Is there a place for young travelers in busy Shanghai? This article form the NY Times points you where to go with the little ones in tow. Among the recommended destinations and activities are:

MagLev – a 267mph German-engineered magnetic levitation train, this ride cuts the 30 km journey from the airport to the town in just 8 minutes. See the timetable and fare guide to help you plan your ride.

Yu Yuan (Yu Garden) area – get your kids immersed in Chinese culture while shopping. When the merchants demonstrate bubble-blowers and Chinese yo-yos, it’ll be a fascinating experience for the kids too.

Shanghai Municipal History Museum – dioramas, life-size wax models and videos makes history a lot less ho-hum!

Science and Technology Museum – a truly fascinating and educational destination for children, particularly the IWERKS 4D theater andChildren’s Technoland:

Children’s Technoland is a fantasy world of children designed for age 1 to 12, where children can sense the outside world, observe the natural phenomenon and participate in the technological practice by a series of technological recreations. With the theme of knowledge and recreation, science and game, this area is aiming to provide enlightening education of technology in a pleasant atmosphere, and let children learn through play.

For good outdoor play: Gongqing Forest Park, the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise tours are good bets.

Read the full article for more, including dining and accommodation suggestions.

A dozen Asian hotels made it to the list of the Conde Nast Traveller’s Hot List of the best hotels in the world for 2007.

On 7th place: Banyan Tree Lijiang (photo), at Yunnan Province, China
On 12th place: Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski, at Badaling Mountains, China
On 16th place: Four Seasons Resort Maldives, at Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives
On 33rd place: Mahua Kothi, at Madhya Pradesh, India
On 44th place: Raffles Beijing Hotel, in Beijing, China
On 49th place: The Bulgari Resort, in Indonesia
On 50th place: The Eugenia, in Thailand
On 51st place: The Fortress, in Koggala, Sri lanka
On 57th place: The Luxe Manor, in Hong Kong, China
On 59th place: The Nam Hai, in Vietnam
On 60th place: The Park Street Hotel, in Sri Lanka
and rounding the list at 65th place: W Retreat & Spa Maldives, in Maldives

Are they worth the kudos? Check them out and see for yourself!

One of the annoying issues with budget airlines is that they normally don’t give seat assignments. You get your boarding pass, but as soon as the boarding announcement is made, people rush into the aircraft to secure their seats, especially those who are travelling in pairs or groups and therefore want to be seated together during the flight.

If you want to save yourself such stress, you can now pre-select your seats aboard Tiger Airways. For an additional fee of S$5, you can choose any of the standard seats, or for a higher fee of S$25, you can have an emergency exit row seat(s) or extra leg room seat. Make your selection when you book your flights.

Click here for more details.

What better time to breathe life back into this blog than Easter, eh? I’m back from from my trip to the Philippines and and getting ready to bringing you the latest news and stories about Asia travel once again. Welcome aboard!

Fodor’s presents five Hong Kong six must-see’s for those looking for adventure. In no particular order:

Peak Tram:

Hong Kong’s funicular is the world’s steepest — it climbs to a staggering 1,805 feet above sea level. You really can’t afford to miss what is ultimately a great ride. On the way up, grab a seat on the right-hand side for the best views of the harbor and mountains. The trams, which look like old-fashioned trolley cars, are hauled all the way up by cables — in a mere seven minutes.

Victoria’s Peak

Chinese name, Tai Ping Shan, means Mountain of Great Peace, and it certainly seems to inspire momentary hushed awe in visitors at the viewing point, a few yards left along the road from the tram terminal. Spread below you is a glittering forest of skyscrapers. Beyond them the harbor and — on a clear day — Kowloon’s eight mountains. On a rainy day wisps of cloud catch on the buildings’ pointy tops; at night both sides of the harbor burst into color. Consider having dinner at one of the restaurants near the upper terminus.

Star Ferry

If it’s your first time in the city, you’re all but required to cross the harbor and back on the Star Ferry at least once. It’s a beautiful and relaxing trip on characterful vessels. An evening ride is ideal, when the city’s neon and skyscrapers light up the sky. The ferry’s home is Pier 7 of the Outlying Islands Ferry Piers. .

Dragon’s Back

It’s not widely known, but 40% of of Hong Kong is protected in 23 parks, including three marine parks. Within these confines are plenty of great hiking trails, including Dragon’s Back, which crosses the “rooftop” of Hong Kong Island. Take the Peak Tram from Central up to Victoria Peak, and tackle as much or as little of the range as you want. Surprisingly wild country feels a world away from the urban bustle below, and the panoramas are spectacular.

MacLehose Trail

Named after a former governor, this 60-mile trail is the grueling course for the annual charity event, the MacLehose Trailwalker. Top teams finish the hike in an astonishing 15 hours. Mere mortals should allow three to four days from beginning to end, or simply tackle one section or another on a day hike or two. [snip] A portion takes you through the Sai Kung Country Park, Hong Kong’s most beloved preserve, and up a mountain called Ma On Shan. Turn south for a high-ridge view, and walk through Ma On Shan Country Park. From here, walk west along the ridges of the mountains known as the Eight Dragons, which gave Kowloon its name. Cross Tai Po Road and follow the path to the summit of Tai Mo Shan (3,140 feet), Hong Kong’s tallest mountain.

Happy Valley Racetrack

Hong Kong putters are the world’s most avid horse-racing fans, and the beloved track in Happy Valley — opened soon after the British first arrived — is one of their headquarters. The joy of the track, even for those who aren’t into horses, is that it’s smack in the middle of the city and surrounded by towering apartment blocks — indeed, people who balconies hang over the backstretch often have parties on racing days.

More details from the Fodor’s Travel Wire.

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