Ryanair and Expedia Settle Lawsuit and 9 Other Top Digital Stories This Week

Ryanair and Expedia Settle Lawsuit and 9 Other Top Digital Stories This Week

It's clear skies ahead as Ryanair settled its two-year lawsuit against Expedia. Bloomberg



Skift Take: This week in digital news, Ryanair and Expedia have finally reached a settlement — two years after the Irish airline initially filed. Meanwhile, Marriott has no plans to make any changes to its Bonvoy program despite its ups and downs.

— Jasmine Ganaishlal

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/ryanair-and-expedia-settle-lawsuit-and-9-other-top-digital-stories-this-week/

San Diego Deploys Alipay to Boost Chinese Tourism

San Diego Deploys Alipay to Boost Chinese Tourism

The historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, known for its nightlife, is shown here. Brand USA is helping San Diego connect with Chinese tourists through a partnership with Chinese digital payment giant Alipay and Fliggy, an online travel agent platform owned by Alibaba. Bob Pinto / Flickr



Skift Take: China is California’s top long-haul market. So it's a smart move for Brand USA and San Diego to partner with Alibaba, given that Chinese travelers use Alipay and online travel platform Fliggy on a daily basis.

— Faye Chiu

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/san-diego-deploys-alipay-to-boost-chinese-tourism/

Ryanair and Expedia Settle Lawsuit and 9 Other Top Digital Stories This Week

Ryanair and Expedia Settle Lawsuit and 9 Other Top Digital Stories This Week

It's clear skies ahead as Ryanair settled its two-year lawsuit against Expedia. Bloomberg



Skift Take: This week in digital news, Ryanair and Expedia have finally reached a settlement — two years after the Irish airline initially filed. Meanwhile, Marriott has no plans to make any changes to its Bonvoy program despite its ups and downs.

— Jasmine Ganaishlal

Read the Complete Story On Skift

https://travel.atspace.co.uk/ryanair-and-expedia-settle-lawsuit-and-9-other-top-digital-stories-this-week/

San Diego Deploys Alipay to Boost Chinese Tourism

San Diego Deploys Alipay to Boost Chinese Tourism

The historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, known for its nightlife, is shown here. Brand USA is helping San Diego connect with Chinese tourists through a partnership with Chinese digital payment giant Alipay and Fliggy, an online travel agent platform owned by Alibaba. Bob Pinto / Flickr



Skift Take: China is California’s top long-haul market. So it's a smart move for Brand USA and San Diego to partner with Alibaba, given that Chinese travelers use Alipay and online travel platform Fliggy on a daily basis.

— Faye Chiu

Read the Complete Story On Skift

https://travel.atspace.co.uk/san-diego-deploys-alipay-to-boost-chinese-tourism/

Unbabel Raises $60 Million for Translation Services: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Unbabel Raises $60 Million for Translation Services: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Some workers at the Lisbon office of Unbabel, a translation service provider that has received more venture funding. Unbabel



Skift Take: In the past week, travel startups raised more than $100 million in funding. The companies Unbabel, Beyond Pricing, Travel Easy, Air Doctor, Seatfrog, Cruisewatch, HappyOrNot, Landline, Planet O, and Go Zayaan look to go to the next level.

— Sean O'Neill

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/unbabel-raises-60-million-for-translation-services-travel-startup-funding-this-week/

Unbabel Raises $60 Million for Translation Services: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Unbabel Raises $60 Million for Translation Services: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Some workers at the Lisbon office of Unbabel, a translation service provider that has received more venture funding. Unbabel



Skift Take: In the past week, travel startups raised more than $100 million in funding. The companies Unbabel, Beyond Pricing, Travel Easy, Air Doctor, Seatfrog, Cruisewatch, HappyOrNot, Landline, Planet O, and Go Zayaan look to go to the next level.

— Sean O'Neill

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/unbabel-raises-60-million-for-translation-services-travel-startup-funding-this-week/

The best glamping and camping spots

The best glamping and camping spots

Florida has, not completely unfairly, become the butt of a lot of jokes. Botch multiple elections and give the world headlines like “Florida Man Arrested for Operating Retirement Home Chop Shop” and you’re not escaping the late-night comedy circuit.


That said, Florida is still full of natural beauty, much of it beyond its world-renowned beaches. Perhaps the best way to experience that beauty is to get out and spend a few nights sleeping in it. “But what about the humidity, mosquitoes, and Florida people running wild,” you say? This is why the world created glamping, a way to revel in the great outdoors without having to deal with any of the actual great outdoors. And through our good friends at Glamping Hub, we found these 10 uniquely Florida spots for glamping.


