The Korea Herald

Korail offers ‘Snow Train to Taebaek’

Korail will operate the “Tong Tong Tong Snow Train” to Mount Taebaek starting next month, offering travelers the chance to enjoy a snow covered mountain this winter. Leaving Seoul Station at 7:59 a.m. on Feb. 1-5, 8, 10-12, 17-19, 22, and 24-26, the train will arrive at Chujeon Station while passengers can enjoy a variety of events, snack and live music aboard the train. A bus will pick up the passengers from the station, dropping them off at the Mount Taebaek Provincial Park, from where travele

Jan. 27, 2012

Secret of the overpacker? Bring what makes you happy

They’re the people standing at the airport counter, frantically pulling things out of their overweight suitcases.They’re the ones with the porters. The super-sized carry-ons. Six suitcases for a five-day getaway.Their absolute necessities are varied but hefty. Cartons of Q-tips. Bath towels. Scuba gear. Multiple bathing suits.And shoes for every occasion.“Now, the trip could be a month or two weeks, but I would say I need about a minimum of eight pairs. Because you need your flats, you need your

Jan. 27, 2012

Secret of the overpacker? Bring what makes you happy

Dude ranch vacations: So much more than horses

Cowboys. Horses. Guns. Booze. And tennis?When it comes to dude ranches, hosts are adopting John Wayne’s, “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do,” and are offering options unheard of just a few years ago in order to attract guests.Dude ranches still have horses and wranglers, and an aura of the Old West. But today, many also offer extras like conference centers, spas, zip lines, paintball, ATV rides, naturalists, kids’ clubs and rock walls.“Fifteen years ago you probably wouldn’t have found a

Jan. 27, 2012

Dude ranch vacations: So much more than horses

Green light for whiskers at US Disney parks

Cinderella`s Castle(left) is seen at the end of Main Street USA at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AFP)Captain Hook would certainly approve: the Walt Disney Co. has overturned a rule in place since 1955 banning facial hair for its US theme park workers.Starting February 3, workers a

Jan. 25, 2012

Green light for whiskers at US Disney parks

Cathay Pacific offers package for rugby fans

Cathay Pacific Airways is providing a special package for the “Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012” rugby fans in Korea.The 6th round of Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens international rugby games will be held at Hong Kong Stadium on March 23-25.Cathay Pacific’s special package includes a round-trip air ticket from Seoul/Busan to Hong Kong, a three-day pass for Hong Kong Sevens Rugby and the option of three or four-night hotel accommodations at one of 11 selected locations. Package pr

Jan. 20, 2012

Hotels.com offers 2012 discount through Feb. 15

Through Feb. 15, Hotels.com is offering travelers special discounts on its Korean Lunar New Year Sale webpage (http://kr.hotels.com/sahngpoom/newyear-kr/). By visiting the website or calling the service’s local number at (02) 2076-8351, travelers can receive up to 40 percent discount in rooms in hotels including the Yeoksam Artnouveau City in Seoul, Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi in Osaka, Caesar Park in Taipei, Grand Millennium in Kuala Lumpur and more. Savings are valid for bookings made until Feb

Jan. 20, 2012

Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers ‘bento’ delivery

Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s Japanese restaurant Irodori presents a special Chef’s Lunch Bento Box that includes delivery service until March 31.Irodori offers delicious and convenient lunch bento boxes targeting businessmen. Inside the boxes are a variety of high-quality, nutritious items including appetizers, sashimi, braised fish or vegetables, grilled fish, assorted tempura and more prepared by master chefs. Considering the fact that there are many business offices and companies around the hote

Jan. 20, 2012

Grand Hyatt Seoul offers weekend champagne brunch

The Paris Grill, Grand Hyatt Seoul’s authentic European Restaurant, presents a Weekend Champagne Brunch, offering an extensive array of brunch items, served up with Moet Chandon champagne.The fresh brunch selections include the “Pastry & Cereal Station” offering freshly baked pastries, breads and cereals, the “Grilled Dish Station” serving a variety of meats, seafood and more.The “Pasta Station” offers customized omelet, spaghetti or linguine, as well as a wide array of appetizers and desserts,

Jan. 20, 2012

Kenyans holiday at home as middle class grows

NAIROBI (AFP) ― Proudly pointing to her newly bought T-shirt, Sarah Mukei reads out animals printed on the front, a treasured souvenir of a family’s trip from her home in Kenya’s capital to Nairobi’s national park.“Elephant, lion, buffalo and rhino, leopard,” the 10-year old reads, adding she had just seen three of the “big five” animals listed.Going on safari ― meaning simply “travel” in east Africa’s Swahili language ― was once seen as a white colonial preserve, when khaki-clad big game hunter

Jan. 20, 2012

Kenyans holiday at home as middle class grows

Ride the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia

CASS, West Virginia ― The Cass Scenic Railroad is a hard-working, up-the-mountain tourist rail line.It’s a slow 7 miles per hour on the steam-powered trains up Cheat Mountain to Whittaker Station and upward to Bald Knob on Back Allegheny Mountain.That’s a climb of nearly 2,400 feet in 11 miles to Bald Knob (one of the highest peaks in West Virginia) with grades of up to 11 percent.That means the locomotives, mostly Shay engines once used by old lumber operations, gain 11 vertical feet for every

