Lifestyle

Discover the 30 most exhilarating Munros

Munros are the tallest mountains in Scotland, all must fit the criteria of a height of over 914 m (3,000 ft). The original list of Munros was first compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, and has been sporadically updated at various times ever since. There are now officially recognised 282 Munros in total, and in this gallery we show you 30 of the best when it comes to pure challenge and adventure! Click on to discover them.

A beginner's guide to backpacking in the wilderness

Imagine trekking through the wilderness only carrying a backpack. Whether solo or accompanied, backpacking can be an exciting adventure! But before you lace up your boots and pitch the tent, it’s important to truly prepare. From knowing what to pack to how to dress and even what to do in case of an emergency, you should come ready for anything and everything. Curious to learn how to start your backpacking journey? Click through to find out more.

Burnouts and boggings: the idyllic Queensland island ‘hammered’ by four-wheel-drives

Jacqui Fitzgerald bought her home in the seaside village of Woorim two years ago, seeking a peaceful lifestyle. She soon discovered it would be anything but. Fitzgerald is on the frontline of Bribie Island’s rapid growth in tourism. Her home borders the entrance to the national park and four-wheel drive beach on the southern tip of the island just north of Brisbane. Cameras outside her home have captured some of the dangerous behaviour over the...

Cities with impressive beaches on their doorstep

Are you looking for a city break with a beach thrown in? Cities featuring nearby beaches offer visitors the best of both worlds. You can soak up the culture and the sun. And when it's hot and dry, what better than to hop off the sidewalk and onto to the sand? Click through this list of cities located around the world that have beaches on their doorstep.

South of France, but not as we know it: exploring Nîmes and the Gard

The director of a newly refurbished boutique hotel in the old town of Nîmes tells me he has gained and lost a star recently. The hotel’s restaurant, Rouge, run by Benin-born chef Georgiana Viou, recently won its first Michelin star. But the hotel itself, the Margaret Chouleur, has been downgraded from a five-star to just four. Here’s the interesting thing: it was the hotel that did the downgrading. The top-level rating was putting people off, so...

The risky allure of WiFi Money: private jets, sports cars, and ruined investors

A motley crew of Instagram-obsessed, hustle-culture influencers made millions. In their wake, they left a trail of lawsuits and financial devastation.

What happens when councils take control of buses?

More people are using buses in Reading where they are publicly-owned - will others towns follow?

How the Luneta inspired US capital—and other PH links to Washington

WASHINGTON, DC — Unknown to many, a picturesque national park in Washington, DC that features the iconic Tidal Basin and is widely known for its cherry blossom trees was inspired by Luneta Park in Manila. US first lady Helen Taft, who had lived in the Philippines while her husband William Howard Taft Luneta Park was civilian governor general in the Philippines, wanted to have a public space in DC similar to Luneta where people could meet for...

Virgin Trains targets West Coast in return to rail

Virgin Group has applied for a licence to run trains on the route it lost to Avanti in 2019.

Fears for English Bridge Workshop arts group

There are fears a Shrewsbury arts centre building could be sold instead of being given to community.

From 2024, you have to pay to travel to the United Kingdom

Entering the US with a visitor visa

WELCOME to the USA? YOU may not be aware, but after your interview with the officer at the port of entry, getting your luggage from the carousel, and passing the exit doors to meet or greet relatives or friends waiting for you in the US, you have been processed by one of three agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) handling immigration matters. Yes, you have just been processed by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection...

How wild swimming puts you at risk of a raft of waterborne diseases

It sounded like good news for wild swimmers. Last week, 27 new river bathing sites were added to the map of the UK's coastal and inland waterways deemed safe for use.

Royal Mint 50p coin marks 80th anniversary of D-Day landings

A new coin marking 80 years since the D-Day landings has been unveiled by the Royal Mint. The design of the "tails" or reverse side of the 50p coin was revealed ahead of the anniversary on June 6. It was designed by David Lawrence with support from Imperial War Museums and depicts Allied soldiers disembarking a landing craft on to the beaches of Normandy with offensive aircraft in the sky above.

Beautiful 'Bali style' beach hotel coming to Australia

Australia will soon welcome a new 'Bali style' hotel offering amenities such as a beachside pool, waterside restaurant, and lush tropical gardens.

