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A Hakuba Food Guide For Your Japan Travels Hakuba has no lack of dining venues and watering holes; during our trip, we discovered great ramen bars, hole-in-the-wall izakayas, cosy cafes and elegant French restaurants, to name a few.  There are various villages spread out across Hakuba, so we’ve provided a short introduction to 7 villages (or districts), along with our top dining picks in our guide below: 1. Hakuba Station The area surrounding the Hakuba Station is bustling; you’ll find local amenities like banks, supermarkets and the post office, souvenir shops and plenty of dining options.  Maeda – Maeda is a favourite among both locals and vacationers alike. Come here for the chewy soba or udon noodles and savoury broths. The tonkatsu is nicely crispy and tender, and makes a satisfying dish. Prices are affordable, and service is quick. 5054 Hokujo, Hakuba, p. +81 261-72-2295. Open 11am – 2pm daily. …

Consistently superb skiing conditions, a variety of ski resorts to choose from, plenty of kid-friendly amenities—Hakuba definitely checks off the boxes as a prime ski destination for families. It’s home to 10 major ski resorts, with each offering unique features, so getting to ski across different venues is one of the highlights here. Away from the slopes, Hakuba offers a great family experience. There are excellent restaurants and après-ski bars to check out, cultural activities to try out and onsens to unwind and take in stunning panoramas of the Japanese Alps.  Below, we’ve put together a comprehensive Hakuba skiing guide for Hakuba first-timers. We’ve covered the essentials, including where to ski, renting ski equipment and getting ski lessons.  Skiing in Hakuba There are 10 major ski resorts in Hakuba Valley (Iimori is considered part of Goryu), with a few being connected resorts with shared lift passes: Goryu and Iimori connect…

The First of its Kind; Villa Finder to Host a “Villa Investment in Asia” Event in Singapore Singapore, 11th September 2019- In the 1st edition of Villa Finder’s event series, a “Villa Investment in Asia” talk will be held on the 8th of October 2019 in Singapore. Scheduled for Tuesday morning at 8:30 am – 10:00 am, this event will bring together two of Bali’s best industry experts in Villa Investment.  Location: Villa Finder Singapore Office, 35B Pagoda Street, 059194 Closest MRT: Chinatown, Exit A Closest carpark: Chinatown Carpark Park Cres, behind People’s Park Complex Taxi drop-off point: Sri Mariamman Temple On the back of interests from property investors and business owners, “Villa Investment in Asia” will be the start of Villa Finder’s knowledge sharing sessions for topics like Villa Investment, Villa Rental Market and beyond. With 7 years of experience in the industry, Villa Finder’s events will be dedicated to…

Chiang Mai makes for the perfect holiday destination for families with kids. This beautiful walled city in the north of Thailand has endless family activities and is filled with friendly locals who are always happy to help with directions or recommendations. The city is clean and safe, with plenty of things to see and do. You may want to consider ticking some (or all!) of the following family things to do in Chiang Mai for an amazing family getaway in Thailand. 1. Temple hopping Under the gold, glittering sun, the giant Buddha statues, serpent stairs and high rooftops of colourful buildings appear as if out of a fairy tale or an ancient saga; the kids and you will marvel at the attractions because let’s be honest, it’s not every day you see unique temples.  There’s only so much walking you can do in a day though, so choose your temples…

Best Cuts Meet Biondi, our Concierge Consultant  It’s not always the big requests we fulfill that make us proud. As concierge consultants, we take care of the small details too and even we’re surprised at where some requests take us. For Biondi, it was a Father’s day Sunday roast that took him to a little local meat shop in Ubud. The Concierge Request  Villa Finder: How did you make the concierge request come to life? Biondi: I thought about what our client was trying to achieve. They had come from Singapore and were planning on having a Father’s day Sunday roast. The thing is, the villa they were staying in was all the way in Ubud and there aren’t too many butchers in the area. But, lucky for me I used to live in Ubud! I remembered a local butcher I regularly bought from and he had the best cuts in…

What to Do in Siem Reap Siem Reap, located in the northwest side of Cambodia, is home for the famous ruins of Angkor Wat. What makes the city truly interesting are its exciting experiences of culture and history through visiting ancient temples, local markets, and museums.  While the Angkor temple remains the most popular attraction, there are still many other unmissable activities in the area that are worth checking out. Here’s a quick rundown of the best 15 things to do in Siem Reap. Read on, take notes, and fill in your itinerary with scenic views, fun adventures, and fascinating cultural tours! Visit the famous Angkor Wat Complex If you’re a first-time visitor, you don’t want to miss this iconic 12th-century temple. The Angkor Wat is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and currently the largest religious monument in the world. There isn’t a day where it’s not packed with…

Check out any Google search or Instagram page and you will see that Bali is a tropical mecca of fun, relaxation, partying, shopping and care-free living. Unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan and if you or a family member become unexpectedly sick or have an unfortunate accident, would you know what to do or where to seek help? Needing medical attention in a foreign country can be a daunting experience so it’s good to have an idea of what kinds of medical issues may arise and what help is available should you need it. Accidents and Emergencies Bali Belly aka Travellers diarrhoea An upset stomach is not uncommon whilst holidaying on the island of the gods. Anything from a change in diet and lifestyle to poor hygiene (or even an accident gulp of water in the shower) can increase the chances of contracting an unwanted stomach illness. To minimize…

Have you been talking to your friends about the woes with your teeth, lately? That’s what I had been doing, not so long ago. A few months back, 2 of my molars suddenly started giving me a hard time. The good old dentist advised me to get root canals but the price he quoted for the procedure was as painful as my aching molars. I was looking at paying around $6800. The check-up cost alone was $305. I tried to handle the pain with home remedies but no luck. While I was researching for cheaper ways to do it, I was surprised to find that the public health system has a four-year wait even on periodontal work. Wow!!! Some of my friends, based on their experience, advised me to go overseas and get my dental work done at a fraction of the price. They suggested Thailand, India or Indonesia (Bali). Bali was closer to Australia…

Teeth whitening is an ever-growing, much sought after treatment that will leave your smile looking better than ever. There are a number of different treatments available, with everything from whitening rises and gels to laser whitening done in the chair at a dental office. Unfortunately, it can drain the bank account quite a bit. Therefore, we’ve decided to bring together the best (and cheapest) clinics in Bali for this sort of work, to take away the hassle for you! Teeth whitening in Bali can range in price from anywhere between $70 – 300 USD, depending on the type of treatment and the clinic. Gone are the days where you need to be worried about getting dental procedures done in Bali, all clinics are now clean with modern technologies and the latest equipment in order to keep up with the demanding tourism market. So Smile Bali This is the newest branch…

Villa Finder: Could you give us a short intro about yourself? Hayley: Hello, I’m Hayley. I’m from a small town south of Sydney, Australia. Now residing in Canggu, Bali. I am the co-founder & designer of Stowe Swim.Villa Finder What brought you to Bali? Hayley: My mum first brought me here when I was 15 to show me the island she also madly is in love with. As soon as I took my first step off that plane and had my head hanging out of the taxi all the way from the airport to the hotel taking in all the new scenery and cultural differences, I knew right then and there that it wouldn’t be my last time here.Villa Finder: What are your favourite places on the island? Hayley: In Bali, I would have to say my soft spot is the Bukit. Bingin & Balangan especially. But I have to…