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Costly stay, long wait to climb Kinabalu
Since 2008, the cost of climbing Mt Kinabalu has skyrocketed, and if you're lucky, you may get a confirmed booking . . . five months down the line. What's the deal with Malaysia's iconic mountain? -The Star/ANN
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Malaysian passport goes high-tech
The Malaysian passport will be upgraded early next year to bring it in line with world standards. -NST
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Travel chaos expected
Snow, fog and rain across China expected to cause chaos for millions of Chinese returning from lunar new year celebrations. -Reuters
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Asian airlines trim down
Regional carriers are cutting routes and taking other measures to avoid flying half-empty planes during a travel slump caused by the global economic crisis. -AFP |
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M'sia scraps AirAsia plan
Govt fears the cost of the construction may escalate and it may be forced to inject funds. -AFP
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Dubai airport opening delayed to 2010
It has yet to receive the operating licence. -AFP
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Alert on Indian passenger jet at Delhi airport
Plane taken to isolated area of airport after passenger started behaving in an unruly manner. -AFP
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End traffic chaos at Tuas Checkpoint
Exasperated by the poor systems and processes there, reader lists the areas in need of an overhaul, like the traffic system and inefficient security checks. -ST |
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MAS super low fares are back
Tickets to Britain and Europe up for grabs. -The Star/ANN
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Changi Airport staff tackled emergency well
Reader relates incident of how his pregnant wife received help from airport officers. -myp
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Air France-KLM weighing cut in long-haul flights
Carrier in Jan posted losses of around 200 million euros for the third quarter of its 2008-2009 fiscal year. -AFP
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Heathrow closes runways
Snow brings major British air, rail and road transport systems to a halt. -Reuters
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Passenger charged over hijack scare
Threat by unruly man triggered major security alert at New Delhi airport. -AFP
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S'poreans travel overseas for affordable plastic surgery
Places like Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan offer plastic surgery at a fraction of the cost here but local doctors advise caution. -ST |
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A plastic-surgery buddy
She went for plastic surgery in Seoul and ended up working as a liaison officer for a clinic there. -ST
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Lesson from Melbourne casino blackout
Relating his story in Australia, reader is confident S'pore will do a good job in ensuring proper contingency plans at local attractions. -myp |
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S'pore visitor arrivals down for 7th straight month
Figures in Dec 2008 fall 6.9% from a year earlier. -Reuters
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SIA cuts fuel surcharge up to 21%
Largest reductions apply to economy class short-haul flights. -AsiaOne |
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More Chinese tourists in Taiwan
Around 13,000 travelled there for the Lunar New Year holidays, and the number is expected to reach up to 360,000 this year. -AFP
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Save on your inflight calls
OnAir aims to provide cheaper service on almost 100 planes by the end of the year. -myp
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"Pay what you want," UK restaurant tells diners
The only thing customers definitely have to pay for are their drinks. -Reuters
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Fancy an 'icy' outdoor bath?
At Alpha Resort-Tomamu's ice village in Hokkaido, you can stay in a hotel where dining room, bedroom and bathroom are all made out of ice. -Reuters |
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Discounts at local attractions
Lower prices will help boost consumer spending, said MP Baey Yam Keng in Parliament today. -ST
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Guests offered to pay what they want at S'pore hotel
Rooms at the S'pore Ibis normally start at S$138, but as part of a promotional campaign ahead of its opening, guests can log onto a website to put in the price they want to pay for a limited time each day. -Reuters |
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When in KL, watch out for the jaga kereta boys
Motorists are upset with the increasingly rampant extortion at public places. -The Star/ANN
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Nurses didn't even bandage my wounds
S'porean recounts his experience at a Johor hospital after a hit-and-run accident, when a car dragged him and his bike for 10 metres. -TNP |
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UK airports shut in heavy snow
Flights at Birmingham, Luton and East Midlands airports suspended. -Reuters
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"Osama Bin Laden" rejected for dream island job
Prank video with nonsensical sounds submitted to Tourism Queensland's website. -Reuters |
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Wakin Chau at Changi Airport
Singer-songwriter from HK meets and and greets with passengers in special appearance. -AsiaOne
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An $8,888 Valentine's package?
