Food, fresh produce and wine is integral to French culture. This way of life is also celebrated on board the Renaissance, a luxury barge cruise in the Loire Valley giving guests a front row seat to the Upper Loire and Burgundy regions of France. With menus that support local regional fare, showcasing Loire Valley cuisine and a…
Barge Holidays in France: A Luxury Loire Valley Cruise on The Renaissance
France is a country crisscrossed by a labyrinth of rivers and canals. Centuries ago, they were the backbone of the nation’s economy as they undertook their important role in the transportation network. Today, they are the lynchpin of something far more enviable; the world of luxury travel, offering visitors a unique way to explore France….
A First Timers Guide to the New York Marathon
Everyone’s journey to completing their first marathon is unique. However, the feeling of crossing that finish line after the dedication and commitment to hours of long, lonely runs and hundreds of kilometres on the clock is universally epic. While some of the training can be tedious, having crossed the iconic New York Marathon finish line…
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort: A Luxury Resort-Style Oasis on the River
Like night and day, the Anantara hotel Chiang Mai and the Anantara Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai have personalities all their own. It felt like I had left the lush, green jungle and stepped into the pages on a glossy magazine; into a beautifully polished postcard of a city, at Anantara Chiang Mai. Pat Bailey Luxury…
X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort: A Luxury Boutique Hotel
Impeccably modern and perfectly situated in the heart of Chiang Mai along the Mae Ping River is the X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort. This five-star, luxury Chiang Mai hotel offers the perfect quiet oasis while exploring Northern Thailand. The Lanna red brick facade sets the stage for the simple elegance within, and this red brick is the…
A Guide to Chiang Rai: Exploring The Golden Triangle
Chiang Rai is a quiet poem in the middle of the book. The oldest city of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, it holds many beautiful secrets for you to discover. Not far from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, and a sister to Chiang Mai, this beautiful Northern region of Thailand is filled to the brim with diverse…
The Ultimate Local’s Guide to San Francisco
There are a million reasons why you might want to put San Francisco on your list for a visit, with around the same number of city guides for this place that I have called home for more than a decade and where I return to when I’m not travelling. This San Francisco city guide is a…
3 of the Best Road Trips in Australia
Whether you are first time visitor to Australia or someone who grew up in our beautiful country, you are guaranteed to find a road trip route that will woo you. A country of extreme contrasts, Australia promises landscapes from the picture-perfect sets of Queensland’s beaches to the quiet rugged rusty-red roads of the Top-End. These…
Qantas Dreamliner Business Class Review: Melbourne to Los Angeles
There’s an almost palpable feeling of anxiety carried by parents when you step on to a plane with a baby. It’s actually something that starts to simmer as soon as you book your ticket. This feeling was particularly strong when boarding our recent Qantas Dreamliner Business Class flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles; our first…
3 of the Best Wineries in Margaret River
There’s a reason that the Margaret River, the South West peninsula in Western Australia, is world-renowned for its spoils of the grape variety. Whilst the region produces only small batches, its relative isolation, the meeting of two oceans and meticulous winemaking processes result in luxurious, heady wines that stay true to that old adage –…
A Weekend Getaway in Arizona: Exploring Mesa and Phoenix
When it’s cold and foggy in San Francisco, I dream of being in the desert sunshine. The desert sunshine for me waits in Arizona. From the magic and mystic of Sedona, to the wide open spaces of Phoenix, and every bit in-between. So, I spent a long weekend visiting Mesa and Phoenix and discovered how incredible Spring is…
The Ultimate Travel Guide to Tulum, Mexico
It takes exactly one hour and about forty-six minutes to fall in love with Tulum, Mexico. That’s how long your drive from the Cancun airport will be, plus the two minutes it takes to land in Tulum and look around. Mix the perfect amount of Mayan energy, with the exotic exploration of cenotes and pristine beaches…