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

Weekly Hot Pick for Ko Tao, Thailand

Haadtien Beach Resort – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø      Shark Bay – 0.7 km

Ø      Sai Nuan Beach – 1.6 km

Ø      Mae Haad – 2.1 km

Ø      Jax Trek bamboo path – 2.1 km

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Free ferry terminal shuttle
• Free wi-fi and internet.

Healthy Chinese Food to Warm the Belly by Eliza Chow

This month, the goods and services tax (GST) came into force. If you think that this means cutting down on eating out, think again! The Malaysian Insider hunted down 30 cheap and good food spots around the Klang Valley and will reveal one for each day of the month of April.

Feel like having a healthy and nourishing meal without burning a hole through your pocket? Ah Yip Herbal Soup Restaurant can give you just that.

For a nutritious bowl of noodles, pay just RM15 to have your heart’s desire! Our choice from this restaurant was a steaming hot bowl of potato and chicken noodles. We were delighted at the generous serving of steamed chicken, potatoes, sweet kai lan vegetables and noodles. The broth added a savoury essence to the entire dish, completing the wholesome meal.

Apart from that, a complete set of rice, a dish of meat, vegetables and other side dishes come up to about RM15 to RM17. Ah Yip Herbal Soup also offers healthy herbal soups, congee and even health desserts.

Additionally, one can also enjoy drinks like herbal nourishing tea, chrysanthemum tea, lung nourishing tea and more for a few more ringgit.

As a result of the very traditional and healthy ambience, this restaurant attracts many members of the older generation. But good food will appeal to all ages, and we found that the consistent quality and taste of the food at Ah Yip is sure to go down well with everyone.

The shop has many branches around Malaysia, including one at Starhill Gallery, The Mines, Plaza Low Yat, Publika and Pavilion. – April 21, 2015.

Ah Yip Herbal Soup Restaurant | Add: Lot No. P33A Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur | Tel: 03-62012781 | Opening hours: 11am – 10pm | GPS coordinates: 3.163454, 101.656100 | Non-Halal

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/food/article/healthy-chinese-food-to-warm-the-belly