What a beautiful island Jeju is, full of natural wonder, history (some of it dark and poignant) and culture. It is known as a healing place, somewhere to take stock of life’s pressures and priorities.
Airports
World class in Waiheke – and making a connection through duty free
I’m over north-eastern Australia on the long Emirates flight from Auckland to Dubai, as my final trip of the year draws to a close. I’m winging my way back to Ireland for Christmas after visits to Melbourne and Auckland airports (more on their respective retail developments on our home page). When I travel at this
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People
The Whinging Pome: Tales from a life in travel retail
“The Whinging Pome Random Rules, Rule 22: Always engage with those sitting next to you on a flight, but very quickly make an assessment whether such an engagement is going to be worthwhile. If not, apply The Whinging Pome Random Rules, Rule 52: Cease all contact and employ diversionary tactics. If Rule No 52 fails,
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Airports
Experiencing the world’s first run-through duty free store
“There seems to be a problem. I’m sorry, you can’t get on this flight. And you’re very late.”
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Airports
Finding funnel-webs and missing apostrophes in Melbourne
I was tempted to go up to the information counter and ask politely, “Where can I find an apostrophe?”
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Travel
Replacing the batteries on Koh Samui
You get what you pay for, as they say. I wonder what a ‘genuine fake’ (as opposed to a fake fake?) Armani suit looks like?
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Airports
#LifeinHel: Saving private Ryan moments on social media
Featuring the ‘World’s longest layover’, #LIFEINHEL is a mix of reality TV, game shows and social media. It relates the story of how Ryan is living in a little cabin inside Helsinki Airport for 30 days.
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Airlines
Flying high in First Class with Bombay Sapphire and Virgin
A little tipple is surely justified as today (19 October) is International Gin & Tonic Day and I’m about to be flown First Class to New York to celebrate.
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Airlines
What will I do with the leftover wine?
Tonight I’m down the back of the plane (in a middle seat goddamn it) but one of the benefits of having squillions of points is that I have access to some decent lounges whichever part of the big steel bird I am flying.
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Airports
Slane Castle aims to rock the Irish whiskey world
Ask any Irish person (and many overseas visitors) what names resonate when they hear the words ‘Slane Castle’, and a who’s who of the rock and roll world trips off the tongue. Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Queen, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and many others have played the magnificent amphitheatre nestled by
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Events
Room with(out) a view
In a recent study of five major Chinese cities’ air pollution levels, Guangzhou and Shanghai had the most “good” or “light” days. Today is not one of them.
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Miscellaneous
From Toshiba traveller to Dell boy
Like an aging footballer who’s lost his pace, I’m forced to rely more and more on experience and knowledge, and ensuring the work rate simply never drops, no matter how much you’d like it to.
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Airports
Gamsahamnida South Korea, Annyeongi kyeseyo
Gamsahamnida (‘Thank you’) Korea. I learn so much from your country, your culture, your people and your duty free industry each time I come here. Annyeongi kyeseyo (‘Farewell’).