NORWEGIAN Cruise Lines is taking the next step in Alaskan cruising by unveiling plans for a new ship designed with just that remote corner of the planet in mind. The Norwegian Bliss, a vessel capable of carrying 4000 guests, will be “the first cruise ship custom built to explore America’s icy north with features andContinue reading “Norwegian sets sail for Alaska bliss …”
Author Archives: Sarah N
Slow journey is a fast boat …
THE pastel tropical dawn is fusing with the white glow of street-light fluorescents to illuminate our path along the wharf and we can hear the staccato throb of the motors on the back of the speedboat ferry awaiting our arrival. We’re in Chau Doc, on the Vietnamese side of the Cambodian border, and my WorldContinue reading “Slow journey is a fast boat …”
Asia’s top temples to tempt …
SOUTH-East Asia’s top temples, in settlements from Bangkok to Yangon, are ideal places to find serenity in the region’s bustling cities. Angkor Wat Cambodia’s Angkor Wat isn’t just the world’s biggest temple – the sanctuary occupies a 162ha plot 5km from Siem Reap – but it’s also one of the most famous with more thanContinue reading “Asia’s top temples to tempt …”
the Eureka Stockade …
THESE pieces of worn and faded navy and white fabric come together to make one of Australia’s oldest treasures. This is the flag of the Southern Cross, or what’s left of the material more than 160 years after it was created, with the banner born on the Ballarat diggings during the boom years of theContinue reading “the Eureka Stockade …”
Biggest cruise ship at sea …
HARMONY of the Seas is big. Really big, record-breaking big. The enormous vessel is 362.12m from bow to stern – longer than the Eiffel Tower is high – and officially became the planet’s biggest cruise ship when it joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in May and took the title from older sister Allure of the SeasContinue reading “Biggest cruise ship at sea …”
Seeing Siem Reap without Angkor …
WHILE the Cambodian city is most famous for its temples — such as Angkor Wat — there is so much more to see than ancient ruins. A new generation of locals and expats are establishing boutique hotels, sophisticated bars, serene day spas, dynamic restaurants, bespoke tours, creative studios and stylish shops with so much goingContinue reading “Seeing Siem Reap without Angkor …”
Saigon’s secrets …
SAIGON – yes, that’s right, Saigon, only government officials and neophyte tourists call it Ho Chi Minh City – is Vietnam’s high-octane settlement and a place that manages to be brash and brassy while retaining a traditional simplicity. This metropolis of eight million people is divided into 24 districts, but it’s District 1, between theContinue reading “Saigon’s secrets …”
Make a base in booming Bugis …
SINGAPORE is celebrating the unveiling of another new hotel with the Mercure Singapore Bugis opening its doors in one of the Lion City’s most dynamic neighbourhoods. The 395-room address sits in the heart of the arts and culture district and offers panoramic views from its rooftop Sky Deck and infinity lap pool as well as Continue reading “Make a base in booming Bugis …”
South Pacific story …
THERE’S much to love about Norfolk Island. Cows have right of way on roads, house doors are left unlocked and car keys remain in the ignition, the population measure distance in driving time not kilometres, locals retrace their ancestors’ steps in an annual procession from the port, ships are unloaded using a method dating backContinue reading “South Pacific story …”
Hints on defeating jet lag …
WHEN it comes to travel milestones 1971 was a big year. On January 15 Pan Am christened the first Boeing 747 to join its fleet – and the first Jumbo Jet to go into commercial service – with the inaugural passenger flight coming six days later from New York to London. Suddenly, international travel wasContinue reading “Hints on defeating jet lag …”
Singapore’s updated airport stay …
SINGAPORE’S Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has unveiled a new wing that will increase capacity at the award-winning hotel by 75 per cent. There are two room categories in the 10-storey extension – business king suites at 28sq/m and the 38sq/m business twin suites – with all chambers in the 243-room wing “furnished with thoughtful touchesContinue reading “Singapore’s updated airport stay …”
Australia, after the stars …
SO, you’ve done Australia’s headline acts. Heard Dreamtime stories in the Red Centre, paddled from pontoons above a far north Queensland atoll, soaked in Top End waterfalls, walked in the footsteps of convicts and motored the asphalt winding around a stretch of southern coastline. But don’t rest yet. Some of this Great Southern Land’s mostContinue reading “Australia, after the stars …”
Know non-stop Singapore …
FOR so many years Singapore was simply a place to change planes. Weary travellers transiting through one of the world’s best airports would peer through terminal windows at tropical clouds billowing above the horizon and wonder what there was to see in the city that banned chewing gum. But when flyers started pausing long-haul journeysContinue reading “Know non-stop Singapore …”
Best value city breaks …
TRIPINDEX, TripAdvisor’s annual cost-comparison study, has named Hanoi (below) as the best-value destination in the world for a city break. The study looked at 20 destinations and found the average price for a short break was $1,238, excluding flights, with prices varying significantly from the least to most expensive. The investigation compared the cost ofContinue reading “Best value city breaks …”
How to La La Land …
LOS Angeles is the first port of call for most Aussies jumping the Pacific to North America – flights zoom off to locations around the US, Canada and Central America from LAX – but there are plenty of reasons for travellers to stay put. Beaches, for one. The southern Californian city, America’s second largest byContinue reading “How to La La Land …”
