clairevorster

Bhutan is a tiny Himlayan kingdom whose identity is firmly founded in its refusal to be assimilated into India, Tibet, or Nepal. It is also the first country to adopt happiness as an official goal of public policy. That is a good enough reason to be intrigued. Flight time from Singapore to Bhutan is a mere 41/2 hours, enough time to relax with your favourite book or movie before touch down. Here is our handy guide to making your journey worthwhile. A Country Less Travelled Bh

Sydney has drawn communities from around the globe, so it’s no wonder this lively city is all about the food. If you are looking for a lazy breakfast, a leisurely lunch or a late dinner, Sydney has it all. So pack your bags, here are our top picks for dining in style. High End Marque, Surry Hills “There are lots of great chefs in Sydney, but I find Mark Best to be the most interesting. Though his roots are French, his food is modern European with Asian influences. It’s a ver

What’s so great about Thailand? For a start, it’s smack dab in the center of everything - a quick hop from Singapore, Hong Kong or Bali and half way between Europe and Australia. The kingdom of Thailand has a fascinating history and is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers. Located just 15 degrees north of the equator, Thailand has a tropical climate, with temperatures varying between 19 to 38 degrees. If you are a first time travelle

If you travel solo, you are not alone. Janice Waugh is a solo travel expert and author of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook. Her recent research found that solo travelers take on average 6+ trips every year, compared to others who typically travel 2-3 times a year. “Solo travel can be the ultimate in self-indulgence; you can rest when you want and pour it on when you're feeling ambitious. Another benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and your triumphs all the more exciting.’

The best things in life are free. If you are heading to London any time soon, here's your insider’s peek at things to do; either cheaply or completely free. And if you weren’t heading to London… you may be after reading this. “No city in the world has more free stuff to do.” lonelyplanet.com Discover, Explore, Be Inspired All of London's top museums are absolutely free. Pretty much anything you like, from any time in History. Ever. Here’s our top picks with handy links so you

The South Hams is Devon at its finest. Far, far away from London, down the motorway until you reach a maze of wildflower and tractor strewn country lanes. If you make the journey, The Whitehouse is where you'll want to stay on arrival. Tucked away in the peaceful village of Chillington, on a blink and you'll miss it country lane, here is your very own blissful, funky country retreat that's already made it into the pages of Vogue. Great hotels make you feel like you are the on

First things first. If you travel, you need travel insurance. Not convinced? Read this. Clever people plan ahead. That doesn’t mean that clever people are depressed or worried all the time. They just know that travel involves things they can’t predict. A volcano expert may predict an eruption – you and I are unlikely to know much about it until our flight home is delayed or cancelled. 1. What is the biggest myth about travel insurance? There is only one thing worse than be

Got kids, or simply need some ready-made ideas to help with visitors? Relax. We've put together an essential list of 6 wallet-light (or free) things to do with kids in Singapore. Our useful roundup includes things to do when the weather is smiling, and even when the rain clouds gather. Happy days! 1. Events and Happenings Check out the monthly Events and Happenings page at Singapore For Kids, they always have a thoughtful selection of regular and one-off happenings to help p

The weekend. Time for some R&R. A good weekend involves something more exciting than binge watching TV on your sofa, and better for your bank balance than another trip to the mall. Here are our top picks for easy road trips in Singapore. Happy weekend to you and your car. 1. Katong and Joo Chiat Once filled with coconut plantations and used as a weekend retreat by wealthy city dwellers, Katong developed into a residential suburb by the early 20th century. It became populated

Sydney - vibrant, stylish, alluring. You can get through a starry sky of adjectives describing this dazzling city. Sydney has come a long way. Aboriginal people have always lived in Sydney, especially the Gadigal people. Then came the arrival of the First British Fleet in 1788, when Sydney became a less than gorgeous penal colony. These days Sydney is regularly featured on all those lists of the top 10 places to live or visit before you die. Sydney is also Australia’s most v