1. Bell tents in Santa Rosa Beach

$156 per night



If one were to write down their Florida glamping fantasy, it would probably involve a beautiful, luxurious tent set up on a white sandy beach where they could spend their days taking dips in the Gulf of Mexico or hiking through Palmettos. Well, the fantasy comes true with these 16-foot bell tents in the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Each queen-bed-equipped tent also comes with a cooling and heating unit (the Panhandle can get cold in the winter) and sits just steps from the shoreline. During the day, you can explore the easy Florida wilderness on the park’s hiking trails, or discover the charming coastal town of Santa Rosa Beach.


2. Historic houseboat in Sarasota

$346 per night



Once upon a time, in a long-ago era known as 2004, this home was constructed as a floating wedding chapel for 110 guests. Only one other such chapel was built — in Australia — and today this one sits along the Manatee River just outside Sarasota. The houseboat still has the arched wooden doors and original stained glass from the chapel, as well as a steeple that doubles as a sleeping loft via a spiral staircase. The high-ceilinged boat also comes complete with a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, plus a living room with inviting leather recliners. Nearby, you can enjoy the communal swimming pool or relax in the jacuzzi. Or just call in a night early in the spacious master bedroom.


3. Safari tent near Panama City Beach

$179 per night



The lakes of the Florida panhandle are some of the state’s more under-appreciated natural features, and you’ll understand why after spending a relaxing weekend in these spacious safari tents. Set on a peninsula between Holly and Kings lakes, these twin tents in DeFuniak Springs each come with a king-sized bed, hardwood floors, air conditioning, and a Keurig machine. Plus you’ll also enjoy a front row seat to the water, either from the comfort of your bedroom window or the Zero Gravity chairs on the front porch.


The property sits on 10 wooded acres, with a communal swimming pool if you’re not up for swimming in the lakes. It’s also only about 45 minutes from Panama City Beach, so if you’re hankering for a body of water that’s a little bigger and bluer, you won’t have to go far.


4. Teepees in Floral City

$96 a night



About two-thirds of the way between Orlando and the Gulf of Mexico you’ll find little Flying Eagle Preserve, set on a series of lakes just east of Highway 41. On that preserve sits one of the most old-Florida glamping experiences available, where you can spend the night in a teepee surrounded by nothing but trees and water. The small dwellings only sleep two guests, with not much past a USB port, a fridge, a coffee maker, and an alarm clock beside the bed. You’ll have a communal bathroom in the indoor lounge a few feet away, plus access to a private deck with its own bar. Guests also get a full breakfast included in their stay, which is best enjoyed watching the sun rise over the thick Florida morning.


5. Private island near Key West

$1,746 per night



As far as getting stuck on a tropical island goes, you could do a lot worse than this private island about 20 miles east of Key West. You’ll meet your hosts on Summerland Key and be whisked away by boat to your secluded solar-panel-and-wood palace. This isolated luxury getaway sleeps eight people between three bedrooms, two of which have en-suite bathrooms with art deco fixtures, and a third with bunk beds.


From the top of the home, you can get the lay of the land from the lounge, which boasts 360-degree views of the island and the water beyond. Downstairs, a gourmet kitchen awaits complete with Viking refrigerator, dishwasher, and range. Getting here may be difficult, but if you provision correctly, you can show up and never leave. Well, until the $1,700 a night price tag catches up to your bank account.


6. Airstream near Miami Beach

$126 a night



Even the best-planned trip to Miami can end up a little… hectic. Which is why returning to this jungle escape just west of Miami Beach makes for the perfect escape after a long day. The vintage airstream is done up in epic 1980s brown leather, with a full kitchen, flat screen TV, and king-sized bed. A venerable home-away-from-home just steps from the Golden Glades interchange.


Though it’s inside the city, the Airstream is set back on a palm-filled property, where you can sit outside and enjoy a cold drink under your Christmas lights or take a dip in the communal swimming pool. There’s also an outdoor gym if you want to get some exercise, and a collection of hammocks if you don’t.


7. Bell tent in Clermont

$135 per night



Deep in the wilderness of Lake Louisa State Park you’ll find these bright, airy tents offering a calming respite after an active day outdoors. Each tent comes with a queen-sized bed, though if you’ve got more in your party, you can always request an air mattress. More importantly, they come with heat and air conditioning, so you’ll have a cool escape from the Florida sun. At night, head to the private pavilion for a barbecue, and roast some smores in the fire pit. Then retire back to your tent, now joyfully illuminated by Christmas lights in the dark, tropical night.


