Lola Méndez

Travel in itself can be good for the mind and soul, but for some serious pampering, you can always take things up a notch at Asia's many wellness-led resorts and retreats. These getaways have therapies and programmes as core offerings to assist in healing, with many combining local healing modalities with Western technological advancements in medicine. Truly, the best of both worlds. Whether you’re looking to detox, heal a specific ailment, or improve your overall health, these are the best wellness resorts and retreats in Asia. RECOMMENDED: The best wildlife destinations in Asia and The best food tours in Asia  

HBO's The White Lotus is back with a bang for season 3, with this season’s motley crew of ultra-rich travellers setting up camp in a luxury wellness resort on Thailand's second-largest island, Koh Samui. The show, culminating with the season finale on April 6, has inspired an uptick in travellers interested in visiting the island this year – but how accurately does it portray life on Koh Samui?  I’ve been based in Thailand on and off for a decade and have spent several months in Koh Samui over the years. It's been interesting seeing familiar scenes of Thailand's incredible natural beauty, top-notch hospitality, delicious food, and healing modalities play out on the screen – despite the characters being delusional, unaware and incredibly out-of-touch, as is standard for The White Lotus. Here's what the show captures well and what's totally inaccurate. This post contains spoilers for ‘The White Lotus’ season 3. The island's wildlife and natural beauty Lush jungles, spectacular beaches, boats sailing through glassy waters… wild monkeys? While monkeys feature prominently in the show, there actually aren’t any wild monkeys living in the jungle on Koh Samui (but there are monitor lizards). Unfortunately, there are snake farms on the island where cobras are forced to perform for tourists – though it’s doubtful it’d be so easy to let them loose as Rick does in episode 3. Pong-pong trees are commonly used in landscaping at luxury resorts in Koh Samui, and their seeds are indeed poison

Asia offers secluded islands, mirrored waters, and year-round sun – all the ingredients for a perfect scuba dive. It's really no wonder that this continent is home to some of the best scuba diving in the world. We're talking incredible wreck dives, vibrant and teeming coral reefs, and depending on the season, pelagics like sharks, whales, and manta rays. So, dive in with us to some of the most prestigious destinations of the underwater world.  READ MORE: The most incredible road trips in Asia and One month in Southeast Asia: The ultimate itinerary    

The best way to discover which local dishes you like and dislike is by joining a local food tour while visiting destinations across Asia. By sampling local cuisine you can quickly find new favourite foods and then ask your guide for suggestions for the best place to enjoy them. A locally-led food tour will help you avoid overpriced and underwhelming tourist trap restaurants and instead dive deep into the local culinary culture. You’ll probably get to try some hidden gems. Time Out’s writers and editors—including Asia contributor Lola Méndez who has eaten her way through vegan delicacies across the continent—have picked our favourite food tours in Southeast and East Asia for savouring local flavours. RECOMMENDED: The most fascinating historical tours in Asia and The best train journeys in Asia

Get to know a slice of Asia's past by booking history tours as you travel around the continent. You can learn about ancient water cleansing rituals in Bali, the once-thriving craft industry in Singapore, and so much more. Time Out's writers and editors – including Asia contributor Lola Méndez, who has been on historical tours throughout Southeast and East Asia – have picked our favourite historical tours. READ MORE: The best museums in Asia and The most stunning architectural gems in Asia

The best way to watch the sunset in Asia’s sprawling cities is with a drink at the best rooftop bars in the region. Sip on innovative cocktails while taking in panoramic vistas of skyscrapers and historic sites. Time Out’s writers and editors—including Asia contributor Lola Méndez who has enjoyed a rooftop libation or two everywhere from Saigon to Tokyo—have picked our favourite rooftop bars in Southeast and East Asia. Here are the best rooftop bars in Asia with views of iconic skylines.RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Hong Kong and The best restaurants in Singapore

Asia has some of the most diverse geography in the world, which makes it home to some of the best hikes on Earth. The continent has the highest and the lowest points on the planet — the legendary Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world at nearly 9,000 meters, and the Dead Sea bordering Palestine and Jordan at 430 meters below sea level. And you can hike in both! You don’t have to be a professional hiker to enjoy Asia’s trails. Many less strenuous routes with stunning scenery can be enjoyed in a few hours. In Asia, you can trek to the peaks of colossal mountains covered in snow, to ancient Buddhist shrines, to vantage points over pristine beaches, and so much more. These are the best hikes in Asia. RECOMMENDED: Stunning islands in Asia you need to visit at least once and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

