A First-timer’s Guide to Boracay

Voted the best island in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2012, Boracay remains a top tourist destination in Philippines. With white sandy beaches and sparkling azure waters, it's really no wonder why!

Here are some tips and tricks to make the most out of your Boracay beach holiday from a first-timer's recent visit to the island:

Getting there

The most direct way of getting to Boracay from Malaysia would be to take AirAsia's daily flights to Kalibo in the Filipino province of Aklan. The flight takes about four hours each way but the journey doesn't end there!

From Kalibo, there's still another two-hour bus ride to Caticlan and 10-minute ferry ride before you reach the island proper. It may sound like a tedious trip but for me, Boracay was worth every minute of it.

Travel tip #1: It's likely that you'll be spending the whole day travelling so make sure you're comfortably dressed. If you're the sort who doesn't travel well, I find that neck pillows and soft toys are particularly helpful and relaxing.

Travel tip #2: For transportation, Southwest Tours arranges door-to-door trips to and from the airport and hotel. With the bus, ferry and transport to the hotel sorted, you won't have to worry about not reaching your destination.

Travel tip #3: Seeing as the trip to and from Boracay would take up two whole days, consider extending your trip to get the most out of your holiday.

Play
White Beach
Once you've arrived and settled in, it's time to get to the beach! The main strip on Boracay is called the White Beach which is divided into three stations. Station 2 is the most happening section and also the most crowded. If you want some peace and quiet, Station 1 is your best bet.

With crystal clear waters and the finest sand your feet have ever touched, you can choose to simply chill out or take part in any of the water activities available. There will be locals around the beach offering anything from snorkelling, parasailing, banana boat rides, kayaking and more.

Travel tip #1: White Beach is a public beach so set up camp at any empty spot you can find. Bring a towel to put on the sand or a waterproof bag to store your belongings. If you don't have any of these, you'll find them in most shops on the island. And remember to pile on the sunscreen!

Travel tip #2: White Beach isn't the only beach on Boracay. Others include Diniwid, Puka, Bulabog, Balinghai and more. Take your time to explore the island and you'll find a completely different experience. For example, Puka was a secluded, relaxing spot where the waves are much stronger. You can get around using jeepneys (the Filipino version of a Thai tuk tuk) which you can easily flag down on the street.

For something a little more exciting, take a day trip to go cliff-diving at Ariel's Point. Located on the mainland, it's about a half hour's ride from Boracay. The trip includes a BBQ buffet lunch, snacks and unlimited drinks (beer!) which they start handing out on the boat!

The main attraction at Ariel's Point would have to be their dive boards, placed at varying heights from three metres up to 15 metres. Remember to take in the gorgeous view before diving in!

Other activities include kayaking and snorkelling.

Travel tip: Make a booking online and head to Ariel's House on Station 1 to register before the trip. The boat departs at 11.15am and returns at 5pm.

Eat
With a variety of cuisines and restaurants to choose from in Boracay, you'll be completely spoilt for choice.

It's seafood central at D'Talipapa! – The Malaysian Insider pic, December 9, 2015.For a breakfast or teatime snack, Real Coffee offers delicious sandwiches and hot drinks. They are particularly famous for their dense and buttery calamansi muffins which are infused with the tangy flavours of the lime. Their tiki-inspired interior just adds to the holiday feeling!

Once the sun sets, the White Beach strip (especially in Station 2) comes alive with pounding music and fiery dancy shows. Pick from a whole row of pubs, bars, restaurants, grills for a night out by the beach!

And what's a beach holiday without some seafood? For the freshest catch, head to D'Talipapa where you can pick your meal straight out of the tanks. There's everything from lobsters to sea urchins and all sorts of clams! Take your haul to any of the nearby restaurants to cook up a glorious seafood feast!

