Monday, May 28, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Chinese travelers ditch the Philippines, re-route to Bali, Phuket and Jeju

Posted: 27 May 2012 05:10 PM PDT

by CNNGo staff

Chinese travelers go bananas for tropical islands, but Beijing has suspended all group tours to the Philippines amid an ongoing sovereignty wrangle over an island in the South China Sea. 

Disappointed Chinese tourists, who had planned to visit the archipelago are turning to Bali, Phuket and Jeju in the wake of the diplomatic spat over Scarborough Shoal, or Huangyan Island (黄岩岛).

The three islands in Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea respectively, have seen "a noticeable increase of visitors from China recently," reported Shanghai Daily.

"Explosive" demand

According to Beijing Youth Daily (in simplified Chinese only), destinations such as Phuket, Bali, Jeju and the Maldives are facing an "explosive" demand in the Chinese capital right now.

Shanghai China International Travel Service reported a 20-plus percent increase in tourists bound for Bali and Phuket compared to the same period last year. Customers who visited Bali, Phuket and Cheju have increased 10 percent at Shanghai China CYTS Outbound Travel Service.

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Qantas adds million seats on east-coast flights

Posted: 27 May 2012 02:55 PM PDT

Air travelers within Australia will have the benefit of greater choice -- and, likely, lower fares -- from this July, thanks to a combined Qantas-Jetstar plan to introduce almost one million new seats on its most important routes.

The national carrier and its budget arm are adding 900,000 seats through extra flights linking east-coast destinations Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane -- the highly competitive so-called golden triangle.

Other destinations are getting a bump too -- Adelaide, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Ballina-Byron will also see more flights.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce spoke of the benefit of increasing choice and lowering prices.

"We know from experience that increasing the number of low fares in these markets will stimulate new travel demand," he said.

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The rise of Bangkok’s indie eating scene

Posted: 27 May 2012 09:45 AM PDT

by Mrigaa Sethi

On a recent Friday night, some 30 foodies trickled down an unpaved alley in Bangkok's Thong Lor district.

They went up to the second floor of a nondescript shophouse, where they were welcomed into a warmly lit room with two long communal tables topped with jugs of potent white sangria. 

They sat shoulder to shoulder on benches, drank local craft beers and wines and chowed on a four-course meal created by pirate-like Australian chef Jess Barnes from the soon-to-open Bangkok restaurant Quince. 

They chatted with friends and strangers, passed each other the bread and poured each other more wine. 

It was a typical pop-up restaurant at Opposite, one of many independent food events creeping up on Bangkok in recent months. 

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Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam

Posted: 27 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT

by Ian Hawkey

The biggest city in the Netherlands is a triumph of resourcefulness and lateral thinking.

Space is at premium in Amsterdam, where much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea.

The city's planners turned that to their advantage: Amsterdam's canals soothe rather than imprison the city. They provide its order, its calm.

That calm is regularly disturbed by the trill of bicycle bells, but as long as you give the cyclists a wide berth, it's the perfect city for pedestrians.

No longer hostage to a tourist industry propped up, at least in part, by its now locals-only coffee/cannabis shops, travelers have no excuse for not discovering the best of Amsterdam.

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iReport: Your best adventure travel stories

Posted: 27 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT

A few months ago, we invited iReporters to share their adventure travel stories with us. We heard lots of amazing stories. 

If you're still hesitating on your wild adventure plan, perhaps these examples will get you motivated.

Skydiving in Tampa, United States

iReporter: Matt Sky, see iReport Skydiving in Tampa.

"Tampa may not seem like the wildest location. We usually think of beaches and relaxation -- but jumping out of a plane thousands of feet above the ground becomes quite a rush," says Matt Sky. "My first time skydiving in Tampa was eye-opening, and changed my outlook on life.

"I was starting to worry about my career, when I suddenly remembered that I've pushed through fear before and done some exciting things."

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