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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 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

Known for dynamism and high technology, Seoul is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, with a population of more than 10 million. Its population flow into, out of and within the greater metropolitan area, including the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, causes frequent traffic jams. 　Luckily, the city has one of the world’s most efficient public transportation systems. The subway network looks complex, but it is the easiest way to navigate the capital city and discover its various cul

May 20, 2016

Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival　Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival has launched its 11th annual festivities. Held every year since 2005, this year’s festival exhibits roughly 3 million roses in a 44,730 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 expansive garden areas including the Cupid Garden, Venus Garden, Rose Hills and various themed gardens.　Aside from the diverse rose species on d

May 20, 2016

I guess you could call it a midlife crisis.　　I’d flown across the Atlantic Ocean for a weeklong cycling trip on this Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco. The crisis part came as I watched a Trek Travel guide hoist my Domane road bike onto the roof rack of the support van, and I sheepishly crawled into the passenger seat while the other cyclists on the trip pedaled up the hill and out of sight.　“We’ll just give you a bump to the next rest stop,” the guide said with an extra dose of enthu

May 20, 2016

　Imperial Palace Seoul Hotel relaunches ‘Familia’　Imperial Palace Seoul Hotel’s buffet restaurant Familia has reopened after three months of extensive renewal process.　The buffet is equipped with upgraded facilities, and has been relocated to the first floor for easier access.　The seven live stations -- grill, sushi, dim sum, pasta, pizza, deep fried and oriental noodles -- provide diverse menus including the signature dishes such as Buddha’s Temptation (a seafood soup), penne pasta, and cold ra

May 13, 2016