Sarah Chen
Asia Editor
Based in Singapore · 12 years covering travel · Writes in English, Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia
Sarah Chen has covered Asia for twelve years, first as a wire reporter in Jakarta and now from Singapore, where she keeps a standing list of the region's most misunderstood destinations. She writes about the distance between what a place is famous for and what it is actually like to spend a week in — and is happiest on an overnight train with a bad seat and a good view.
What Sarah covers
- —Temple and heritage circuits across Japan, Cambodia and Sri Lanka
- —Regional rail and ferry routes most itineraries skip
- —Night markets and street-food districts worth planning a day around
TripWriters is an AI-assisted publication. Sarah Chen is an editorial persona, and the portrait above is generated — it is not a photograph of a real person. Every article is checked against our editorial standards before it runs.
Articles by Sarah Chen
Above the Clouds: Tracing Mendoza's High-Altitude Uco Valley Wine Trail
High above Mendoza's valley floor, the Uco Valley grows Malbec that tastes of altitude itself. Here's how to trace its top wineries, farm-to-table tables, and Andes views over two or three unhurried days.
Baa Atoll Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Baa Atoll combines UNESCO-protected reefs with untouched village culture. Spring brings calm seas, manta rays, and visibility exceeding 30 meters—perfect for diving.
What Travelers Need to Know About the Amalfi Coast Right Now
Spring brings beauty to the Amalfi Coast—and traffic chaos. Road construction through June means 30–60 minute delays between towns. Here's how to plan around it.
Dracula's Castle and Beyond: Transylvania's Fortified Medieval Trail
Rank Transylvania's finest fortresses—Bran, Rasnov, Biertan, Viscri—and plan a multi-day Saxon castle trail with real distances, prices, and spring-season routing tips.
Ostia Antica: Ancient Rome's Best-Kept Walking Secret
Just 30 minutes from Rome, Ostia Antica's empty streets, mosaic baths and ancient apartment blocks show how ordinary Romans actually lived. Here's how to walk it right, and where to go afterward.
Samarkand: Walking Through the Golden Age of the Silk Road
Walk the tiled courtyards of Registan Square, Timur's jade-topped tomb at Gur-e-Amir, and the centuries-deep staircase of Shah-i-Zinda in this practical, history-forward guide to Samarkand.
The 10 Best Colonial History Sites Across Coastal New England
From Old North Church's belfry to Newport's 1763 Touro Synagogue, these ten sites turn Boston, Salem, Plymouth, and Newport into one connected colonial history road trip.
Elephant Island: Where Shackleton's Crew Waited for Rescue
Few Antarctic voyages land at Elephant Island's Point Wild, where 22 of Shackleton's men waited 128 days for rescue. Here's how to plan a spring crossing that gives you a real shot at it.
The Valley Campaign: A Historical Road Trip Through Shenandoah's Civil War Battlefields
Follow the Valley Pike from Winchester to Cedar Creek and New Market on a spring road trip through the battlefields of Jackson's and Sheridan's Shenandoah campaigns.
The Best Things to Do in Siem Reap
Angkor Wat's sunrise still tops the list, but Siem Reap's floating villages, jungle temples, and a genuinely moving circus deserve equal billing in this ranked spring guide.
Beyond the Pyramids: A Historian's Guide to Giza and Saqqara
A historian's route through Saqqara's first pyramid experiments and Giza's later masterworks, with the guides, timing, and lesser-known tombs that make sense of both.
Essential Tips for Traveling to the Maldives
The Maldives looks effortless in photos, but a single-airport, multi-transfer nation punishes bad timing. Here's what to get right before you fly this winter.
The Best Things to Do in Hokkaido
From Niseko's feather-light powder to Sapporo's ice-lit Snow Festival and Abashiri's drift ice, here are Hokkaido's essential winter experiences, ranked with real travel times and prices.
Following Shackleton: A Traveler's Guide to Grytviken and the Endurance Trail
Grytviken is where Shackleton is buried and where South Georgia voyages begin. Here's how to see his grave, the museum, and the Endurance trail, plus which ships actually stop there.
Essential Tips for Traveling to the Middle East
Winter is high season across the Middle East for good reason — mild days, cold desert nights, and a season-specific set of visa, dress, and timing rules first-timers often miss.