Travel tip: D'Talipapa can be quite an expensive place so put your bargaining skills to good use.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/a-first-timers-guide-to-boracay

Weekly Hot Pick for Shanghai, China

Novotel Atlantis – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø     The Bund Historic Area (2km)

Ø     Shanghai World Financial Center (2.1km)

Ø     Oriental Pearl Tower (2.3km)

Ø     Jinmao Tower (2.3km)

Ø     Pudong Avenue Metro Station (0.5km)

Distance from airport

Ø     Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (18.8km)

Ø     Shanghai Pudong International Airport (27.5km)

*Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014

Biggest castle, Chinese zodiac garden at New Shanghai Disneyland

Disney fans can look forward to a treasure trove of innovative experiences at the upcoming Shanghai Disney Resort and its theme park Shanghai Disneyland.

The Walt Disney Company has recently unveiled key creative elements of the new resort, including details of the six themed lands filled with world-class attractions and live entertainment spectaculars.

In addition to Disney’s classic attractions such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Peter Pan’s Flight, a Disney parade and nighttime fireworks spectacular, there will be many attractions, shows and experiences debuting in China.

Enchanted Storybook Castle will be the largest and most technologically advanced of all Disney castles. There will also be a first ever zone dedicated to pirates called Treasure Cove. For thrill-seekers, the TRON Lightcycle Power Run is a coaster-style attraction at Tomorrowland.

There are also distinctly Chinese experiences. The Garden of Twelve Friends will depict the animals of the Chinese zodiac as re-imagined Disney and Disney-Pixar characters. And Disney’s The Lion King will be performed for the first time ever in Mandarin at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre.

The other lands are Mickey Avenue, Adventure Isle, Fantasyland and Gardens of Imagination. Of course, Mickey Mouse and all of his pals will be on hand to greet guests when Shanghai Disney Resort opens its gates.

The resort is scheduled to open next spring.

http://www.star2.com/travel/asia-oceania/2015/07/17/disney-unveils-detailed-look-at-shanghai-disneyland/

Top 5 Road Trip Itineraries Within Malaysia

Looking for a short weekend getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city? Here is Skyscanner's list of suggestions for a relaxing self-drive holiday around Malaysia.

1. Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara National Park

Start your engines at Kuala Lumpur and set course for Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia’s largest national park and one of its oldest. About 3.5 hours from KL, the route is close to 250 kilometres and includes some of Malaysia’s top tourist attractions along the way. Once you are at the outskirts of KL, take a slight detour to see the famous Batu Caves – a series of labyrinthine caves within a limestone hill. Thought to be millions of years old, the Caves is also home to a Hindu temple that's of great religious significance to Malaysian Hindus.

Next, drop by the Elephant Sanctuary Kuala Gandah, a rehabilitation centre for Malaysian elephants. With more than 300 wild elephants within their grounds, there’s no place better to interact with the gentle giants and learn more about their conservation efforts in Malaysia. Finally, point your bumper at the highway and drive straight towards Taman Negara. Spend the rest of your weekend observing the abundance of flora and fauna within the park, or activities such as fishing, bird watching, jungle trekking and much more.

2. Kuala Lumpur to Belum Forest Reserve

If you travel about 5 hours northwards from KL on the North-South Expressway, you’d find another natural paradise – the Belum Forest Reserve, one of Malaysia’s unspoilt virgin jungles. A hotbed of wildlife and plants, it houses many of the world’s most endangered species, including the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malaysian Tiger, Asiatic Elephant and the White-handed Gibbon, amongst others.

On the long drive northwards, take a breather and detour at Cameron Highlands for some cool highland air to break up the lengthy ride. An extremely popular tourist destination, Cameron Highlands also boasts plenty of idyllic tea plantations, butterfly and bee farms, strawberry plantations and rolling green hills, which are guaranteed to soothe your soul.