Current economic outlook is grim but hotels are whipping up lavish packages, like a one-night, one-couple only deal created by The Sentosa Resort and Spa. -AsiaOne |
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'Tourism of doom'
Travellers are flocking to far-flung corners of the planet to see endangered natural wonders before they disappear. -AFP
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Mickey on ice
The 60th Sapporo snow festival in northern Japan opened on Thursday, showcasing illuminated ice sculptures, snow lanterns, a maze, and a Disney tribute. -AsiaOne |
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Top 10 most disappointing tourist spots
The Eiffel Tower is 'frustratingly overcrowded and overpriced', says a recent report which lists underwhelming and overrated attractions around the world. -TNP
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AirAsia X to lease 5 Airbus
This is to fly to new markets in Europe and New Zealand. -AFP
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Plagued by bad English
Say what? Bad grammar, tortuous English and typos in wall captions make museum visits in Singapore a mind-boggling experience. -ST
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Samsing, Odidoss and Hike
Though previously shunned as unsophisticated, fake products increasingly have their own chic appeal in China and a fashionable moniker - "shanzhai." -Reuters |
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We'll stop promoting S'pore as tourist spot
They've already boycotted the sale of SIA tickets in India, due to the carrier's unwilling to pay commission. Now India travel agents are looking to stop promotion of S'pore as a tourist destination. -TNP
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Britain visa decision on Monday
M'sians will know tomorrow if they will need visas to visit Britain. -The Star/ANN
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Workers end strike on Phuket
They end a three-day strike that forced the closure of six hotels. -Reuters
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No more fuel surcharge
M'sia Airlines has removed the fuel surcharge for all its flights into and out of S'pore. With its new pricing scheme, a one-way ticket to KL on economy class can cost $63 if booked early. -SPU |
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One million discounted flight tickets up for grabs
Travellers hunting for a bargain should look out for the Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair which starts Tuesday. -The Star/AN
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CAAS promises to review and improve Changi taxi traffic
A Taxi Management System will be implemented to provide even more timely information to cabbies on the demand for taxis at the airport. -ST |
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Tourist arrivals may fall 11%
Tourist arrivals may decline to between 9 million and 9.5 million this year. -ST
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Prosperous prognosis
Malaysia tops Wotif.com's travel wish list for this year. -The Star/ANN |
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'What should a driver do when he needs to spit?'
Foreigners who take the written exam for a driver's licence in China face 100 tricky questions, including what to do when "someone's intestines are protruding from an open abdominal wound". -AFP
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Recession? Hotels are reporting better Valentine's Day bookings
They have the weekend to thank for because the occasion falls on a Saturday this year. -TNP |
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M'sia retains visa-free status
M'sians can visit and remain in Britain without a visa for up to six months. -The Star/ANN
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Ice storm shuts Paris airports
Airports closed as a precaution against a powerful storm that struck northern France. -Reuters
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Throw an orange, find 'Prince Charming'
Some 120 hotel guests in Malaysia perform the Nonya tradition of throwing oranges into the sea, in the hopes of catching a good husband. -NST
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Blast away bad luck with fireworks
In one of Taiwan's wildest rituals to mark the Lunar New Year, men willingly subject themselves to an explosive barrage for good fortune. -Reuters |
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Hedonism gives way to "recession chic"
Travellers take factors like friends, family, health and the environment when planning their vacations. -Reuters
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'Osama' rejected for dream island job
A dream job looking after a tropical island in Australia has attracted over thousands of applicants - including Osama bin Laden who failed to make the shortlist. -Reuters |
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High winds shut airports
Paris' two international airports closed for the first time in 34 years. -AFP
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Taiwan welcomes visa waiver
Waiver by British government for Taiwanese visitors will begin March 3. -AFP
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Nation wired, but what's holding back hotels?
Hotel guests shouldn't have to pay for Internet access. Kudos to the Shangri-La chain for introducing free Wi-fi and wired access in all 60 of its hotels worldwide. -TNP
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Got $15,000 to spare this V-day?
