Gadling

Singapore Celebrates Launch Of Bay South Garden With Two Weeks Of Events

Jessica Festa — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Stories, Asia, Singapore, Ecotourism, Budget Travel

On the night of June 28, 2012, Singapore will debut its brand new Gardens by the Bay, which has been under construction for the past five years. The attraction is the first of its kind in Singapore. The launch takes place in the city's new Marina Bay downtown area, and is part of the "city in a garden vision," which aims to make Singapore a place of natural beauty.

From June 29 to July 8, to help celebrate the 134-acre garden's grand opening, there will be concerts by Jason Mraz and Corrinne May, family carnivals, an eco-friendly green fair, trail hikes, movies under the stars, live entertainment, a photography competition, storytelling, educational demonstrations, children's activities and more.

Gardens by the Bay will feature many different facets. Visitors can choose to wander through the cooled conservatories of the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, stroll through the Supertrees in the Golden Garden, learn about Singapore's plant history in the Heritage Gardens, discover aquatic life in the Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes and educate themselves on an array of flora in the World of Plants. And for some extra excitement, there will be choreographed light and sound shows in the Supertree Grove, changing floral displays in the Flower Dome and interpretive media performances to bring the story of plants to life.

Gardens by the Bay will be free to enter, and will be open to the public from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.

Singapore Celebrates Launch Of Bay South Garden With Two Weeks Of Events originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where To Get Singapore's Favorite Historical Cocktail: The Singapore Sling

Jessica Festa — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Food and Drink, Asia, Singapore, Nightlife

Developed sometime before 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender who worked at the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel Singapore, the Singapore Sling is a historical cocktail that has made a revival over the past few years. The original recipe used only the best ingredients - gin, Cherry Heering, Bénédictine and fresh pineapple juice. While by the 1980s the quality of the drink had begun to suffer - for example, substituting soda water and bottled juice instead of the fresh variety - a reappearance of Cherry Heering and fresh ingredients has revived the cocktail favorite.

Want to know where to get a quality Singapore Sling on your next trip to Singapore? Try these top venues.

Raffles Hotel Singapore

This should be the first stop on your mission to find the perfect Singapore Sling, as this is where the drink was created over 100 years ago. Inside the hotel is the legendary Long Bar, the birthplace of the cocktail. For those who enjoy sipping their drink in a laid-back atmosphere, the two-story venue features Earthy decor inspired by the Malayan plantations of the 1920s.

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Where To Get Singapore's Favorite Historical Cocktail: The Singapore Sling originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World

Jessica Festa — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Food and Drink, Stories, Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, Morocco, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, Belize, Mexico, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Middle East, Central America

Nowadays, it seems like there's a pill or shot to cure every illness. But do we really know how safe these unnatural remedies are? Throughout my travels and by talking with locals from other cultures, I've learned there are many natural treatments that are also effective in promoting good health. For those who've ever wondered about the holistic secrets of other cultures, here are some answers.

Turkey

In Turkey, the trick to staying healthy is mesir paste. The concoction was invented in Manisa during the Ottoman Empire, when the wife of Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim and mother of Suleyman the Magnificent became very ill. No doctor was able to find a cure, until one created a unique spice blend that seemed to bring the woman back to life. The mixture is a blend of 41 different spices that form a thick paste, and is used as a general cure-all and tonic. Some of the paste's ingredients include black pepper, cinnamon, licorice root (shown above), coconut and orange peel. The country is so proud of their natural remedy, they celebrate a Mesir Festival in Manisa each year.

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Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Changi Airport, Singapore: budget-friendly experiences during your layover

Jessica Festa — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Asia, Singapore, Airports, Budget Travel

While layovers are often times boring and filled with endless hours of watching the clock, Changi Airport in Singapore believes that airport experiences should be memorable. Not only that, the airport also caters to the budget-traveler with an array of free activities for people of all ages. Next time you're in transit at Changi Airport, make sure to:

Take a free tour of Singapore- For those with a layover longer than five hours, the airport offers a choice of taking a historical or cultural walking tour of the city. Bookings can be made at the "Free Singapore Tours Registration Booth" in Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Enjoy free Wi-Fi at over 500 internet stations around the airport.