3. Cameron Highlands to Penang

Alternately, you could make a pit stop at the blissful Cameron Highlands, stay the night and continue the next leg of your trip northwards to Penang instead. On the way to the gastronomic paradise, stop by Ipoh for some of the city’s famous rice noodles, and take a look at its mysterious Kellie’s Castle, an unfinished mansion haunted by tales of ghosts as well as secret rooms and tunnels. Built by an Englishman in the 20th century, the Castle was left unfinished due to his untimely death and since then has been used as a set piece in movies such as Anna and the King.

When you’ve had your fill of Ipoh Hor Fun, continue on up to Penang, one of Malaysia’s most famous cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On top of being renowned for its amazing architecture, Penang is also known for its one-of-a-kind local foods that are intensely flavoured and highly memorable.

4. Johor Bahru to Malacca

For those starting at the southern end of the Malaysian Peninsula, how about a drive up to Malacca instead? Not only will you get a chance to visit the Historic State – a culturally rich city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences – you’d also pass by the Tropical Village Mini-World Theme Park along the way. Situated just outside Johor, this excellent Theme Park contains miniature versions of famous landmarks around the world, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Great Wall of China and the Sphinx, for a unique global experience like no other.

5. Johor Bahru to Desaru

But if sun, sand and sea are what you're after, then drive eastwards for a relaxing beach vacation on Malaysia's East Coast. Desaru, a coastal resort area, boasts some of the country's best beaches and is only about 1.5 hours by car from Johor Bahru – the drive was made easier with the opening of the Senai-Desaur Highway in 2011.

Bask in the sun along the 20km of sandy coast and swim in the clear blue waters, but keep your car close by so you can make quick jaunts to nearby Kota Tinggi for some waterfalls, clear rock pools and fireflies. Also readily accessible from Desaru is the Ostrich Wonderland – an ostrich farm that houses more than 100 ostriches – and the Desaru Fruit Farm, a popular choice for those with young children.

http://www.skyscanner.com.my/news/top-5-road-trip-itineraries-within-malaysia?associateid=DIS_TRA_00136_00005&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=my-travel-pp&utm_content=native-top-5-road-trip-itineraries-within-malaysia&utm_term=cnbc

Smartphones Can Now Help You Navigate Airports

The new United Airlines app works like a compass. Once your boarding pass has been scanned, it starts off by indicating a direct route to your gate. Whether departing or arriving, the app also catalogues all points of interest near you. Travellers can thus have directions to the nearest coffee shop, bookstore or fast food outpost. Most importantly, the app lets you know the estimated time it will take you to get where you're going.

Various interactive maps have been integrated into the app for travellers within the US: the new update includes airports in Chicago, Denver, Houston, LA, Newark, San Francisco and Washington DC. The airline has said that many other airports are soon to be included in the app.

Interactivity the key to UA's app

Use of the app could become easier thanks to Bluetooth stations. The airline is currently testing technology at Newark Airport that immediately recognises individual passengers' whereabouts without their having to update their smartphone with their location to reap the benefits of the app's services.

In an entirely different genre, United Airlines has also decided to simplify things for travellers with a cancelled flight, a delay or a missed correspondence. With a simple click they can now immediately see all the available options at their disposal to reach their destinations. Conversely, travellers who find themselves at the airport with time to spare can search to find a seat on an earlier flight.

The United Airlines app was launched in November 2013. It allows travellers to scan their passports for check-in, thereby bypassing the traditional counters. The app has already been downloaded by more than 20 million people.

To download the United Airlines app for yourself, go to www.united.com.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/smartphones-can-now-help-you-navigate-airports

Weekly Hot Pick for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Pandanus Resort, Ho Chi Minh – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø     Mui Ne Sand Dunes

Ø     Mui Ne Market

Ø     Fairy Stream

Ø     Hon Rom

·        Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2015

·        Free Wi-fi

·        Free breakfast

·        Free Area Shuttle

·        Free Shopping Centre Shuttle

·        Free Casino Shuttle

Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities for Beer

Here’s how the cities stacked up:

Cheapest beer cities:

1. Krakow, Poland and Kiev, Ukraine US$1.66
2.Bratislava, Slovakia US$1.69
3. Malaga, Spain US$1.72
4. New Delhi, India US$1.75
5. Ho Chi Minh City US$1.78
6. Mexico City US$1.96
7. Belgrade, Serbia US$1.97
8. Asuncion, Paraguay US$1.98
9. Bangkok, Thailand US$2.11
10. Cairo, Egypt US$2.11

Most expensive beer cities:

1. Geneva, Switzerland US$6.32
2. Hong Kong US$6.16
3. Tel Aviv, Israel US$5.79
4. Oslo, Norway US$5.31
5. New York US$5.20
6. Singapore US$5.13
7. Miami US$5.13
8. Helsinki, Finland, US$4.91
9. Tokyo, Japan US$4.77
10. Abu Dhabi (including the price of non-alcoholic beer) US$4.66

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/cheapest-and-most-expensive-cities-for-beer

Fancy a Greek Vacation? Here are Some Survival Tips by Michael Kearns and Holly Ellyatt

Book in advance

Book early and book as much as you can using your credit card, in order to pay in advance. We did a mixture of hotels and homestays. All were paid in advance which took some of the stress out of the cash/credit conundrum. They also have protection plans for the consumer in case anything goes wrong. 

We booked all of our ferries in advance, also with a credit card online. This isn't essential, but it took a lot of the stress out of our multi-island journey, enabling us to beat the crowds crushing into the ports for last-minute tickets.

Car hire?

Figure out early if you'll need to rent a car where you're staying. There are limited numbers of cars on the islands and getting stranded in a scenic, but remote and rocky villa isn't much fun. You might be able to get one on arrival, but be prepared to pay a premium. The number of taxis is also quite limited on the islands.

 

Carry cash

Carry cash and in small denominations -- not every business will accept a credit card. Many shops, ferry canteens, small supermarkets and family restaurants are running low on change, and will ask you for exact change if possible.

If you're looking to save a euro or two, visit some of the islands off the beaten path. Mykonos is gorgeous, but you will pay a hefty premium for the glamorous scene.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/17/fancy-a-greek-vacation-here-are-some-survival-tips.html  

How to Stay Online All the Time While You're Traveling by Seth Porges

Plenty of employers expect workers to make themselves available virtually all the time, especially when they're traveling for business. Unfortunately, that expectation overestimates how well technology has adapted to with our work-obsessed culture. For all the connectivity we've got, there are a few key moments on every business trip when "I'll be online the whole time" is still sort of a lie. Here are tips to patch over those trouble spots and make sure that your boss's e-mail doesn't coincide with you going temporarily off the grid. 

At the hotel

You check into a luxury hotel, and everything seems to be perfect. Fantastically fluffy towels and bathrobe? Check. Totally necessary telephone in the bathroom? Check. Wi-Fi that’s speedy enough to live that digital nomad life and actually get work done while on the road? Ummm ….

To stay at hotels is to suffer through shoddy Wi-Fi. And while it’s easy to search for a property that has a pool, or a golf course, or an on-site aromatherapy spa, until you check in, it’s pretty much impossible to know if the promised Wi-Fi will speed through streamed episodes of Orange Is the New Black or choke up over a simple e-mail.

If you’re on deadline, need to upload a large file, or have to make a Skype call, a weak Wi-Fi signal can leave you unable to do your job. Adding insult to injury, this shoddy Wi-Fi can be stupidly expensive—costing almost much for a single day as your home cable connection does for a month.  

One solution that has earned a spot on my must-check list before booking a trip: Hotel WiFi Test, a new site that lets you search easily for hotels by the quality of their Wi-Fi.

“One time I found myself staying at a five-star hotel in Shanghai with paid Wi-Fi and could not complete an important piece of work because of an unusable Internet connection,” says Yaroslav Goncharov, the site’s founder and chief executive officer. “There was simply no way to verify if a hotel had good Wi-Fi. I decided to do something about it when I had a chance.”

