines recently. They may not be in the biggest type, but they’re notable. They’ve gotten me thinking. They’re indicators, I think, of what may be trends that will affect your travels in the near future.What do you think?Culture in the CaribbeanCuba’s hot. Its new prominence at the top of Americans’ list of places to see has gained most of the attention. But Cuba’s new rock-star status is also making waves among government and t

July 1, 2016

Escape summer heat at the Ritz-Carlton Seoul The Ritz-Carlton Seoul presents Sunday Escape package for guests seeking a relaxing Sunday break.The package includes 12-hour stay at the Superior Deluxe room during the daytime and lunch at the Oksan Buffet for two adults and one child under the age of 6. The guests could choose to check in either at 9 a.m. or at 10 a.m., avoiding the relentless heat of midsummer.The guests will also be allowed access to the hotel’s indoor swimming pool during the st

July 1, 2016

Amid modern skyscrapers in Seoul, it’s hard to imagine that some horrifying murders or traumatic suicides occurred. But the northern center of the capital city is in fact where many major historical events with dark stories behind took place. 　Korean history and its appalling stories fascinate Joe McPherson, president of ZenKimchi food blog and the guide of the Dark Side of Seoul tour that runs every Friday and Saturday in the bustling areas of Jongno, Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon Stream. 　“Th

July 1, 2016

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

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

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 — 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

‘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

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