How to turn a rundown castle into a luxury retreat

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In travel news this week: a restaurant on the edge of space is now taking bookings, a hypersonic startup promises to fly people from Europe to Australia in under five hours, and couples transform incredible properties in Italy and Japan.

A little English island inspired by legendary crime novelist Agatha Christie is up for sale, and it comes with its own Art Deco hotel and helipad. Burgh Island, off the Devon coast, has a 25-room hotel with mermaid pool and billiard room – an ideal spot for Colonel Mustard and the candlestick.

Seems like too big a job to take on? Well a South African couple bought a rundown castle on a Tuscany hilltop and turned the fortress into a

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On This Day: The Start of the J-League

On this day 30 years ago, a crowd of nearly 60,000 packed into Tokyo’s National Stadium to watch the first-ever J-League match. It ended with Yokohama Marinos defeating Verdy Kawasaki 2-1, but this was about much more than a single game. It was a historic occasion that will never be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to get tickets. A sport previously played by semi-pros here in front of a pitiful crowd had finally gone professional. This was a new beginning, and the Japanese people were ready.

Six months earlier, Japan hosted the Asian Cup and went on to win it for the first time. It was a significant victory. They’d only previously qualified for one tournament, in 1988, when they finished bottom of their group. Momentum was building. Growing up, wannabe soccer players only had characters from the manga Captain Tsubasa to look up to. Now they had

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Peek Inside the TW March-April 2023 Issue Party

Kicking off Golden Week, the TW party took place on April 28 at the stylish Or (stylized as ‘or’) Miyashita Park. TW’s editors, writers, photographers, readers, Insiders Club members, magazine interviewees, influencers and new friends came together for another night of connecting, dancing and good vibes. We drank original cocktails, looked at art and made memories with the film cameras our photographer Lisa Knight left for everyone to play with. You can check TW’s Instagram for the results.

Photo by Anna Petek

Original TW x OR Cocktails

Here at TW we love being creative, a little bit unique and having a lot of fun. At the start of the pandemic, we did the Quarantini series, during which we made cocktails at home while also visiting breweries and bars. We recently shared this passion of ours with our host venue. Together, we came up with two original cocktails only available for

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Don’t Tip in These Foreign Countries

Not sure of whether to leave a tip? Read on.

Tipping is a hot topic among travelers, primarily because tipping practices vary so widely from country to country. But in most destinations, the differences are small—many service workers accept and appreciate tips for various services ranging from waiting tables to cleaning hotel rooms.

There are some places around the world where tipping isn’t a standard practice, but there are a few others where tipping actually goes against the grain of a country’s culture. Whether collective societies are uncomfortable with individual recognition at the expense of a group effort, or they simply view hospitality as unconditional, these destinations should be approached with care among travelers accustomed to North American tipping practices.

While these countries generally have an adverse view of gratuities, it should be noted that there are also some exceptions.

French Polynesia

Tahitian welcomes are legendary. In this country, spanning

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Biden proposing new rules to compensate passengers for flight delays

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration wants to require airlines to offer compensation beyond refunds for “controllable” flight cancellations or significant delays.

President Joe Biden on Monday said the Transportation Department will propose later this year new regulations detailing how and when airlines must provide cash or other compensation and cover expenses for meals, lodging, and rebooking when carriers are responsible for stranding passengers.

“If your airline is very delayed or canceled, and the airline could’ve prevented that, you deserve more than just getting the price of your ticket. You deserve to be fully compensated,” Biden said. “Your time matters. The impact on your life matters.”

In the meantime, consumers will be able to check the government site FlightRights.gov to see what airlines are currently offering — which the administration says is not enough.

Airlines for America, the industry trade group for the leading US airlines, pushed back saying airlines have

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