Using data crowdsourced from travelers (the site lets them test their hotel Wi-Fi speed and banks the info), the site delivers an “expected speed” for future guests. Hotel Wifi Test's stash of rated hotels is still growing, but it covers more than 20,000 hotels in more than 500 cities. In some cities, its hotel list is fairly decent: More than 270 hotels are reviewed in New York and London.

This site makes painfully clear something most of us already suspected: There is almost no correlation between a hotel’s price or star rating and its Wi-Fi performance. And hotels that charge for Wi-Fi often offer service that's inferior to what other chains offer for free. The fastest hotel Wi-Fi in New York, according to the site, is the free service found at the three-star Nyma Hotel, where the Wi-Fi clocks in at an expected speed of 71.2 mbps. For comparison, the Mark, a tony hotel on the Upper East Side, chugs along at just 1.7 mpbs, despite its five-star rating.

When you're overseas

Time was, an international trip could turn your mobile phone into a serious liability. Forget to call ahead and line yourself up for international roaming? Don’t be surprised if you find yourself with a comically large bill.

Remarkably, things have gotten a lot better—at least when it comes to T-Mobile and Sprint, which now offer free international data roaming in a ton of countries (more than 120 for T-Mobile, 22 for Sprint). Depending on what country you’re in, the connection could run a bit slower than the 4G you’re used to, but for basic mobile business, it should be more than enough.

The best part: Thanks to the mobile hot-spot functionality now available in virtually every smartphone, these roaming phones can easily extend their connection to tablets, laptops, or anything else with a thirst for Wi-Fi. Depending on your specific plan, mobile hot-spot functionality may come as an add-on that costs a bit, but the new Sprint and T-Mobile deals ensure that it’s no more expensive to use in Berlin than in Boston. 

On the road

One last piece of technology worth mentioning: If you find yourself literally working while on the road—as in, from inside of an automobile—you may want to invest in a mobile signal booster. These devices, such as the well-regarded WeBoost Drive 4G-X, are wired directly into your car to take whatever weak signals you may be driving through and amplify them into something more useful. These devices run from a few hundred to move than a thousand dollars and often require a bit of installation, but if your car doubles as your office-on-wheels, it could be worth it. 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-02/how-to-stay-online-all-the-time-while-you-re-traveling

Vietnam waives visas for five European countries to spur tourism

Travellers from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will no longer need a visa to enter the communist nation from July 1 for stays of up to 15 days, according to a statement posted on the government's official website.

The visa waiver will apply to tourists and those travelling for business, said the statement signed off by the Vietnamese premier Thursday, in a scheme in place for one year after which it may be extended.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, international arrivals to the country in May were down by 14.4% compared to the same month last year.

The declining visitor numbers have triggered increasing concern in the Southeast Asian nation.

Last week Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam told state media foreigners were "scared" of travelling to the country and questioned why the scenic nation was lagging behind those such as Thailand in attracting tourists.

"When they see on the streets sellers preparing food with their bare hands, no plastic gloves, they are scared," he said, also citing begging and pickpocketing as factors deterring tourists.

Vietnam currently allows tourists to enter visa-free from Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Belarus, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

By comparison, Thailand allows tourists from dozens of countries to enter without a visa for up to 30 days.

According to government figures in the first five months of the year only 3.2 million people visited Vietnam, a drop of 12.6% against the same period last year.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/vietnam-waives-visas-for-five-european-countries-to-spur-tourism#sthash.k9rWnS8i.dpbs

Weekly Hot Pick for Malacca, Malaysia

D’ Hotel, Malacca – 3 Star

What’s nearby

Ø      Cheng Hoon Teng Temple – 0.6 km

Ø      Nancy’s Kitchen – 0.6 km

Ø      Jonker’s Walk Night Market – 0.6 km

Ø      Tuah Walk – 0.7 km

*Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2015.

