A LoyaltyLobby reader left me a question regarding cities and hotels that I look forward to revisiting once countries in the region open up.
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Here’s a question that a reader left:
What are your favorite cities and hotels in Asia that you are looking forward to revisit?
I am personally miss Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka
This is a question that I get asked quite frequently, or what is my preferred destination or the best hotel I have ever stayed at.
Over the past 10 years, I have probably spent roughly half to two-thirds of each year in Asia, and the rest mainly in Europe and Latin America.
There are countries that I haven’t been for a while that I would like to revisit, such as Cambodia and Myanmar (once the coup is over). My goal last year was to go to Bhutan for the first time, but plans obviously fell apart.
I tend to choose hotels based on what is the purpose of my visit, how long I am staying, and whether I am by myself or traveling with someone. I also like to trying out new or hotels that I have not previously visited (part of my job).
Previously, I wasn’t too fond of Kyoto but learned to like the city (without tourists) during my prolonged stay last year, and I cannot wait to return.
Tokyo definitely is on my list, too, due to so much to see and do regardless of how many times you have been there.
I like Hong Kong, but the city is changing due to China taking more strict control and suppressing democracy, not honoring the one country, two systems deal that was supposed to last for 50 years after the UK hand over the region China in 1997.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is definitely on my list, and I have spent several months there (remember those InterContinentals on the PointBreaks?).
You cannot beat Bangkok and Thailand in general for the variety of good hotels, pricing, and service.
Conclusion
I am more of a city person than a beach one, although I tend to visit Bali a couple of times a year and brief visits to other holiday destinations in the region to check out new hotels, such as the Maldives.
It isn’t easy to name hotels that I really miss or genuinely like because the quality of the service and the hotel hardware are usually highly correlated with the price – the more expensive the hotel – the better the service.
Let’s look at Tokyo. I can comfortably stay at the Park Hyatt, Hilton Shinjuku, Hyatt Regency, or even Tokyu Stay (cheap Japanese hotel chain). All are very different, and each worth the money.
BTW people often tend not to like my replies to questions because it is most of the time; my point is that “it depends”. I don’t particularly appreciate dumbing down issues to merely 1, 2, and 3; that tends to be the preferred way to oversimplify complicated issues.
I cannot wait for the pandemic to turn endemic and borders again open without quarantines and endless Covid-19 tests.
