Bottom Bay, Barbados

Bottom Bay Tucked away on the south coast, past the Crane Beach and Sam Lord's Castle is Bottom Bay, a wide expansive beach with smooth rolling waves riding onto the shore. The beach is semi enclosed by high coral cliffs, providing a panoramic view of the south shore. The scene is completed by the presence of tall palm trees that add to the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the bay. Always a popular picnic spot, it is also becoming a popular place to live and...

Read More

Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States

The Nā Pali Coast State Park encompasses 6,175 acres (2,499 ha) of land and is located in the center of the rugged 16 miles (26 km) along the northwest side of Kauaʻi, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. The Nā Pali coast itself extends southwest starting at Keʻe Beachextending all the way to Polihale State Park. The na pali (high cliffs) along the shoreline rise as much as 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above thePacific Ocean. The state park...

Read More

Phu Quoc Island travel guide, Vietnam

Sitting back in a hammock, looking out over the quiet surf, you may wonder why more people don't know about Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island. It gets almost none of the press of those islands over in Thailand -- and yet with its rugged jungle, squeaking white sands and sparkling cobalt waters, it more than matches them. Sadly, with a brand spanking new international airport and progressive visa-exemption scheme, this is slated to change in the coming years. Drive around the island and you can feel the...

Read More

Ho Chi Minh City travel guide, Vietnam

As cyclo drivers rest easy below vast neon billboards, the emerging Vietnamese middle class -- mobile phones in hand -- cruise past draped in haute couture on their imported motorcycles. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City -- Vietnam's largest and most exciting city. How things have changed from the sleepy days pre-16th century, when the Khmer fishing village of Prey Nokor was established on a vast swampland. Saigon's origins date back to the early 17th century when the area became home for refugees fleeing...

Read More

Khao San Road travel guide, Thailand

Fifty years ago, Khao San Road was known locally as a good place to buy rice. Today, it's the most famous backpacker ghetto in the world. This notorious strip of cheap digs and bars was originally projected into fame by pot-smoking hippies ambling their way along the four Ks of Kabul, Kathmandu, KSR and Kuta back in the 1970s. Despite its complete transformation since then, Khao San's exotic allure has stayed alive in traveller imaginations, fired partly by the decent book-turned-rather-lacklustre-film,...

Read More

Downtown Singapore travel guide, Singapore

It's easy to imagine Singapore as a single sprawling air-con mall with good public transport and smooth pavements, but that would be both lazy and inaccurate. It's also easy to think of Singapore as being overpriced and only worth a night or two before heading elsewhere where your money will stretch further. That would also be a mistake. Lastly, it's easy to think of Singapore as being sterile, characterless and boring. This is also most definitely a mistake. There's nowhere quite like Singapore...

Read More

Ko Phi Phi travel guide, Thailand

Ko Phi Phi, or Phi Phi Island, is one of the most talked about places in Southeast Asia, with its natural beauty and reputation for good times putting it firmly on the tourist trail. The beauty of the island is unparalleled, even in a region of the world renowned for its stunning destinations. Limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, white sand beaches and miles of trackless forest make Phi Phi a perfect tropical island. Developments over the past 20 years however have made it the subject of great controversy....

Read More

Sentosa travel guide, Singapore

Billed as "Asia's favourite playground", Sentosa offers Singapore's best beaches and more than 30 attractions packed onto a small island. Some attractions, like Underwater World Aquarium and Universal Studios Amusement Park, are world-class while others, like the giant Merlion and sky-diving simulator, are a bit of a stretch. Whatever your take on this family-friendly wonderland, Sentosa is a major draw and attracts over 5 million visitors and their dollars every year. Hotels, restaurants, bars...

Read More