Our spacious, light-filled guestrooms and suites with striking views are designed to create a peaceful place for you to unwind. Element Melbourne Richmond website MELBOURNE IN ITS ELEMENT SUBURBAN Melbourne is home to Australia’s first Element by Westin with Element Melbourne Richmond opening its doors this month. The brand, which belongs to the Marriott InternationalContinue reading “HOTEL – ELEMENT MELBOURNE”
Category Archives: Essentials
HOTEL – BRISBANE MARRIOTT
It’s like Australia’s River City has a new place to stay, with a $20 million renovation modernising the Brisbane Marriott Hotel BRISBANE MARRIOTT MAKEOVER A $20 million spend has “reimagined” Brisbane Marriott Hotel with the just-completed renovation transforming all 267 guest rooms and suites as well as the executive-level lounge and the property’s signature restaurant.Continue reading “HOTEL – BRISBANE MARRIOTT”
CRUISE – NORWEGIAN JOY
A $70 million renovation transforms Norwegian Joy before she embarks on new adventures and new itineraries carrying passengers from Seattle to the scenic sightseeing spots around Alaska NORWEGIAN’S NEW JOY IT’S not rare for a cruise ship, particularly a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, to receive a $70 million renovation, boats that have been bobbing onContinue reading “CRUISE – NORWEGIAN JOY”
HOTEL – THE MARK
A favourite New York hotel has a quirky new mealtime option with The Mark now offering on-the-go guests the chance to pick up a packed lunch. THE Mark, the Big Apple property described as “New York’s most boldly lavish hotel”, has a new lunch offering for guests with Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten now packing aContinue reading “HOTEL – THE MARK”
HOTEL – DOUBLETREE PERTH
Northbridge has emerged to be the entertainment and cultural hub of Perth, and Doubletree by Hilton Perth Northbridge is located at the heart of it all. Hilton Australasia’s oeprations boss Heidi Kunkel NEW HOTEL FOR NORTHBRIDGE THE West Australian hotel boom continues with the Double Tree by Hilton Perth Northbridge now welcoming guests seeking a placeContinue reading “HOTEL – DOUBLETREE PERTH”
GALLERY – CHASE RANGE
FLINDERS RANGES FLYING WHERE … The Chase Range, in the north of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges WHEN … Thursday, July 3, 2018, at 3.40pm WHAT … The Chase Range appears under the wing as my Air Adventure tour of the Flinders Ranges draws to a close with a quick two-hour flight back to Melbourne. SouthContinue reading “GALLERY – CHASE RANGE”
CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER
Customer demand prompts Pandaw to introduce a new three-night voyage sailing the mighty Mekong river between Saigon and Phnom Penh … PANDAW’S MEKONG ADVENTURE THERE’S now a new option for travellers looking to move between Saigon and Phnom Penh with Pandaw introducing a three-day voyage linking the two South-East Asian cities. The new itinerary willContinue reading “CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER”
GALLERY – BERLIN’S AMPLEMANN
MEET BERLIN’S AMPELMANN WHERE … Ampelmann Berlin at Unter den Linden 35 WHEN … Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 11.47pm WHAT … … meet ampelmann. This jaunty fellow was the character on East German traffic lights telling pedestrians when they could cross – or stop on the red – and has become so popular he now hasContinue reading “GALLERY – BERLIN’S AMPLEMANN”
INSIDER – TOP TRAINS
Rail Plus announces its top five train journeys for 2019 RIDE THE RAILS ON TOP TRAINS THE team at Rail Plus has come up with a list of the top train trips for travellers to do in 2019 and while there are a couple of old favourites on the list there’s also a fab newContinue reading “INSIDER – TOP TRAINS”
STAY – MOXY DC
Stay playful at The Moxy Washington, DC Downtown. Check out downtown DC bucket list attractions near our hotel like the White House, the Washington Monument or the countless exhibits at the Smithsonian. Moxy DC website DC FINDS ITS MOXY CONSERVATIVE Washington DC just got a big dose of cool with the opening of the brand-spankingContinue reading “STAY – MOXY DC”
CRUISE – SEVEN SEAS MARINER
Regent Seven Seas Mariner is in Aussie waters for the 2018/19 cruise season following a recent bow-to-stern refresh SEVEN SEAS REVAMP REGENT Seven Seas Mariner is making her first visit to our part of the world since getting a freshen up earlier this year. The ship received a bow-to-stern revamp during a 20-day break inContinue reading “CRUISE – SEVEN SEAS MARINER”
CRUISE – FIJI FOR SOLOS
Two’s A Crowd has made plans for those travelling sans a partner to see Fiji in 2019 FIJI CRUISE FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS ATTENTION solo travellers, Two’s A Crowd has just announced arrangements that will have you seeing Fiji in style. The Melbourne-based agency has reserved an entire ship to host a solo-only cruise around theContinue reading “CRUISE – FIJI FOR SOLOS”
VISIT – SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI PORT REPORT SHANGHAI has been welcoming maritime visitors since it was just a hamlet in the Yangtze River Delta. In the decades after the city became a treaty port in 1842, foreigners flooded The Bund to colonise this commercially attractive corner of China. When the current regimen ascended in 1949, international trade was clipped,Continue reading “VISIT – SHANGHAI”
Brissy’s hotel boom …
QUEENSLAND’S River City is booming with more hot new accommodation offerings than you can count on all fingers. From glamping tents and riverside wharf residences, to moody five-star digs and a 1920s-era bank turned 220-room hotel, each new gem is embellishing the Brisbane skyline with their own quirk and character. Here are the latest BrisbaneContinue reading “Brissy’s hotel boom …”
HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT
NEW RESORT FOR SIEM REAP SIEM Reap and serene places to stay go together like Angkor Wat and Apsaras, and now there’s another peaceful property to add to the list. Treeline Urban Resort, which sits on the bank of the modest river that runs through the heart of the Cambodian tourist settlement, officially opened onContinue reading “HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT”
