Bali is named world’s best tourist destination by TripAdvisor
Bali has been named the world’s best tourist destination by TripAdvisor — the first time the accolade has gone to an Asian destination. The 2017 Travelers’ Choice awards top 10 …
Travel
Talks underway to bring direct flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Davao
Davao could soon be better connected to the international flight network with plans to launch regular flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Discussions between the Philippines and United Arab Emirates …
Manila Uber driver says ‘light conversation’ is the secret of her popularity
Nobody likes being stuck in Manila traffic, except perhaps some customers of Joyce Tadeo, an extremely popular Uber driver. It’s not just her looks that keep the psychology graduate so …
Terror warnings blamed as foreign visitors cancel trips to the Philippines
Tourism companies are reporting that foreign visitors have begun cancelling trips, particularly in the Central Visayas region. The news comes after Abu Sayyaf’s foiled kidnapping raid on Bohol island last …
Book now to bag a flight from Sydney to Manila for only $110
The Philippines could soon be giving Bali a run for its money as Australia’s favourite holiday destination with a stunning new flight deal. For bookings made before Saturday, Cebu Pacific …
Have they no shame? The ‘begpackers’ infesting Southeast Asia
BEGPACKERS: Recently we reported on the despicable scam practised by German Benjamin Holst. He is a man who, by exploiting his disability and spinning out sob stories, funds a luxury …
Safety concerns see Philippines tumble down global tourism league
The Philippines has plummeted down a global ranking of tourism destinations due to safety and security issues. The country has fallen five places in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel …
Report reveals scale of racism against resident foreigners in Japan
Nearly forty per cent of foreigners seeking housing in Japan are turned down because they are not Japanese, a government survey has revealed. Nearly 27 per cent of more than …
National food month to celebrate culinary heritage of the Philippines
With Lent soon coming to an end, the Philippines is celebrating its culinary heritage throughout the month of April. A mouth-watering calendar of events is planned across the country to …
Ben’s bargains: Top ten Angeles City hotels for less than 50 bucks
Although the Philippines is notoriously cheap, there’s no reason to sacrifice quality in the search of decent accommodation. Having experienced rooms with no running water and beds crawling with millipedes it …
High-speed Manila-Clark railway remains on track thanks to Japanese
Japan has agreed to finance three massive rail projects worth $8.8 billion — including a high speed railway connecting Manila and Clark. Funding for the flagship project has already been offered by …
Philippines Airlines promises better service and more routes with new investment
Upgraded services and more routes are expected as Philippine Airlines (PAL) announces it is preparing to sign a major partnership agreement. President Jaime Bautista, president of the country’s largest airline, …
Asia dominates list of most expensive cities, with Singapore at number one
Singapore has been named the world’s most expensive city for a fourth year in The Economist’s annual Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. The magazine’s 2017 report is dominated by Asian cities, …
Blood and feathers: The deadly business of cockfighting in the Philippines
While considered by many to be inexcusably cruel, the sport of cockfighting remains wildly popular throughout the Philippines. Here Benjamin Johnson takes a non-judgemental look at this controversial aspect of …
Long lines and corruption expected as bureau of immigration slashes wages
An increase in corruption and airport waiting times can be expected as Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers are hit with brutal pay cuts. Wage reductions of up to 50 per …
Bramovich: Fixing EDSA, and other ways to combat Manila’s traffic chaos
When recent proposals to charge congestion fees on the Metro’s major arterial carriageway unsurprisingly met with a negative response from the population, one has to wonder why it is that the …
Germany retains top spot in list of world’s most powerful passports
German travellers carry the world’s most powerful passports, while Britain, which shared top billing for three years, has now fallen to number four, below the USA. With visa-free access to 176 countries, …
Mystery surrounds drowning of two men while snorkelling in Palawan
Mystery surrounds the death of two Czech tourists who drowned while snorkelling during an island hopping tour in Palawan. The bodies of Jakub Brazda, aged 25, and , 28, were …
Benjamin Holst: Disabled German funds international party lifestyle by begging
People are urged not to give money to Benjamin Holst. He is a German beggar who exploits a grotesquely deformed foot to fund a party lifestyle. Conman Benjamin Holst, aged …
New flights will connect stunning – but remote – Banaue rice terraces to Clark airport
No longer will people visiting one of the Philippines’ most iconic tourist attractions have to spend hours bumping along winding roads. The department of tourism has announced a new air route …
Secret to travelling in China? Sharpen your elbows and keep on pushing!
Getting around China — one of the largest countries in the world and certainly the most populous — can be daunting. Here avid traveller and tour guide Benjamin Johnson offers …
New Clark to Shangai flights will connect the airport to the world
A new flight service connecting Clark with Shanghai will help link the airport cities across Europe, North America and the rest of the world. China Eastern airline is now in …
Five most tolerant Southeast Asian countries for gay travellers
Many gay people assume that South East Asia isn’t a friendly destination for travellers of their sexuality, but they couldn’t be more wrong. While some countries, such as Malaysia, Brunei …
Crucifixion? It’s a doddle… the utterly weird spectacle of the Cutud Lenten Rites
The world is full of all sorts of odd things — and religion is often source for some of the most weird and wonderful. Perhaps the pinnacle of peculiarity can …
Given up for Lent? No way! Packed calendar of festivals for March 2017
We may now be in the season of Lent, but that doesn’t mean all the fun and games are put on hold. Throughout the month of March the Philippines will …
A diamond in the rough: Yangshuo, China, has it all for travellers and expats
Avid traveller and tour guide Benjamin Johnson sings the praises of the rural Chinese town of Yangshuo, a lively centre of expat life surrounded by some of the most stunning …