8. Shipping containers upcycled into luxury homes in Jupiter

$248 per night



From the outside, this collection of three containers might look like a well-placed assortment of Florida junk. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find one of the most unique homes in South Florida, where three old shipping containers have been converted into a three-bedroom home. A total of eight guests can stay here between three bedrooms, each one with wood furnishings and big, bright windows.


The main house has a kitchen, living room, and patio, the ideal place for everyone to meet at mealtime. The home is just south of Indiantown Road in Jupiter, close the beach, golf courses, and Square Grouper bar the city is known for. Though you wouldn’t be wrong to simply enjoy the serenity of the Cypress Creek Natural Area just cross the road.


9. Private island near Marathon

$1,625 a night



From above, this Middle Keys private island looks like it could be some kind of arena for a sub-tropical Hunger Games. But the beautiful white sand and classic Keys house is a different kind of surreal, a tiny piece of land inexplicably filled with a mansion and a swimming pool, all for just you and your guests. The main home sleeps eight people in three bedrooms, all surrounded by a wraparound porch ideal for sunset drinks. You’ll also have recliners set up on the pool deck to breathe in that sunset, as well as a private lagoon pool right next to the sand. You’ll get to the island via a short boat ride from Marathon, and if you feel like escaping your private slice of heaven, you can join the crowd at the Sunset Grill, right at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge.


10. Floating barrel cabin in Key Largo

$337 a night



If Florida Man had a home — that wasn’t a trailer — it would probably look something like the floating barrel cabin. You won’t find much in this round house other than a bed, a sink, and a tiki bar. But if that’s all you need for a perfect Keys vacation, this might be the perfect choice. The red cedar barrel cabin has a queen-sized bed inside, with a panoramic window behind the head so you’ll still see the sights while you sleep.


The sink is made from an old whiskey barrel, looking almost like a miniature version of the cabin itself. The tiki bar sits on a private dock, with lounge chairs for you to enjoy the sunset by the water. The hosts do ask, however, that you not use hairdryers or other high-powered electronics as the barrel cabin is green powered, and those will use up all the electricity.



The post The most spectacular places to go glamping in Florida appeared first on Matador Network.


https://travel.atspace.co.uk/the-best-glamping-and-camping-spots/

Best things to do in LA's Koreatown

Best things to do in LA's Koreatown

Don’t get us wrong: We’re all about Seoul and its gangnam style. But, and this is a big but, you don’t need to go all the way to South Korea to get a taste of Korea. Koreatown in Los Angeles — or K-Town for those in the know — more than lives up to its name. Not only does it have the largest Korean community outside the motherland, but it also boasts such a concentration of Korean restaurants, markets, mini-malls, spas, and bars, all crammed into three square miles, that it feels like an extension of Seoul itself without the long-ass flight to get there. Granted, not everything in Koreatown has Seoul’s soul. Cassell’s Hamburgers is as American as apple pie — and serves it to boot. But eating, drinking, and shopping around K-Town is still the closest thing you can get to Korea without actually going there.


Crash in K-Town



This one may seem obvious, but it’s essential. To get the full K-Town experience, ideally arrive at your hotel, park your car, and don’t use it again until you depart. Koreatown is a rarity in LA in that it’s a totally walkable hood, and strolling let’s you take in the sights, smells, and Seoul-ish street style — think neon hair, Kangol hats, and fanny packs. For the ultimate people watching, the concrete chic LINE LA has a similar arty vibe to the trendy RYSE Hotel in Seoul. Or opt for the stylishly renovated Hotel Normandie, a Renaissance revival that blends historic and hipster. Either puts you right in the action.


Get your Korean coffee fix



Forget tea. Those who’ve been there know that Korea is all about the coffee. In fact, Seoul alone boasts 17,000 coffee shops, which is more per capita than Seattle or San Francisco. While you won’t find Seoul’s crazy pet cafes here in LA, K-Town is abuzz with other kinds of creative, interesting, and eye-catching coffee shops. For a sip straight from Seoul, hit the South Korean chain Tom N Toms Coffee, of which there are four locations in the neighborhood, for sweet potato lattes and black sesame smoothies. For posh pour overs, lavender lattes, and strawberry milk in a minimalist, plant-filled space, there’s Sharp Specialty Coffee on Sixth Street. Or order up a nitro cold brew at Alfred Coffee’s outpost at the LINE Hotel and drink in the scene, literally.


