Travel often places landscapes at the center of attention. We look for Instagram-worthy images of mountain ranges, white-sand beaches, snow-capped peaks, blue lakes, and green fields before moving on to the next destination. But beyond these postcard views are communities that have called these places home for generations, carrying traditions, knowledge, and a heritage passed down through cultural bearers.

With the Cultural Center of the Philippines set to reopen in 2027, can it help make Filipino cultural performances a regular part of Manila's tourism scene? In Bali, take away the beach parties, temple visits, yoga classes, surfing and gastronomic adventures, and Uluwatu remains a major draw for tourists. Beyond its mischievous monkeys and ancient temple, an outdoor amphitheater hosts two performances of the Kecak Dance each evening. Dozens of bare-chested men chant a hypnotic “chak-achak-achak,” bringing scenes from the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana to life. Hundreds of spectators fill the cliffside amphitheater, drawn to a cultural performance set against Uluwatu’s dramatic coastal landscape.

Almost everyone who plans a first trip to South Korea runs into the same question: Seoul or Busan, or both? The two cities are only a few hours apart by train, but they feel like they belong to different countries. I lived in Seoul for eight months as an exchange student in 2020, in the student district of Sinchon, and I still go back every year. I have also been to Busan three times, in 2018, in 2020 and again in June 2026, and after my last trip I wrote a complete Busan travel guide. So I have seen both cities as a resident and as a visitor, and my answer depends on how many days you have.

Coming home after being out on the road can be strange. Once you're back on familiar roads, you stop driving and you're done for the day. No more driving to a campground or looking for another place to spend the night. You still have your home, but it may not feel like home after spending so many days driving to see new sights and making random stops along the way.

After more than ten visits to Bangkok, I’ve stayed in enough hotels and hostels to know what I look for in a place to stay: a convenient location, a comfortable bed, good food, and easy access to public transportation. Anantara Siam Bangkok checked those boxes and then some.

A flight from Asia to the US often lands after ten or more hours in the air, sometimes overnight, with a large time difference waiting on the other side. You walk off the plane at LAX, SFO, Seattle or New York needing to tell family you have arrived, find your ride or train, and check in with a hotel that may have sent a message while you were flying. That is a lot to manage on a phone that has not connected yet.

In Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, danggit is more than a local delicacy. The rabbitfish that become the town’s dried fish thrive in nearly 1,000 hectares of seagrass meadows, part of a larger coastal ecosystem of seagrass, coral reefs and mangroves that supports both the town’s livelihood and its marine life.

As a student, you could be expected to carry everything from your ID and bank card to transport passes and some emergency cash. But get that bulky wallet off of you. It can quickly turn into a burden for you. Minimalist wallets are an ideal choice for modern students. These are slim and keep things simple, neat, and easy to carry around, especially with modern-day students being as busy as they are.

It's rare to see a male weaver, which is why it was intriguing to chance upon an artisan at Binuatan Creations in Puerto Princesa testing his hand and foot coordination at the loom. The traditional weaving process begins with artisans gathering indigenous fibers such as abaca, buri, and local grasses, testing each strand for tensile strength before stripping, sun-drying, and sorting them by hand. Once arranged on a traditional wooden foot-treadle floor loom, the fibers are interlaced in rhythmic sync, requiring deft coordination of both hands and feet for the warp and weft to lock into place. At the center, visitors can watch this living heritage unfold or take a turn at the loom themselves under the guidance of master weavers.

There is a particular way I like to experience Bangkok: on foot, with no real plan beyond whatever interesting places I happen to find on Google Maps and an appetite. I wander through alleys, past sizzling woks and food carts, and keep walking until the streets light up with neon signs. I stop whenever something smells too good to walk past.

After four extended visits, each lasting nearly a month, it's fair to say that India has carved out a space in my wanderlust. Friends often ask me why. Their curiosity is usually marked with skepticism, sometimes even concern. “What do you like about India?” they ask with bafflement. The question is often followed by a familiar refrain, shaped by viral TikTok clips of dirty street food pantries: “Isn’t it dirty?”

Travel becomes easier when the right items are within reach. A smooth trip is not about packing every gadget or accessory available. It is about choosing practical pieces that make movement, organization, comfort, and communication simpler. Whether you are heading to another city, taking a long-haul flight, or planning an outdoor escape, a few smart accessories can reduce stress and help you focus more on the experience.

Modern laptop screens are sharper than ever, but working on a single display still restricts your digital workspace. Shuffling through open tabs, reference files, and communication apps slows down your daily momentum. Adding an extra display resolves this friction immediately, but picking the right format requires careful thought.

The Malaysian Embassy in Makati hosted tourism officials, airline representatives, diplomats and industry stakeholders ahead of the fourth Travel Sale Expo, with much of the discussion focused on how travelers can be encouraged to explore destinations beyond the usual tourism circuit.

On one of my first walking tours in Manila with Jing Ordoña, he greeted me with a question: “Are you ready for some long walking?” I said yes. I should have asked how long. By the time our New Manila walking tour ended, my phone was registering more than 32,000 steps. The bigger surprise was how much history could be found in a neighborhood I thought I already knew.

Purchasing your first e-bike isn't as simple as picking between a handful of specs. Motor power, riding stance, frame geometry, weight, range, throttle configuration and local regulations all play a role. A bike that seemed like a good fit browsing online can feel entirely wrong when someone hops on it.

Travel in Saudi Arabia is mainly booked through apps today. From flights and hotels to permits, trains, taxis and food, almost every part of most trips is arranged and managed using your mobile phone. The demand also changes very quickly during Ramadan, Hajj, Riyadh season and our national holidays so the best apps will really vary by season.

You land in Mexico City on a Wednesday with nine days ahead of you and nobody's number in your phone. The hotel bar is empty until 10pm, the walking tour turns out to be four couples and a family of five, and the only people you have spoken to since passport control were paid to be polite to you. This is the ordinary shape of a solo trip. It is also why the apps on your phone do more work abroad than they ever do at home, and why picking the wrong one costs you a week of swiping through the same 40 profiles.