Say a prayer and enjoy some peace in one of the airport's four prayer rooms (Terminal 1, 2, 3, and the Budget Terminal).

Go to the movies. There are literally big-screen theaters with spacious and comfortable seats showing the latest box office hits in Terminals 2 and 3.

Get your game on in Terminal 2 with complimentary Xbox 360, Playstation 3, MTV Booths, and LAN Gaming.

Go for a hike in one of the various gardens or trails located in the airport, some of which include a rooftop cactus garden, a Sunflower & Light Garden, and the world's only Butterfly Garden.

Keep up-to-date with news, sports, and entertainment in one of the many television lounges dispersed throughout the airport.

Pamper yourself for free at one of Changi Airport's many foot and calf massage stations.

Get creative at one of the many designated interactive art zones where you'll be able to create your own masterpiece.

Learn about aircraft transportation at the Aviation Gallery located in Terminals 2 and 3.

[flickr photo via edwin.11]

Changi Airport, Singapore: budget-friendly experiences during your layover originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why you should visit Singapore in 2012

Jessica Festa — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Business, Food and Drink, Asia, Singapore, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, News, Luxury Travel

There are many reasons Singapore makes a great travel destination, from unique architecture to rich cultural experiences to carefully prepared cuisine. In 2012, the Southeast Asian destination has even more reasons to visit, from exciting new restaurants to the opening of their first river-themed animal park. Here are some reasons to put Singapore on this year's trip itinerary.

New cultural venues

In February, 2011, the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands opened to the public as the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. First there is the architecture of the building (shown right), which is designed to look like a lotus flower in order to metaphorically welcome guests from all walks of life. The museum itself houses more than 50,000 square feet of exhibits for visitors to explore, helping them to better understand the connection between art and science.

The National Art Gallery in Singapore is undergoing a complete renovation and is being relocated to the center of the Civic District. The new visual arts venue will be housed in two adjacent heritage buildings: City Hall and the former Supreme Court building. It will be the largest of its kind in Singapore, and will "focus on the display, appreciation, promotion, research and study of Southeast Asian and Singaporean art, as well as play host to international art exhibitions". The completed project should be done by the end of the year, and until then travelers can still visit the former National Art Gallery, which features an array of local and cultural works.

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Why you should visit Singapore in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exploring the street food in Singapore

Jessica Festa — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Asia, Singapore, Budget Travel

Singapore is an island-nation in Southeast Asia that has a rich culture, especially when it comes to food. Their unique street food culture can be experienced in the numerous hawker centers: open-air food courts housing authentic, carefully prepared cuisine for a budget-friendly price. Sample delicious options like the local favorite Hainanese Chicken Rice (shown right), peanut sauce-laden satay skewers, mildly-spicy laksa soup, and the rainbow-colored desert, Ais kacang, made with ice and topped with beans, corn, fruit, and other delights.

International food expert Anthony Bourdain, the host of the Travel Channel's No Reservations and The Layover, is a huge fan of Singaporean street food. At a recent event held at LAUT in New York, Bourdain described Singapore as one of the best "foodie destinations" in the world and explained how the culture is comprised of "incredible foods with individual personalities."

He continued, saying, "I kind of lost my mind in Singapore. It ruined me from my previous life. When you've had laksa for breakfast there's no going back. You'll never eat Cheerios again. You can't go back to the way you were before."

For a better idea of Singapore street food culture, check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Street food in Sinapore

Exploring the street food in Singapore originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel Like a Boss: Onboard Singapore Airlines new A380 out of JFK

Josh Wolff — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Asia, Europe, North America, Singapore, Germany, United States, Airlines, News

Casting away most comforts afforded a modern traveler, Gadling Labs typically ventures out as cost-effective as possible; be it on a boat, the back of a pickup truck or the occasional Mongolian yak. But when Singapore Airlines announced they were bringing the A380 to the United States, we couldn't resist. Packing our bags for JFK we checked in on the new aircraft which started service among Singapore, New York and Frankfurt late last month. Check out our exclusive tour below.