Swissotel The Stamford is planning to draw big spenders with an extravagant "Sky's The Limit" package, for a couple hoping to spend a night under the stars. -myp |
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Budget terminal going green
The project is aimed to supplement the terminal's main power supply and reduce electricity costs. -ST
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S'pore announces $90 million aid for tourism
Number of visitors and tourism receipts to fall in 2009 compared to 2008. -AsiaOne
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Fears of budget carriers
Govt moves to protect ailing full-service carriers could clip their expansion plans. -AFP
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Travel agents offer a hassle-free holiday?
While some travellers are going the DIY way via online bookings, others still stick to tour agencies for hassle-free vacations and peace of mind. -ST |
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SBS bus driver hurt in bid to stop robbers
The two men, among 5 passengers on the bus, had initially attempted to rob a woman passenger. -NST
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Jetstar scraps fuel levies
Fuel prices have dropped by about two-thirds since its peak in July last year. -ST
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Refaeli takes to the skies
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 will bear the Israeli model's swimsuit imagery. -AFP
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Australia, HK, Japan voted top holiday spots
A global survey also showed two-thirds of people were reviewing their holiday plans because of the global economic crisis. -Reuters
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Is Japanese man oldest to conquer Everest?
Yuichiro Miura scaled the mountain despite having undergone two heart operations. -AFP
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Changi Airport a children's park?
The airport is a pleasant place to take children for an outing, but visitors and parents must remember that it is a place of international travel operations, says reader. -ST |
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MAHB and AirAsia in negotiations
There should be some synergy over the new permanent low-cost carrier terminal, says M'sia transport minister. -The Star/ANN
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No more rushing for seats on AirAsia
The budget airline has introduced its "Pick A Seat" service for all flights where every passenger would automatically be assigned a seat number when they make a booking. -The Star/ANN |
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Right of passage: Travels from Brooklyn to Bali
Rahul Jacob writes about destinations like a story, picking up one interesting aspect of the place. -ST
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...but travel agents hold fairs to snag customers
Travel agents are offering one-for-one deals and even a lucky draw with a luxury car. Visit a mini-fair this weekend. -AsiaOne |
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Cleaner waters attract sharks
Environmental protection of Sydney's beaches and harbour has created a cleaner marine environment, but is attracting sharks closer to shore chasing fish, say marine experts, after two shark attacks in two days. -Reuters
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No ghosts on 'spooky' S'pore tour
But those seeking an old-fashioned thrill in this city state are likely to get it through insights into abandoned sites and ancient practices. -Reuters |
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SIA suspends flight to Vancouver
The airline cited economic conditions and poor performance on the route as reasons for decision to suspend service. -AsiaOne
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Changi Airport sets up $70m aid kitty
Relief package to help airlines and cargo handlers, as well as retail and dining outlets, deal with the business slowdown. -ST
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Where's the tradition and culture in 2009's Chingay?
Reader finds it hard to believe that a once distinctively ebullient Chinese New Year parade had morphed into an incongruously glitzy gala, divorced from its original spirit and character. -ST
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The best and worst airports
Changi Airport voted as having one of the shortest immigration queues, Heathrow the worse airport for baggage, and US airports with the rudest immigration in the world. -Reuters |
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SIA to suspend flights to Vancouver
It was no longer viable to operate the thrice-weekly service. -ST
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Plans underway for new international airport in Ipoh
The ministry was working to extend infrastructure aid to another 150 fishing villages and planned settlements. -The Star/ANN
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HK airport fury an online hit
The video starts with the screaming woman running towards the departure gate and bouncing off a female security guard. She then starts banging a desk before collapsing to the floor and rolling around, while maintaining a high-pitched wail. -AFP
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Puckering to a world record
40,000 people in Mexico locked lips with their partners to beat the world record of simultaneous kisses, previously held by Britain. -AFP
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M'sian zoo to follow S'pore's open concept
New attraction in Terengganu, due to open by the end of next month, will house 100 species of animals. -NST
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Sipadan gets nominated
Famous Malaysian island one of the 261 nominees in the New7Wonders of Nature online campaign. -NST |
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Divers threaten to boycott Sabah over shark finning
Just a half-hour boat ride away off Pulau Mabul, the blood of magnificent sharks, crudely finned and gutted stains the sea red. -NST
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Tourists stay away from 'Incredible India'
Tour operators say India is seen as a "hardship destination", where hassling touts, inefficient transport systems and a lack of adequate accommodation are putting visitors away. -Reuters |
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Retrenchment 'a last resort': S'pore Airlines
Carrier announces plans to reduce capacity by 11% due to falling demand. -AsiaOne