2015 Good Year to Fly for Budget Travellers

Good news travellers. According to a new report, air fares at top destinations around the world are predicted to continue dropping throughout the remainder of the year.

In a joint report prepared by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), number crunchers combed through the statistics to come up with a few general travel trends and compile a list of the 10 best travel deals for 2015.

According to the report, average ticket prices for major destinations in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America are forecast to to drop between 4% and 6% throughout the remainder of the year compared to average ticket prices in 2014.

Fluctuating currencies are also impacting travel plans around the world. The strength of the US dollar is driving travellers originating from North America to stay longer in Europe this year compared to 2014.

Likewise, travellers from North America headed to China are spending an average of 25 days abroad this August, lengthening their stay by five days from 2014.

The pattern works both ways, however, as the strengthening Chinese yuan is expected to increase the number of Chinese visitors to the US this year and lengthen their stays from 12% to 14% from August 2014 to August 2015.

Analysts also point out that the bundling trend could also help travellers save an average of up to US$648.

That’s particularly true of London, where bundling flights and hotel rooms could add up to US$1,424 in savings, or US$1,087 in Maui and US$1,058 in Paris.

Meanwhile, here are the top 10 flight routes that showed the biggest year over year drops in air fare for 2015:

Malaysia to Australia -22%

Italy to Portugal -22%

Brazil to the US -17%

Spain to Thailand -17%

Germany to Portugal -16%

Japan to France -16%

United States to Dubai -15%

Mexico to France -11%

Malaysia to Thailand -10%

Sweden to Spain -7%

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/2015-good-year-to-fly-for-budget-travellers

Weekly Hot Pick for Maui, Hawaii

Maui Kamaole – 3 Star

What’s nearby

Ø     Keawakapu Beach

Ø     Kamaole Beach Park 3

Ø     Ulua Beach

Ø     808 Deli

Ø     Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods

Ø     S & Q’s Shave Ice and Coffee

* Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2015.

Best Hotel Chains for Quality, Free WiFi

If one of your top priorities for a hotel is fast and free WiFi, you’re most likely to be satisfied at a Comfort, Quality or Clarion Hotel.

That’s according to the latest report from Hotelwifitest.com, which released a ranking of the top performing hotel chains around the world for online connectivity.

Global results placed Nordic Choice, the parent owner of hotel chains Comfort, Quality and Clarion, in the top spot for offering the best WiFi quality, and for its WiFi policy: 85% of the chain’s hotels offer adequate WiFi, and online connectivity is free for 100% of its hotels.

Rounding out the top five hotel chains for WiFi are Radisson Blu, Renaissance, Mercure, Ibis and ibis styles.

Meanwhile, a regional breakdown of top performing hotels for WiFi reveal different results.

In the US, for example, Marriott takes the top spot. But compared to Nordic Choice, Marriott’s WiFi policy is “not that impressive,” analysts say.

Free hotel WiFi is only available to Marriott’s loyalty members. Hyatt Hotels on the other hand, which ranks third on the list, offers free WiFi access to all hotel guests. Where Marriott outranks its competitor, however, is in the quality of its connectivity.

The Westin placed second for travellers in the US.

In a Hotels.com survey released last year, more than 1,000 travellers around the world listed free WiFi as the most sought-after, in-room amenity.

Here are the top performing brands for hotel WiFi around the world:
1. Nordic Choice
2. Radisson Blu
3. Renaissance
4. Mercure
5. Ibis and ibis styles
6. Scandic Hotels
7. Inter-Continental
8. Econo-Lodge
9. Four Points
10. Marriott Hotels & Resorts

Top five hotel chains in the US:
1. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
2. Westin
3. Hyatt Hotels
4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
5. Best Western

Top five hotels chains in Europe:
1. Nordic Choice
2. Radisson Blu
3. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
4. Catalonia
5. Doubletree

Top three hotels chains in Asia:
1. Inter-Continental
2. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
3. Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/best-hotel-chains-for-quality-free-wifi