Yes, definitely get dessert


Photo: PS Chantharat/Shutterstock


Bingsu or bingsoo (as in shaved ice) is a must-do Korean dessert, and the best place to get it in K-Town is Sul & Beans on Western Avenue. Packed with couples and friends armed with spoons, the stylish desert café serves up shaved ice masterpieces, beautifully photogenic bowls topped with traditional condensed milk, red beans, mango, and sweet rice cake, as well as modern twists like Oreo and chocolate. Or go next door to SomiSomi for a spin on a trendy Korean street snack called bungeoppang. Carp-shaped waffle cones are filled with red bean paste, custard or Nutella, then topped with a swirl of soft serve and sprinkles. It’s rare that you’ll eat something that is both so cute and tasty, but that you never quite have that feeling of, “It looks so good I can’t eat it.”


Stock up on Korean snacks and souvenirs


Photo: image_vulture/Shutterstock


Korean markets aren’t your average grocery stores. Sure, they have some of the usual staples, but holy sauce section, holy live seafood, and holy kimchi, plus aisles of vinegars, marinated meats, self-serve banchan (side dish) bars, and a buzzy energy you won’t find at Kroger. The biggest in K-Town is the Galleria Market in the basement of Koreatown Galleria, but there’s also the newly renovated California Market on Western Avenue, H Mart in MaDang the Courtyard, and Zion Supermarket in City Center on Sixth. By all means browse the aisles, but end in the snack section, a colorful assault of chocolate and chip packages. You’ll want it all, but get a bag of honey butter chips, a salty-sweet snack that’s all the rage in Korea, and whatever flavor of Lotte Choco Pie that catches your eye.


Photo: Poketo/Facebook


Just like Seoul, K-Town is a shopping hotbed of multi-storied malls, food courts, and boutiques, and no way should you go home empty handed. Paper is big in Seoul, as in cute cards, notebooks, and pens. Stock up on standout stationary and gifts at Poketo at the LINE Hotel, where curated knick-knacks reign supreme. The cuteness continues at ChouChou, a minimal shop on Sixth that sells only the essentials — t-shirts, phone cases, Korean plushies — the stuff you see in K-Pop videos on YouTube. Speaking of K-Pop, as in Korean pop music, the genre is having more than a moment. Both BTS and Blackpink are pushing Beyoncé-level big, and you’ll see their faces and hear their tunes nearly everywhere throughout the neighborhood. Pop into Choice Music in Koreatown Galleria for K-Pop paraphernalia and CDs if you’re the type that actually still has a CD player.


Get a sheet mask or 10


Yes, you can now buy K-Beauty at Urban Outfitters or Walgreens, but nothing like what you’ll find in K-Town. The name of the game here is Chok Chok, as in dewy, glowy skin. To achieve it, stock up on every sheet mask under the sun at Palace Beauty Galleria in Koreatown Galleria. We’re talking rubber modeling masks, overnight masks, ampule masks, snail masks, plus the bb, cc, and dd creams Korea made famous. Just across the hall is Aritaum, a more Sephora-style outpost for top-tier makeup and higher end serums, creams, and cushion makeup (think foundation and sunscreen in one). The choices can be overwhelming, but the super knowledgeable staff at both will point you in the right beauty direction.


Get naked


Photo: Wi Spa/Facebook


A Korean spa, or jimjilbang, is like a Turkish hammam amplified. Most include various hot and cold plunge pools and super hot saunas, along with meditation zones and relaxation spaces. You’ll have to navigate naked in the same-sex areas, but spas supply oversized tees and shorts for the co-ed zones. For an all-day affair, Wi Spa is a 24-hour, four-floor temple of relaxation that includes all of the above, plus five signature saunas, a restaurant, a roof deck, and even a kids’ area for a $30 entrance fee. But if you’re looking to book a treatment, Crystal Spa, located on the third floor of the City Center on Sixth, might just have the best acupressure this side of Korea — 90 mins will run you $95.


Cheers to chicken and beer


Photo: Thana Thanadechakul/Shutterstock


Chicken and beer is the ultimate Korean food pairing, a duo so popular it even comes with its own mashup known as chimaek, which is chicken served with maekju or beer. Not to be confused with the Colonel’s chicken, KFC — as in Korean fried chicken — is crispy-on-the-outside-tender-on-the-inside deliciousness, often twice fried and flavored with sassy spices and sauces. For OG chimaek, OB Bear is a longstanding standby. But you can’t go wrong with the sampler at Plato on Eighth Street, a 12-piece combo that tastes just right with a bottle of Hite.