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Australian court fines Air France, KLM for price fixing
Australian court has fined four Europe-based airlines a total of US$10.4 million dollars. -AFP
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Thai airports lost US$48mil in Q4 amid blockade
Tourist arrivals also expected to fall 8.8 per cent. -AFP
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Hysterical passenger gets later flight at no added cost
Chinese woman who freaked out at Hong Kong's international airport after missing her flight has hit the big time on YouTube. -Reuters |
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Bad times = good time to travel
A check with four travel agencies showed that price cuts can range from 30% to as much as 50%. The catch is that most of these prices are being offered for a limited period or only at travel fairs. -TNP
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SIA to ground 17 jets and cut more flights
Talks are underway with unions on ways to cut staff costs. -ST
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Traffic down at Paris airports
Fall due to bad weather conditions, a national one-day strike and conomic slowdown. -AFP
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SIA to lower capacity by 11% from April
Talks with staff unions on steps to cope with the downturn have begun, but retrenchment will be the last resort. -myp |
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Qantas cuts Asian routes
It will also hand over domestic New Zealand services to Jetstar. -AFP
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Haze disrupts Riau flights
Thick haze from forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island blanketed the sky and disrupted air traffic. -AFP
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Don't forget domestic tourists
STB should work together with the zoo, birdpark and Flyer to slash admission rates for a period, says reader. -myp
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18,000 seek 'best job in world'
Deadline for applications for 'caretaker' of tropical Hamilton Island on Great Barrier Reef is this Sunday. -AFP
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A friendlier, confident outfit for customs officers
New uniforms aimed at projecting "an overall professional enforcement image" while conveying a "friendlier and customer-oriented" look. -myp, AsiaOne
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SIA to suspend certain flights, use smaller aircraft
Certain routes will be affected as part of carrier's 11% capacity reduction. -AsiaOne |
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Thailand's $218m rescue fund
Tourism rescue fund aims to combat waning profits due to last year's airport closure. -AFP
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Hot-air balloon crash leaves 20 S'poreans stuck on hill
Holiday ride turns disastrous when an accident leaves the balloon dangling precariously at the edge of a hilltop in Turkey. -TNP |
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More booths at Natas travel fair
You may have to take more than one trip to the upcoming fair to check out all the offers. -ST
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SIA flight cuts
Detailed table showing the route changes from March 29 to Oct 24. |
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Business-class travel drops
Airlines sold far fewer business and first class seats in Dec; economy travel less bleak. -Reuters
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Premium air traffic falls
So-called premium international traffic fell 13.3% in Dec, compared to a year go. -ST
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UK rail travel more expensive than rest of Europe
This especially for those who use London commuter services. -Reuters
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New slippery attraction in Penang
Thousands of spotted brown mudskippers can be seen around the mudflat at Gurney Drive, attracting both locals and tourists. -The Star/ANN |
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Malaysia expects tourism to fall 9.3% in 2009
Arrivals would fall from the 22.05 million recorded in 2008: Tourism Minister. -AFP
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Man goes amok on S'pore-bound Qantas flight
Burly man kicked walls and had to be restrained after trying to smoke, say reports. -AsiaOne |
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Offers tempt S'poreans to spend
STB working with local businesses to bolster up tourism industry. -ST
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World Heritage site in S'pore?
One S'porean thinks so and his campaign has triggered a lively debate. -ST |
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30 injured on Northwest flight
10 of them were hurt seriously, apparently due to air turbulence on the Manila-Tokyo leg of the flight. Ambulances took the injured to hospitals after the jet landed in Tokyo. -AFP
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2 days more to apply for the Best Job in the World
Some 19,000 applications received for a A$150k, six-month position. -AsiaOne |
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Top 10 floating hotels
Malaysia makes the list with its Dragon Inn Floating Resort in Semporna, which offers guests a sense of a traditional water village and great diving. Find out which are the other nine. -Reuters
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Tour guides feel the bumps as travel slumps
Business is down as downturn hits sector and more tourists prefer free & easy trips. -ST
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Why Tuas checks cannot copy Changi
At the land checkpoints, it is imperative to conduct mandatory checks on all vehicles and to minimise waiting time for travellers, a risk-management approach in checking baggage in vehicles is practised. -ST
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Room rates as low as $1
Ibis Singapore's daring offer to let guests pay any amount they like to stay there has worked like a charm - thousands of guests from all over the world have snapped up rooms. -TNP |
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Tourism board wooing visitors from India
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board expects to do this by focusing on the shrinking, expensive long-distant markets. -The Star/ANN
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Bugdet airline, budget service?