Located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Asia is notorious for having some of the best beaches in the world. Much of Southeast Asia is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which created many of the islands in the region. More diverse aquatic life can be found in Asia than in other areas of the planet, making it a snorkelling and diving hotspot. Beautiful beaches can be found beyond Southeast Asia, from Japan to India too. You’ll find picturesque white sand beaches with aquamarine waters in Asia — many of which boast vibrant marine life and others that serve as an idyllic city escape. READ MORE: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The most incredible hikes Asia has to offer Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

Asia is a continent of many islands, with Southeast Asia alone home to over 20,000 islands. As you can imagine, there’s breathtaking diversity across these slices of paradise: on the continent's largest island, Borneo, you can see wild orangutans; in Bali you can immerse yourself in Hindu spirituality; and in Okinawa, you can get a taste of what it’s like to live past 100. You could visit them all if you had the time, but you don’t have to – not when we’ve narrowed it down to seven of the absolute best islands to visit in Asia, each boasting epic beaches and fascinating culture.  RECOMMENDED: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The absolute best beaches in Asia Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

Many of Asia’s airlines continuously receive awards for being some of the best airlines in the world. From luxury liners with top-notch service to budget airlines that sweep you off to Asia’s most beautiful locales. Many of these Asian airlines are part of the oneworld Alliance or the Star Alliance making it easy to book with mileage partners and rack up points and miles. RECOMMENDED: Stunning islands in Asia you need to visit at least once and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now

Happy Pride Month, one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and to celebrate, we asked Time Out’s LGBTQ+-identifying writers and editors to tell us all about their favourite city on the planet. The resulting list covers all four corners of the globe, from the beaches of Brazil to the creative hub of Glasgow’s Southside. These are cities with a vibrant queer community, cities that support and protect LGBTQ+ citizens and visitors, and cities that are notable hubs for LGBTQ+ life in their respective countries and regions. So, what are the world’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities? While we couldn’t possibly name them all, these are some of our favourites. RECOMMENDED:🗻 The world’s best places to travel alone🗺 The world’s most underrated travel destinations😎 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world  

Whether traveling abroad to hit up a stunning beach, dine at one of the world's best restaurants or check off your European bucket list, the voyage itself is always an adventure. A trip overseas also requires extra forethought and preparation: gathering the correct document, getting familiar with your destination and finding ways to make the travel time a little more enjoyable. If done right, however, an international trip doesn't have to be stressful—especially if you follow these best international travel hacks. From scoring wallet-friendly flights to taking advantage of credit card perks (lounge life is calling), these tried-and-true strategies will make you a savvy international traveler. 

The view Enjoy sweeping views of the Ping River and the pagoda-lined skyline of Chiang Mai from the highest bar in the city. Located on the 22nd floor of Meliá Chiang Mai, the 360-degree rooftop bar offers sweeping views of the Ping River and the sacred Doi Suthep Temple, which can be seen on a clear day to the west. There are two floors of seating, all of which boast an excellent view. The drinks Time Out Asia contributor Lola Méndez lives in Chiang Mai and never passes up the chance to indulge in MAI’s Bartender’s Tailored Cocktails. The mixologists drew inspiration from the city for unique craft cocktails: take Temple (Wat Chedi Luang), made of Thailand’s Siam Lanna gin and Khaosoi flavouring, which tastes like the famous noodle soup.

The view The rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square is home to the Shibuya Sky observation deck. At 230 metres above ground, The Roof bar has breathtaking 360-degree views of Japan’s capital city. Time Out Tokyo’s Associate Editor Kaila Imada says the bar has vistas of all of Tokyo’s major landmarks, such as Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, and on a clear day, Mt Fuji in the distance. Visit ahead of sunset to see the view in daylight and at twilight.The drinks Tickets to The Roof include drink packages including champagne, a bottled whiskey cocktail, or an IPA that’s a collaboration with a local brewery, Y.Y.G Brewery. The bar and lounge is only open 8 months a year. Make a reservation to visit before December 25, 2024.