Asia has many destinations that often exceed our expectations, and when we leave, we lament that we did not spend more time there. Here are seven of those special places that draw travellers back and to which the xyzAsia travel writers believe are worth the time and money to go back in preference to travelling to somewhere new. They are all destinations worth revisiting.
If the theme parks, shopping malls and noisy bars of Phuket don’t appeal, but you want a tropical beach holiday in a quiet location that’s easy to reach with a good selection of accommodation options and restaurants, then you don’t have to travel far from Phuket to find it. Khao Lak fits the bill and offers the bonus of being a great base for a wide range of nature activities.
Kampot in southern Cambodia has gained a well-deserved reputation as a destination for foodies in Southeast Asia. But there is more to do in this laidback river town than just eating your way through the menus of the many excellent restaurants. It’s a great spot to unwind and enjoy some relaxing back-to-nature experiences.
If you are visiting Georgia, then it’s easy to do a side trip by overnight train from Tbilisi to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. This guide explains how to do that and suggests a three-day itinerary to see the best of Yerevan and some nearby places that are easy to reach by private taxi or on an organised day tour from the city.
If you’re visiting Manila’s historic walled city of Intramuros, it’s best to stay nearby or inside Intramuros if you want to avoid Metro Manila’s notorious traffic jams. We review the accommodation options on offer which includes one of the best and one of the worst hotels in the Philippines. This helpful guide will help you to make the right choice.
Koh Rong is the largest resort island off the coast of Cambodia. It’s well known as the location of at least six international series of the TV show ‘Survivor’. But how does it match up as a beach holiday destination and compare with all the longer established island resorts in Thailand and the Philippines. We visit Koh Rong to find out.
For those who enjoy ‘slow travel’ by train, a day trip to the iconic Bridge over the River Kwai is easy to accomplish when staying in Bangkok. It’s only a two-and-a-half hour journey each way from the Thai capital, costs only a couple of dollars, and will provide you with an enjoyable and relaxing day seeing the countryside and an opportunity to learn more about the infamous Burma to Thailand ‘Death Railway’.
Baku is an oil-rich city that is somewhat off the beaten track but is worth visiting because it has a history dating back many centuries. This gives it a unique amalgamation of old and new, with buildings dating back more than 800 years overshadowed by new high-rises and interesting structures from its Soviet era.
In recent years, Georgia has gained a reputation as one of the best destinations in western Asia for food and wine lovers. Its Kartvelian cuisine, which takes inspiration from its Slavic, Turkish, and Persian neighbours, can be an indulgent experience, and its traditional home-brewed wines in clay vessels represent one of the oldest wine cultures in the world.
If you are looking for a hotel in the $50-100 price range close to the Royal Palace and Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh, then these reviews of the best value budget hotels in Cambodia’s capital should help you to select a hotel that meets your needs. Phnom Penh offers some of the best value-for-money accommodation options in Asia and is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations on the continent for food lovers.
South India has a bewildering number of magnificent temples, many of which attract visitors from all over the world. But for the first time visitor, it’s hard to know where to start. Here one of our local writers who is an experienced world traveller recommends six of the best to visit to help you plan a South India itinerary that won’t disappoint.
The Thailand tourism authorities have come in for a lot of criticism in recent months for not being able to handle the volume of Thailand Pass applications that were made once destinations were opened to international tourists under their ‘Test & Go’ and ‘Sandbox’ schemes for vaccinated travellers. But now there’s evidence that the backlog has been cleared and travellers are receiving their Thailand Passes within the seven days promised.
Southeast Asia has many colonial hotels with rich and varied histories. There are some that once hosted well known literary figures, stars of stage and screen, and were instrumental in the lives of foreign correspondents whilst covering wars in Southeast Asia. Those travellers who love literature and reminiscences of bygone eras will find these hotels worth a visit.
When travellers think of Asian winter holiday destinations they usually think of Japan or South Korea in East Asia, but there’s a remarkable winter destination to discover in West Asia too. Georgia has beautiful mountain scenery, picturesque villages and forests, frozen lakes, and ski fields that are open until April with prices that are well below European or other Asian ski resorts.
Anyone travelling internationally these days knows about the hassles involved in getting PCR tests completed within the right timeframe. Many travellers have missed flights because their test certificates didn't arrive in time. But it’s not just timing that’s important — it’s the format of the test certificate too. If the format doesn’t match the entry requirements of the country to which you are travelling, you may be denied boarding.
World Expo 2020 which is currently being held in Dubai has lived up to all expectations and is highly recommended for those currently able to travel. With two and a half months remaining, many older travellers may be concerned about getting there during a pandemic and being around crowds. Here are some tips to make your Expo visit less stressful and enjoy the events, entertainment, experiences and cuisines on offer.