Jan. 20, 2012

Ride the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia

Chinese holidaymakers flocking to Korea

At least 45,000 Chinese travelers are expected to flock to Korea during the neighboring state’s biggest holiday beginning over the weekend, according to Korea’s tourism agency.An average of 800 million Chinese people travel abroad or visit local regions during the country’s Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on Jan. 22-28 this year.Expecting the number of Chinese visitors to increase by about 35 percent from the previous year, the Korea Tourism Organization has been preparing events for the lar

Jan. 18, 2012

‘New tourism aim quality, not quantity’

KTO chief stresses high-quality tourism, upgrading of the country’s imageWhile an ardent promoter of “long vacation culture,” President Lee Charm of the Korea Tourism Organization has yet to settle his winter holiday plans. With so many things he wants to accomplish in 2012, the final year of his three-year term, it may be a while before Lee maps out plans for another trip around Korea, the country he cherishes so dearly. Lee, a lover of mountains, took a two-week trip around the nation last sum

Jan. 13, 2012

Story of a Sweet Lunar New Year

The Grand Hilton Seoul is helping guests celebrate Korea’s traditional Lunar New Year holiday in style with a choice of four “Very Sweet Holiday Package” deals through Jan. 24.All four packages include tickets to visit the “Sweet Museum,” which is being hosted by the Grand Hilton Seoul Convention Centre. The museum offers Korea’s first food and art exhibition staged by famous food artists using cookies, sugar and chocolates. The Cookie Package offers an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, while The

Jan. 13, 2012

KTO offers promotions for Chinese tourists

Expecting some 45,000 Chinese tourists to visit Korea during the first quarter of the year, the Korea Tourism Organization is offering special events.Celebrating the 20th anniversary since Korea and China set up diplomatic ties, Korea will have a Visit Korea Year ceremony in Beijing in February and hold cultural performance road shows in some 18 major Chinese cities. Simultaneously, the country is offering special discount promotions for China’s Union Pay credit card users. Those who shop with t

Jan. 13, 2012

KTO picks six places to visit in January

The Korea Tourism Organization has selected the top six places in Korea to visit during the first month of the year for locals and foreign travelers. The selected places are Seoguipo on Jeju Island; Goseong in Gangwon Province; Suncheon in South Jeolla; Hadong in South Gyeongsang; Taean in South Chungcheong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. While these regions are scattered all over the country, they are all great places to make New Year wishes while watching sun rise, the KTO said.The Seongsanilch

Jan. 13, 2012

A heated wax museum war takes shape in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES -- Dissing Angelina Jolie normally isn‘t the best way to get ahead in this town.But tough times call for tough tactics in the war of the Hollywood wax museums.Madame Tussauds, which considers itself the ne plus ultra of wax artistry -- with the $25 ticket price to match -- is trying to best its cheaper competitor, the Hollywood Wax Museum, with a new marketing blitz stressing the defects in its rival’s paraffin starlets, singers and comics.In a wax version of a cola taste test, Madam

Jan. 13, 2012

Skiing and snowboarding: Many people do both now

The relationship between skiers and snowboarders might still be a bit icy at times, but a versatile group has discovered there’s more than one way to get down the mountain.“Before, you were either a skier or a boarder. Now people do both,” said Greg Ditrinco, editor of SKI Magazine. “It’s a new phenomenon.”The crossover is being led primarily by snowboarders who are finding they can do more with two boards on their feet than one. Skis allow for more tricks in the pipes, and for more accessibilit

Jan. 13, 2012

Skiing and snowboarding: Many people do both now

A wax museum war heats up in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES ― Dissing Angelina Jolie normally isn’t the best way to get ahead in this town.But tough times call for tough tactics in the war of the Hollywood wax museums.Madame Tussauds, which considers itself the ne plus ultra of wax artistry ― with the $25 ticket price to match ― is trying to best its cheaper competitor, the Hollywood Wax Museum, with a new marketing blitz stressing the defects in its rival’s paraffin starlets, singers and comics.In a wax version of a cola taste test, Madame T

Jan. 13, 2012

Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers oyster promotion

Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s steakhouse Manhattan Grill is offering special dishes using seasonal oysters through Feb. 29. Using fresh oysters that are brought in from the Tongyeong region, Manhattan Grill presents the “Oyster Cocktail with Caviar” and “Special Oyster Set.”The Oyster Cocktail uses natural oysters that weigh approximately 1 kilogram and the chefs dress the oyster on the spot to maintain the freshness and the rich taste. The six-course Oyster Set gives one a chance to taste the winte

Jan. 13, 2012

Japan's PM reshuffles Cabinet to win tax support

TOKYO (AP) _ Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five members of his Cabinet on Friday in a bid to win more cooperation from the opposition to raise the sales tax and rein in the country's bulging fiscal deficit.Two of the removed ministers had been censured by the opposition, including former Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa, who claimed he was unaware of the details of a 1995 rape of a schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen on the island of Okinawa _ an incident that continues to deepl

Jan. 13, 2012