Customer gets e-gift voucher for a delayed AirAsia flight last year, but faces difficulties in trying to make a booking, and poor service from the call centre. -AsiaOne |
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AirAsia airport plan scrapped
Malaysia's government has vetoed plan by the budget carrier to build US$460M airport outside the capital. -AFP
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Berlin airport workers to strike
Berlin's two international airports are expected to be affected by strikes as workers demand for an eight percent pay rise. -AFP
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Obama's a hit at Johor zoo
One of its newest African lion cubs has become a celebrity in its own right. -The Star/ANN
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Quieter hotel lobbies in Terengganu a worry
With this month's average room occupancy dipping to between 20 and 30%, the mood is grim. -NST
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Tour guides feel the bumps as travel slumps
Business is down as downturn hits sector and more tourists prefer free & easy trips. -ST
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Elephants ply streets for tourist dollars
Go-go dancers and hawkers are not the only ones on the streets of Bangkok trying to earn a living. Many elephants, often in poor health, are made to ply the city for tourist money. -AFP |
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AirAsia on a Man Utd jersey?
Founder Tony Fernandes says on blog that the Premier League side had invited him to discuss the deal. -AFP
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Free one-night hotel stay for S'pore visitors
Singapore Airlines teams up with STB and CAAS in campaign to attract more tourists to Singapore. -AsiaOne |
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Tibet closed to foreigners
Ban on foreign tourists come ahead of next month's highly sensitive 50th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. -AFP
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Record sales at travel fairs
Singaporeans snapping up holiday packages at discounted prices. -ST |
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Turkish airliner crashes at Amsterdam
Nine killed and 25 severely hurt in accident at Schiphol airport. -Reuters
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Thai police solve riddle of headless foreigner
Man almost certainly hanged himself by jumping off the Rama VIII bridge, says police. -AFP
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Driver going too fast, 'distracted by spectacular view'
A family holiday turned into a nightmare for nine Singaporeans after a minibus they were in careened down an embankment in New Zealand. -TNP
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Travel cheap
Tour prices are cut by up to 60 per cent at this year's Natas fair. -ST |
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Cheap travel deals
Here are 30 cheap deals at the Natas travel fair this weekend.
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Bargain bounty
Special deals, prizes and giveaways make your holidays sweeter. -SPU |
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Reel in the deals
Pick up great holiday packages at the Natas Travel fair. -SPU
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Plane crash investigated
Safety official says death toll could have been much higher. -AFP
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MAS 2008 profits down 71%
Airline will cut capacity by five per cent this year. -AFP
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Up to 60% off tour packages at Natas fair
This year's fair will be bigger than last year's, with a multitude of exhibitors occupying 928 booths and expecting crowds of up to 60,000. -myp |
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Natas Travel 2009
AsiaOne's guide to the upcoming Natas travel fair at Singapore Expo this weekend.
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Visitor arrivals fall 13%
Room revenue also fell to levels last seen in 2007. -ST
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Long queues at Natas fair
Natas has also set up a hardship fund to help employees of member agents who earn less than $2,000 a month. -ST
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Is your tour bus a 'mule' for smuggled goods?
ICA catches two vehicles with contraband cigarettes in just two days. -AsiaOne |
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AirAsia still optimistic
It sank into the red in Q4, but blamed the loss on one-off fuel hedging costs. -AFP
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Pay to pee when you fly
Europe's largest low-cost carrier might start charging passengers for using the toilet while flying, with the possibility of putting a coin slot on the toilet door. -Reuters |
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Merlion struck by lightning
S'pore's tourist attraction damaged by lightning, parts of statue fell and startled visitors. -Reuters
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Romanian plane lands on its belly
Plane made emergency landing after a problem with its landing gear. -AFP
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