China
Sparing the Change: The New Travel Money Realities
“I have a friend who just returned from a month in Thailand, China and Vietnam and she dealt exclusively with cash. Brought a wad of C-notes and paid on the spot. Used safes in the […]
Thailand
Central America
Bizarre Plan to Turn Cruise Ship into Offshore Condo Scrapped
A scheme to turn a former Love Boat into an offshore community for people who prefer to pay in Bitcoin seemed a little too weird to be true. And now the whole project and the […]
Asia
Too Popular Cruise Destinations Realize They Have to Set Limits
You, the night and a gondola. It’s a description of a popular evening excursion from cruise ships in Venice. And it certainly sounds appealing–until you realize that the blissfully romantic experience may actually be shared […]
AmaWaterways
Why a Smile is a Better Response to Street Begging than a Handout
A tale of two cities: In one village, the children are wide-eyed and innocent, wearing broad smiles and playing with seemingly boundless energy. They wave, cheer and mug for tourist cameras. They take your hand […]
10 Best Lists
6 New Tastes of the Happy High Life in Ever-Happening Hong Kong
It’s not the weekend, but it might as well be. The guys and gals are in the mood to party and the champagne is flowing freely. And what’s not to celebrate? In all directions are […]
Asia
A Second Look Reveals Kai Tak Cruise Port is Finally Finding its Groove
They’ve built it and now the ships are coming. With security and baggage facilities to handle well over 10,000 people, Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal has been able to handle arrivals and departures of […]
10 Best Lists
6 Realities Destined to Affect Your Cruise Options in the Coming Years
The top brass from the world’s cruise lines gathered in Miami to brag about their new ships and plot the courses their fleets will take in the future. Ports you may never have heard of […]
10 Best Lists
5 Steps to Make a Deal and Find What’s Real on a Touristy Island
It’s an island where monkeys still do the picking in coconut trees and you share the beach with bullocks. It’s also an island that’s been overrun by kitsch and clutter and sunbathers chugging beer. But […]
Asia
The Peninsula, a Serene Retreat from the Bustle of Bangkok
I always love it when I know even before I step into the lobby of a hotel that my stay is going to be a special occasion. By the time our limousine drives through acres of […]
Asia
Pre/Post Cruise: Finding Calm in Buzzing Bangkok
In Bangkok, there always seems to be a buzz. The roads teem with motorcycles and un-mufflered three-wheeled cabs known as tuk-tuks. On the river, “longtail” boats get their push from growling V-8 engines that are […]