Aside from the Yokoso Visit Japan Pass, oneworld frequent flyer members also get to enjoy Circle Asia Explorer: special fares for travel starting and ending in any of 14 countries served by oneworld’s member airlines across Asia and the South West Pacific.
Travellers must pass through each of the alliance’s three defined regions across these continents:

• North East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
• South East Asia, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• South West Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand.

For airfares and other details, see oneworld’s press release.

Technorati Tags: airlines, Asia, asia destinations, asia holiday, asia pass, asia travel, asia vacation, circle asia explorer, frequent flyer, oneworld

Like Grace and Maricar of Filipina Soul, I’m off to the Philippines. Like them, I’ll have my kid in tow: a four-year old, who has hopefully gotten used to the idea of long-haul flights (this will be his 4th time to fly this stretch, although we’ve used different airlines and routes in the past).

Unlike Grace and Maricar, however, I have less-than-merry reasons for traveling. I’ll be visiting my Dad, whose health has gotten worse since my last visit. Although I do expect to see Manila, Laguna, and possibly other neighboring provinces like the last time, my time will most likely be spent reconnecting with my Dad and the rest of the family. Hm, puts a whole new twist to the term “family travel”, doesn’t it?

As I’m sure anyone can understand, posting in this blog will be a bit irregular in the next few weeks. I apologize in advance, but I promise to bring more of Asia to you when I get back. After all, –and to end this post on a positive note– not long from now, I might even be blogging in situ (more on that later!).

Technorati Tags: Asia, asia holiday, asia travel, asia vacation, family travel, family visits, flying with children, Laguna, manila, philippines, travel with children, travel with kids

A few days ago, I hinted at some airlines being re-routed to the old Don Muang Airport while the new Suvarnabhumi Airport gets the necessary repairs. Latest report has it that so far, effective March 25, four airlines will make the shift, making a combined 71 flights per day to/from Don Muang airport:

• Thai Airways International (domestic routes)
• Nok Air
• One-Two-Go
• PB Air

Two other Thailand-based budget airlines, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways, will continue to operate their flights at the Suvarnabhumi airport. More details from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Guide.

Technorati Tags: air travel, airlines, airports, Asia, asia travel, Bangkok, budget airlines, Don Muang, Suvarnabhumi, Thailand

If you’re going to be traipsing across Thailand for quite a while, it might be a worth to get the Dusit Hotels & Resorts’ brand new membership card: the Dusit Dine and Wine Card. In addition to discounts on food and drinks, members can also enjoy special accommodation rates, including discount vouchers at each of the ten participating hotels across the country. Members also get special discouts at Dusit’s signature spa, Devarana Spa, in its branches located at The Dusit Thani, Bangkok, Dusit Resorts Pattaya and Hua Hin, and D2hotel Chiang Mai.

For further information, please contacttel +66 (0) 2636 3552 or email dusitwinedine@dusit.com for more info.

Technorati Tags: Asia, asia destinations, asia holiday, asia travel, asia vacation, Dusit, hotels, loyalty card, membership card, Thailand

Particularly when you travel to countries within the same region (East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia), you’ll sights, food and local behavior that is shared among the different countries. They may have some local twist or flavor to spring rolls, for example, but it’s basically the same. Different localities would adorn their temples and other places of worship differently, but the habits and traditions are quite similar.

Hyo, traveling across the countries along the Mekong River, phrases it jocularly, but they’re quite true:

The locals will reassure that each song you’ll hear is a different one, but how can you tell if it all sounds so similar. You can do as the locals do and sing along with it or you get to appreciate the local beers such as Tsing Tao in China, Tiger Beer in Vietnam, Angkor Beer in Cambodia, Beerlao in Laos and Singha Beer in Thailand. While you sip from your beer you think it’s the same local pop music, different beer to make it almost bearable.

That’s just about the music. Go read his “Same… different” travelogue entry and see what he says about food, temples, markets and bargaining in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Technorati Tags: Asia, asia destinations, asia holiday, asia travel, asia vacation, asian culture, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, travel blog, travel in asia, Vietnam