The Korea Herald

JW Marriott Seoul offers gingerbread house classes

On the two Saturdays before Christmas, Dec. 10, 17, the JW Marriott Seoul is holding gingerbread house cooking classes for children, taught by a professional pastry chef. During the two-hour class, teams composed of parents and one child will use icing to build with gingerbread and add decorative touches as the various ingredients form walls, a roof, and, finally, a holiday keepsake for young chefs to take back home with them. The classes will also offer a great opportunity for children to learn

Dec. 2, 2011

Goyang City offers free tours for foreigners

The city of Goyang, located in Gyeonggi Province, is offering free tours to the city for people of foreign nationalities ― diplomats and their families, professors, teachers, students and anyone who likes to travel ― on Dec. 16, 19 and 27. With the purpose of gathering ideas for suitable tour programs, the city has prepared three types of tours for each day. The first program will start at Hosu Park, leading to the Hallyu Promotional Hall, a luxurious lunch at the Central and South American Cult

Dec. 2, 2011

Ski trail maps use artist’s hand-painted panoramas

LOVELAND, Colorado (AP) ― If you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank.Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Serbia.“His trail maps are as much a part of the sport as snow,’’ said Greg Ditrinco, executive editor of Ski Magazine.That

Dec. 2, 2011

Ski trail maps use artist’s hand-painted panoramas

After two decades, a return to Prague in the light of day

PRAGUE ― Unlike cities such as Salzburg, which are lucky to display the Baroque in small clusters, Prague opens the Baroque onto the visitor like the spread of an eagle’s wings. The Baroque and other architectural styles dating back through the centuries are everywhere in the Old Town of Prague because the city famously survived the cavalcade of European wars virtually intact. And it is a wonder to see ― as long as it isn’t raining cats and dogs, that is, which is precisely what was happening on

Dec. 2, 2011

After two decades, a return to Prague in the light of day

Festive ‘memory packages’ at Grand Hilton Seoul

The Grand Hilton Seoul is offering a choice of three Christmas memory packages for guests looking for the perfect way to celebrate the festive season, available Dec. 17-24. Each package offers a range of special benefits and gifts that are sure to make your Christmas one to remember.With the Romantic Memory Packages (215,000 won), guests enjoy one night in the luxury of a deluxe room and receive a bottle of red wine and cheese from room service. For the Joyful Memory Package (265,000 won), guest

Nov. 25, 2011

Ritz-Carlton Seoul offers Christmas packages

The Ritz-Carlton Seoul offers special packages for Dec. 23, 24 and 31 that include the “All Night” package (330,000 won),” “All Together” package (350,000 won) and “All For You” package (450,000 won). “All Night” is great for those who love to party and includes one night in a deluxe room with a balcony, two tickets to Club Eden and a bottle of wine. “All Together” is ideal for creating memories with family members. It includes a one night stay in a superior deluxe room, handmade cookies, a cake

Nov. 25, 2011

California tourism, Asiana provide ‘Oz’ tours

The California Travel & Tourism Commission and Asiana Airlines are together offering the “Travel of Oz, California” package. The package, which includes flight and two nights of accommodation, allows guests to make their own travel plans.For an additional fee, travels can also get rental cars with an automotive navigation system that includes Korean language service. The package is on sale through the end of June 2012 via Hana Tour, Interpark and Onnuri Tour.The California tourism commission off

Nov. 25, 2011

Qantas Airways offers ‘Queen 11’ promotion

Tourism Queensland and Qantas Airlines are together offering the “Queen 11” promotion via major portal sites and online channels. Through the program, visitors can fly to Brisbane with tickets starting from 680,000 won and to Cairns with tickets starting from 780,000 won. The tickets will be on sale through Nov. 30, and trips must be completed by Feb. 29, 2012. The airline currently provides daily services between Seoul and Sydney by code-sharing with Korea’s Asiana Airlines. For more informatio

Nov. 25, 2011

Miami Beach getting ready for Art Basel Dec. 1-4

MIAMI BEACH, Florida (AP) ― Live graffiti painting. A colossal rose bed soaring 6.1 meters high. Early photos of Andy Warhol, a Picasso up for auction and a naked woman living in a pig pen. They’re all part of the lineup for Art Basel Miami Beach, which runs Dec. 1-4, with a host of related events beginning Nov. 30.The pig pen installation will undoubtedly be the most jaw-dropping event at the art fair. Known for photographing herself nude in subway tunnels or in front of graffiti walls, perform

Nov. 25, 2011

Miami Beach getting ready for Art Basel Dec. 1-4

Winter means hotels become the perfect getaway

It’s finally that time of the year when cozying up with a cup of hot chocolate and a stack of movies seems the best way to spend time off. In winter, warm, inviting hotels can become destinations in themselves. Arumjigi Hamyang HanokArumjigi Hamyang Hanok, located in South Gyeongsang Province, offers visitors a chance to spend a winter’s night in the Korean traditional style. Donated by the 150-year-old Jeongseon Jeon clan’s head family in 2003, the traditional house was restored with westernize