Follow the food lines


Photo: BCD Tofu House Wilshire/Facebook


The tried-and-true rule to finding the best restaurants in both Seoul and K-Town is to follow the lines. Where there’s a wait, there’s killer food waiting. You’ll almost always find crowds outside Sun Nong Dan, which is saying a lot since the Sixth Street spot is open the full 24 hours every day. Most are here for the Galbi Jjim, a braised short rib stew that is #24 on the menu. This is a bubbling, brazen, brimming bowl built for two you must order with cheese. Another crowd fave is BCD Tofu House on Wilshire, a Korean-style Denny’s open 24 hours that serves seafood pancakes, though it’s the spicy tofu soup they’re most known for, a bubbling cauldron that stays hot till the end.


Get your karaoke on at a dive bar


Photo: journey601/Shutterstock


There are plenty of places to noraebang in K-Town but none like Break Room 86 at The Line. The ‘80s-themed bar has a secret entrance and a replica of the phone-booth from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure along with old school arcade games and private singing rooms where you can belt out your favorite tune, ‘80s or otherwise, with a reservation. For more of a karaoke-meets-dive-bar experience, Café Brass Monkey is your place, a Koreatown staple that’s been around since 1971. No private rooms here, so be ready to perform for the crowd.


Soju-soaked nights at hole-in-the-wall joints is totally a Seoul thing, and thankfully K-Town follows suit. We’re talking dimly lit dens so divey they’ve turned trendy. The first on that list is Dan Sung Sa, a wood-paneled Korean pub with graffitied booths that serves up cheap bar foods and plenty of Korean beer and soju to wash it down. Another beloved K-Town haunt is Frank ‘n Hank, a watering hole on Western Avenue known for its cheap drinks, jukebox, pool table, and people watching. The HMS Bounty on Wilshire gets extra points for being a dive bar with a nautical theme. By the end of the night, you just might think you’re in Seoul.



The post The ultimate guide to all things Korean in LA’s K-Town appeared first on Matador Network.


https://travel.atspace.co.uk/best-things-to-do-in-las-koreatown/

The best glamping and camping spots

The best glamping and camping spots

Florida has, not completely unfairly, become the butt of a lot of jokes. Botch multiple elections and give the world headlines like “Florida Man Arrested for Operating Retirement Home Chop Shop” and you’re not escaping the late-night comedy circuit.


That said, Florida is still full of natural beauty, much of it beyond its world-renowned beaches. Perhaps the best way to experience that beauty is to get out and spend a few nights sleeping in it. “But what about the humidity, mosquitoes, and Florida people running wild,” you say? This is why the world created glamping, a way to revel in the great outdoors without having to deal with any of the actual great outdoors. And through our good friends at Glamping Hub, we found these 10 uniquely Florida spots for glamping.


1. Bell tents in Santa Rosa Beach

$156 per night



If one were to write down their Florida glamping fantasy, it would probably involve a beautiful, luxurious tent set up on a white sandy beach where they could spend their days taking dips in the Gulf of Mexico or hiking through Palmettos. Well, the fantasy comes true with these 16-foot bell tents in the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Each queen-bed-equipped tent also comes with a cooling and heating unit (the Panhandle can get cold in the winter) and sits just steps from the shoreline. During the day, you can explore the easy Florida wilderness on the park’s hiking trails, or discover the charming coastal town of Santa Rosa Beach.


2. Historic houseboat in Sarasota

$346 per night



Once upon a time, in a long-ago era known as 2004, this home was constructed as a floating wedding chapel for 110 guests. Only one other such chapel was built — in Australia — and today this one sits along the Manatee River just outside Sarasota. The houseboat still has the arched wooden doors and original stained glass from the chapel, as well as a steeple that doubles as a sleeping loft via a spiral staircase. The high-ceilinged boat also comes complete with a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, plus a living room with inviting leather recliners. Nearby, you can enjoy the communal swimming pool or relax in the jacuzzi. Or just call in a night early in the spacious master bedroom.


3. Safari tent near Panama City Beach

$179 per night



The lakes of the Florida panhandle are some of the state’s more under-appreciated natural features, and you’ll understand why after spending a relaxing weekend in these spacious safari tents. Set on a peninsula between Holly and Kings lakes, these twin tents in DeFuniak Springs each come with a king-sized bed, hardwood floors, air conditioning, and a Keurig machine. Plus you’ll also enjoy a front row seat to the water, either from the comfort of your bedroom window or the Zero Gravity chairs on the front porch.


The property sits on 10 wooded acres, with a communal swimming pool if you’re not up for swimming in the lakes. It’s also only about 45 minutes from Panama City Beach, so if you’re hankering for a body of water that’s a little bigger and bluer, you won’t have to go far.