IndiGo to Vistara: Why airlines continue to face challenges

While new airports are coming up fast and passenger traffic is scaling all-time high levels, flight cancellations and delays continue to affect travellers…

Beyond Machu Picchu and Cancun: Latin American wonders for a dream vacation

Two Tickets to Greece review – a holiday you may want to cut short

The closest of schoolfriends in 1989, despite their wildly contrasting personalities, risk-averse introvert Blandine (Olivia Côte) and gobby showoff Magalie (Laure Calamy) fell out spectacularly (full details are hazy, but it involved a boy) and lost touch. Now, thanks to the adult son of Blandine, who worries that his divorced mother is in danger of closing herself off from the world, the pair are reunited and find themselves embarking on the...

Russia just discovered the world’s largest oil reserve

The most dangerous (and the safest) countries for female travelers

In an attempt to determine which countries are the most dangerous for female travelers, husband and wife journalists Asher and Lyric Fergusson studied and ranked the 50 most popular countries amongst tourists. The data was compiled using sources ranging from the 2018 Gallup World Poll to Equal Measures 2030's Gender Advocates Data Hub. The Fergusson's Women’s Danger Index ranked each country based on eight factors: street safety for women, intentional homicide of women, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner sexual violence, legal discrimination, global gender gap, gender inequality index, and violence against women attitudes. Using these metrics, their list of the 20 most dangerous countries for women emerges. Intrigued? Take a look at their findings by clicking through the following gallery.

Cruise stomach bug issue not new, passengers say

People who travelled on previous Ventura cruises say the company is "downplaying" the situation.

Palace declares special holidays

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has declared May 21 a special non-working day in Malabon City for the commemoration of its 425th founding anniversary. It also declared May 30 a special non-working day in Escalante City, Negros Occidental for the celebration of the Manlambus Festival. The declaration of special holidays in the cities of Malabon and Escalante were specified in Proclamations 548 and 549, both signed by Executive Secretary Lucas...

Software Glitch Causes Flight Delays at NAIA

38 flights were reportedly put on hold.

Spitfire Women: Blue plaque unveiled for WW2 pilot

Freydis Sharland was also British Air Racing Champion and a trailblazer for women in aviation.

Monthlong World Cocktail Day celebration

May is a truly festive month. Aside from Labor Day, May the 4th Be With You, Cinco de Mayo, and my gorgeous sister Goldee’s birthday on the 30th, we also celebrated World Cocktail Day last May 13. Of course the hotel industry would not allow World Cocktail Day to be celebrated for just a day. So Admiral Hotel—along with MGallery bars around the world—is celebrating World Cocktail Day for a whole month or until June 13th! Admiral Hotel is a...

Indoor market to host late night events

Visitors can attend the events across four Saturdays between June and September.

PAL sets sights on India flights

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is exploring the possibility of launching direct flights to India to capture the emerging demand for connections to South Asia. PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng told reporters the airline is considering to mount Manila flights to India as soon as it gets out of the supply crunch that it is dealing with. The carrier aims to snare the Philippine demand for South Asian...

Redemption of the Macabebes

MACABEBE, PAMPANGA, Philippines — When the ancestors of this coastal town are bluntly tagged “traitors” or subtly branded as “dugong-aso” (loyal to a fault) for choosing to side with colonial rulers, or blamed for the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo and fall of the First Philippine Republic, Vice Mayor Vince Flores takes time to explain the “unjust labeling.” So when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines recently installed...

Going cash-lite for more agile travels

Some people spend their weekends or long breaks curled up in their beds, reading a new book off the shelf or watching a cozy film while nestled under a warm blanket. But 28-year-old Mef Marzan has other plans. During her much-awaited time off from work, she travels to places that provide her comfort and leave her in awe, a stark contrast to her buzzing life as a manager and communications professional. “Nothing comes close to being transported...

American town torn apart in 400-year dispute over historic landmark

A 400-year-old dam in Ipswich, Massachusetts is causing a stir in a small town with a long history.

Hidden gem in the heart of an Aussie city will give you a serene break

Nestled within the walls are a set of picturesque yet cosy suites and a wellness space so peaceful you can feel tension quite literally melt from your muscles...

