Luxury holidays
A brutal landscape blessed with the most pristine places to get wet
Full of red rock and clear water, this brutal, arid landscape is replete with an oversupply of that simplest human luxury – natural swimming pools.
- by James Woodford
Tay Tay touches down: Where the star is (probably) staying in Sydney
Crown’s lavish (and secure) Presidential Suite is the most likely choice, but the superstar might be opting for a private mansion or even renting a decoy property.
- by Katherine Scott
Private jets, penthouse suites: How a superstar travels (Taylor’s version)
Take a look at how Taylor Swift arrived in Australia and the luxurious digs she’ll enjoy while staying here.
- by Katherine Scott
★★★★½
Laos
A charming and luxe stay in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage town
Empathetically blending modern design touches into its colonial surrounds, Avani+ Luang Prabang is the ideal base from which to explore one of South-East Asia’s most charming cities.
- by Mark Daffy
Historic former bank exudes homey opulence as luxury hotel
Banks once advertised their wealth by way of grandiose architecture and opulent interiors. And boy, does this Edinburgh property make for a jaw-dropping canvas.
- by Penny Watson
Kangaroo Island’s other luxury retreat has been transformed
A revamped lodge is making waves on Kangaroo Island by giving the fire-weary land and its inhabitants a helping hand.
- by David Whitley
What I learnt when I trained to become a private jet attendant
Inside the academy where the world’s finest cabin crew hone the skill of “five-star hospitality” in the skies.
- by Hazel Plush
I came here expecting mountains and luxury. But found something better
A new level of luxury has arrived in the wilds of Nepal, but it’s the unmatched cultural immersion that is the real game changer.
- by Carolyn Beasley
Six of the best adults-only resorts in Bali
Hear that? It’s the sound of sweet, unadulterated silence... Bali is especially good value for families-at-full-decibel, but it offers exclusivity for adults, too.
- by Jenny Hewett
Collection
Hotel reviews
The best-reviewed hotels of 2023
From new, impressive conversions in Sydney and Melbourne through to a bubble in the Thai jungle and luxury in Rome, here are our top-rated hotels of the year.