Southeast Asia

Wayang Jogja Night Carnival: A Glitzy Night of Arts & Culture in Yogyakarta

Posted on November 20, 2018

If you happen to be in Yogyakarta on October 7, don’t miss the grandest festival in town! Held to commemorate the city’s anniversary, Wayang Jogja Night Carnival is a glamorous cultural parade that showcases the arts and heritage of Yogyakarta, one of the most visited destinations in Indonesia, boasting World Heritage-listed ancient temples such as Borobodur and Prambanan. I flew to Yogyakarta from Manila via Jakarta on AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline. Upon the invitation of the Tourism Office of YogyakartaRead More→

Mercure Jakarta Kota: A Classic Hotel Near The Historic Quarters of North Jakarta

Posted on July 28, 2018

Located near the historic core of Indonesia’s capital, Mercure Jakarta Kota is a great choice for those who want to explore the city’s heritage enclaves in North Jakarta like Glodok, the capital’s Chinatown, and Kota Tua, the old town where Dutch colonizers established the colonial outpost called Batavia. The 243-room accommodation – the first Mercure hotel in Indonesia – stands along the TransJakarta BRT line, conveniently linking it to the rest of the metropolis. In terms of decor and culinaryRead More→

Keraton at The Plaza: Unrivaled Luxury in Central Jakarta

Posted on July 4, 2018

Want a taste of the high life in the Indonesian capital? Driving into the shopping district of central Jakarta, it’s hard to miss Keraton at The Plaza Hotel, which occupies the first 22 floors of a 51-storey skyscraper attached to Plaza Indonesia, one of the premier shopping malls in the city. Opened in 2011, the hotel became the first member of Starwood’s The Luxury Collection — a brand of high-end boutique properties — to launch in the country. Taking itsRead More→

YOTEL Singapore: A Really Cool, Futuristic Hotel at Orchard Road

Posted on July 3, 2018

The coolest place to stay in Singapore has opened its doors along the shopping district of Orchard Road. The YOTEL brand launches its Asian flagship hotel in Singapore, after successfully opening in New York and Boston. Inspired by luxury airline travel, YOTEL Singapore marries stylish design with technology, producing a futuristic space-age accommodation with streamlined hallways lit by the purple glow of mood lights. YOTEL’s color palette and trendy design reminds me of W Bangkok. One will notice the high-techRead More→

inchantreedoopool: A Chic Boutique Hotel Near River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi

Posted on June 8, 2018

Its name may be a mouthful, but this designer hotel in Kanchanaburi, Thailand will leave you speechless. inchantreedoopool is conveniently located a short walk away from the city’s most famous landmarks, the JEATH War Museum and River Kwai Bridge popularized by the French historical fiction novel adapted into an Oscar-winning Hollywood movie. The passion project of its architect owner, this 18-room boutique hotel showcases a minimalist “contemporary-vintage” design that exudes rustic warmth with its use of unfinished concrete, brick, and, most ingeniously,Read More→

Koh Larn (Coral Island), Pattaya: A Quick Island Getaway from Bangkok

Posted on June 8, 2018

The 7AM call time time by songthaew (pick-up truck) from Ibis Pattaya Hotel, a great-value stay in the middle of the city, got us queueing early along the main beach of Pattaya, a resort city just two-hour drive from Bangkok, which is now linked by affordable flights from Manila on AirAsia. Our destination for the day is Koh Larn (also known as Koh Lan or Koh Laan), a popular island getaway only 7.5 km away from the mainland. Given itsRead More→