Airbnb recently announced it is offering guests the opportunity to have an overnight stay in the Gassho Houses at the World Heritage Site Gokayama, Japan.
Situated on the shores of the Sho River and surrounded by high, rugged mountains, the nine-home village of Suganuma is one of the most beautiful and charming places in Japan. It is also one of the country's best-kept secrets.
With support from Nanto City and the Nakashima family, the fifth-generation locals are listing their centuries-old, thatched-roof house on the platform. Airbnb will enable guests to explore Suganuma village in an authentic way. Often regarded as a "hidden village" because it is without tourist accommodation (and typically, only residents are permitted to enter after dusk), Suganuma is a cultural time capsule.
The village's Gassho-zukuri style farmhouses, like the Nakashimas' family home, are particular to the region, with their pitched, thatched roof structures enabling these homes to withstand heavy winter snowfall and the test of time. The thatching technique is a local tradition that requires a great deal of time and effort, so locals work together based on the system of yui, the spirit of mutual support, in which Suganuma and its preservation are rooted.
The Nakashima family invites one group of two guests to see their peaceful valley for themselves for a two-night stay from July 17-19.
Those interested can request to book this stay beginning Friday at 9am (Japan Standard Time) at airbnb.com/gassho.
Coldplay causes booking surge in Singapore
Agoda recently unveils interesting data -- a remarkable 8.7 search increase for accommodation in Singapore during Coldplay's concert in January 2024.
The surge is driven mainly by neighbouring countries Malaysia and Indonesia, but based on Agoda's search data Singapore can also expect more travellers from Hong Kong, Thailand, the USA, Australia, Vietnam, India, the Philippines and many other markets.
The significant upswing aligns with ticket releases for the highly anticipated six-day Coldplay concert series, demonstrating the undeniable power of music as a major travel motivator. With six shows, Singapore will be the main stop in Asia during Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour.
Sindhorn Wellness wins best hotel spa award
Sindhorn Wellness by Resense at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok was recently crowned Thailand's Best Hotel Spa at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023.
Travel + Leisure's reader-voted awards celebrate the finest in hospitality across Asia-Pacific. The winners span a variety of categories, from urban luxury to beach resorts, unique spas, picturesque pools, top airlines to cruises, travel agencies and immersive experiences.
Spread over two floors with more than 4,000m² of facilities, Sindhorn Wellness by Resense is a combination of spa, fitness and medical experiences -- a retreat from the everyday with its wide variety of effective treatments and health modalities designed to help one live and feel better.
The highlight is a thermal facility featuring saunas, a cold chamber, a tepidarium lounge, a Moroccan hammam, a Vichy shower, a flotation tank, Rasul mud room, allowing one to benefit from the earth, water, heat and cold.
Visit kempinski.com/en/sindhorn-hotel.
Holiday Inn Resort Pattaya to open in 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts announces the signing of Holiday Inn Resort Pattaya in partnership with Destination Group, a leading hospitality and restaurant company in Thailand. Together with the recently signed Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Surin Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Karon Beach, the agreement is the third collaboration for a conversion property in the country between the two partners.
Located just 10 minutes from central Pattaya and 200m from Pratumnak Beach, Holiday Inn Resort Pattaya will open in late 2024 following its transformation from the former Mountain Beach Resort. It will offer 318 rooms and suites, seamlessly blending ergonomic design with modern layouts, three restaurants with contemporary culinary concepts and the brand's signature hallmarks KidSuite and Kids Stay & Eat Free programme, making it the ideal destination for families, meetings, groups and leisure travellers.