The Complete Guide to the Middle East: What to See, Do & Eat
From Petra's candlelit Siq to Dubai's skyline and Wadi Rum's desert camps, this guide maps a winter route through the Middle East with real prices, drive times and a three-day Jordan itinerary.
Bali Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Bali's December-to-March monsoon season trades beach lounging for temple immersion, rice paddy exploration, and authentic cultural engagement at lower prices and fewer crowds.
Kyoto Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Kyoto in winter offers clear skies, fewer crowds, and unobstructed views of 1,600+ temples. Plan your temple route carefully—most close by 17:00, and the best sites demand an early arrival.
Southeast Asia Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Winter transforms Southeast Asia into peak season with cool weather, dry skies, and reliable adventures. Here's what you need to know to go—and when to book.
Threads of the Ashanti Kingdom: A Craft Trail Through Kumasi and Bonwire
A ranked craft trail through Kumasi's royal Manhyia Palace and the weaving, stamping and carving villages of Bonwire, Adanwomase and Ntonso, built for buying and commissioning directly from Ashanti artisans.
My Winter in the Middle East: A Travel Story
A five-day winter route through Jordan and Oman, from Petra's cool-season trails to Wadi Rum's fires and Muscat's lantern-lit souq, with real prices and logistics.
The Best Things to Do in the Middle East
Winter turns the Middle East's harshest deserts pleasant. Here's how Petra, Wadi Rum, Dubai, Jerusalem's Old City, Muscat, AlUla and the Dead Sea stack up this season.
Essential Tips for Traveling in Japan
From IC cards to onsen etiquette, here's what first-time visitors to Japan actually need to know before they land — plus the small missteps that trip up even seasoned travelers.
A Week in The Camino de Santiago
Five days, 115 kilometers, and one Compostela certificate: a first-person week on the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to the cathedral steps in Santiago de Compostela.
The Best Things to Do in Lisbon
From São Jorge Castle's ramparts to a fado singer's first note in a candlelit Alfama tasca, here is Lisbon ranked — with real prices, tram routes, and timing tips.
The Best Things to Do in Kyoto
From the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari to a nail-free wooden stage at Kiyomizu-dera, here's a ranked, practical guide to the best of Kyoto — with fees, hours, and how to beat the crowds.
The Complete Guide to Chiang Mai
From the naga steps of Doi Suthep to Sunday market lanterns and a bowl of khao soi, here's how to plan a Chiang Mai trip that goes beyond the checklist.
The Complete Guide to Hoi An
Lantern-lit streets, tailor shops and cao lau noodles: this complete guide covers Hoi An's Ancient Town, best time to visit, top hotels, food and a 3-day itinerary.
The Complete Guide to Tallinn
Tallinn's medieval Old Town, Baltic seafood, and design-district energy make it one of Northern Europe's most rewarding short breaks. Here's how to plan three days done right.
The Complete Guide to Oaxaca
A complete guide to Oaxaca's colonial center, Zapotec ruins, weaving villages, and mezcal country — with real prices, timing, and a three-day itinerary to plan from.
The Complete Guide to Seville
From Moorish palace courtyards to riverside flamenco bars, Seville packs centuries of Andalusian history into a city you can cross on foot in 25 minutes.
The Complete Guide to Porto
Porto pairs granite hillsides and azulejo-tiled train stations with Port wine cellars carved into a riverbank. Here's how to see it right in three or four days.
The Complete Guide to Tokyo: What to See, Do & Eat
Tokyo's driest, clearest season brings illumination displays, thinner crowds at Senso-ji, and Mount Fuji views from Shibuya Sky. Here's how to plan a winter trip that works.
Best Hiking Trails in New Zealand: A Ranked Guide
From the iconic Milford Track through pristine Fiordland to the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro, discover New Zealand's most spectacular hiking trails ranked by scenic beauty and unforgettable experiences.
Bali on a Budget: How to Spend Two Weeks for Under $1,000
Bali doesn't have to be expensive. Here's how to experience the island's temples, rice terraces, and beaches without breaking the bank.
Bangkok Street Food: 15 Dishes You Must Try
From fiery som tum to silky boat noodles, Bangkok's street food scene is the best in the world. Here are the essential dishes and where to find them.
The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo: Beyond the Neon Lights
Discover the hidden side of Tokyo — from serene temple gardens to underground jazz bars and neighborhood sushi counters that locals swear by.