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NEWSLETTER 30: Nov. 23, 2019

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THIS Midway is a Smash Hit

The wartime blockbuster Midway has come under heavy bombardment from the critics. But there’s another Midway you can go and see that deserves sparkling reviews. The USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California, lets you explore the giant aircraft carrier named after the battle that’s featured in the film. Touring a warship may not be everyone’s idea of a vacation treat, but this is a terrific visit. READ MORE

Bordering on Single Figures

Let’s look at the impact of the Hong Kong protests from China’s point of view for a change. Trip.com, China’s biggest online travel company, has predicted growth of 8 percent to 13 per cent in the fourth quarter this year, according to travel analysts Skift. So it could experience its first dip into single-figure growth in its 20-year history. Numbers of Chinese visiting Hong Kong have plummeted this year. Mind you, when Sue lived in Beijing and contacted Trip.com (known as Ctrip then) to arrange a flight to Hong Kong they bluntly said they couldn’t do it. She made the trip with another company.

Where NOT to Go Next Year

Fodor’s annual No List, which features tourist destinations that the authors think we should reconsider visiting because of ethical, environmental or political considerations, was published this week. The 2020 list questions whether tourists should go to exotic bucket-list places such as Komodo Island and the Galapagos. And it says it’s time to stop climbing the Matterhorn, the Swiss peak where seven people have fallen to their deaths this year. Also, it suggests we should avoid disrupting rail operations in Hanoi’s picturesque Train Street, and highlights the toll tourism has taken on Bali (above). We all love to travel and see wonderful places, but lists like this give us food for thought.

What Tourism Industry?

A CNBC report on the possible impact of wildfires on the tourism industry in California’s Sonoma wine region caught our eye. While it’s sad to see the fire damage, we did not find the city of Sonoma particularly tourist-friendly. There’s a shortage of hotels – we ended up staying at a motel at Santa Rosa 55 kilometres away. Our advice would be to stop off for lunch in Sonoma, maybe take a look at the mission, then head on to Napa Valley. The scenery there is prettier, and it’s home to the really famous vineyards and wineries, such as Robert Mondavi (above).

Asian Christmas Getaway

Choosing a Christmas holiday destination in Asia can be surprisingly tricky – China, Japan and South Korea are freezing cold, Bali and the rest of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are wet, Northern India is clogged with snow… But we discovered a place that’s perfect if what you want is a sun/pool/beach break – find out where next week.

Slow Down Lowdown

We’re now so stressed that we’re taking holidays at destinations with a slower pace of life, says the Skyscanner APAC Travel Trends Report for 2020. Apparently, almost one in five Singaporeans who have booked a break with Skyscanner for next year are opting for so-called Slow Travel. Top destinations to go and do nothing include Budapest (above) and Chiang Mai. Didn’t that used to be the definition of a holiday?

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