A visit to Hong Kong has long been among the most thrilling, incomparable experiences of urban life in the world, never mind Asia. Many of the former British colony’s highlights are evergreen – think hiking Victoria Peak, the view of Hong Kong Island’s skyline from Kowloon, the bustling nightlife of Lan Kwai Fong and dim sum the morning after. However, a series of new developments are reinvigorating the city’s appeal, honoring its history and energetically lifting up creativity and the arts.
All of this is set against a backdrop of political uncertainty. Twenty-two years after the end of British rule, there’s growing pessimism about Hong Kong’s ability to retain its distinctive identity, as Beijing steadily asserts its sovereignty over the territory. These changes seem inevitable, so visit now and discover why Hong Kong is our Best of Asia winner in our 2019 Experts’ Choice Awards.
Hong Kong’s energy is infectious, and you feel it as soon as you step into the densely populated hustle of downtown Kowloon or Hong Kong Island’s hectic business districts. You’ll hear conversations going on in Cantonese, English, Mandarin and many other languages besides, and the city’s iconic neon signs compete for your attention from all directions.
The food in Hong Kong is spectacular, in every category, at every price point and any hour of the day. From dim sum steamers filled with siu mai and har gow, to fishball noodle soup, char siu BBQ goose and pork, and the East-meets-West charm of the city’s cha caan teng, there’s so much variety, craftsmanship and history just in the local cuisine. Join one of the many food tours, who’ll make your life easy and allow you to get on with enjoying the food. You can also enjoy incredible food from all over the world, with 63 Michelin-starred restaurants including Caprice, Bo Innovation and Lung King Heen.
You can end your evenings convening with other globetrotters to watch the fireworks over Victoria Harbor, or exploring creative, beautifully presented cocktails at bars like The Old Man, Quinary, The Iron Fairies and Ping Pong 129. And when it’s time to get some rest, Hong Kong has some of the world’s
Hong Kong’s creative side has often been overlooked, but a range of new developments in the arts is raising the city’s game. This year will see the opening of the highly anticipated M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, which also contains the already-open Arts Park and the Xiqu Centre, a theater celebrating the art of Chinese opera and other traditional performing arts. The WKCD also adds welcome parkland to the Kowloon harbor-front.
Other developments embrace contemporary art while also spotlighting Hong Kong’s history and heritage: Set in a 19th century building that once housed the Central Police Station, Tai Kwun features an art gallery and auditorium as well as a number of restaurants and shops. Back across Victoria Harbor on the Kowloon waterfront, the 457-meter Avenue of Stars – Hong Kong’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame – has just reopened after a transformative facelift headed by James Corner, the architect behind Manhattan’s High Line. The Avenue of Stars renovation is one plank of the USD 2.6 billion Victoria Dockside project, which will be boosted later in 2019 by the launch of mixed-use art and retail development K11 Musea. For family fun, Hong Kong Disneyland is currently being expanded, with the first stage set to be completed over the next 12 months.
Finally, don’t forget to get away from the skyscrapers and explore Hong Kong’s stunning surroundings. To the north of Kowloon, the New Territories offer fantastic hiking opportunities, and the MTR network is your friend: hop on a train and hit a hiking trail to burn some calories, making way for more eating. Take a ferry across to the former Portuguese colony of Macau, and make time to visit one or two of the smaller islands (there are over 200) to wander fishing villages and beaches.
French Polynesia is comprised of 118 volcanic and coral laden islands and 5 archipelagos, but a few of the most popular hotspots include Bora Bora, Mo’orea, and Tahiti. It’s a destination favored by the jet-set and A-listers, to include the Obamas, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, and Oprah. Based on our best-of lists from esteemed and credible travel media and our own algorithms that identify the world’s top hotels, restaurants, and attractions, we’ve named French Polynesia the Best of Oceania for 2019 in our Experts’ Choice Awards.
The five island groups that make up French Polynesia include: the Society (the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands combined) Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral, and the Marquesas Islands. Only 67 of the 118 islands are inhabited, with the most populated being Tahiti. While the main languages spoken are French and Reo Maohi (Tahitian),
you won’t have a problem speaking English as the the islands due to its popularity as a vacation destination for travelers from all over the world.
Not matter where you decide to hang up your hat, the environment lends itself to indulgent relaxation, whether that means laying on the beach with a good read (and libation) or getting pampered at a spa that incorporates indigenous ingredients into its treatment menu. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of activities to keep you busy, too. If you’re into snorkeling and scuba diving, then you can’t miss the Garuae Pass. Perfectly positioned north of Fakarava—a UNESCO biosphere—this watery abyss is known for being one of the best diving sites in the world. Fun fact: The pass was first crossed by R.L. Stevenson (writer and author of “Treasure Island,” amongst other works) in 1888. There’s also kitesurfing, golf, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, jet-skiing, and paddle-boarding to help you burn off all of that delicious island cuisine.
Speaking of food, eating out in French Polynesia is a natural version of fusion that incorporates French, Chinese, and Polynesian flavors. Think traditional Tahitian fare (Ma0a Tahiti) such as fat-heavy pork or fish (raw or cooked) plus veggies and a healthy dose of coconut milk. Like Hawaii, cooking a pig in a pit with
banana leaves is also a popular tradition. Do yourself a favor and skip the tourist trap restaurants selling eats such as burgers, pizza, and pasta—you can almost always find something acceptable for kids at a more traditional restaurant if you communicate with the staff. Don’t miss out on tropical fruits such as lychee, grapefruits, pineapples, and bananas, a much-needed detox if you’ve been imbibing. Consider a freshly pressed fruit juice or coconut water (pape harri) for ultimate refreshment and replenishment.
