With a three-hour drive from Johannesburg, Welgevonden’s ‘Big Five’ Tshwene Lodge is an inviting and accessible bush escape. A stay here offers an opportunity to ‘slow down’ and enjoy the rhythm of the wilderness. I spent three days embracing a slower pace in the bush and returned indeed feeling refreshed. The welcome After the surprisingly quick […]
Fiordland – one of the world’s most untamed wildernesses
I just completed one of the most unique cruises through some of New Zealand’s most sensational scenery. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. There are places in this world that render you speechless, not because I have nothing to say, but because the landscape impresses me more than my own words ever could. I […]
Luxury stays in Peru’s Sacred Valley: The quiet side of Machu Picchu’s magic
Most travelers move through Peru confined to the same itinerary and rhythm. Like being stuck on a conveyor belt, they check off Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and done – shuffling unquestioningly along the same well-worn path and snapping the same prescribed photos. It’s efficient, yes, but mind-numbingly predictable and familiar. Smart travelers, however, are the […]
Here’s why long-haul Business Class reward flights are the best value Avios redemption
If you collect Avios, there’s no better way to make them count than by booking a long-haul British Airways Business Class reward flight. With lie-flat seats, premium dining, and access to relaxing airport lounges, you can enjoy the full luxury of premium travel while paying far less than the average cash fare. These redemptions are […]
Re-inventing British elegance: The Icon Series by Holland Cooper
There is something quietly theatrical in the way a well-cut blazer settles across the shoulders: a moment of poised ambition, of subtle authority, of perennial style. With its latest campaign, Holland Cooper invites us into just such a portrayal – one where craftsmanship and character converge. Rooted in heritage fabrics and British tailoring, the Holland […]
Finding the feel good factor in Saigon
We have always enjoyed our Vietnamese luxury travel adventures and being based in the region, this enchanting country remains one of our favourite destinations, especially the bustling capital city of Saigon. The cuisine has always excited us, the wellness offerings are professional and plentiful, whilst the choice of luxury hotels and resorts is wide and […]
Cape Town: This summer’s must-do magic
It seems that the Brits just can’t get enough of Cape Town: UK visitors constitute South Africa’s biggest foreign visitor constituency, with over 300,000 visiting annually. As a relocated Capetonian, I don’t blame them – I take every opportunity I can to return and below I share a few insider favourites. Eat at Terrarium Restaurant […]
Review: Pink Door Franschhoek, Winelands, South Africa
In the heart of Franschhoek, widely recognised as South Africa’s gastronomic capital, Pink Door Franschhoek by the Oyster Collection stands as a lesson in exclusive accommodation. Five friends and I headed to the Winelands to experience everything the home had to offer. The welcome Driving into Franschhoek is always a treat. Leaving the city of Cape Town […]
Review: Riviera Travel’s History and Art of the Rhône River cruise – Days 5 to 8
We’re half-way through Riviera Travel‘s epic Rhône River cruise. A journey from Avignon to Lyon, through vine-clad hills and the ghosts of Roman civilisation. Countless stories of history and art, accompanied by superb cuisine and excellent wines, continue as we join the Saône after Lyon. History is being ticked off; we’ve seen the majesty of […]
Bucket list experiences in East Africa
I have dreamed of visiting Kenya and Tanzania since I was a very small child. Wild places like the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater have been top of my bucket list for more years than I care to remember – and despite working in the luxury safari industry for nearly thirty years, […]
Review: Riviera Travel’s History and Art of the Rhône River cruise – Days 1 to 4
Sailing upstream on the Rhône from Avignon to Lyon, on Riviera Travel‘s MS Thomas Hardy, is one of the world’s epic river cruises. It is an eight day voyage from Avignon that concludes in Lyon. Cruising through time from caveman’s woolly rhino drawings, past crumbling relics of Roman conquests to Second World War destruction, this […]
Review: Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK
Built as a flagship for Leeds railway station in 1937, and enjoying a Grade-II-listed art-deco façade, The Queens has undergone a £16 million transformation that has gently lifted it into the 21st century whilst still retaining its original glamour. It’s a renovation that sees the original art-deco flourishes now sitting alongside modern furniture and local touches […]
New Zealand’s indulgent, secluded and untamed luxury stays
New Zealand’s reputation as a home to truly exceptional luxury experiences is well known, but nowhere does this shine through more than in New Zealand’s one-of-a-kind glamping experiences. Picture lying under the stars in isolated mountain stations, or relaxing in wood-burning hot tubs with Alpine views, these experiences redefine nature connection while still being encased […]
Discover Mendoza, Argentina: Where the glass is always half full
Western Argentina’s Mendoza Province is the stuff of many oeno-tourists’ dreams: the very best in South American wines. Famed for its premium reds and whites, this intoxicating region lies in the shadow of the towering Andes, where breathtaking landscapes set the mad rhythm for outdoor adrenaline adventures and a splendid variety of cultural experiences themselves […]
Why Wichita is the Air Capital of the World
Wichita is often billed as the “Air Capital of the World” and, after spending a aviation-filled day on the ground there, it’s hard to argue. The claim isn’t exaggerated but rather an accumulation of facts — decades of aircraft manufacture, test and restoration; a dense cluster of suppliers and OEMs; and a university research engine […]