World

Japan imposes new fees on Mount Fuji climbers to limit tourists

By Tom Bateman FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (Reuters) -Park rangers on Japan's sacred Mount Fuji officially started this year's climbing season about 90 minutes before sunrise on Monday, levying new trail fees and limiting hiker numbers to curb overcrowding. At 3 a.m., officials opened a newly installed gate at a station placed just over halfway up the 3,776-meter (12,388-ft) peak that is a symbol of

President Marcos joins Megaworld in opening 'PH's biggest hotel'

Property giant Megaworld, the country's largest hotel developer with over 7,000 hotel rooms in its portfolio, has formally opened the Philippines' biggest hotel development to date: the 1,530-room Grand Westside Hotel. Inaugurated by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 19-story, two-tower Grand Westside Hotel features 1,530 rooms within the rising 'Broadway of Asia.' "My heartfelt congratulations to all the hardworking members and...

Travel misery as nine days of London tram strike action begins ahead of Wimbledon

Travel misery as nine days of London tram strike action begins ahead of Wimbledon - Maintenance worker members begin action on eve of tennis tournament

Furious families brand £40 British balloon festival 'absolute shambles with no balloons'

The Wales Balloon Festival has been taking place in Carmarthen across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but some angry visitors have been left fuming at the event over what they consider a lack of balloons...

Goodyear, Arizona to Fort Myers, Florida: 10 fastest-growing retirement hot spots in America, according to a new study

Four of the top 10 retirement hot spots are in Florida. The Sunshine State also had the most cities in the top 50 list.

Instant karma as man kicks hotel door before walking up to reception

A man was caught on camera kicking in the door to a Marriott hotel. The video shows him shattering the glass with punches before kicking the door multiple times.

Pirates of the Caribbean actor killed in shark attack

VinHMS Ramps Up Global Expansion with Strategic Acquisition

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VinHMS - an innovator in hospitality technology, has been actively pursuing its strategic plans for international expansion. Established in December 2018 as a member of Vingroup, VinHMS specializes in providing high-quality technology products, and aims to optimize business operations for enterprises. After 5 years of establishment, VinHMS is actively expanding its presence in the domestic...

Three people killed after small plane crashes on French motorway

The aircraft crashed on the A4 motorway near Disneyland Paris after hitting an electric power cable.

Dragonflies thriving at newest nature 'hotspot'

A reserve is designated a "hotspot" for dragonflies thanks to its conservation efforts.

Plus-sized TikTok star ranks UK airlines from best to worst on comfort for larger passengers, with verdicts on British Airways, Tui, Ryanair and easyJet

Becky Price, who posts airline reviews on her TikTok channel under the username @xBeckyPricex, rated each of the four airlines on comfort, seat size, width of aisle and more...

AirAsia Promo July 2024 Seat Sale: Fly for as Low as P15

International destinations are on sale, too.

Foreign Office issues Spanish taxi warning which could cost you 600 euros

If you are going to Spain on holiday soon, take heed of the Foreign Office advice and don't make this expensive mistake

Why Florida’s Retirees Are Fleeing — And Where They’re Going Instead

Once considered the ideal place to live out one's golden years, Florida is quickly losing favor with retirement-aged folks. Remote workers and the wealthy are flocking to the state and driving up home...

More WestJet flight cancellations as Canadian airline strike hits more than 100,000 travelers

TORONTO (AP) — A strike by plane mechanics forced Canada's second largest airline, WestJet, to cancel hundreds more flights Sunday, upending plans of roughly 110,000 travelers over the Canada Day long weekend and prompting the carrier to demand action from the federal government. Some 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, walked off the job Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration...

2 do's—and 1 don't—of planning a group vacation, from a travel writer who hates group trips

Walker travels five to six times per year, but she's only been on five group trips total.

How a site on the Mendips helped fool the Nazis

A decoy site on the Mendips - codenamed Starfish - helped to divert bombs meant for Bristol.

Curse of the sunseekers: Tourists who died or vanished in Brit holiday hotspots

For most of the millions of Brits who go abroad each year, they come back to the UK with memories of carefree days and sun-soaked beaches - but a small number will never make it home

What Is Mobile Passport Control, and Is It Right for You?

What is Mobile Passport Control and is it right for you? Experts weigh in on the pros and cons of using the travel app.

