Best world city travel destinations named – with Las Vegas and Los Angeles featuring low on list | WorldNews

From a city famous for its golden beaches, to the historically-steeped former capital of Japan – the best city destinations outside Europe have been named.

Australia dominates the list – compiled by consumer group Which? – with Sydney claiming top spot, and both Melbourne and Perth featuring high.

South Africa’s Cape Town comes second, while Chicago in the US, Japan’s Kyoto, and the city-state of Singapore, in southeast Asia, are placed joint third.

Meanwhile, several US cities featured towards the bottom of the list, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Sydney Harbor Bridge Pic:Istock
Image:
Sydney Harbor Bridge. Pic: Istock

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the Gion Shirakawa district in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture on April 4, 2022. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)
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Cherry blossoms in bloom in Kyoto City. Pic: The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

The City Bowl of Cape Town, South Africa, as seen from the top of Table Mountain (Edwin Remsberg/VWPics via AP Images)
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The City Bowl of Cape Town. Pic: Edwin Remsberg/VWPics via AP Images


Chicago Loop. Pic: iStock
Image:
Chicago. Pic: iStock

The results are from a survey by Which? – the consumer group’s first on world cities since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “The top-rated cities in our latest survey may be wildly different.

“But they all have one important thing in common – they offer visitors a feast for the senses, with a fantastic array of cultural sights, excellent food and stunning scenery combining

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Travel insurance is a must-have right now – here’s why

Rear view of young Asian woman carrying suitcase walking in airport terminal. Ready to travel. Travel and vacation concept. Business person on business trip
Travel insurance can protect against financial losses from certain unexpected events, making it a crucial travel tool right now.

Getty Images


It seems like there are more issues than ever with travel right now. This summer, a surge in flight disruptions — caused by a mix of flight crew shortages, unexpected weather events, natural disasters and outdated technology, among other issues — caused headaches and financial losses for millions of travelers across the globe.

And these issues don’t appear to be improving, either. Mechanical issues and weather delays are continuing to be compounded by airline staffing shortages, causing flight delays, cancellations and interruptions to be the norm rather than the exception. And when this happens, travelers may be stuck with the bill for hotels, flight changes or other travel-related costs.

Luckily, that doesn’t have to be the case when you’re traveling. By purchasing a travel insurance policy, you can obtain financial protection to cover certain types of unexpected events, such as flight cancellations, lost luggage or medical emergencies while abroad. Many experts recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy, and it may now be more important than ever.

Find out more by exploring your travel insurance options here now.

Why

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I’m tired of overpriced London, and now tourists are being put off too

The crime rate in London in 2022 was 95 crimes per 1,000 people – 20 per cent worse than the UK average of 79.52 per 1,000 people, according to crimerate.co.uk. Although it is worth noting that on many metrics London is much safer than most global cities, and the recent suggestion by mayoral candidate Susan Hall that London is “under siege” with “criminals ruling the streets” is, frankly, tosh.

The people quoted above are just a few case studies, and I am sure that despite its modern-day challenges, London continues to dazzle many newcomers. It remains, in this ex-resident’s opinion, the best city in Europe when it comes to sightseeing, culture and green space – a position I hold firm having visited all but three of the 27 EU states (feel free to challenge me below the line if you so wish).

But despite my love for the city, I do think that Samuel Johnson’s “tired of London” quote could benefit with a few tweaks. For future residents who manage to find somewhere to live within the M25, or indeed foreigners planning a tour of the capital, I suggest Paul Theroux’s follow-up, written two centuries later in 1986, might help

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Iceland volcano 2024: Is it safe to travel and does the eruption affect flights?

The volcano has erupted for the fourth time in three months and it is the most powerful yet.

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A volcano in Iceland has erupted for the fourth time in three months, with this being the most powerful so far.

The eruption began just before 8.30pm local time on Saturday and it is ongoing, but scientists say it is likely to be petering out.

Hundreds of visitors were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions, when the eruption began, national broadcaster RUV said.

The eruption site is a few kilometers northeast of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometers southwest of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Residents of Grindavik were told to leave their homes.

Despite lying just 20 km north of the eruption site, Keflavik International Airport – Iceland’s main international airport – remains open and flights are still arriving and departing. The roads around Grindavik are closed, however.

If you are planning on traveling to or from the affected area, here are the full details on advice from European governments and airlines.

How long will Iceland’s volcano eruption last?

Iceland’s Meteorological Office says the eruption opened a fissure in the earth

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Travel insurance: The common coverage that will make your policy more expensive

COVID-19 cases are again around much of the world.
But if you assume its prevalence means your travel insurance policy will definitely include it, and you won’t be charged more for the privilege, you’re wrong.
Financial comparison website Canstar recently reviewed 106 travel insurance policies and found 18 per cent of them didn’t offer coverage for COVID.

Of the 87 policies that did include COVID, only 70 offered cover for both overseas medical and cancellation costs. Policies that did include COVID were on average $103 more expensive than those without it.

A survey conducted by comparison site Finder in November showed 56 per cent of Australians – equivalent to almost 12 million people – .
Forty per cent of respondents said their reason for not taking out travel insurance was that it was too expensive.
Canstar’s travel insurance expert Steve Mickenbecker said that given COVID-19 still posed a serious health risk, paying the extra money was worth it for “peace of mind”.
“You shouldn’t leave home without good overseas medical cover, and that goes for COVID,” he said.

“In the scheme of what you’re paying for your flights, your accommodation, your tours, all the spending, $100 more isn’t a lot.”

