Tag: lifestyle

From Amsterdam to the Algarve to Barcelona, tourist accommodation will be more expensive in some places this year due to hikes in the tourist taxes adopted by many European destinations. One key reason for this is the need to limit the negative effects of overcrowded tourist areas. The start of the new year always brings its share of changes, including price hikes. And travellers are not spared, not even those planning a city-break in Europe. In fact, the increase in Amsterdam's tourist tax has caused quite a stir. Said to be the most onerous in the European Union, it has risen from 7 per cent to 12.5 per cent of the cost of a night's stay in a hotel. This price increase will apply from the beginning of this year. The tax on cruise passengers visiting the Venice of the North is als...

The nation saw the 600th Hilton hotel opened recently in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. The global hospitality company is steadfast in its commitment to accelerating further expansion, banking on the thriving tourism market, according to a top Hilton executive. Qian Jin, president of Hilton Greater China and Mongolia, emphasised the significance of China as its second-largest market globally after the United States. “As one of the fastest-growing international hotel groups in China, Hilton has opened 100 new hotels annually over the past four years. This rapid expansion showcases our collaborative efforts, a pace we proudly refer to as Hilton speed,” he said.According to JLL, a leading provider of commercial real estate solutions, this year has seen a significant increase in Chinese...

Travel intelligence company OAG has unveiled its annual ranking of the world's busiest international flight routes, with Kuala Lumpur to Singapore claiming the top spot based on the number of seats sold throughout 2023. Despite a decline in daily flights from the pre-pandemic average of 82 to approximately 36, the route recorded 4.9 million seats this year. The flight, lasting just over one hour, holds the distinction of being the shortest international flight globally. The top 10 busiest routes predominantly feature destinations in Asia and the Middle East. Cairo to Jeddah secured the second position with 4.8 million seats, followed by Hong Kong to Taipei with 4.6 million seats. Here is the full list of the world's busiest international flight routes for 2023: Kuala Lump...

After two years of delays and production snags, Tesla Inc has finally handed the first Blade Runner-esque Cybertrucks over to customers. CEO Elon Musk delivered a handful of vehicles to their new owners on Nov 30, including Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The handovers at Tesla’s Austin headquarters were part of a live-streamed launch event on X, the social media platform Musk owns. The Cybertruck comes in three configurations: Rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and the so-called Cyberbeast. The cheapest version of the Cybertruck will cost US$60,990 (RM284,823), which is more than 50% over the price Musk floated when he announced the vehicle in 2019. That version, a rear-wheel drive model with a battery range of 250 miles (420.34km), won’t be available until 2025. Tesla is offe...

Swiss luxury watchmaker MB&F SA introduces the Horological Machine No 11, a groundbreaking timepiece inspired by radical modernist architecture akin to the visionary designs of Richard Neutra and Antti Lovag. Dubbed the "Architect," the HM11 boasts a 42mm diameter and is crafted from grade five titanium. Limited to 25 pieces per edition, it offers two variations: a striking blue dial and a red gold edition, each retailing for US$230,000 (RM1.07 million). This unique timepiece showcases four conical "rooms" stemming from a central flying tourbillon to the outer rim. Each room serves a distinct function: displaying minutes and seconds through rod-mounted orbs and red-tipped arrows, showcasing the power reserve, featuring an uncommon thermometer, and housing the watch's adjusta...

The world has not one new best restaurant, but seven. That’s according to La Liste, one of a crowded field of companies publishing restaurant ratings that are increasingly used by diners who travel around the world in search of culinary excellence. Unlike some other companies that dole out stars or crown the No 1 restaurant in the world, La Liste compiles scores based on online reviews from casual diners and influencers, magazine and newspaper ratings, and scores from guides and other lists. The more than 1,000 sources include online travel guides, the food publisher Eater and the Black Pearl guide by Meituan Dianping in China. “We believe by aggregating these subjective choices, reviews and critics, we end up with a ranking that is a bit more objective,” said La Liste MD Hél...