Nov. 25, 2011

Winter means hotels become the perfect getaway

Danish hotel flouts the law, reserves floor for women

COPENHAGEN, Nov 22, 2011 (AFP) - A Copenhagen hotel will continue reserving a whole floor for women, despite a recent ruling that doing so is discriminatory and illegal, the hotel director said Tuesday.Last May, the Bella Sky Hotel in central Copenhagen opened a floor dubbed the Bella Donna with 20

Nov. 23, 2011

Flying has never been so good for those who spend

NEW YORK (AP) ― Flying has never been so good ― for those able to splurge.While most holiday travelers will fight for overhead bins and go hours without a snack or room to stretch their legs, life in first class is stress free. It’s always been a special place on the other side of the curtain. Now, it’s getting even cushier.U.S. airlines, profitable again after a disastrous decade, are spending almost $2 billion to upgrade amenities for their highest-paying customers. On the most profitable inte

Nov. 21, 2011

Flying has never been so good for those who spend

Contemplating Jongno the quiet way

Foreign envoys visit select places in Bukchon as city promotes ‘responsible tourism’Despite the cold weather, a group of ambassadors to Korea gathered at Jongno-gu Office, excited to start their first group tour in central Seoul.The cultural tour was organized by Jongno-gu and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote “responsible tourism,” which the district office newly introduced to tap sustainable tourism.“Jongno district, one out of 24 districts in Seoul, is home to major palaces. You’re g

Nov. 18, 2011

Millennium Seoul Hilton to fire up Christmas train

Keeping its 16-year tradition, the Millennium Seoul Hilton will unveil its Christmas tree and ever-popular Christmas train on Nov. 23. Every year, a grand 10-meter Christmas tree is placed in the center of the main lobby. The highlight, for both children and adults who are young at heart, is the Christmas Train, a collection of more than 120 exquisitely handcrafted locomotives and railroad cars that will chug their way through the little village. The spirit of Christmas is also remembered as dom

Nov. 18, 2011

Air Busan celebrates third anniversary

Air Busan celebrates its third anniversary this month, having flown some 55,000 times carrying about 5.6 million passengers. Launching international flights to Fukuoka, Osaka, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other nearby foreign cities, the carrier has been expanding into a “smart, practical” airline. Purchasing two new planes next year, Air Busan plans to expand its flights further into Japan, China and Southeast Asia and increase its number of planes to 12 by 2015. The airline currently has seven aircraf

Nov. 18, 2011

Wedding parties in December

The InterContinental Seoul COEX offers a chance to make your wedding an unforgettable party during December. The package is for couples who prefer to forgo the post-wedding party and have more relaxed weddings. To satisfy couples’ diverse tastes, the hotel will be providing white, navy and even black wedding decorations as well as assorted flower arrangements. The wedding package, available only in December on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, will include wedding cake, champagne, rental of faci

Nov. 18, 2011

Hotels.com offers limited 101 hour Japan sale

Hotels.com, the global hotel specialist affiliated with the Expedia, Inc., is offering a short trip to Japan with a 50 percent discount on Japanese hotels in popular destinations for a limited 101 hours through this weekend. Those planning to travel to popular spots in Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto until April 30 can also book hotels with affordable prices among Hotels.com recommendations. The Prince Park Tower Tokyo is offering 240,000 won per night, Hotel Gracery Tamachi 107,000 per nig

Nov. 18, 2011

Baja bound? Party down in safe, happy La Paz

LA PAZ, Mexico ― As traffic stalled along the palm-lined street, we peered from our taxi and spied the cause. A little parade came our way: boys in crimson church robes, young women balancing flower baskets on their heads, and a flatbed truck carrying a raucous band. Crackling fireworks zipped every which way.A local festival? We asked the cabdriver.He shrugged. No idea.Maybe a wedding? Perhaps a girl’s 15th birthday ― they call it Fiesta de Quinceanera. Who knew? It was just one of many little

Nov. 18, 2011

Baja bound? Party down in safe, happy La Paz

Tanzania on safari: a ‘unique, amazing place’

SELOUS NATIONAL PARK, Tanzania ― The hot African sun was unrelenting, the sky broken only by an occasional wisp of cloud. My guide, Mtambo, and I were alone in the Land Rover for an early morning game drive.As he drove through Selous National Park, gazing at the verdant treetops for an elusive leopard, I glanced at him. Mtambo, of the Ndengereko tribe, was of an indeterminate age. He could have been 40 or 70, but this much is known: He can identify every African critter or bird that crosses his

Nov. 18, 2011

Tanzania on safari: a ‘unique, amazing place’

Ghost alps of Antarctica reveal their secret

For more than half a century, geologists have wrangled over the origins of an astonishing range of mountains found beneath ice up to three kilometers (two miles) thick in East Antarctica.Named after the Soviet geophysicist who detected them in 1958 during the first International Polar Year explorati

Nov. 18, 2011