Hotels, hotels, hotels. We know a lot of you out there are accommodation addicts, envying the large part of every planner’s job that involves checking out all the options for a home away from home. We do get to see some amazing places, but the majority of hotels err on the side of anonymous, big-brand […]
There are many reasons to go to New Zealand. But the most compelling one I can think of today is that it’s winter here and it’s summer there. That’s right, while you’re chipping ice from your sidewalk some lucky bloke is leaving his bach and preparing for a beach-side picnic on the bonnet. What I mean to […]
There’s something to be said about being an original. Nearly a decade ago, Singita set the tone and claimed the style and design throne of South African safari lodges with the opening of Singita Lebombo. It remains the yardstick against which any lodge claiming to the best is measured against. Year after year Lebombo continues to […]
Hotels in Asia are synonymous with fantastic service, beautiful gardens, orchids everywhere and delicious food. And most of the time that is exactly what you get. The variety (and quality) of hotels in Indochina is mind-numbing. Some are much better than others, and we are constantly working to ensure that we make the right choices for […]
Kauri Cliffs has long been on the top. This rings true both geographically (it’s near the top of New Zealand’s North Island), as well as reputationally (is that even a word?). A killer location, phenomenal food, a world class golf course, and beautifully understated luxury all roll together to give you a chart-topping Kiwi experience. Combine Kauri Cliffs […]
The bachelor in question here is one George Clooney. Whilst visiting Rye recently I was shown the suite where he stayed at the excellent, and appropriately named lodge, the George in Rye. It’s a gorgeous suite, above a great inner courtyard, and was shown to me by a lovely member of the team who was clearly […]
The magical Lizard Island off the northeast coast of Australia plays host to a national park, a research station, and the stunning Lizard Island Resort (the only hotel on the island). That’s it, that’s all. With only 40 guest rooms, you never feel crowded and have heaps of real estate all to your suntanned self. […]
It’s safe to say that Southern Ocean Lodge is unique. Perched on the edge of a limestone cliff on the rugged southern coastline of Kangaroo Island, you can gaze out the window, cocktail in hand, and confidently be assured that there is nothing between you and Antarctica. But that killer view, with huge breakers crashing […]
It would seem that Vietnam just got a little more comfortable. We were delighted to hear that Aman Resorts have just announced the opening of their newest property, and first in Vietnam, Amanơi. Opened at the beginning of September, it completes a triangle for those wanting to experience Indochina from the comfort of an Aman […]
Escuchame caballeros y caballeras. The fields of Latin America are proving too vast & bountiful for just one farmer to harvest. We are looking for a new trip planner to help make hay in Latin America. Estas chancho numero uno? If so, llamanos pronto! For years now we’ve been bashing about the far corners of the Americas, from […]
Lodge-to-lodge trekking out of the Kasbah du Toubkal gives you access to some of the most beautiful parts of the Atlas, remote rural communities, and sweeping other-worldly landscapes. The well-known Kasbah du Toubkal has been doing up lodges, scattered in the hills and valleys around Imlil, which the lodge uses to put together multi-day treks beginning and […]
After a steady 10 year relationship with Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, I cheated and had a torrid affair with the Maconnais. I have no regrets at all. Normally you’d consider it bad wine-making luck to grow up in the awesome shadow cast by Burgundy’s Côte d’Or; but this is the only reason I can think of […]
‘The Pic du Canigou is my Eiffel Tower’, a winemaker in Roussillon told me; it overlooks the whole scene like the beacon of French Catalunia. The slopes and valleys around this famous Pyrenean peak make up one of my favourite areas in France to explore. And that’s saying something. The best time to pop down […]
You’d have to be a real stick in the mud not to enjoy a weekend in one of Un Lit Au Pré’s safari-style tents, pitched uniquely in selected organic farms around the UK, France and Holland. Known as Feather Down Farms in the UK, this is a company that has the art of roughing it […]
I’ve spent a lot of time in a lot of places where locals don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. And I’ve spent even more time in hotels where bottled water is imported at great environmental cost and sold to guests for a king’s ransom. So when I learned about an organization called Whole World […]
Of all the hotels, lodges, inns, B&B’s, home stays, hostels, villas, ships and couches I’ve experienced over the years, nothing makes me feel more at home than the company of a furry friend. I’m talking about dogs (to quickly clear up any confusion). New Zealand seems to incorporate man’s best friend into the environment better than […]