4. Teepees in Floral City

$96 a night



About two-thirds of the way between Orlando and the Gulf of Mexico you’ll find little Flying Eagle Preserve, set on a series of lakes just east of Highway 41. On that preserve sits one of the most old-Florida glamping experiences available, where you can spend the night in a teepee surrounded by nothing but trees and water. The small dwellings only sleep two guests, with not much past a USB port, a fridge, a coffee maker, and an alarm clock beside the bed. You’ll have a communal bathroom in the indoor lounge a few feet away, plus access to a private deck with its own bar. Guests also get a full breakfast included in their stay, which is best enjoyed watching the sun rise over the thick Florida morning.


5. Private island near Key West

$1,746 per night



As far as getting stuck on a tropical island goes, you could do a lot worse than this private island about 20 miles east of Key West. You’ll meet your hosts on Summerland Key and be whisked away by boat to your secluded solar-panel-and-wood palace. This isolated luxury getaway sleeps eight people between three bedrooms, two of which have en-suite bathrooms with art deco fixtures, and a third with bunk beds.


From the top of the home, you can get the lay of the land from the lounge, which boasts 360-degree views of the island and the water beyond. Downstairs, a gourmet kitchen awaits complete with Viking refrigerator, dishwasher, and range. Getting here may be difficult, but if you provision correctly, you can show up and never leave. Well, until the $1,700 a night price tag catches up to your bank account.


6. Airstream near Miami Beach

$126 a night



Even the best-planned trip to Miami can end up a little… hectic. Which is why returning to this jungle escape just west of Miami Beach makes for the perfect escape after a long day. The vintage airstream is done up in epic 1980s brown leather, with a full kitchen, flat screen TV, and king-sized bed. A venerable home-away-from-home just steps from the Golden Glades interchange.


Though it’s inside the city, the Airstream is set back on a palm-filled property, where you can sit outside and enjoy a cold drink under your Christmas lights or take a dip in the communal swimming pool. There’s also an outdoor gym if you want to get some exercise, and a collection of hammocks if you don’t.


7. Bell tent in Clermont

$135 per night



Deep in the wilderness of Lake Louisa State Park you’ll find these bright, airy tents offering a calming respite after an active day outdoors. Each tent comes with a queen-sized bed, though if you’ve got more in your party, you can always request an air mattress. More importantly, they come with heat and air conditioning, so you’ll have a cool escape from the Florida sun. At night, head to the private pavilion for a barbecue, and roast some smores in the fire pit. Then retire back to your tent, now joyfully illuminated by Christmas lights in the dark, tropical night.


8. Shipping containers upcycled into luxury homes in Jupiter

$248 per night



From the outside, this collection of three containers might look like a well-placed assortment of Florida junk. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find one of the most unique homes in South Florida, where three old shipping containers have been converted into a three-bedroom home. A total of eight guests can stay here between three bedrooms, each one with wood furnishings and big, bright windows.


The main house has a kitchen, living room, and patio, the ideal place for everyone to meet at mealtime. The home is just south of Indiantown Road in Jupiter, close the beach, golf courses, and Square Grouper bar the city is known for. Though you wouldn’t be wrong to simply enjoy the serenity of the Cypress Creek Natural Area just cross the road.


9. Private island near Marathon

$1,625 a night



From above, this Middle Keys private island looks like it could be some kind of arena for a sub-tropical Hunger Games. But the beautiful white sand and classic Keys house is a different kind of surreal, a tiny piece of land inexplicably filled with a mansion and a swimming pool, all for just you and your guests. The main home sleeps eight people in three bedrooms, all surrounded by a wraparound porch ideal for sunset drinks. You’ll also have recliners set up on the pool deck to breathe in that sunset, as well as a private lagoon pool right next to the sand. You’ll get to the island via a short boat ride from Marathon, and if you feel like escaping your private slice of heaven, you can join the crowd at the Sunset Grill, right at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge.


10. Floating barrel cabin in Key Largo

$337 a night



If Florida Man had a home — that wasn’t a trailer — it would probably look something like the floating barrel cabin. You won’t find much in this round house other than a bed, a sink, and a tiki bar. But if that’s all you need for a perfect Keys vacation, this might be the perfect choice. The red cedar barrel cabin has a queen-sized bed inside, with a panoramic window behind the head so you’ll still see the sights while you sleep.


