All by David Astley
Many western governments have issued travel warnings cautioning their citizens about travelling to Hong Kong since the China crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2020. The travel warnings suggest that tourists may be subject to arbitrary arrest and detention. Are these warnings overblown or are they real? We travel to Hong Kong to find out.
Visitors to Danang and Hoi An on the Central Coast of Vietnam are often bombarded with offers from taxi drivers to take them to the My Son Sanctuary, about an hour ‘s drive inland. It’s one of the oldest archeological sites in Southeast Asia, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed, but it’s not large. So is it worth the half day that it takes to visit?
Older travellers heading to Lombok, Indonesia, for the first time often ask which is the best of the Gili Islands to stay on. Many travel blogs recommend Gili Air because it’s a compromise between the livelier Gili Trawangan and much quieter Gili Meno. But there are reasons why that may not be the best advice.
Thailand's Phang Nga province is not as well known to overseas visitors as Phuket to its immediate south, but for older travellers to the region it offers a quieter alternative and an opportunity to get away from Phuket's traffic and tourist crowds. For nature lovers, there are some real gems to be discovered in Phang Nga in the form of deserted beaches, nature trails, and picturesque waterfalls.
The picturesque Bikan Historical Quarter in the Japanese city of Kurashiki has many art museums, historically significant shrines, interesting boutiques and craft shops, as well as some excellent restaurants and coffee shops, making it a relaxing day-trip destination for travellers interested in Japanese art, history and culture.
The scenic Thai province of Krabi on the eastern side of picturesque Phang Nga Bay has a lot to offer older travellers. It’s quieter and more laidback than its western neigbour, Phuket, and focuses more on nature experiences. Whilst some of its attractions are suitable only for those who are reasonably fit, there are alternatives available for those with health or mobility issues. In this article, we identify where those are.
Thailand’s Koh Lanta has a reputation for being a tranquil alternative to more popular islands like Phuket and Koh Samui. But depending on where you stay, that’s not always the case. However, Koh Lanta is a great destination for foodies travelling on a budget as it has many excellent eating places at much lower prices than other tourist spots.
A road trip along the Thai side of the Mekong River from Khong Chiam in Ubon Ratchathani province to Chiang Khan in Loei province takes you through parts of Thailand’s Isan region that are not often visited by travellers from overseas. There are many scenic national parks to visit along the way, and a memorable but somewhat dangerous mountain climb in Bueng Kan province that can be tackled by older travellers who are reasonably fit.
Phuket and Koh Samui are Thailand’s most popular island destinations, but if you’ve not been to either, it can be difficult deciding which is the better choice for older travellers. Both have great beaches, restaurants, and a wide range of activities on offer. We take a closer look at what each island has to offer to assist you in making the right choice if you only have time to visit one or the other.
Are you a first-time or infrequent traveller to Asia and wondering which countries are the safest to visit? No country is 100 percent safe, but this guide will tell you which are the safest to start with and what to look out for in those countries. The guide is based both on institutional rankings and the personal experience of a long-time traveller who has visited them all.
Vietnamese property developers are turning Phu Quoc island into a tourist mecca by building replicas of Mediterranean towns, theme parks, resorts, hotels and condominiums, but in the process they are destroying some pristine tropical environments and replacing them with artificial landscapes. The new facilities are impressive, but does the island have much to offer older travellers, and will the lack of eco-tourism destinations turn travellers away?
The Mae Hong Son Loop is Thailand’s most well-known scenic drive. It’s a 600 km roughly circular drive around the mountains to the west of Chiang Mai. The driving time is about 12 hours, but most people do the trip over four days so that they can stop to admire the scenery and waterfalls or spend time in the national parks along the way. The route provides many options for interesting side-trips as well.
The island of Palawan is an eco-tourism destination which has good roads, beautiful scenery, and uncrowded beaches. It’s one of the few places in the Philippines where it is safe for visitors who don’t have a lot of driving experience in Southeast Asia to hire a car for a self-drive holiday. Here’s a suggested 7-day itinerary that will enable you to see the best of what Palawan has to offer.
Luang Prabang was once known as Southeast Asia’s best kept travel secret. But now with high-speed rail links bringing in tour groups from Thailand and China, and direct Airbus flights from regional capitals, the tourist crowds in this former French colonial outpost with its UNESCO World Heritage listed old town are becoming unsustainable. So, is it still worth making the trip?
Northern Thailand has two excellent botanic gardens that are within an easy hour’s drive of the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They can provide a relaxing nature break from a busy touring schedule and are highly recommended to anyone interested in tropical or sub-tropical gardening, or to travellers who want a safe place to exercise that is cooler than the cities of the provinces in which they are located.
The Erawan Waterfall in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province is well known as one of the country’s most picturesque waterfalls and for its 1.75 km forest trail to the top level of its seven tiers. For older travellers, that hike can be quite challenging unless they are very fit because the seventh tier is 800 metres above the bottom tier. This detailed illustrated guide to the hike will assist you to decide whether it is something you should tackle when visiting the Erawan Waterfall.
