The Korea Herald

Pierre Gagnaire on Top 20 Asian restaurants list

Nov 11, 2011

Lotte Hotel Seoul said Pierre Gagnaire Soul, a French restaurant by three-Michelin star chef Pierre Gagnaire located on the 35th floor of the hotel, ranked at No. 8 on Asia’s Top 20 Restaurants list and was chosen as Korea’s best restaurant in the 2011/2012 edition of the Miele Guide, a regional guide book to restaurants in Asia. The hotel said it is the first restaurant in Korea to be listed on Miele’s Top 20 Restaurants in Asia. The Miele Guide was established in 2008 to better recognize and c
Hawaiian Airlines offers promotion

Nov 11, 2011

Hawaiian Airlines said it will offer the Early Bird Promotion I and II. Promotion I offers an Incheon to Honolulu flight for 819,000 won until Dec. 10. After making a reservation, the ticket purchase should be made within seven days and an up to one month stay in Hawaii is possible. It includes one free roundtrip ticket within Hawaii. Promotion II offers a free transfer at Honolulu to 10 cities in the western U.S. A ticket to Las Vegas via Honolulu is 923,100 won and Los Angeles is 1,029,400 won
Malaysia to offer year-end sale

Nov 11, 2011

Tourism Malaysia said the Southeast Asian country will hold the Malaysia Year End Sale from Nov. 15 to Jan. 1, offering up to 70 percent discounts at major department stores and local brands. The recommended shopping area is Suria KLCC, located at the landmark Petronas Twin Towers. It is linked with large department stores such as Isetan and Parkson and it also offers food courts, a cinema, a science house, an aquarium and bookstore Kinokuniya.(yoonmi@heraldm.com)
Benikea gives away free accommodation

Nov 11, 2011

The Korea Tourism Organization said Benikea, the mid- to low-priced hotel chain, will hold an online event “What is YOUR Best Night in Korea?” on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/benikea through Dec. 6. At the site, participants can upload their best picture of the night scenery in Korea and leave comments on why it is the best. Those who win first prize will receive a roundtrip flight to Korea and accommodations at a hotel affiliated with Benikea. Five second-prize winners will get hotel a
Amid flood catastrophe, Thais begin festival

Nov 11, 2011

BANGKOK (AP) ― Every year when the moon is full and the rainy season draws to an end, Thailand’s waterways fill with millions of floating lotus-shaped lanterns ― a symbolic, centuries-old gesture once meant to placate the country’s goddess of water.Today, many Thais still believe the candlelit boats launched during Loy Krathong can carry misfortune away with them, allowing past sins to be cleansed and life to begin anew.This year, flood-ravaged Thailand has plenty of reason to pray for rebirth ―
Arches National Park an overlooked winter escape

Nov 11, 2011

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah ― I spent six hours scrambling across the frosted red rock, eyeing the endless blue above and surrendering to the quiet that commands this place in late January, when the obvious was finally put to me.“What are you doing out here ― in winter?”The question came from Kenna Chandler, 31, whom I encountered in the midst of a seven-mile hike through Devils Garden. I’d passed nearly a dozen of the park’s 2,000 red sandstone arches, carved from hundreds of thousands of years
Han Bi-ya excited about new U.N. job, still loves to travel

Nov 10, 2011

JEJU ― Han Bi-ya, a popular travel writer and newly appointed advisor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, is excited about her new job and proud of her accomplishments. “My job is to aid underfunded emergencies around the world, and make sure the victims get the help they need,” Han told reporters during a press conference on Jeju, Tuesday. “I am very excited and will do my best for the next three years.”The 53-year-old, who is known for her best-selling travel books and emergency relief
Yes it ‘can’: Chicago museum’s lavatory is flush with fame

Nov 9, 2011

CHICAGO ― If you’re heading to the Field Museum to check out its world-class exhibits, you may want to consider stopping at its latest award-winning spot ― the restroom.This year’s 10th annual America’s Best Restroom contest, sponsored by Cintas Corp., named the Field Museum’s ground-floor restrooms as the top bathroom in America as chosen by online voters.The Field’s bathrooms were lauded for its two large break rooms featuring artwork of the night sky, “a calming image that also absorbs sound,
Founder of Lonely Planet takes wandering spirit to Jeju

Nov 7, 2011

The co-founder of the world’s largest travel guide book publisher shared his love of walking after spending a day at Jeju Olle, the famous hiking trail on Jeju Island, Monday.“Today everything is so fast,” Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet, told reporters during a press conference on Jeju, after the official opening ceremony of 2011 World Trail Conference.He was scheduled to give a lecture titled “Walking this Planet” on Monday afternoon as a part of the three-day event.“We are alway
W Seoul-Walkerhill taps into Chinese market

Nov 6, 2011

Having seen a rapid rise in the number of travelers from the country this year, W Seoul-Walkerhill will enhance marketing to attract more Chinese people, said Greg Findlay, who was appointed general manager of the hotel in early October.About 45 percent of visitors are Koreans and the largest group among the international guests is Chinese, he said.“On the weekends, it’s generally Koreans coming out of Seoul to get away from the city. But China is growing and Japan is quite strong for us with th
Yosemite river plan could limit visitor access

Nov 4, 2011

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California (AP) ― On busy days, more than 8,000 cars pass through Yosemite Valley in the nation’s third most-visited national park. But, there are only 1,100 parking spaces.The scarcity of visitor parking in the narrow glacial valley is just one of many challenges facing Yosemite National Park officials say as they launch their third attempt at a master plan to protect its heart, the Merced River.After striking out twice with the courts, park officials are asking the publ
Grand dinner with Moet & Chandon

Nov 4, 2011

The Paris Grill at Grand Hyatt Seoul will hold “Grand Dinner with Moet & Chandon” from Nov. 11-27. The dinner will feature a five-course menu, designed by Moet & Chandon’s house chef Pascal Tingaud. The menu includes Parmesan sable, cappuccino of sea urchin, Carantec lobster, sea bass rolls, U.S. Creekstone beef tenderloin rossini and fig millefeuille. Vintage champagnes include Moet Chandon Grand Vintage 2003. The menu is priced at 110,000 won and 220,000 won, depending on the pairing of champa
Imperial Palace Seoul offers Australian promotion

Nov 4, 2011

The hotel’s buffet restaurant Familia offers 11 Australian-Korean menus jointly with Meat & Livestock Australia from Nov. 7. The promotion will run for three weeks. Australian assistant executive chef Martin Todd Kindleysides’ menus include rare beef salad with chili lime dressing, braised beef cheeks and masterstock and chili and pineapple chicken. Lunch comes at 62,000 won and dinner, 72,000 won, during week days. On weekends, lunch is 68,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3440-8000.(yoo
Foreign KTX users to get 30 percent discount

Nov 4, 2011

The Visit Korea Year Committee and Korail said foreigners who use KTX will be able to get up to 30 percent discount. The special offer runs through 2012, as the Visit Korea Year is 2010-2012. Anyone who is non-Korean can reserve the KTX ticket on the Website www.visitkoreayear.com and get the ticket offline.(yoonmi@heraldm.com)
KTO to develop makgeolli tour product

Nov 4, 2011

The Korea Tourism Organization said it will develop tour packages that show rural areas to Japanese tourists who are interested in “makgeolli,” Korea’s traditional rice wine. With makgeolli getting more popular in Japan, demand for visits to makgeolli breweries and bars has soared, prompting the KTO to do market research across the nation, it said.Through Nov. 5, the KTO is to take Japanese travel industry officials to Busan, Jeonju, Jincheon, Pocheon and Seoul to explain how those cities can of