The sink is made from an old whiskey barrel, looking almost like a miniature version of the cabin itself. The tiki bar sits on a private dock, with lounge chairs for you to enjoy the sunset by the water. The hosts do ask, however, that you not use hairdryers or other high-powered electronics as the barrel cabin is green powered, and those will use up all the electricity.



The post The most spectacular places to go glamping in Florida appeared first on Matador Network.


http://travel.atspace.co.uk/the-best-glamping-and-camping-spots/

Best things to do in LA's Koreatown

Best things to do in LA's Koreatown

Don’t get us wrong: We’re all about Seoul and its gangnam style. But, and this is a big but, you don’t need to go all the way to South Korea to get a taste of Korea. Koreatown in Los Angeles — or K-Town for those in the know — more than lives up to its name. Not only does it have the largest Korean community outside the motherland, but it also boasts such a concentration of Korean restaurants, markets, mini-malls, spas, and bars, all crammed into three square miles, that it feels like an extension of Seoul itself without the long-ass flight to get there. Granted, not everything in Koreatown has Seoul’s soul. Cassell’s Hamburgers is as American as apple pie — and serves it to boot. But eating, drinking, and shopping around K-Town is still the closest thing you can get to Korea without actually going there.


Crash in K-Town



This one may seem obvious, but it’s essential. To get the full K-Town experience, ideally arrive at your hotel, park your car, and don’t use it again until you depart. Koreatown is a rarity in LA in that it’s a totally walkable hood, and strolling let’s you take in the sights, smells, and Seoul-ish street style — think neon hair, Kangol hats, and fanny packs. For the ultimate people watching, the concrete chic LINE LA has a similar arty vibe to the trendy RYSE Hotel in Seoul. Or opt for the stylishly renovated Hotel Normandie, a Renaissance revival that blends historic and hipster. Either puts you right in the action.


Get your Korean coffee fix



Forget tea. Those who’ve been there know that Korea is all about the coffee. In fact, Seoul alone boasts 17,000 coffee shops, which is more per capita than Seattle or San Francisco. While you won’t find Seoul’s crazy pet cafes here in LA, K-Town is abuzz with other kinds of creative, interesting, and eye-catching coffee shops. For a sip straight from Seoul, hit the South Korean chain Tom N Toms Coffee, of which there are four locations in the neighborhood, for sweet potato lattes and black sesame smoothies. For posh pour overs, lavender lattes, and strawberry milk in a minimalist, plant-filled space, there’s Sharp Specialty Coffee on Sixth Street. Or order up a nitro cold brew at Alfred Coffee’s outpost at the LINE Hotel and drink in the scene, literally.


Yes, definitely get dessert


Photo: PS Chantharat/Shutterstock


Bingsu or bingsoo (as in shaved ice) is a must-do Korean dessert, and the best place to get it in K-Town is Sul & Beans on Western Avenue. Packed with couples and friends armed with spoons, the stylish desert café serves up shaved ice masterpieces, beautifully photogenic bowls topped with traditional condensed milk, red beans, mango, and sweet rice cake, as well as modern twists like Oreo and chocolate. Or go next door to SomiSomi for a spin on a trendy Korean street snack called bungeoppang. Carp-shaped waffle cones are filled with red bean paste, custard or Nutella, then topped with a swirl of soft serve and sprinkles. It’s rare that you’ll eat something that is both so cute and tasty, but that you never quite have that feeling of, “It looks so good I can’t eat it.”


Stock up on Korean snacks and souvenirs


Photo: image_vulture/Shutterstock


Korean markets aren’t your average grocery stores. Sure, they have some of the usual staples, but holy sauce section, holy live seafood, and holy kimchi, plus aisles of vinegars, marinated meats, self-serve banchan (side dish) bars, and a buzzy energy you won’t find at Kroger. The biggest in K-Town is the Galleria Market in the basement of Koreatown Galleria, but there’s also the newly renovated California Market on Western Avenue, H Mart in MaDang the Courtyard, and Zion Supermarket in City Center on Sixth. By all means browse the aisles, but end in the snack section, a colorful assault of chocolate and chip packages. You’ll want it all, but get a bag of honey butter chips, a salty-sweet snack that’s all the rage in Korea, and whatever flavor of Lotte Choco Pie that catches your eye.


