All in Travel
Volunteering is a rewarding way for older travellers for whom traditional sightseeing no longer appeals, but who want to experience new places and new cultures — and especially for those interested in biodiversity, environmental and wildlife conservation issues. It’s an ideal way to meet people of different nationalities who share the same interests, and to see parts of Asia that are well away from the usual tourist haunts.
South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, has a lot to offer the older traveller with many historic places and cultural events to see, unusual foods to try, beautiful parks and urban walkways for leisurely strolls and fascinating markets in which to browse or buy. This guide to one of the most the vibrant cities in East Asia will ensure you don’t miss out on the best places to visit or experiences to enjoy.
A circumnavigation of the northern island of Luzon is considered by many to be the grandest of road trips that can be undertaken in the Philippines. It takes about a month to do properly and is generally done in two circuits – one to the north of Manila and one to the south. This comprehensive guide to the northern circuit will help those wanting to do the trip to plan their itinerary and not miss any of the most interesting sights along the way.
South Korea is not often thought of as a wine-producing country. But it does have one large winery producing some surprisingly good wines. And then there’s soju — the world’s top selling spirit — which comes in a range of fruit flavours and can be drunk like wine. This comprehensive guide to Korea’s wines and spirits will help those visiting the country to choose a drink that will most suit their palate.
Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world. There are times that the presence of tourists may feel overwhelming, and you may want to escape for a day or two and enjoy the feel of ‘small town’ Thailand. The riverside town of Mae Khlong is one such place, and it’s only 80 km from Bangkok, so is ideal for either a day trip or an overnight stay.
For visitors to Tokyo with an interest in the city’s past, the Edo-Tokyo Museum has much to offer. It charts Tokyo’s history, culture and growth since its founding in 1603 under the name Edo through to the modern era. Considered one of Japan’s best museums, its spacious atmosphere and its range of exhibits and amenities is likely to appeal to many older travellers.
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular holiday destinations year-round. During the rainy season, there will be some wet days, but these need not spoil your visit. There’s lots to do and see on Phuket Island whatever the weather. Here are our recommendations for things to do in Phuket on those rainy days.
The Philippines is a country rich in history. For those interested to learn more about its heritage and culture, there are a number of destinations that are particularly suited to older travellers as they provide the opportunity to visit historic landmarks at an easy pace. This comprehensive guide to what these places have to offer, how to get there and what to see, will assist travellers contemplating or planning a ‘heritage holiday’ in the Philippines.
Once a colonial hill station, the city of Dalat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands is today a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors annually. It continues to offer an escape from the year-round tropical heat that blankets much of the country. Surrounded by hills and pine forests, it’s likely to appeal to senior travellers who want to spend a few days at a relatively unhurried pace. But they shouldn’t expect a well-preserved hill station of old.
Bangkok is one of those cities to which travellers return many times. If you’ve done the Grand Palace, the Temple of Dawn and the floating markets on previous trips, and shopped until you dropped at MBK and CentralWorld, then it’s time to slow down the pace and savour the many other attractions that Bangkok has to offer. Here are eight places and experiences you should include on your next visit to the Thai capital.
Paintings make great souvenirs to bring home from a trip to Asia. They not only serve as a reminder of places that you’ve visited, but will look great on the walls of your home. Original paintings may appreciate in value and are a better buy than reproductions. Our guide to buying art in Asia tells you where the best places are to buy original paintings, how to transport your paintings home, and where to see the best art if you aren’t in the mood to buy yet.
There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.
There are many different tropical fruits available from markets and street stalls throughout Asia. Not all of them may be familiar to visitors from other parts of the world because some tropical fruits do not travel well, so are only readily available in the countries where they are grown. Travellers should therefore try to sample local fruits that are in season whenever the opportunity arises. Here are six of our “must try” fruits for visitors to the region.
Asian countries comprise the majority of the countries on which travellers are searching for information online. That may come as no surprise given the diversity of the continent and the large number of year-round holiday destinations. But what may be a surprise are the names of the countries that are showing the biggest increases in interest. They are not all ones you might expect!
The three historic Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley offer visitors a journey into the heart of Nepal’s heritage. They contain many of country’s finest temples, both Hindu and Buddhist, along with centuries-old royal palaces. Despite being badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake, the squares remain full of atmosphere, and of buildings that retain the power to dazzle any visitor.
Thailand is well known for its luxury spas and beach resorts, and now many of these are competing with India offering high quality yoga and meditation retreats. Our yoga expert takes a look at what is on offer from Phuket in the south up to Chiang Mai in the north, and recommends five of the best — two in the luxury category, two mid-range resorts and one that will appeal to the budget traveller.