'Maldives what?': Saudi fashionistas attempt beach rebrand

Saudi designer Tima Abid got her start at a time when fashion shows were taboo and tourism, apart from religious pilgrimages, was almost nonexistent in the Gulf kingdom. Taking in preparations for Abid's show, Saudi designer Alanoud Badr of Lady Fozaza compared the kingdom favourably to a more established island locale.

A Comprehensive Guide to the UnionBank Miles+ Program

Get the most out of your cards.

Our oceans are no longer blue

Jeff Bezos' 3 private jets are worth $140 million and include 2 Gulfstream G650ERs alongside a hangar in Seattle

Jeff Bezos owns a hangar and three private jets worth over $100 million. The smallest is registered to a firm specializing in privacy enhancement.

Photos: three European Capitals of Culture to explore in 2024

Mountain song: PHL Pavilion brings the aura of Banahaw to the Biennale

VENICE, Italy — Well, I stand up next to a mountain… Contemporary art often does not reveal itself on first meeting, much like an enigmatic lover. Usually, a conceptual piece or space is felt first before it is even understood. If you go around the Philippine Pavilion’s current exhibition titled “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa panahong ito/Waiting just behind the curtain of this age” (curated by Carlos Quijon Jr., featuring artworks by Mark...

Castle tearoom to reopen after nearly two years

The council admitted the search for new operators had not been 'as quick as we would have liked'.

Dead Olive Ridley sea turtle found in Quezon

LUCENA CITY — An Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), locally known as “pawikan,” was found dead along the coast of Tayabas Bay in Agdangan, Quezon on Friday, May 17. “The marine turtle had wounds around the neck area, signs of another victim of stationary fish traps sunk into the bottom of the bay,” Jay Lim, project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), a public interest law office that advocates environmental protection, posted on his...

Russia showcases food products in Harbin

HARBIN, China – The rich aroma of coffee brought visitors to a corner of the eighth China-Russia Expo exhibition area in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, where Russian cream cakes are on display in the cake bar of the Alyonka Cafe. "It is the first cafe that we opened on China's mainland, where consumers are already familiar with the Alyonka chocolate brand," said Evgeny Bazhov, general manager of United Confectionery (Uniconf) China...

The future NAIA

A world-class Ninoy Aquino International Airport is soon to become a reality following the takeover of the airport by the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium by Sept. 14 this year, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. In an interview before he had to leave for Singapore Friday night to accompany his wife for a medical check-up, Secretary Bautista gave the assurance that the takeover would proceed as scheduled by September, even as...

Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union

Going on a trip to La Union soon? Aside from its well-loved tourist attractions, the province is also home to a variety of must-try restaurants. From refreshing drinks to fulfilling meals, here are some food places you should check out. —JCB, GMA Integrated News This article Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union was originally published in GMA News Online.

The Best Luggage of 2024 Worth Investing In Before Jetting Off

Remember how hard it was to roll the creaking wheels of your old luggage through the entire airport during spring vacay? Don't suffer through that again; instead, invest in these high-quality pieces.

California's new 'Honest Pricing Law' will require cruise lines to be transparent about fees

California's "Honest Pricing Law" makes it illegal to advertise prices for goods or services that don't include all the required fees or charges.

Crowds turn out for Peterborough Celebrates festival

Organisers and visitors hail the two-day Peterborough Celebrates a success.

What is There to Do in Switzerland?

This might just be your sign to go ahead and finally tick one of the world’s most beautiful countries off your travel bucket list.

Airbnb hosts are bracing for an unpredictable summer

To beat the competition, short-term-rental owners are turning to direct bookings and influencer stays to lure guests and make money off summer travel.

Disneyland performers in California to join union

ANAHEIM, California – Disneyland performers who help bring Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and other beloved characters to life at the Southern California resort chose to unionize following a three-day vote culminating on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The Actors' Equity Association labor union said in a statement Saturday that cast members for the parades and characters departments at Disney's theme parks near Los Angeles voted by a wide margin for the...

Departing Manila flights could be delayed due to potential software problem

Air travelers departing Manila can expect flight delays as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday said it identified a potential problem with the software of the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC). In an advisory, CAAP said the potential problem was identified during the regular monitoring, and chose to implement longer separation of departing flights from Manila but also impacting traffic coming into the area. “To...

What life is like in the world’s happiest country, from a 28-year-old who left the U.S. for Finland

Entrepreneur, content creator and U.S. expat Jade Ventoniemi shares why she loves living in Finland, the world's happiest country.