Hotels.com, a worldwide hotel booking website, recently released the Hotel Price Index that revealed that the top two favorite destinations for Korean travelers were Osaka and Tokyo. Hong Kong, which took the No. 1 spot last year slid to third place, followed closely by Bangkok and Singapore. The main reason for the influx of Korean visitors to Japan was due to the devaluation of the yen, leading to cheaper travel expenses for holders of the Korean won. In contrast, the number of Japanese inboun

KORAIL is offering a special promotion for foreigners participating in international events such as meetings, conventions and exhibitions. More than 90 international conferences and events are planned until the end of the year, with an estimated 80,000 participants, 10,000 being foreigners. Through this promotion, business travelers are offered discounts on transportation. Those who are eligible should send in an application seven days before the day of the event to a KORAIL travel center to rec

NEW YORK (AP) ― Airlines are introducing a new bevy of fees, but this time passengers might actually like them.Extra legroom, early boarding and access to quiet lounges were just the beginning. Airlines are now renting Apple iPads preloaded with movies, selling hot first class meals in coach and letting passengers pay to have an empty seat next to them. Once on the ground, they can skip baggage claim, having their luggage delivered directly to their home or office.In the near future, airlines pl

The Korea Tourism Organization announced the start of a foreigner-only DMZ Tour Bus on Wednesday that will allow individual tourists access to the border area. Previously, because of the complicated procedures associated with going to the DMZ, only larger groups were able to go on tours. There will be guides that speak English, Chinese and Japanese to offer guidance and assistance to tourists. Buses will leave every day at 8 a.m. from in front of the Korea Tourism Organization headquarters. The

Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, is offering a special Blue Moon Dinner Package for couples wanting to indulge in a private beach-side dinner. Only one couple will be chosen per night to enjoy an exclusive four-course menu prepared by chef Alex Gares that will include a Thai or Western option with complementing wines. Couples will be able to complete the romantic night by releasing a “Khom Loy” traditional paper lantern into the night sky. The price for the private candlelit dinner ru

The Korean hotel chain brand BENIKEA has launched an online promotion “Visit Korea 3+1” that offers a free one-night stay for foreign guests who stay three consecutive nights. The BENIKEA hotel chain whose services are certified by the Korea Tourism Organization, the state tourism agency, has more than 60 hotels nationwide, including major tourist destinations such as Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju and Jeju. The hotels are popular among both locals and foreign visitors for their reasonable prices and qu

For the upcoming autumn season, Australia is offering a variety of fun festivals. Melbourne Festival is an international arts festival that will run from Oct. 11-27. The festival is known for providing programs and events in dance, theater, music, visual arts and multimedia at a very low cost or, in most cases, free. For more information, visit www.melbournefestival.com.au. Those interested in the thrill of the race can go to the Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, which will run from Oct.