It’s official: when it comes to travel, “why” is the new “where”. This year is the year of the “whycation”. Rather than choosing a destination, true travel bliss is found in choosing a motivation, and finding where to best achieve it.
It could lead you to destinations that don’t always top travel lists, but are every bit as delightful as their more popular counterparts. Take Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur – all offer unique experiences, but are often overshadowed by nearby destinations. But if you’re asking “why” for your travel planning, each has a compelling case to make.
When it comes to choosing a hotel, “why” is the word de jour too. And few answer that question quite like Hilton. In each of these four fantastic cities, you’ll find beautiful Hilton properties nestled in the heart of the action, with comfy rooms and knowledgeable concierges that can connect you to experiences that stay with you.
Cultural corridor
A visit to Shanghai condenses the history of China. For example, visitors can contemplate 2,500 years of culture at the Jing’an temple. The shrine visibly connects the arrival of Buddhism, followed by Ming and Qing dynasty expansion, then by 20th-century upheaval and modern renaissance. Today residents pray for prosperity before a behemothic seated Buddha, or play mobile games under a gingko tree.
Jing’an temple sits close to Yan’an Road, a main Shanghai artery. It’s a highway into the history of China’s biggest city. By 1917, when Shanghai had a million inhabitants, Yan’an Road ran all the way to Great World, China’s first amusement arcade. Residents were wowed by magicians, acrobats and storytellers. Today, the historic building features a food complex and virtual reality room, which offers an insightful view into old Shanghai.
Yan’an Road finishes at the Bund, alongside the Huangpu River – the city’s gilded commercial promenade that has been Shanghai’s window on the world since the early 20th century, when ships sailed to Melbourne and Singapore. Industry was powered by the Nanshi electric plant. Today the building is the Power Station of Art, a space dedicated to Chinese contemporary culture. Shanghai never stops evolving.
On Yan’an West Road, Hilton Shanghai City Center is sited in the middle of the action. The hotel is a short walk from the Jing’an temple, or a 10-minute cab journey (Shanghainese use the ride-hailing app DiDi for quick trips) from the Bund. The hotel’s pairing of western comfort with Shanghai style was by Cheng Chung Design, the architectural brains behind many of Asia’s most user-friendly hotels. Cultural immersion comes in the form of curated experiences, including heritage performances of stringed zither-like guzhengs or theatrical shows during afternoon tea. Going solo? Staff at Hilton Shanghai City Center provide a curated guidebook for exploring the city via four local itineraries.
Contemporary Indochina
Ho Chi Minh City is the metropolis where culture is experiential and edible. For instance, societal history comes packed inside a sandwich. Bánh mì is a French-style baguette, spread with five spice paté, seasoned with pickled daikon. The recipe originated during France’s century-long occupation of Vietnam. Local bakers upgraded the dough with rice flour, creating a lighter, airier bun. The city’s residents arguably went on to improve every French import, from tailoring to brewing to idling along boulevards like a flâneur. Still not convinced? Order a bánh flan, a Vietnamese creme caramel, enhanced with scented pandan and coconut milk.
The District 1 neighbourhood is the cultural kernel of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest settlement. Visitors can stroll Nguyen Hue Walking Street, a pedestrian-only fiesta of cafes, fountains and street musicians. Shop at Bến Thành market, where vendors holler the benefits of every item from paper lanterns to pho broth. Enjoy the scene with a glass of lager. It’s another French foundling, upgraded by Vietnamese brewers, who added malted rice to imported barley.
District 1’s most welcoming address is Hilton Saigon. Award-winning hospitality is served over ice at rooftop Song Bar, which mixes G&Ts with green tea and Baigur gin, a blend of 12 Vietnamese botanicals distilled in the city. On the 11th floor, the hotel’s Eforia spa has won additional acclaim for its wraps, scrubs and wallowing pools. Hilton Saigon is a short stroll from the colonial-era masterpieces of Notre Dame cathedral and the flamboyant Saigon Opera House.
Smell the coffee
One drink defines why visitors should wake up to Melbourne: coffee. During the 1960s, tens of thousands of Italians migrated to Melbourne, bringing their espresso machines with them. Coffee culture was perfectly suited to Melbourne’s laneways. Dozens of alleys host rooftop bars, street-level art and basement boutiques. Best of all, coffee dealers found themselves in the middle of south-east Asia’s finest aromas: nutty roasts from Vietnam; robust beans from Thailand; earthy brews from Java.
Melbourne is a city to be savoured like a flat white, the brew allegedly invented in this foodie capital.
A caffeine-fuelled populace burns off energy during a roster of sporting contests. The Australian Open is served in January, tailgated by Formula 1 in March. Aussie Rules – a chaotic game of human pinball – runs until September. Melburnians take the air in countless parks year-round. Jog the Tan Track loop around the Royal Botanic Gardens, picnic on katsu sandos in Fitzroy Gardens, or sail a dinghy through Albert Park. Melbourne is undoubtedly one of the world’s most outdoorsy destinations.
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street is a microcosm of the city. The hotel’s art deco facade was styled in the 1930s as Melbourne grew, while the Douglas Club cocktail bar draws inspiration from the gilded age. Restaurant Luci is set within the grand hall of the historic building. You can choose strozzapreti ragu, followed by a house tiramisu, in honour of Italians who blessed the city.
Staff offer a digital history tour of the neighbourhood, which includes public parks, sports stadiums and cafes aplenty. Exploring farther? The world’s largest tram network starts right outside the lobby.
Bird of paradise
Kuala Lumpur is the destination du jour for lovers of street food, kaleidoscopic colour and killer cocktails. The latter is best sipped at the Aviary Bar at Hilton Kuala Lumpur. In 1973, bartender Jeffrey Ong shook up Malaysian limes and pineapples with a dash of Italian Campari. The resulting crush was named the jungle bird, which Ong poured into a bird-shaped ceramic mug. The famous cocktail is still served at its founding hotel alongside the swimming pool.
Right outside the hotel, Kuala Lumpur is a modern cocktail of greenery and history. Within walking distance is Perdana Botanical Garden. It’s home to orchids, hibiscus and is one of the world’s largest walk-in aviaries, where 300 birds cavort in verdant jungle. Near the gardens, the National Museum of Malaysia charts the nation’s rise from commodities exports to a thriving multicultural state. The latter is proven by Little India in Brickfields, a fine place to sample the Malaysian classic roti canai, a flaky flatbread served with dal, beloved by all resident ethnic groups.
Iconic cocktails aside, the Hilton Kuala Lumpur was designed as a landmark hotel. Five stars; seven restaurants; double height windows; multiple awards. All 512 rooms pair western comfort with stupendous city views. The KLIA Ekspres train ensures a swift connection to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Other KL highlights – Central Market, Petronas Twin Towers, Chinatown – are a 10-minute drive from the lobby.
Ready to explore Asia Pacific’s iconic cities and hotels a little deeper? Browse the collection here
