NOVEMBER has been a big month for the airlines with a second carrier unveiling an innovative cabin upgrade. First Singapore Airlines previewed the four cabin categories that will be introduced next month when the brand starts upgrading its A380 fleet, and now Emirates has wowed the aviation community with a new-look interior for its 777s.Continue reading “Emirates 777 cabin update …”
Author Archives: Sarah N
Crowne Plaza to open big in Fiji …
WHEN the Crowne Plaza Fiji Wailoaloa Beach opens its doors in 2020 it will be the South Pacific holiday haven’s biggest hotel. The new-build address, which will boast ocean views and direct beach access, will feature 453 guest rooms and two swimming pools as well as a selection of places to drink and dine. “AsContinue reading “Crowne Plaza to open big in Fiji …”
Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …
SOMETIMES moments of great symmetry happen during travels. Like reading a great work of literature set in the bygone French Indochina while floating along the waterway that features in the story. From my armchair on the deck of a colonial-style riverboat, floating along Vietnam’s Mekong River somewhere between the Cambodian border and South China Sea,Continue reading “Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …”
The say on stays …
EACH September in the 1980s my family made an annual pilgrimage north from Victoria to spend our school holidays in the Queensland sunshine. Every afternoon on the three or four-day drive my parents would predict the night’s stopping spot, flick through the RACV accommodation guide to find a place to stay according to the numberContinue reading “The say on stays …”
Singapore’s A380 cabin upgrade …
SINGAPORE Airlines has set a new standard in sky-high comfort by unveiling the next generation of “cabin products”. The airline, known as an innovator when it comes to aircraft interiors, has invested four years in designing the new passenger spaces that will feature across all four cabin categories in the A380 after a fleet refurbishmentContinue reading “Singapore’s A380 cabin upgrade …”
Cruising the Australia coast …
AUSSIES are infatuated with cruising our coastline and it doesn’t look like the affair will end soon. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports Australia will welcome “an unprecedented number’’ of passenger liners this cruise season — about 60 — and they’ll make more than 1000 port visits before the end of April. CLIA Australasia’sContinue reading “Cruising the Australia coast …”
Anantara Angkor’s super suites …
A FRENCH explorer and renowned silk merchant have inspired two grand new guest villas at Siem Reap’s Anantara Angkor Resort. The jewel in the hotel’s crown is the sprawling Henri Mouhot Suite — the serene space celebrates the intrepid naturalist and adventurer credited with uncovering the lost Angkor ruins back in the 1860 — andContinue reading “Anantara Angkor’s super suites …”
Away from home sleep secrets…
NATALIA Cooper knows better than most the importance of getting a good night’s sleep while travelling. For most of us a sleepless night in a hotel room results in a late breakfast, or an afternoon snooze below a beachside palm tree, but for the Today team member it means presenting the weather while rubbing theContinue reading “Away from home sleep secrets…”
Tourism booming in 2017 …
THE United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released its numbers for the first half of 2017 with the statistics signalling another year of strong growth. During the first six months of this year international tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 6 per cent, compared to the same stretch in 2016, with 598 million travellers temporarilyContinue reading “Tourism booming in 2017 …”
Sydney’s swanky new Sofitel …
THERE’S a new star on the Sydney hotel scene after the official October 4 opening of the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. The address, which boasts 590 guest rooms including 35 spacious suites, is the first new-build hotel wearing an iconic luxury brand to open in the capital’s CBD in more than 15 years and isContinue reading “Sydney’s swanky new Sofitel …”
INSIDER – PARIS
RENTING AN APARTMENT IN PARIS THE first time I went to Paris I stayed in a hotel and it was a lovely place, quaint and comfortable, on the corner of Rue Vaneau and Rue De Sevres a kilometre past the Musee d’Orsay. There was a metro stop down the street, a mini-mart across the road, aContinue reading “INSIDER – PARIS”
SQ183 sunset …
Where … Flying on a Singapore Airlines’ 777 from Saigon to Singapore When … Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 9.09pm What … A delayed departure from Saigon, and a command from Singapore air traffic control to slow down by doing lazy circles in the sky while flying south along the Malay Peninsula, put my planeContinue reading “SQ183 sunset …”
HOTEL – MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO
Situated on the lush Kooddoo Island within the southern Gaafu Alifu Atoll, we are only 50 minutes domestic flight from Male International Airport, with no other speedboat journey. Which means direct access from the domestic terminal to your villa. Mercure Maldives Kooddoo website MALDIVES NEW MERCURE THERE’S now another option for mid-scale accommodation in theContinue reading “HOTEL – MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO”
Stepping into Japanese tradition …
IT’S easy to see why the residents of Ogimachi were able to live their traditional lifestyle for so long. The Japanese village, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage register since 1995, sits on a plot of flat river-side land at the foot of steep hills and towering peaks and this geological barrier makesContinue reading “Stepping into Japanese tradition …”
Sydney’s Sheraton receives refit …
SYDNEY’S Sheraton on the Park will undergo a comprehensive renovation with the city hotel’s club lounge and 558 guest rooms receiving an elegant refresh. The $40 million refurbishment will wrap by early 2018 and is planned to combine “modern design with the classical elegance” expected of a brand that caters comfortably to both business andContinue reading “Sydney’s Sheraton receives refit …”