Air NZ’s Hollywood-style safety …
AIR New Zealand is continuing its tradition of making quirky safety videos with Anna Faris and Rhys Darby teaming up to craft a Hollywood themed before-takeoff briefing. The video is called Safety in Hollywood and was filmed at Warner Bros Studios in Los Angeles with Rhys, a New Zealand actor and comedian, attempting to convince theContinue reading “Air NZ’s Hollywood-style safety …”
Cruise proves to be Dutch treat …
DO not fret if you haven’t heard of the Keukenhof. This annual flower garden on Amsterdam’s rural outskirts is a Dutch icon but it opens just eight weeks a year and is hardly as famous as the canals and clogs that top the tourism hit list in The Netherlands. While the Keukenhof may be aContinue reading “Cruise proves to be Dutch treat …”
Russia’s St Petersburg …
THE first time I went to St Petersburg there wasn’t a lot of freedom for exploring. That’s was ten years ago, a little more than a decade after the Iron Curtain fell, and I was on a coach tour with the guide not allowing much time for his passengers to stray from the organised itinerary.Continue reading “Russia’s St Petersburg …”
New tourist visas for Aussies …
TRAVELLERS packing an Australian passport will find it easier to visit Papua New Guinea with a 30-day visa now available free to tourist arriving in the country. It’s the first time this visa option has been available to holidaying Australians with the alteration made by the National Executive Council this week delighting local tourism operators.Continue reading “New tourist visas for Aussies …”
Havana’s newest place to stay …
STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts has ventured into a new country – and made a little bit of history along the way – by opening its first hotel in Cuba. The Four Points Havana opened its doors on June 27 in the Miramar district which is not only the city’s a business and financial centre butContinue reading “Havana’s newest place to stay …”
Peeking at world’s biggest cruise ship …
THE beds are made in 2747 staterooms, tables set in 15 restaurants, drinks chilled in 11 bars, buttons polished in 24 guest elevators, and carpet vacuumed on 18 decks which means the world’s biggest cruise ship is ready for her inaugural season. The Harmony of the Seas, the new Royal Caribbean vessels that now topsContinue reading “Peeking at world’s biggest cruise ship …”
Catch the Kuala Lumpur Express …
MALAYSIA has welcomed its first Holiday Inn Express with the opening of a new 383-room hotel in Kuala Lumpur one block from the city’s “Golden Traingle”. “We are delighted to have launched our Holiday Inn Express brand in the heart of the capital where our guests have access to the city’s major landmarks at theirContinue reading “Catch the Kuala Lumpur Express …”
the Berlin’s Wall …
AFTER spending a single day in Berlin more than 10 years ago I’ve long been keen to return to the German city for a longer stay and have finally achieved this goal. I’m spending a week in what was once East Berlin visiting many of the landmarks I know from my university history studies includingContinue reading “the Berlin’s Wall …”
the River Clyde …
Where … The River Clyde near Glasgow When … Monday, May 23, 2016 at 5.23pm What … I’m on a Holland America cruise ship visiting ports around the north of Scotland and today, after a sunny springtime day in Glasgow, the ship heads west along the River Clyde in preparation for a return to theContinue reading “the River Clyde …”
Hotels bathrooms with a view …
IT’S not unusual for a hotel room to come complete with a remarkable view. But what about the bathroom? Long gone are the days when this most functional space was placed in a dark corner, out of sight and out of mind, with today’s architects and interior designers positioning the bathroom so those occupying theContinue reading “Hotels bathrooms with a view …”
Colourful corner of Dutch blooms …
FOR eight weeks every year a quiet corner of Dutch countryside is transformed into one of the world’s most beautiful gardens. The Keukenhof opens its gates to flower lovers from around the globe in the early days of the northern hemisphere spring – in 2017 the first visitors will walk through the modest entrance onContinue reading “Colourful corner of Dutch blooms …”
Fiji’s newest island retreat …
FIJI’S first DoubleTree resort has opened on Sonaisali Island with the Hilton property boasting 120 guest rooms and bungalows positioned to take in the view across the South Pacific blue to the Mamanuca Islands. “DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island is ready to provide guests with an authentic Fijian experience whilst delivering theContinue reading “Fiji’s newest island retreat …”
Holland’s Hoorn …
THE Dutch city of Hoorn has two claims to fame and both are linked to the settlement’s rich maritime tradition. Two of Hoorn’s favourite sons did things on their voyages around the globe, back during the days when the Dutch were master mariners discovering new lands and trading commodities from the far east and west,Continue reading “Holland’s Hoorn …”
the Ghent Canal …
Where … the Ghent Canal, in the north of Belgium When … Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 9.11pm What … After spending the day moored in Ghent, so passengers could visit that city and nearby Brugge, the Amadeus Silver III drifts north along the Ghent Canal towards Holland’s Westerschelde waterway and the following day’s exploringContinue reading “the Ghent Canal …”
Orchard Road fresh …
IT feels like I’m doing the Singapore culinary scene a huge disservice by raving about an Orchard Road eatery rather than a fancy Michelin-starred restaurant or a zany cafe doing radical Blumenthal-like creations. But The Provedore, perched above the busy Orchard Road footpath in Mandarin Gallery, is one of my favourite places to eat inContinue reading “Orchard Road fresh …”
Far Near Or Here 