While traveling between Zhuhai, China’s border city with Macao, and Hong Kong International Airport, I was able to arrange to lunch at Pin Yue Xuan, a locally renowned Cantonese establishment at The Venetian Sands Macao. For those unfamiliar with Macao, a number of larger properties such as Sands Resorts offer free shuttles from its border […]
Asia (Non-Middle East)
JR Tokyo Wide Pass
Are you a big fan of Tokyo, but want to get away from the unabashedly urban side of things? Then the JR Tokyo Wide Pass might have your name on it. Might.* Who Can Buy the Pass? Just like the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido, and the JR East (Tohoku Area), rail passes, this one can only […]
JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Ever since my first trip to Tohoku last year, I’ve been yearning to visit more of that northern Japanese region. For a quick refresher on what constitutes the Tohoku region, here’s a map: In addition to including Tohoku, there’s a clear bonus for this rail pass: parts of Hokkaido are included! That’s right, Japan’s big […]
Air Canada Testing Out a Seasonal Osaka Flight to Toronto
Because Kyoto and Nara lack an airport, the next best thing is a seasonal Osaka flight. But Osaka has its fans, too. That’s right, in late spring, Air Canada will be starting seasonal flights from Toronto YYZ to Osaka KIX. On second thought, make that restarting, since Air Canada last flew this route from 1997-2000. The […]
The Airline Safety Card
Note: With two notable exceptions below, I always ask one of the flight crew if I can take an airline safety card. Would you really want to take an airline safety card as a souvenir? They’re typically cooped up in one of those seat-back pockets, one of the nastiest places on the plane. Not to […]
Chinatown Around the World
As a child, I used to think that the Manhattan Chinatown was one of the coolest neighborhoods to wander around. Whether it was the detailed writing system, the food, or the history, I was enthralled. But how would it compare with other Chinatowns around the world? After starting to travel, I realized that New York […]
Japanese Preclearance Being Trialed in Taiwan
It’s more like Japanese preclearance light. For the entire month of February, Japan will be trialing its own flavor of overseas immigration checks at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). But don’t get your hopes up too much. Here’s why– Firstly, there will only be 10 airports in which this Japanese preclearance applies. All are located […]
Korean Carrier T’Way Air Starting its First Flight to Europe
Starting right before summer, you will be able to fly T’Way Air to Europe. More specifically, from Seoul to Zagreb, Croatia. T’Way Air? Whuh? That’s a fair reaction. I tend to think new airlines appear every other day in South Korea. It’s as if offering a route from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju Island — the […]