A rare view in rainy Venice …
THERE’S one thing nicer than Venice on a blue-sky day, and that’s Venice when the mist is hanging low and there’s a chill in the air. On those days the tourists stay away, so the alleys are less crowded, and the locals can take their time getting around rather than having to rush between theContinue reading “A rare view in rainy Venice …”
New York’s best boutique hotels …
WHEN it comes to New York accommodation there’s something to satisfy every travel whim – from budget boltholes to international icons – but it’s the new breed of boutique beauties that most excite savvy travellers. Escape the Big Apple tourist trail and book a hotel in one of the city’s five lively boroughs, where you’llContinue reading “New York’s best boutique hotels …”
Secrets to selecting a suitcase …
GO away for any longer than a few days and you’ll need one companion who causes you the least possible bother: a suitcase. But with so many variations in shape, size, weight, material, colour, wheels and locks, where do you start buying something that not only comfortably carries your clothes but withstands the punishment inflictedContinue reading “Secrets to selecting a suitcase …”
Curio Collection comes to Rome …
ANY traveller that’s visited Rome knows finding somewhere to sleep can be a challenge. The Eternal City is not blessed with a plethora of accommodation options and those that prefer booking big-name brands, finding comfort in knowing exactly what to expect when it comes to service and style by the logo hanging above the entrance,Continue reading “Curio Collection comes to Rome …”
INSIDER – HOTELS
MAKE A SLEEP-FRIENDLY SUITE HAVE you ever wondered how much thought goes into the design of a hotel room? FIRST up there are basic things like the size and shape of the space, which are the domain of the architect drawing up the plans, before the interior designer considers important issues like the selection and placementContinue reading “INSIDER – HOTELS”
… Singapore’s Chinatown market …
SINGAPORE is a place that’s making a mad dash towards the future with the Lion City leading the way when it comes to everything from innovative social housing developments to something as simple as finding better ways to check luggage for an international flight. But in a settlement that’s shiny and new there are stillContinue reading “… Singapore’s Chinatown market …”
the Mekong River …
WHERE … The Mekong River in central Cambodia WHEN … Monday, August 7, at 5.06pm WHAT … It’s the second full day of my cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon on board the RV Mekong Pandaw and we’re sailing downstream somewhere between Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh. It’s about an hour before dusk settles onContinue reading “the Mekong River …”
Getting sick far from home …
THE first time I went to Europe solo I came down with a cold in Prague that morphed into bronchitis by the time I reached Munich and caused my eardrum to rupture. I didn’t have anything more potent than Panadol on me and when the first symptoms appeared in the Czech capital, it took agesContinue reading “Getting sick far from home …”
Singapore’s southern sky …
Where … A suite on the 19th floor at One Ferrar Resort & Spa When … Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 9.23am What … Another day begins in Singapore with the floor-to-ceiling windows in my suite on the 19th floor at One Ferrar Resort & Spa framing a view that stretches across the island’s southernContinue reading “Singapore’s southern sky …”
VISIT – BALI
BALI BEST IN AUGUST TRIPADVISOR has news for those Aussies desperate to escape the mid-winter gloom by spending some time in Asia’s tropical warm. Bali’s average nightly room rates are set to plummet by more than $50 per night in August at places to stay right around the Indonesian holiday island. TripAdvisor has been searchingContinue reading “VISIT – BALI”
Tips from top photographers …
SEVEN Australian photographers who specialise is landscapes and wildlife tell us about their favourite destinations for photography. David Evans David Evans is a photographer and travel writer hosting photo tours inside Scandinavia’s Arctic Circle. Abisko is a premier location for viewing the northern lights because it’s nestled between a mountain range and Lake Tornetrask, withContinue reading “Tips from top photographers …”
Accommodation for Adelaide Airport …
FLYERS travelling through the South Australian capital will soon have somewhere to stay close to their aircraft with building now underway on the new Atura Hotel at Adelaide Airport. The 165-room hotel, which will cost $50 million to complete and is expected to welcome its first guests at the end of 2018, will be connectedContinue reading “Accommodation for Adelaide Airport …”
Cool and quirky QT Canberra …
FOR so many years there was nowhere interesting to stay in Australia’s national capital. Sure, there has always been loads of hotels dotted around the districts radiating from Lake Burley Griffin, but they were sterile address offering the bland experience travellers expect from same-same chains promising a reliable style regardless of location. But that’s allContinue reading “Cool and quirky QT Canberra …”
AVANI coming to Queensland …
AVANI’S first Australian hotel is set to open its doors on Queensland’s Gold Coast in early 2018 with the new AVANI Broadbeach Residences now taking shape. The $150 million development boasts 219 guest suites including one and two-bedrooms apartments that each feature a lounge, dining room, and kitchen as well as modern appliances and neutralContinue reading “AVANI coming to Queensland …”
Singapore’s Shang receives refresh …
SINGAPORE’S Shangri-La hotel is an enclave of elegant excess at the top end of Orchard Road that regularly welcomes everyone from kings and queens to diplomats and politicians as well as discerning tourists in town to indulge in a spot of sightseeing. The hotel’s Tower Wing – built in 1971, it’s an original part ofContinue reading “Singapore’s Shang receives refresh …”
Far Near Or Here 