Music Credit: "S'Wonderful" by Paul Brill

Travel Like a Boss: Onboard Singapore Airlines new A380 out of JFK originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day: Singapore's unusual theme park

Meg Nesterov — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Singapore, Photo of the Day, Theme Parks

This fellow is from one of Singapore's more unusual attractions - the Haw Par Villa theme park, also called Tiger Balm Gardens. Originally built in the 1930s by the creators of Tiger Balm to showcase Chinese folklore and mythology, the park is known for its bizarre and gruesome Ten Courts of Hell with such creepy statues and dioramas as a human-faced crab and bloody dismembered torsos (apparently it all makes sense if you know your Chinese mythology). It's been relatively deserted in recent years, making it all the more bizarre. You can see more photos of the park in Flickr user SingaPaulie's photostream. The MRT metro line was extended this fall and you can now ride the Circle Line train to the park.

Capture any odd attractions on your travels? Add your shots to the Gadling Flickr pool for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day: Singapore's unusual theme park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 Etsy shops from around the world

Elizabeth Seward — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Kenya, India, Japan, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Internet Tools, Caribbean

With all of the Etsy shops out there, how are you supposed to know which shops to peruse and potentially support? While it's a good thing to be supporting independent, local, self-made, all-natural, and/or struggling artists, it's a difficult thing to know where to start. So here's some advice, fellow travelers of the world: start with the Etsy shops that bring different regions of the world to your shopping window. Start with the Etsy shops that can transport you into another culture with a single browsing. Start with the Etsy shops that allow you to bring home goods with a flare from your favorite places if you can't always be getting on a plane to travel to those places and bring home the goods yourself. Need some inspiration? Here's a list of 10 Etsy shops from around the world, 10 personal favorites. This should help get you started.

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10 Etsy shops from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 best art hotels for creative travelers

Jessica Festa — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, South Africa, Singapore, Denmark, France, Germany, Canada, United States, Australia, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Women's Travel, Luxury Travel

Sometimes when traveling, the average hotel can get a little boring. Why not try something unique and artistic on your next trip? These ten hotels don't just hang paintings on the walls, they make guests feel as if they're staying in a real life work of art.

Daddy Long Legs Independent Travellers Hotel
Cape Town, South Africa

The designers of Daddy Long Legs had independent, creative backpackers in mind when building the property. Staying here is like being inside an interactive art exhibition, with unique rooms decorated by artists, poets, photographers, musicians, and designers who had free range to do whatever they pleased. The result is a mix of funny, ironic, and adventurous themed hotel rooms. Some room examples include:

the Freshroom- This is the only room to be commissioned by a commercial product. Guests can expect a retro Mentos theme, including a blinds with a pinup of Mona Lisa holding a pack of Mentos, circular raised wallpaper, and furniture adorned with 2,500 rolls of Mentos mints.
Far From Home- This room makes guests feel as if they are in the Karoo Wilderness by turning photographs of the region into wallpaper.
The Photo Booth (pictured above)- This room contains 3,240 images that are geared around the theme of "life".

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10 best art hotels for creative travelers originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 unique modes of transportation around the world

Jessica Festa — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Arts and Culture, Learning, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Cambodia, India, Israel, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Portugal, United Kingdom, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Transportation, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Travel Health, Consumer Activism, Middle East, Central America, Women's Travel

Cars, trains, buses, and planes aren't the only way to get around a country. From the Bamboo Train in Cambodia to the Rail Cart in the the Philippines to the Couch Bike in Canada, here are ten unique modes of transportation from around the world.