Agoda shares top five international city destinations for the first half of 2024

SINGAPORE, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokyo emerged as the most popular international city destination for the first half of 2024, according to digital travel platform Agoda. The travel insights further reveal the popularity of Bangkok, Osaka, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur, as destinations that follow behind Tokyo to round out the top five. Top Five International Destinations of the First Half of 2024 - Agoda 1 Tokyo 2 Bangkok 3 Osaka 4 Seoul 5...

Heritage buses are just the ticket for web gallery

Graham Croucher explains why classic buses have been a life-long obsession.

Light aircraft crash lands at airfield

Firefighters and ambulance crews went to the crash, which happened on Saturday at Beccles.

Picturesque mountain town becomes hotspot for America's migrant boom

A picturesque Montana city has become an unexpected hotspot for America's migrant boom, sparking a backlash from a group of hard-right residents.

US to offer Boeing 'sweetheart deal', lawyer says

The deal includes a fine, three years of probation and safety audits, according to a lawyer representing the victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes

Travel chaos as major airline cancels more than 800 flights

Tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded and scrambling for answers after a major airline canceled hundreds of flights over the weekend.

Explorer ‘who named Australia’ to be reburied in Lincolnshire village where he was born

When the remains of the famous explorer Capt Matthew Flinders – credited with naming Australia – were discovered during the digging for HS2, Jane Pearson knew he had to be brought back home to Donington. This little village in Lincolnshire, where Flinders was born in 1774, has been preparing for his arrival for months, and is gearing up to welcome a host of Australian dignitaries travelling over for his reburial in July. “It’s a huge project....

Is it possible to have a holiday abroad for just £100 - in TOTAL? Yes it is! And here's how I did it... from a £9.99 flight to Europe's 'most underrated' city to 68p beer

Chelsea Dickenson, 34, from Wrexham, flew with Wizz Air to the capital of Albania, with her £100 budget covering not just the flights, but accommodation, food and activities.

Embarking on a Sustainable Journey with Hi-MO X6 in Nakagawa Village- One of "the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan"

NAGANO, Japan, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned as one of "the most beautiful villages in Japan", the quaint Nakagawa village is home to LONGi Hi-MO X6 solar panels, shining atop the Nakagawa Shopping Center Ciao. The union of solar power and tourism is setting an eco-friendly future, as the village transitions towards facilities energized by renewable resources. ( Picture from BIG・INTEC Co., Ltd.) Nakagawa Shopping Center Ciao, a unique...

Americans and Japanese take far less time off — but Europeans say they're more 'vacation deprived'

Some 84% of Germans and 69% of French workers said they feel "vacation deprived" even though they take the most days off work, according to an Expedia study.

WestJet cancels flights after mechanics strike

TORONTO — Canada's second largest airline, WestJet, said it canceled 407 flights affecting 49,000 passengers after the maintenance workers union announced it went on strike. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said its members started to strike Friday (Saturday) evening because the airline's "unwillingness to negotiate with the union" made it inevitable. The surprise strike affecting international and domestic flights came after the...

Summer hours are a perk small businesses can offer to workers to boost morale

NEW YORK (AP) — With summer having gotten off to a scorching start, workers across the country may be dreaming of a seaside escape or cutting out early to watch a movie in an air-conditioned theater. For some, that can be a reality. Business owners have found that offering summer hours – a reduced schedule on Fridays, usually between Memorial Day and Labor Day — can be a way to boost employee morale. Workers are able to deal with summer...

Back to the future: The Centro de Turismo Intramuros opens

A new creative cauldron, the enchanting Centro de Turismo Intramuros, opened its doors recently, to the delight of Manila’s culture and history fans. Conceptualized by the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, the Center is intended to be a traveler’s very first portal to the Walled City, a nucleus that will give a glimpse of the Philippines’ historic pa...

I left life on land and bought a canal boat..

Joe Dixey, 33, a photographer from Nottinghamshire has waxed lyrical about life on the water but rued the deteriorating state of British canals.

First Lady back from 3-day UAE visit

MANILA, Philippines — First Lady Liza Marcos on Sunday shared on social media her trip to the United Arab Emirates, where she is on a supposed three-day working visit to explore areas of cooperation between the Philippines and the UAE. In an instagram post, Mrs. Marcos said the Philippine delegation and the UAE government tackled areas where they could enhance cooperation, such as culture, arts and heritage. “Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint...

Multiple crews fight derelict hotel fire in Newquay

Firefighters from across Cornwall are at the Hotel California on Pentire Crescent.