Photo: Poketo/Facebook


Just like Seoul, K-Town is a shopping hotbed of multi-storied malls, food courts, and boutiques, and no way should you go home empty handed. Paper is big in Seoul, as in cute cards, notebooks, and pens. Stock up on standout stationary and gifts at Poketo at the LINE Hotel, where curated knick-knacks reign supreme. The cuteness continues at ChouChou, a minimal shop on Sixth that sells only the essentials — t-shirts, phone cases, Korean plushies — the stuff you see in K-Pop videos on YouTube. Speaking of K-Pop, as in Korean pop music, the genre is having more than a moment. Both BTS and Blackpink are pushing Beyoncé-level big, and you’ll see their faces and hear their tunes nearly everywhere throughout the neighborhood. Pop into Choice Music in Koreatown Galleria for K-Pop paraphernalia and CDs if you’re the type that actually still has a CD player.


Get a sheet mask or 10


Yes, you can now buy K-Beauty at Urban Outfitters or Walgreens, but nothing like what you’ll find in K-Town. The name of the game here is Chok Chok, as in dewy, glowy skin. To achieve it, stock up on every sheet mask under the sun at Palace Beauty Galleria in Koreatown Galleria. We’re talking rubber modeling masks, overnight masks, ampule masks, snail masks, plus the bb, cc, and dd creams Korea made famous. Just across the hall is Aritaum, a more Sephora-style outpost for top-tier makeup and higher end serums, creams, and cushion makeup (think foundation and sunscreen in one). The choices can be overwhelming, but the super knowledgeable staff at both will point you in the right beauty direction.


Get naked


Photo: Wi Spa/Facebook


A Korean spa, or jimjilbang, is like a Turkish hammam amplified. Most include various hot and cold plunge pools and super hot saunas, along with meditation zones and relaxation spaces. You’ll have to navigate naked in the same-sex areas, but spas supply oversized tees and shorts for the co-ed zones. For an all-day affair, Wi Spa is a 24-hour, four-floor temple of relaxation that includes all of the above, plus five signature saunas, a restaurant, a roof deck, and even a kids’ area for a $30 entrance fee. But if you’re looking to book a treatment, Crystal Spa, located on the third floor of the City Center on Sixth, might just have the best acupressure this side of Korea — 90 mins will run you $95.


Cheers to chicken and beer


Photo: Thana Thanadechakul/Shutterstock


Chicken and beer is the ultimate Korean food pairing, a duo so popular it even comes with its own mashup known as chimaek, which is chicken served with maekju or beer. Not to be confused with the Colonel’s chicken, KFC — as in Korean fried chicken — is crispy-on-the-outside-tender-on-the-inside deliciousness, often twice fried and flavored with sassy spices and sauces. For OG chimaek, OB Bear is a longstanding standby. But you can’t go wrong with the sampler at Plato on Eighth Street, a 12-piece combo that tastes just right with a bottle of Hite.


Follow the food lines


Photo: BCD Tofu House Wilshire/Facebook


The tried-and-true rule to finding the best restaurants in both Seoul and K-Town is to follow the lines. Where there’s a wait, there’s killer food waiting. You’ll almost always find crowds outside Sun Nong Dan, which is saying a lot since the Sixth Street spot is open the full 24 hours every day. Most are here for the Galbi Jjim, a braised short rib stew that is #24 on the menu. This is a bubbling, brazen, brimming bowl built for two you must order with cheese. Another crowd fave is BCD Tofu House on Wilshire, a Korean-style Denny’s open 24 hours that serves seafood pancakes, though it’s the spicy tofu soup they’re most known for, a bubbling cauldron that stays hot till the end.


Get your karaoke on at a dive bar


Photo: journey601/Shutterstock


There are plenty of places to noraebang in K-Town but none like Break Room 86 at The Line. The ‘80s-themed bar has a secret entrance and a replica of the phone-booth from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure along with old school arcade games and private singing rooms where you can belt out your favorite tune, ‘80s or otherwise, with a reservation. For more of a karaoke-meets-dive-bar experience, Café Brass Monkey is your place, a Koreatown staple that’s been around since 1971. No private rooms here, so be ready to perform for the crowd.


Soju-soaked nights at hole-in-the-wall joints is totally a Seoul thing, and thankfully K-Town follows suit. We’re talking dimly lit dens so divey they’ve turned trendy. The first on that list is Dan Sung Sa, a wood-paneled Korean pub with graffitied booths that serves up cheap bar foods and plenty of Korean beer and soju to wash it down. Another beloved K-Town haunt is Frank ‘n Hank, a watering hole on Western Avenue known for its cheap drinks, jukebox, pool table, and people watching. The HMS Bounty on Wilshire gets extra points for being a dive bar with a nautical theme. By the end of the night, you just might think you’re in Seoul.



The post The ultimate guide to all things Korean in LA’s K-Town appeared first on Matador Network.


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