Chicken Bus
Guatemala, Central America

While variations of the chicken bus can be found in many different countries (this reminds me a lot of taking the tro-tro in Ghana, Africa), this vehicle is used not only to transport people but also livestock, hence the name. These U.S. school buses are very eye-catching as they are colorfully painted and decorated. When taking one expect cramped conditions, as chicken buses tend to be packed to capacity, and hectic driving at Nascar speeds.

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10 unique modes of transportation around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 best bridge walks around the world

Jessica Festa — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, History, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, Singapore, France, Germany, Italy, United States, Australia, Budget Travel, Women's Travel

Around there globe, there are many amazing bridges that combine interesting history, incredible architecture and breathtaking views. Crossing a great bridge, especially on foot, can be quite a memorable experience, not to mention it's completely free. While it is hard to choose only ten, here is a list of some of the best bridge walks around the world that everyone should experience.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney, Australia

When it comes to the Sydney Harbour Bridge you have a few options. You can either walk across the arch-shaped structure from one end to the other, taking in views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, or you can climb to the top. In 2010, climbing the bridge was actually rated one of the World's Top Ten Experiences by Lonely Planet. During the climb, which takes you up more than 300 feet, you will be given protective clothing to aid against the weather and will be secured by a wire lifeline. Beginning at the eastern side of the bridge, climbers will ascend to the summit and go down on the western end.

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10 best bridge walks around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pop-up restaurants: dining for a new decade

Laurel Miller — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Asia, North America, Oceania, China, India, Japan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, France, United States, Australia, News, Middle East

First, it was underground supper clubs. Now, everything's coming up pop-ups. As with food trucks, this form of guerrilla cheffing borne of economic need has become a global phenomenon. Equal parts dinner party and dinner theater, a pop-up refers to a dining establishment that is open anywhere from one to several nights, usually in an existing restaurant or other commercial food establishment.

The impermanent nature of pop-ups means no real overhead or utilities, and little food cost and labor. They're not enough to sustain chefs financially, but are instead a great way for them to make a name for themselves and draw some income in between (or during) gigs. Pop-ups also give chefs a chance to stretch themselves, stylistically or ethnically, although some prefer to let local ingredients shine. Most pop-ups give props to sustainability by sourcing product from local farms, which is part of what gives these fly-by-night operations such a wonderful sense of place.

I first heard about pop-ups while couch-surfing in San Francisco two years ago (my own pop-up form of survival after relocating back to the West Coast from Colorado). Chef Anthony Myint, the brainchild behind SF's Mission Street Food pop-up, which started in 2008, was serving much-lauded, locally-sourced dinners Thursday nights, each time with the help of a guest chef. The food was unpredictable with regard to cuisine or style. The location? Lung Shan, a nondescript Chinese restaurant in the city's vibrant Mission District (FYI, my favorite place for great, usually cheap, eats). I remember thinking at the time, "More, please."

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Pop-up restaurants: dining for a new decade originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knocked up abroad: second trimester travel

Meg Nesterov — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Singapore, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, United States

Not far along enough for second trimester travel? Read more about pregnancy in a foreign country, Turkish prenatal care, travel in the first trimester,Turkish superstitions, and foreign baby names on Knocked up abroad.

A few years ago, before the word staycation foisted itself into the travel lexicon, babymoons were all the rage. A babymoon typically referred to the last getaway for expecting parents, often a deluxe resort vacation replete with couples' massages, room service, and lots of pampering. I've spent my my pre-baby travel slightly differently, exploring post-Soviet museums before needing a stroller, eating at restaurants that have never heard of kids' menus, and learning what non-alcoholic drinks are on offer in local dive bars. Living abroad in Istanbul has also changed my short-haul destinations considerably. In the first trimester, my husband and I traveled to Kiev and Warsaw, Russia in the dead of winter, and to Frankfurt for the Christmas markets, and I don't regret having gone without the his-and-hers massages. For second trimester travel, I found Singapore to be nearly ideal: the food and shopping are epic, the street food is safe, and the people polite and helpful. Though the hotel prices and high temperatures can be hard to deal with, the Southeast Asian city-state is a nice balance of relaxation and city exploration.

