A doorman wearing a cowboy hat and an easy smile opened the car door and we wandered through to check in at The Westin Calgary. It felt a little like pulling into a good friend’s home. Having fallen in love with other Westin Hotels around the world we were instantly at ease. We knew that…
Stay
A Sydney Staycation at Q Station Manly
Let’s face it, travelling can be tough. It’s not all piña coladas, deck chairs and pink sunsets. For every magic holiday moment, there is the mandatory holiday mayhem. The forgotten passport, the 17-hour flight delay, the tense words with your travel buddy. Travelling is intense. So imagine my enthusiasm for a holiday at home. A…
Stoneridge Mountain Resort Near Banff, Canada
We dropped our bags and made a beeline for the window on entering our suite at Stoneridge Mountain Resort. The view had pulled both of us to the large picture window at the end of the living area. A mountain range appeared to reach up and touch the clouds. It was incredible. At that moment, I…
Elements of Byron, Byron Bay
There’s a calm that washes over you as you arrive in Byron Bay. The sky appears to open up, the warm, salty air starts playing with your hair and there’s an immediate urge to kick off your shoes and walk around barefoot. Barefoot luxury is exactly what we found during our first stay at Elements of…
Morgan’s Rock: Luxury Getaway for the Conscious Traveller
From the moment you enter the gates of Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua rich tropical forest becomes the backdrop of everything you see. The property stretches over 1,800 hectares of land including the reforestation project, organic gardens, a dairy farm and a beautiful private bay which stretches 1.2 kilometres along Nicaragua‘s Pacific Coast. There is a childlike nature that the…
The Samata Sanur, Bali
The Samata Sanur is an ideal destination to retreat for a complete wellness experience. Nestled within long stretches of rice fields, the resort has managed to escape the background noise of motorbike traffic and busy streets, which tend to fill the more touristy areas of Bali. Although the Samata Bali is located slightly inland from…
Impiana Private Villas, Phuket
After almost a year of full-time travel, a stay at Impiana Private Villas was exactly what both my body and mind had been craving. Perched on the point overlooking Kata Noi Bay, the exclusive boutique resort promises luxury, privacy, peace and quiet in your own piece of paradise in Phuket. Skye Gilkeson Boutique Luxury in Kata Noi With just…
Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort
I can still feel the gentle rocking of our boat as it inched across the turquoise shallows leading to Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort. Stepping on the wet sand, we were met by staff with smiles wide and welcoming. We sauntered up to sit in the reception area for check in with chilled pineapple…
The NAKA Phuket
Seeing The NAKA Phuket for the first time takes your breath away. A collection of cantilevered villas hang from the mountainside. Each has a wrap-around glass front facade framing the 180-degree panorama at every angle. From the reception area on the hilltop, the valley floor begins to fall away, creating a sweeping slope from the…
The Nai Harn, Phuket
A gentle breeze washes over me. It’s a welcome reprieve from the heat of the midday sun. I sit reclined, peeking across a flower bed overflowing with fuschia bougainvillea, to the bay below. The colourful plants, yachts rocking in the crystalline water and the striking white building behind me spark memories of Greece. But I’m a long haul from the Aegean. Instead, it’s…
Ayara Kamala Boutique Resort on Millionaire’s Mile, Phuket
Ayara Kamala is nestled into the hillside of Phuket’s famous Millionaire’s Mile. The exclusive, boutique resort and spa became our luxury hideaway for a few days on the island’s picturesque west coast. From the moment we arrived at Ayara Kamala, we felt at home. The staff were friendly, the rooms and suites beautifully appointed and the view…
Thanyapura Sports Hotel, Phuket
If you were to dream up the ultimate sporting playground and transport it to an idyllic setting among the palms and rubber trees of Thailand, Thanyapura sports hotel Phuket should come pretty close to your vision. Thanyapura sports hotel Phuket is a 23-hectare athlete’s playground, catering to world-class competitors, weekend warriors, school children and everyone in between and it is…