Albert Einstein, the amazing Nobel prize winning scientist. He knew a thing or two about accidents. He also said that the difference between ignorance and genius, is that genius has limits. When it comes to travel, ignorance can be anything from frustrating to extremely dangerous. For example, how would you feel you about climbing a volcano if you did not know it was about to erupt? Smart people know that travel involves things they can’t predict. A volcano expert may pred

Travel, it can enrich the soul and, just as easily, derail the bank account. And as Singapore is not getting any cheaper, our desire for great value travel has never been greater. We all want to go further for less, so finding simple ways to save money is more important than ever. Here are our top five money-saving tips: 1. Go Off-Peak Timing is everything, Travelling in the shoulder season means less crowds and more in your wallet. How about the Galápagos Islands in May or a

Longing to escape the city for the open road? Pick up one of these cars, all designed to get you, your friends and/or family - and your stuff - anywhere you want. Best SUV – 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Few SUVs are as adaptable and competent as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This impressive rig is just as happy in the city or in the mountains. There’s enough storage space to make a diva or a mountain climber happy, and if you still want more, the split folding rear seat wil

The short answer is - stuff happens. Flights get delayed and cancelled. Food isn’t always properly prepared. We fall over something, or someone crashes into us. Volcanoes erupt. Our wallet gets stolen. Our new camera ends up at the bottom of a swimming pool. Clever people plan ahead. That doesn’t mean that clever people are depressed or worried all the time. They just know that travel involves things they can’t predict. A volcano expert may predict an eruption - you and I a

Ready for a beach holiday? If so, no-frills airline Tiger Airways has just the ticket. Fresh from the success of launching sun, sea and sand flights to Langkawi and Boracay, Tiger has now introduced weekly direct flights to Malé - in the utterly gorgeous Maldives. Ticket prices start from $169 each way. Nice! If you are already half way to booking your ticket, here are our secret tips to get your dream holiday on a roll. 1. The Maldives – Paradise on Earth The Republic of M

“Not all those who wander are lost,” said J.R.R Tolkien, author of the epic Lord of the Rings series. This man who clearly knew about the joy of other places. It seems Singaporeans agree; we are travelling abroad in ever increasing numbers. In 2012 we made over million trips abroad, that’s an increase of almost four percent from 2011 and a massive 85 percent leap from 2001. So why should we invest our hard earned cash in going somewhere else? And are there real benefits to pr

We don’t travel to escape, we travel to experience life in all its vivid colour. And Singapore is the perfect springboard for a long weekend taking in the beauty (or the thrill) of the unknown. If you want to travel as a family, couple or prefer your own company, here are our top picks: On The Doorstep - Malaysia Just across the causeway, Johor Bahru is good for a change of scene, cool places to eat, and is great for shoppers who like lower prices. Barely an hour from here,

Singapore is officially The Garden City. A recent study by The Economist magazine’s Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore as the greenest city in Asia. Here are our top tips for ways to getting (mainly) outdoors and active without breaking your budget. If you are looking for free things to do in Singapore, go get some of these! Out & About 1. Walk the Southern Ridges The Southern Ridges Trail winds its way through 10 km of verdant forest and canopy walks. Along the trail, you wi

Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. That’s one reason Singaporeans are such go-getters. We like being ahead of the curve - the view is better and, of course, we like to be first! We don’t need convincing that it can be easier and cheaper going online to get stuff done. But the internet is a big place, and we don’t always find our way to those surprising gems that are guaranteed to help with life in Singapore. For example, did you kno

South West Australia is a paradise for foodies. The goal? To get off the well beaten tourist track and find hidden gems known only to locals. Here are our top picks for the best ever breakfast (or lunch), plus where to go for fabulous artisan cheese, chocolate and nougat. Brunch at it's best Bunkers Beach Cafe Quick Facts Nestled in impressive sand dunes, Bunkers Beach Cafe is a stylish way to take in the crystal clear waters of Bunker Bay. It is one of only a handful of rea