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Knocked up abroad: second trimester travel originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel television Q & A: Carmen Roberts

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, India, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand

Carmen Roberts is a travel reporter for BBC World's Fast Track program. Extraordinarily well traveled, Carmen recently decamped from London--home for over a decade--to Singapore, the country of her birth.

Here Carmen shares a few tips, a secret destination, and gives us the skinny on how her career developed.

Q: Carmen Roberts, how would you define your occupation?

A: Roving travel reporter and video journalist

Q: You grew up mostly in Australia, if my advance research can be trusted. What brought you to London and now to Singapore?

A: I moved to London on a whim in 2000. I quit my job, broke up with my boyfriend and booked a ticket all within 24 hours, and a few weeks later I was on a plane in a bewildered state. Last month I moved back to Singapore, where I will now be Fast Track's correspondent in Asia.

Q: Can you point to events in your childhood or young adulthood that inspired a life of travel?

A: I was born in Singapore, but my father was from New Zealand and then when I was five years old, we moved to Australia. So, from a very early age, I was travelling on planes. I remember going to visit my grandmother in New Zealand when I was about nine and I travelled as an unaccompanied minor. I loved it!

Q: What do you love about London, and what would you recommend that a visitor not miss? Ditto for Singapore.

A: While the Tube is great (when it works!) you can miss so much if you don't go above ground. The Tube map is deceptive at times, and if you walk you can get to many places much quicker and have a far more pleasant experience. I especially love the parks in London. Kensington Gardens in my favourite.

What not to miss in Singapore? The food is amazing and you must try the street food, or hawker stalls. They are very safe and dirt cheap. You can get a bowl of noodles for less than a fiver. Gluttons Bay and Maxwell Food Court are my favourites. And if you are a nature lover, you must go to Pulau Ubin.

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Travel television Q & A: Carmen Roberts originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What are the top five cities for business travel?

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Asia, North America, Bahrain, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United States, Middle East

Some cities are better for doing business than others, it seems. Of course, business travelers (well, professionals in general) all have their preferences. Having done my time in Omaha, Winnipeg and London (Ontario), I can tell you that some places are better than others. So, I was pretty excited to see think tank Z/Yen put out its Global Financial Centres Index (PDF), which shows the top five cities in the world in which to do business.

There aren't many suprises at the top end of the list, which comes out twice a year. The rankings are determined using "five key areas of competitiveness," according to Inside Investor Relations: people, business, environment, market access, infrastructure and general competitiveness."

So, what are the top five?

Gallery: Abbey Road and the Beatles' Crosswalk

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What are the top five cities for business travel? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 20 countries for life expectancy

Justin Delaney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, Angola, China, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Andorra, France, Iceland, Italy, Monaco, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, United States, Australia, News, Caribbean, Hong Kong

"Old people" - we all hope to live long enough to earn this distinction. In some countries, the probability of living well into your eighties is much better than in others. The worldwide average for life expectancy is just a smidge over 67, with the highest and lowest countries fluctuating by over 20 years in each direction. 39 of the bottom 40 countries are located on the African continent, and 3 of the top 5 are European micro-states. The United States ranks in at number 50, boasting a life expectancy of 78 years old.

At the bottom of the list is Angola, a country in southwestern Africa with a machete on its flag. The average life expectancy in Angola is almost 39 years old. At the other end of the spectrum is Monaco (pictured above). Monaco is a micro-state in Europe with an extremely high standard of living. The average person there lives to be 89 years old. The 50 year gap between these two countries represents the difference between yacht ownership and subsistence farming, and every other country falls somewhere in between. For the full list, check out the world fact book at cia.gov.