To be fair, the majority of the accomodations in French Polynesia are are on the high-end side, to include expert picks in Bora Bora such as the Four Seasons (90) and the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort (88). There’s also famed resort, The Brando, on the small island of Tetiaroa. As the name suggests, this private escape is the brainchild of Marlon Brando and Richard Bailey— a long-time resident of Tahiti—who shared the same goals regarding to the preservation of the environment and scientific research, all while giving curious guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in this unspoilt world. Regardless of all the glitz and glamour, you can find a good selection of proper guesthouses for a more rustic yet charming experience that won’t deprive you of your entire vacation budget.
French Polynesia is an expansive area that should be equally researched in advance as it is explored in person. When it comes to where you choose to stay, you truly can’t go wrong—just be sure to consider your interests, whether that means adventure-seeker, foodie, beach bum, or history buff.
The winner of our 2019 Experts’ Choice Award for Best of Central & South America is Cartagena, Colombia. No destination will ever satisfy every variety of traveler – except perhaps for Cartagena. Is it a colonial city, or a beach resort? A family destination, or a launching pad for exploring Colombia’s wildest reaches? The answer is simple: all of the above, and more. Indeed, ask a hundred travelers what they like about Colombia’s premier destination, and you’ll get at least a hundred different responses. History buffs can be let loose for days exploring the old town with its world-class mix of museums and colonial-era relics, while sun seekers have some
of Colombia’s best Caribbean beaches to make use of. It’s a party town, but keeps things classy enough to not quite feel like it. As for outdoors people yearning for the hiking trails of Cuzco, Cartagena itself is just a stone’s throw from jungle ruins that make Machu Picchu look like a spring chick.
Oh, and did we mention all this is less than three hours from Miami? Thanks to a new(ish) crop of direct flights from North America, Cartagena is closer than ever before. It’s for these reasons that Cartagena has scooped up our Experts’ Choice for best destination in Central and South America for 2019. So whether you’re looking for an easy weekend escapade or an invigorating first stop on a trek through South America, Cartagena is now the undisputed gateway to the continent.
Of course, this status really isn’t as new as it might seem; in a way, Cartagena has always been the doorway to South America. Founded in 1533, the city began life as one of the most important ports in Spain’s New World empire. Here, gold and silver flowed in from Peru and Bolivia, before being loaded into galleons bracing for the Atlantic crossing. Coming in the other direction, a motley morass of conquistadores, merchants, drifters, slaves and rebels passed through Cartagena on their way to the uncharted reaches of the New World.
Buccaneers and Lost Cities
All this economic activity quickly drew the attention of pirates, and throughout much of its history Cartagena was forced to remain on constant guard against attacks from the sea. To keep the pirates of the Caribbean at bay, Cartagena’s colonial overlords constructed not only the city walls that remain today, but also the imposing San Felipe de Barajas Castle. Constructed over the course of a century, San Felipe is widely considered the greatest fortress ever built by the Spanish Empire, and a marvel of military history. To really get a good overview of the city though, head up to the 17th Century Convento La Popa de la Galera, which is perched on a hill overlooking Cartagena. Afterward, don’t miss a date with La Cevicheria, which serves up the tangiest ceviche in town, and was featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Despite the name of the show that made this cramped little place famous, you will indeed need a reservation to score a table. For something more popular, consider a stroll over to the quiet, leafy Plaza de San Diego. Lined with multi-colored colonial houses, the plaza is also the best place to try an arepa, the corn dough snack beloved by Colombians and Venezuelans alike.
After lunch, you’d better make time to run Cartagena’s gamut of museums, starting with the informative Museo Historico de Cartagena de Indias. Then, get a taste for gold fever at the Mueso del Oro Zenu. While not quite as impressive as its counterpart in Bogota, this gold-themed museum is nonetheless breathtaking with its fascinating array of both pre-hispanic and colonial-era pieces. For dessert, meander towards the picturesque Plaza de los Coches, where on the way you should run into the Portal de los Dulces. Here, you can snack away on sugary Colombian treats, including coconut munchies in all their forms.
For more street food, pay a visit to the Mercado de Bazurto, which offers both cheap eats and exotic foods. Consider steering clear of the cooked turtle though, which is highly discouraged by authorities despite being a traditional meal for many Indigenous Colombians. Once the hustle and bustle gets too overwhelming, take a trip to the beach, or arrange a tour to Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City). With a name that sounds like it was pulled straight from a pulp adventure comic, Cuidad Perdida features 169 terraced levels holding stone structures, roads and plazas. Not only is Ciudad Perdida an impressive feat of engineering in such an inhospitable environment, it’s also ridiculously old. The ruins are estimated to have been constructed around 800 BC, making them roughly as old as Rome, and more than 600 years older than Machu Picchu.
It’s hard to believe so much diversity of adventure opportunities can fit into a single city, but that’s why we’re in love with Cartagena. As the winner of our Experts’ Choice Award for best destination in Central & South America for 2019, we’re excited to see what South America’s most dynamic city has in store for the year ahead. Keep up to date with the latest travel intel on Cartagena here at Trip Expert.
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