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Travel Advisor Success Story: Lindsey Epperly, Jetset World Travel

Claudette Covey

Success Stories focus on veteran travel advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Lindsey Epperly, owner and CEO of Jetset World Travel.

How did you get your start as a travel advisor?

At 19, I walked into a travel agency for a brochure and walked out with a job! I was in college and got my start by attending bridal shows and planning honeymoons, which eventually evolved into building a book of business that supported my full-time income by the time I graduated.

How did you build your business over the years?

As the honeymoon business expanded largely thanks to referrals, I also became interested in mentoring other travel advisors. I developed a teams’ model with the host agency I was part of, which eventually led me to realize the need for a host that provided clarity and consulting to entrepreneurial advisors.

That’s what laid the foundation for what was then known as Epperly Travel in 2014. We’ve since grown into the organization we are today, an “Inc. 5000” company rebranded as Jetset World Travel, which was a fabulous boutique agency that we acquired in 2021. About five years ago, I moved into a CEO role in

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Adelaide family forced to pay $370,000 after insurance company denies Indonesian scooter accident claim

An Adelaide mother whose son had a scooter accident in Indonesia says she will have to pay more than $370,000 in medical bills because travel insurance will not cover the costs.

Rosslyn Gibb, from Seaford Rise, said her son, Blake Gibb, 29, was on holidays on Lembongan Island, south-east of Bali, when he crashed into a wall during a scooter ride while traveling back to his accommodation after dinner on July 19 .

“He seems to have hit the wall on the other side of the road … and cracked all of his skull, opened his brain to the elements and his two friends were just behind him and had to deal with all the consequences of that,” Ms Gibb told ABC Radio Adelaide.

Mr Gibb took out travel insurance the night before he left for Indonesia but he was not covered for scooter riding, according to Ms Gibb, which would have

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Astra Group to Ibis Bogor Hotel Auction

Business, JAKARTA – Optimism about the speed of the transition to electric vehicles is estimated by JP Morgan to be faster in 2024 in Asia. Indonesia is no exception. PT Astra International Tbk. (ASII) is expected to be affected.
In his latest research, JPMorgan analyst Benny Kurniawan said that 2024 will be a turning point in the vehicle electrification process in Indonesia. The growth in demand for electric vehicles will be driven by people’s interest in switching from conventional vehicles.
Growth in the volume of demand for electric vehicles for cars or automotives, in 2024 will reach 3% year on year (YoY). Meanwhile, electric motorbikes are predicted to grow 7% YoY.
“We believe that 2024 can be a turning point period for electric vehicles (EV) in Indonesia. More than 10 new EV models will arrive in 2023 in Indonesia. “And we project that there will be more new models available in 2024 for four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles,” wrote JP Morgan in its latest research quoted on Monday (18/12/2023).
On the other hand, JPMorgan projects that BYD’s entry into Indonesia will encourage automotive manufacturers such as Honda Motor, Mitsubishi Motors and other Japanese automotive manufacturers to boost their electric vehicle

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Ship Schedule for Lombok – Bali Route on Monday 18 March 2024

West Lombok, IDN Times – The ferry service from Selamat Harbor, West Lombok to Padangbai Harbor, Karangasem, Bali operates 24 hours. The Selamat – Padangbai crossing is served by 13 ships every day. The length of the route is 38 nautical miles with a journey distance of around 4.5 hours.

The following is the schedule and ticket prices for ships crossing the Selamat – Padangbai and Padangbai – Selamat crossings, issued by the Land Transportation Management Center (BPTD) Class II NTB, the Sheet Crossing Port Service Unit (Satpel) on Monday (18/3/2024). Please note that times and schedules may change at any time.

1. Schedule of ships crossing the Selamat – Padangbai crossing

Complete ship schedule for the Lombok - Bali route on Monday 18 March 2024Ferrying vessels at Selamat Harbor, West Lombok. (IDN Times/Muhammad Nasir)

There is also a ship schedule for crossing Lombok – Bali from Selamat Harbor to Padangbai Harbor, Monday (18/3/2024) as follows:

  • At 00.00 WITA served by the Surya Ship 777
  • At 01.30 WITA served by the Sindu Dwitama Ship
  • At 04.00 WITA served by the Naraya Ship
  • At 06:30 WITA served by the Rama Giri Nusa Ship
  • At 09.00 WITA served by the Portlink II Ship
  • At 11.30 WITA served by the Munic III Ship
  • At 13:30 WITA
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Tokyo is the top trending travel destination of 2024, according to Tripadvisor

Now that we have properly eased into the new year, it’s time to set those 2024 travel plans in motion. But if you’re still undecided on where to go for vacation this year, you might want to check Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best for 2024. This annual ranking covers several categories including destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants and things to do .

To compile the list, Tripadvisor combs through user-generated reviews and ratings over a 12-month period. And in the Destinations category, Tokyo comes out on top as the No. 1 trending place to visit in 2024.

Omoide Yokocho
Photo: Watcharapong Thawornwichian/DreamstimeAn undated stock photo of Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku

According to Tripadvisor, Tokyo tops the list for its vibrant mix of tradition and pop culture. This is a one-of-a-kind metropolis where you can wake up at the crack of dawn to witness the world-famous tuna auction at Toyosu Market before heading to an ancient shrine for some Zen in the city.

Afternoons could consist of scenic strolls under blooming cherry blossoms before ducking into the nostalgic alleyways of Omoide Yokocho for some ramen slurping, and then living it up at one of Tokyo’s most unique bars. Plus,

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