Most read of 2023: Airbnb crackdown in Penang, Swiss towns’ morbid art by Alien movie effects designer, 7 world wonders in 7 days – our top travel stories

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H. R. Giger was born in the Swiss city of Chur, where his style of blending human physiques and machines developed, possibly influenced by his surroundings.

The interior of H R Giger Bar in Gruyères, Switzerland, resembles a rib cage. Photo: Peter Neville-Hadley

Museums, houses and bars in the towns tell the artist’s story and exhibit some of the unusual works that put him on Alien director Ridley Scott’s radar.

2. The world’s best hotels in 2023?

Four of the top five hotels in 2023 are in Asia – two of them in Hong Kong – according to the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list, on which a total of 18 are Asian properties.

Rosewood’s Harbour House, which came in at No 2 on the The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 list. Photo: Rosewood Hong Kong

3. Penang’s Airbnb crackdown

Penang, Malaysia, imposed a partial ban on Airbnb property letting to tame rowdy tourists. It had been mulling the move for over a year following complaints of bad tourist behaviour in residential areas.
In Penang, Malaysia, a partial Airbnb ban will take effect in March 2024. Photo: Shutterstock

The measure will not come into force until March 2024 to give property owners time to comply with the new rules.

4. A tour of Shenzhen

Following her visit to Shenzhen, notebook in hand, Post writer Erika Na shared useful tips for those looking to visit the Chinese city, from how to get a visa on arrival and which apps to download to what cashless payments are accepted there.

Shenzhen is a popular day-trip destination for Hong Kong people, but those without a visa or the right to enter mainland China can be put off by the on-arrival visa process.

Construction in Shenzhen. Post readers showed interest in learning more about how to visit the Chinese city. Photo: Reuters

5. Admiral Zheng He’s Malacca

European colonial buildings abound in Malacca, Malaysia, but look closely and you’ll find evidence of how early Chinese migrants shaped its culture and make-up.

Admiral Zheng He turned Malacca from a fishing village into a trade hub in the 15th century, when Chinese put down roots and a Chinese princess married a sultan.

A statue of Chinese maritime explorer, Zheng He, at the Cheng Ho Gallery in Malacca, Malaysia. Photo: Ronan O’Connell

6. Seven wonders of the world in 7 days

The Post caught up with a man in a hurry, Jamie McDonald, who visited the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, the Colosseum, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru and Chichén Itzá in Mexico – the so-called new Seven Wonders of the World – in a week.
Jamie McDonald at the Taj Mahal. The Briton set a Guinness world record for travelling to the so-called new Seven Wonders of the World in seven days. Photo: Travelport

His 36,783km (23,000-mile) trip involved planes, trains, taxis, buses and even a toboggan. He slept only 12 hours and ate plane food all the way, apart from a pizza in Rome.

7. That is not in the brochure

Sun rises at Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro. Tourism boards may be quick to tout this popular Brazilian attraction, but not as quick to mention the possible dangers involved in visiting it. Photo: AFP

In January we walked on the wild side, looking at the “most dangerous wonder of the world” and other things tourists don’t get told by the travel industry.

Tourism boards are more than happy to tout their most popular attractions but far less likely to point out the downsides that come with seeing them.

From Thailand’s deadly roads to muggings at gunpoint on the way to Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, we covered what the travel industry doesn’t.

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