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 […]
Why Desaru Coast should be your next luxury golf vacation
Desaru Coast has been described as “a sparkling gem by the South China Sea” and also as “four thousand acres of paradise along the tip of southern Malaysia”. We would have to agree with both of these sentiments, having been lucky enough to visit on a number of occasions in recent years. Being home to […]
Review: Playitas Sports Resort, Las Playitas, Fuerteventura
If your idea of a vacation is lounging by a pool doing absolutely nothing, then Playitas might not be for you. As the most well-equipped sports resort on the Canarian island of Fuerteventura, it caters best for those who like to keep active. Somehow, though, it seems to accommodate a wide spectrum of guests, from […]
Founders Lodge – Where conservation meets safari in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
It’s 6 am, and I’m not at all keen to get out of bed. I drag myself out from under the warm duvet and head to the dining room to grab some coffee and make my way to the waiting game drive vehicle. We head out on our drive, warmly tucked up under blankets and […]
Review: The Pilsley Inn, Pilsley, Peak District, UK
A traditional 18th-century pub with rooms, The Pilsley Inn is part of the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire. It falls under the Chatsworth Escapes brand which includes the previously-reviewed – and newly-crowned AA Hotel of the Year – The Cavendish at Baslow. Formerly known as The Devonshire Inn, The Pilsley Inn takes centre stage in the […]
6 wonderful animal experiences in England
Wildlife parks have been evolving and are very different from the traditional zoo that was simply a place exhibiting exotic animals – not always making the welfare of these animals the prime consideration. Nowadays wild animals are kept in enclosures as close as possible to their natural habitats. Visitor viewing has also improved with animal […]
My favourite European Avios redemptions with British Airways
UK travellers just can’t get enough of Europe — and honestly, who can blame us? I’m the same. With so many incredible cities only a couple of hours away, it feels like the continent was made for spontaneous escapes. One weekend you’re wandering through Renaissance galleries in Florence, the next you’re dancing until sunrise in […]
An introduction to Wichita, Kansas
I landed in Wichita last night after a mammoth 20+ hour journey from my home in the UK. Having never even set foot in the state of Kansas before, I did some research on the city I’m visiting for the next week as part of TBEX Wichita, and here’s what I’ve learned so far… The […]
Machu Picchu in style: Lodges that define the experience
Luxury travel to Machu Picchu isn’t about themed suites, pillow menus, or gilt everything. The luxury is the hush, the quiet. The kind of quiet that feels heavy and so very expensive. It’s the mist that whispers secrets. The low, thrumming energy of the Apus, the mountain gods, holding the place in a permanent, dizzying […]
Top 5 luxury beach hotels in Rio de Janeiro
One of the most famous cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro has for years captivated the hearts of all who visited it. The Marvellous City lives up to its name in every sense of the word. With its beautiful beaches, mountains and bays, a daily life that revolves around the beach and lively bars […]