ASIA

For newbies Bangkok can be an impenetrable juggernaut of a city.  It's not walkable, taxis are unavoidable and sometimes it can get a bit much in the heat. But...

Hanoi, Vietnam, is one of the most celebrated yet resolutely traditional of the Asian capitals. It is also, at times, an overwhelming city. Though not quite the sprawling mass...

Macau? On a budget? You must be joking. Nope, the world’s premier destination for glitz, glamour, the gold and the gaudy certainly isn’t the first place that springs to...

A myth, perpetuated by ready-meal companies perhaps, is that ‘from-scratch’ Thai cooking is beyond the reach of home cooks. Many in a bout of confidence and bravery look up...

Thais love food, eating is the cultural pastime - for pleasure, a merit-maker, a show of gratitude, a welcome, everything. Our ‘how are you?’ is their ‘have you eaten...

A new series looking at the best dining options within walking distance (1 mile) of city landmarks worldwide. Here we offer our 5 IDEAL restaurants close to the Lumpini...

Hanoi, Vietnam’s buzzing, boisterous, baffling capital, is fast becoming one of the world’s most visited cities. That fact doesn’t surprise; it’s a thrilling place to visit, with history and...

Bangkok is huge and to put it bluntly, choosing a hotel in the wrong area can ruin your stay. So where should you base yourself? That really depends on what sort of...

Come to Cambodia and the need to drink locally brewed craft beer probably isn’t first on your list of priorities. However, after a long day of trekking in the...

It’s no secret that we here at IDEAL love pho. We’ve caused our fair share of debates in the pub decreeing it the best noodle dish in the world...

On the site of the now closed Lamarck university, or so the story goes, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc is built around a theme of the academic. Those former...

We love Bangkok. The mega metropolis is all things to all people, managing to be both sophisticated and rugged, and all things in between. You can be anyone here...

Phu Quoc, Vietnam, is an island on the up, with new hotel developments and restaurants cropping up as fast as the island will have them. Regardless of this, the...

Nestled amongst Bangkok’s historical palaces, temples and museums; a lucky few will happen upon the boutique gem, The Siam. With just 39 suites and villas set in three acres...

  It's a fantasy that most of us have when we're on holiday; the dream of never going back. One of uprooting everything to make a new, more peaceful life on...

Bangkok is every foodies heaven. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find food. From many of Asia’s top restaurants, to fancy shopping malls to the street corners, food dominates the landscape. The...

  Could there be anything better than fish so fresh that it still smells of the sea? Yes, as a matter of fact there is – to enjoy that fish...

Breathtaking, staggering, awesome, astounding, splendiferous, phenomenal, remarkable - words fail to describe how utterly magnificent the panorama of Tower Club at Lebua is. But the view isn't the only...

It seems somewhat surprising that Phu Quoc, Vietnam, an island flourishing with the first blossoms of a tourist boom, does not yet have a ‘destination’ restaurant. Sure, the larger resorts...

  On an island awash with choice, it’s hard for the little guy to stand out. Family run finds its voice hard to be heard against the backdrop of corporate...

Bangkok is rammed to the rafters with the richest variety of options for the culinarily inquisitive. From high end to low end, and everything in between, the mega-metropolis has...