Where and how the wealthy travel is changing

Heli-skiing on virgin snow in Antarctica for a cool $2.2 million. A polar bear safari in an “off-limits” area of Norway’s Svalbard for $300,000. How about tracking snow leopards in the Himalayas with renowned explorers for $100,000?  Big-ticket travel experiences like those are indicative of the “quiet luxury” trend which began in the world of … Read more

what to do along new bullet train route

Japan is launching a new high-speed bullet train, or shinkansen, extension on Saturday that will make an under-the-radar prefecture far more accessible to travelers. The coastal Fukui Prefecture is some 185 miles west of Tokyo. The new train will pass through the city of Fukui, the town of Awara and other places guidebooks rarely mention, … Read more

What is civet coffee? PETA issues a new warning to Bali tourists

If the idea of drinking civet cat coffee, which is made from feces from the Asian palm civet, is a turn-off, there may be yet another reason to rethink the drink. This week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a warning aimed at tourists in Bali after an investigator showed undercover footage … Read more

Best passports in the world? See the 2024 Nomad Passport Index

Many passport rankings focus on one factor: visa-free travel. But passport strength is more complex than this, according to the tax and immigration consulting firm Nomad Capitalist. That’s why it produces a weighted annual index that analyzes five criteria: Visa-free travel — 50%Taxation — 20%Global perception —10%Ability to hold dual citizenship — 10%Personal freedom (freedom … Read more

Debate heats up as Singapore PM says Taylor Swift deal isn’t ‘unfriendly’

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour. “(Our) agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in … Read more

Hong Kong lifts curbs on property market, to spend more on tourism

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government has lifted curbs on property deals after home prices fell to a seven-year low, adding to the Chinese territory’s woes. Finance minister Paul Chan announced the move in a speech presenting the territory’s budget, which also raised spending on tourism promotion. He said all curbs, such as extra taxes, … Read more

Taking a trip with one child at a time: parent child bonding vacation

Sonja Prokopec took her son on their first “solo” trip together when he was six years old. They went to Rome, and it was so memorable that Prokopec said she’s now planning their second trip this summer. “I really enjoy one-on-one time which we have when travelling alone,” she said. “There are no distractions, no … Read more

What the job is like and how much they make

Lucy Alexandra Spencer spent 16 weeks abroad last year in Oman, France, Switzerland and Portugal. Unlike with most people, traveling is how she earns — rather than spends — money. The trips are paid for by Spencer’s employers — they’re wealthy Europeans and Americans who hire her to travel with their families for weeks and, … Read more

The Eastern & Oriental luxury train is back — here’s what it costs

After nearly four years, the Eastern & Oriental Express is back on the rails.     The train, which is operated by the luxury travel company Belmond, this week welcomed its first set of passengers since it stopped running as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.    The luxury train has been operating in Southeast Asia … Read more