I’ve written a lot about Japanese rail passes, but never about one in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. A short visit last month helped change that– let’s take a look at the JR West Kansai Area Rail Pass. I want to skip the JR backgrounder, and go right to the […]
The World’s Smallest Escalator
After all, the world’s smallest escalator still involves travel. As usual, there’s an unrelated backstory involved. While studying abroad in Hong Kong in 2005, I used to walk around Kowloon Walled City Park. The park was built on the foundation of the infamous Kowloon Walled City, which was entirely demolished in 1994. Then, after having […]
Hong Kong Chase Sapphire Lounge
The Hong Kong Chase Sapphire Lounge — formally, Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club HKG — is a decent addition to Hong Kong’s pack of lounges. Plus, it’s Priority Pass-accessible. Which is neat if you have that, but less neat if you also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (in other words, competing with more […]
What is a Positioning Flight?
If you have ever come across the term “positioning flight,” it doesn’t always have to do with human locomotion. To clarify the first definition, it simply refers to when an aircraft gets repositioned from one airport to another, generally for operational reasons. These positioning flights don’t take on passengers or cargo. Whisk me away to […]
Pakistan Makes it Easier to Visit for 126 Countries
If Pakistan has been on your travel list, but for whatever reason you haven’t been able to visit, I bear good tidings for you. As of 14 August, there have been monumental developments in tourism visa procedures. Although an application will still have to be filled out — save for visitors from GCC (Gulf Cooperation […]
Restaurant Review: Uno Mas Bangkok at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre
Disclaimer: In exchange for dinner, I am writing this review of Uno Mas Bangkok. When you want to give Thai food a break, why not give Spanish a try? Located on the 54th floor of the Centara Grand hotel right behind the CentralWorld shopping center, Uno Mas Bangkok not only offers patrons a quality blend […]
Airport Supermarkets (Updated 18 September 2024)
As much as I personally love finding new foods to eat, I feel that much better when I can share some of the findings with family and friends. Though, it would be fair to say I don’t always remember to get to a city supermarket for some last-minute local food souvenir shopping. Enter: airport supermarkets. […]
What’s Right with Hotels.com?
Whether or not you’re a fan of hotels.com, today’s criticisms of its consumer-facing existence are unfortunately not unique to that company. Bullet points, now! Go use another OTA (online travel agent), one might say. Book direct, chimes another. Chill out, at least you’re traveling. Nice rose-colored glasses you’ve got there. Start your own. Hmm. Feel good? Good. […]
