International Traveller

editor’s letter

Go in search of Italy’s deep south in Puglia on p92 To inspire people to travel is the most important and rewarding thing we do here at International Traveller. To show people places they have only dreamt of seeing and convince them to invest the time and effort into planning a trip, learning something new, meeting interesting people and creating life memories comes with great responsibility.For this exact reason we take our job here very seriously, especially when it comes to this particular issue, which we use to show you all the varied reasons you need to travel in the coming year – the places you are going to want to see and the things you are going to want to do.We are also very aware that…

online

YOU CAN NOW HAVE A FULLY PERSONALISED NEW YORK ITINERARY IN 20 MINUTES With five boroughs and an ever-growing list of new and incredible experiences, don’t let New York’s daunting list of to-dos get in the way – this clever trip planner will make you feel like you’ve got your own local guide in your pocket.SEARCH: ‘NEW YORK’ 5 SECRET BARS IN PARIS AND HOW TO FIND THEMFeaturing exciting entrances (think pizza fridges and washing machines), themed decor and delicious cocktails; welcome to the other side.SEARCH: ‘PARIS’ ROMANTIC MALDIVES ON ANY BUDGET Whether you’re heading over with a little or a lot, you’re just thankful to be together in the Maldives, right? Good news is there’s an accommodation option for any budget.SEARCH: ‘MALDIVES’ BEAUTIFUL PLACES…

the lowdown

GHOST OF A CHANCEScotland has weird and wonderful cultural items – think haggis and the bagpipes for starters – to offer visitors, but its latest tourism initiative will send shivers up the spine, literally. The country’s recently launched Ghost Trail will enable travellers to experience the rich history of the nation through stories of spirits and spooks including two green ladies, Jacobite soldiers and a headless drummer in Edinburgh (pictured).Taking in everything from graveyards to castles to battlefields, the self-guided macabre map can be downloaded from visitscotland.com/ghosttrail FLYING HIGHFlying brooms are stealing the focus from planes for travellers at Changi Airport in Singapore with the installation of Harry Potter’s magical wizarding world in three of its award-winning terminals. Until February, passengers spending time in the oft-recognised best airport…

pillow talk

THE SHANGHAI EDITIONA perfect blend of old and new Shanghai, the 145-room Shanghai EDITION sees Nanjing Road’s 1929 Art Deco Shanghai Power Company building fused with a new-build skyscraper. Its various food and drink options include star chef Jason Atherton’s HIYA (translated to ‘clouds in the sky’), a Japanese izakaya-inspired eatery on the 27th floor. editionhotels.com The Apurva Kempinski, Bali The first Kempinski hotel to open in Bali is a suitably grand reflection of Balinese architecture and craftsmanship. Situated in the Nusa Dua area of the island, the hotel boasts 475 rooms, suites and villas and all the requisite inclusions expected from the luxury brand, from five dining options to a 60-metre swimming pool to an ocean-facing spa and a cigar and shisha lounge. It even…

star chamber

(PHOTOGRAPHY GUY BAILEY (COOKBOOKS)) TIM HO WANYou’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the crowd milling on the footpath outside Tim Ho Wan in Central waiting for a table. Inside diners are squeezed shoulder to shoulder and the dim sum comes thick and fast, the hero dish being the pork buns: golden orbs of flaky, buttery pastry filled with an unctuous sweet pork filling. timhowan.comMAK’S NOODLELocated on Wellington Street in Central, an epicentre of no-fuss one-star or Michelin-recommended eateries, Mak’s Noodle’s restaurant space has cute green booths and convivial staff who deliver little bowls of piping hot noodle soup with plump prawn wontons, made fresh to order by a busy chef. maksnoodle.sgTSIM CHAI KEEThe service is brusque, but in an endearing way; the ladies who work here…

eating out (and about)

THE HIGHS & LOWS High: INK 360 boasts stunning sunset views over Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island, the hottest of hotspots right now. Sitting on the 19th floor of the new InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort (pictured), and with a sophisticated design aesthetic courtesy of Australian Ashley Sutton, this bar has a cocktail menu that combines traditional flavours and textures with a modern sensibility. Try the signature Uncle Ho Penicillin, which includes whisky, lemon juice, Phu Quoc honey, ginger syrup, Lapsang Souchong and the unusual addition of ‘black cardamom air’. phuquoc.intercontinental.com/ink-360 Low: Upstairs at Cattivo in the London suburb of Brixton is a convivial cafe serving a southern Italian-inspired menu, but downstairs the underground speakeasy bar has louche lighting and cosy booths, as…