Island time for InterCon …
PHU Quoc is emerging as Vietnam’s next holiday hotspot with the island’s newest place to stay, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, welcoming its first guests on June 28. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Phu Quoc’s international airport, and only 20 minutes from the “cultural attractions” of Duong Dong town, and guests enjoyContinue reading “Island time for InterCon …”
Finding flight deals hints …
THE logistics involved in planning a trip may seem tedious but there are plenty of online travel tools to help search, compare and book the best flights, hotels and holiday package deals without having to do a lot of legwork. The team at Webjet — Australia’s largest online travel agent — has provided an insider’sContinue reading “Finding flight deals hints …”
New look for Caravelle …
→ The Caravelle Saigon is already one of Vietnam’s great historic hotels with a room renovation set to start a new chapter … TODAY marks the start of a new chapter for the Caravelle Saigon with the historic hotel launching a renovation program that will see guest rooms receive an elegant upgrade. “For those ofContinue reading “New look for Caravelle …”
Milford Sound cruising …
→ Experience luxury cruise operator Fiordland Discovery’s new Milford Sound overnight winter cruise … FIORDLAND Discovery’s new Milford Sound overnight cruise is offering travellers a reason to get out on the water this winter. The boutique cruise operator – which offers unrivalled access to Milford Sound and Fiordland on the vessel Fiordland Jewel – launchedContinue reading “Milford Sound cruising …”
INSIDER – FLYING
SECRETS TO KIDS FLYING SOLO CHILDREN have been flying solo long before a cheeky 12-year-old boy pinched his passport and used his mother’s credit card to secure a seat on a flight to Bali. Boarding an aircraft alone is part of the school-holiday routine for youngsters with a parent or grandparent living in another state, butContinue reading “INSIDER – FLYING”
STAY – TOKYO’S QUIRKIEST HOTELS
CAPITAL OF QUIRK JAPAN is one destination guaranteed to hand travellers a healthy dose of culture shock with many of the capital city’s hotels charismatically categorised as quirky. So if you fancy being welcomed by a robot, sleeping in an airplane’s first-class suite but never leaving the ground, having a dinosaur check you in andContinue reading “STAY – TOKYO’S QUIRKIEST HOTELS”
Hotel Vic on HK harbour …
An elegant new hotel in Hong Kong is making the most of its location by the harbour in trendy North Point HONG Kong Island’s fashionable North Point district is home to the new Hotel VIC with the 671-room property opening for business on July 16. The twin-tower complex boasts views of the harbour and cityContinue reading “Hotel Vic on HK harbour …”
Novotel Citygate Hong Kong …
Where … Novotel Citygate Hong Kong When … Tuesday, May 1, 2018 What … There’s a choice of hotels near Hong Kong International Airport for travellers looking to pause between planes, but my favourite is the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong which is a five-minute ride on the complimentary shuttle from the arrivals area. TheContinue reading “Novotel Citygate Hong Kong …”
China’s Yangtze River …
Where … China’s Yangtze River When … The afternoon of Monday, April 23, 2018. What … I’m enjoying a four-night cruise along China’s famous Yangtze River from Yichang to Chongqing with Wendy Wu Tours and today, the second full day of the voyage, sees my ship the Victoria Katarina navigating two of the waterway’s three […]
Top Zhangjiajie stay …
→ Pullman Zhangjiajie the place to stay in China’s popular wilderness area … Where … Pullman Zhangjiajie When … April 2018 What … There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of a spot in central China called Zhangjiajie. But if you’re a movie lover, and I told you this is the place that served asContinue reading “Top Zhangjiajie stay …”
Portland adds Porter …
→ The heart of Portland is home to The Porter, and the address wears the Curio Collection by Hilton name … DOWNTOWN Portland is the place to find Oregon’s newest place to stay with The Porter the 50th address to open under the innovative Curio Collection by Hilton brand which celebrates “one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts”. “Inspired byContinue reading “Portland adds Porter …”
Alice Springs refresh …
CROWNE Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters has completed a refurbishment of its 139 guest rooms to modernise the accommodations and celebrate the best of the outback Australian landscape Each suite has been updated with tiles, carpet, furniture, cabinetry, fittings and artwork while bathrooms have been revamped and now feature modern décor, a spacious walk-in shower, andContinue reading “Alice Springs refresh …”
Byron Bay YHA update …
THE Byron Bay YHA on Australia’s east coast has just reopened with a new focus on design, works by renowned local artists, and an extension that doubles capacity at this luxe flash-packer address. The new reception area features an artwork by local artist Robert Moore – his paintings are used by Aussie clothing brand MamboContinue reading “Byron Bay YHA update …”
QF unveils Perth lounge …
QANTAS has unveiled the new Perth transit lounge a day before the first direct flight to London departs the West Australian capital. The airline is working to improving the health and comfort of those completing the 18-hour flight between Australia and England with customers entitled to access the lounge set to benefit from stretching classes,Continue reading “QF unveils Perth lounge …”
Inle for Myanmar Sofitel …
MYANMAR’S beautiful Inle Lake, the famous water feature in the heart of Shan State, is home to the new Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min. The 101-room property, which welcomed its first guests on March 5, features 101 rooms including a selection of studios and suites with some of the waterside chambers looking across the lakeContinue reading “Inle for Myanmar Sofitel …”
Far Near Or Here 