Why Japan is always a good idea for fun

The last time I was in Osaka was back in 2019, when I went with my mom and daughter Gabbie. This year, I wanted to go out of the country for a few days with girlfriends to celebrate my upcoming 59th birthday. And what better place to unwind, eat, relax, and shop than Osaka? We left Wednesday afternoon and, after a two-hour delay in NAIA, arrived in Kansai airport past 8 p.m. Japan time. By the time we checked in at Swissotel, it was close to 10...

Hotel Inspector star slammed over scathing 1-word description of hotel workers

My Hotel Nightmare's hospitality expert Alex Polizzi riled viewers with her comments

Incredible footage shows 'UFO' spotted in mysterious ancient canyon

Beyond Skinwalker Ranch hosts Paul Beban, veteran journalist, and Andy Bustamante, an ex- CIA agent, traveled to Rock Art Ranch to investigate the ancient petroglyphs.

I won’t fly QR again; Nvidia on a blitz

I will not fly Qatar Airways (QR) anymore. Neither will I recommend it to anyone. It has failed multiple times to honor its commitments. The money part may matter, but the broken promises matter most. A year ago, on July 18, 2023, I arrived from Europe via Doha on QR 928. When I claimed my Rimowa luggage, I noticed that one wheel was dangling, almost totally detached. I immediately reported this to the QR office at the Ninoy Aquino International...

'I never thought I'd travel solo to Peru. Here are 7 things I learned when I did.'

If there's a thing you must know about me, it's my outrageously impressive ability to get lost in a place I've spent almost my entire life. I'm really very good at it. Ask me the name of the streets surrounding my childhood home. Go on, ask. Because I have no idea. Watch: The ultimate travel hack. Post continues below. Credit: TikTok ... Continued

Nicky Zimmermann Shares Her Guide to Sydney

From ocean pools to antique shops, here’s where the Australian designer likes to visit whenever she’s back home.

4 States Retirees Are Moving to in 2024 That Aren’t Arizona or Florida

While states such as Arizona and Florida come to mind when it comes to where retirees choose to move, other states across the country are also attracting seniors for a variety of reasons. Indeed,...

Eat and pray; Celebrate the Pope’s Day

Last week we had the pleasure of dining at Txoko Asador on Esteban Street in Legaspi Village. This restaurant is still as exceptional as it was the first time I tried it prepandemic, in fact, possibly more exquisite than when it started. The meal opened with a starter of Pan Con Tomate Y Jamon, which is a brilliant concoction of tomato foam enveloped in Jamon Serrano with a touch of Iberico oil. The sweet acidity of the tomato literally bursts...

10 Reasons Rizal Park Is Worth Visiting Now

Everything's greener, too, because the rainy season has started.

Taika Waititi reveals the 'secret' New Zealand beach he and wife Rita Ora love to visit on holiday

Taika Waititi has shared his favourite spot to whisk his wife Rita Ora away to when the couple are in his homeland of New Zealand.

Airport meet and greet parking company 'stole' customers' cars

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Circle parking was operating in Birmingham, Luton and Heathrow airports before closing down in April leaving customers stranded in the rain.

Indonesia is not just about Bali

Bali is often described as the "Land of the Gods" and the "soul" of Indonesia. It is popular for its looming volcanoes, lush rice fields, beautiful art pieces, and amazing traditional dances and performances. But there is more to Indonesia than Bali, as there are other stunning wonders in this country inhabited by over 250 million citizens. Ambassador Agus Widjojo, Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, who is also accredited to the Republic...

Sofitel hotel closes; Union to push fight

MANILA, Philippines — The landmark Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila officially shuts down on Monday after 46 years amid safety concerns and an escalating labor dispute. The hotel, last managed by the multinational tourism company Accor SA under its Sofitel brand, bid farewell on its Facebook, thanking guests for memories that “have left an indelible mark on our hearts.” The property, owned by the Government Service Insurance Service (GSIS), was...

Jay Slater search scours caves, ravines and cliffs

Almost two weeks after the 19-year-old was last seen, his family are still waiting on a breakthrough.

More Filipino travelers heading for Japan

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is seeing stronger interest in its routes to Japan as more travelers visit one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia and the rest of the world. The Gokongwei-led airline, in a statement, says the volume of passengers it flew to Japan nearly doubled to 110,000 in the first quarter. The latest figure is also 20-percent better than the prepandemic volume. “Japan has become a top-of-mind destination for...