Author: Ice Machine
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Singapore: Make It a Long Weekend Not a Lost Weekend
When booking hotels in Singapore sticker shock is common. Travelers often compare prices to other countries in the region. It’s not unusual to perceive better value in places like Bangkok or Phnom Penh. I believe thinking this way is a mistake. Visiting a rich country is a different experience than one that’s still developing. You…
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Is Bali’s Kuta Beach Really as bad as You’ve Heard?
If you’re searching hotels in Bali Kuta Beach is likely on your radar. Especially if you’re budget conscious, the sheer number of hotels there and proximity to the airport make it very appealing for a few quick days on the beach. But you may have also noticed in your searches that many of the top…
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Traveling to the Philippines? Don’t Make This Mistake
After spending twenty years going to sea I’ve heard a lot about the Philippines. Filipinos make up a large portion of the world’s maritime workforce and many sailors enjoy spending time there when they’re not working aboard a ship. One thing I hadn’t heard about in all those years was the Filipino customs observed during…
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My Favorite City in Asia: Hong Kong
I can’t say for sure that Hong Kong is the world’s coolest city. But I don’t know of any other place where you can buy a Patek Philippe and visit a brothel in the same building. What I can tell you is that the vibes are impeccable. Unique among cities, HK seems to exist outside…
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What You should Know About Flying Asian Discount Airlines
If you’re traveling between cities in Asia and searching flights online you’ve already seen results dominated by Asian discount airlines. Hopping around Asian countries is the kind of scenario where Skyscanner becomes invaluable. You can set your starting point and be flexible on both time and location to see all the lowest fares on the…
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How to Survive A Weekend in Nashville
So you got yourself a hotel room downtown (check rates) and you’re ready to blaze into town and hit the honky tonks for a weekend in Nashville. Bless your heart. While a lot of other sites are going to offer you a “perfect” 3 day itinerary or claim to have knowledge “from a local” I’m…
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Capital One’s Venture X Card: Complete One Year Review
At the end of 2021 Capital One launched the Venture X travel card. As a luxury offering it competes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex’s Platinum Card. But with an annual fee that’s significantly lower can it really stack up? Sites like the Points Guy and Motley Fool gave it top honors in their…
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A View Into History at Saigon’s Caravelle Hotel
If you’re planning a visit to Saigon, chances are pretty good you’re going to walk right by the Caravelle Hotel. It’s at the dead center of the city and adjacent to city hall and the symphony. That location isn’t an accident. You need deep pockets to acquire that kind of real estate. Caravelle’s original investors…
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How to Deal With The Motorbikes in Saigon
If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam you may have seen posts elsewhere mentioning the preponderance of motorbikes in Saigon. I’m here to tell you that those posts don’t even come close to impressing upon a reader how many Ho Chi Minh motorcycles they are going to encounter in the city and how that experience…
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More Like No-Chi-Minh-City If You Ask Me…
I’ll be honest with you: I did not enjoy visiting Saigon. I don’t recommend anyone go there, unless they’re arriving or departing at the airport and traveling elsewhere in Vietnam. You can see enough to get a decent impression of Ho Chi Minh City by booking a hotel in District 1 and walking around for…