20. Bermuda - 80.71
19. Anguilla - 80.87 (at right)
18. Iceland - 80.90
17. Israel - 80.96
16. Switzerland - 81.07
15. Sweden - 81.07
14. Spain - 81.17
13. France - 81.19
12. Jersey - 81.38
11. Canada - 81.38
10. Italy - 81.77

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Retail therapy: Istanbul ShoppingFest begins March 18

Meg Nesterov — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Europe, India, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab

Every year, many people visit Istanbul to shop in the historic Grand Bazaar to haggle over carpets, Turkish tea glasses, and souvenir t-shirts. But most locals do their shopping in Istanbul's many malls, markets, high streets like Istiklal near Taksim Square and Bağdat on the Asian side, and neighborhoods such as posh Nişantaşı and funky Çukurcuma. This year, from March 18 to April 26, travelers can take advantage of the best of all worlds with the first Istanbul ShoppingFest, also celebrating the 550th birthday of the Grand Bazaar. For 40 days, shoppers can get special discounts and win prizes, shop late into the night (with bigger discounts after 10pm), and be entertained with performances and events. Each Saturday, one mall each on the European and Asian sides will stay open until 2am, and all malls will be open until 11pm daily during the fest. In addition to sale prices, foreign travelers can get tax back on purchases at various malls around the city and enter raffles with each 40 TL (about $25 USD) spent.

Already established in India, Singapore, and Dubai in usual sale seasons, Istanbul's promotion will hold a special draw as discounts will apply to new season merchandise and take place over several major holidays including Easter, Passover, and Iranian Nowruz. With this festival, Turkey hopes to carry over some of the momentum from last year's European Capital of Culture designation, and become the destination of choice for travelers from nearby countries such as Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Rumania, Syria and Iraq.

Check out more details and events at www.istshopfest.com and follow their Facebook page and Twitter @istshopfest. See also the March issue of Time Out Istanbul in English for feature guides to the fest and the Grand Bazaar.

[Photo courtesy Flickr user antonystanley]

Retail therapy: Istanbul ShoppingFest begins March 18 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 20 travel destinations - The 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report

Justin Delaney — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, Chad, Singapore, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, News, Consumer Activism, Hong Kong

Every couple of years, the World Economic Forum crunches a bunch of numbers and releases a list of the top countries in the world to visit. While ranking 139 countries, they measure aspects such as pricing, culture, environmental protection, safety, and infrastructure. For the 2011 report, Switzerland remained at the number one spot - the returning champion from the last report in 2009. Nine out of the bottom ten countries are located in Africa, and seven out of the top ten are located in Europe. Chad ranked in at 139 out of 139. Italy, one of the most visited countries in the world, placed 27th. For the full list, download the PDF at the World Economic Forum website under the 'reports' tab.

20. Norway
19. New Zealand
18. Portugal
17. Finland
16. Denmark
15. Luxembourg
14. Netherlands
13. Australia
12. Hong Kong
11. Iceland
10. Singapore

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Top 20 travel destinations - The 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Singapore the next Miami for cruise vacations?

Chris Owen — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, North America, Singapore, Cruises, Caribbean, Luxury Travel

The Asia Cruise Association would sure like to think so. Seeing Asia as the next big area for cruise vacation growth, Cruise Shipping Asia, a conference and exhibition in Singapore this November aims to.

Cruise Shipping Asia 2011 will include a trade show and conference program focusing on the Asian cruise market. The exhibition will feature destinations, itinerary planning, shore excursion services, port and terminal development as well as ship operations, ship services and hotel operations.

"With 22 new cruise ships set for delivery by 2012, cruise lines are seeking fresh markets to help absorb that 17.4 percent increase - 51,306 berths," said Michael Duck, senior vice president of trade show promoter UBM Asia. "They are currently eying Asia as a largely untapped resource."

It was not all that long ago that European cruise markets were looking for more cruise ships and cruise lines answered that call. Recent years have seen the largest ever deployment of ships to the more profitable waters of Europe for some cruise lines.

Flickr Photo by jjcb

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Is Singapore the next Miami for cruise vacations? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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