Yesterday
How Sydney’s landmark Wentworth hotel rates after a $70m refurb
Adding four top-quality bars and restaurants to the mix will ensure the mid-century venue has a steady flow of patrons – guests and locals.
- Philippa Coates
This Month
Why you’ll be eating KFC for Christmas in Japan
A finger-lickin’ good bucket of fried chicken and strawberry shortcake were not what our former foreign correspondent was counting on.
- Michael Smith
- Christmas Gift Guide 2024
- Life & Leisure
The best island holiday no one has heard of: six luxury escapes
From weekend escapes to gold-standard international adventures, travel is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
- Ute Junker
- Opinion
- Highflyer
This business-class flight was so good I almost slept through landing
Cathay Pacific’s new Aria offering is now in the skies, but the traditional pointy-end cabin on the Hong Kong-based carrier still does the job.
- Zoe Samios
November
What’s it like to be stuck in space? Horrible says this astronaut
Astronauts know missions can go awry but still, an extended stay is tough on your body and your relationships. It’s also kind of boring.
- Aaron Gregg
Would you eat bear salami?
Filled with umami, the cured meat is the brainchild of Slovenian small-goods producer David Lesar. It’s just one of many internationally lauded cured products he produces.
- Paul Best
Billionaire Oatley family lures top Sydney chef to Hamilton Island
Saint Peter’s Josh Niland will open a family-style restaurant in the new The Sundays resort which is expected to open next year.
- Ayesha de Kretser
John Kehoe spots a bear (the grizzly kind). Here’s what he learnt
A three-night stay in a wilderness lodge off Canada’s south-west coast is a stunning way to connect – with nature, not the internet.
- John Kehoe and Jennifer Palmer
No walls, no doors – is this the future of luxury travel?
The first property launched under a new brand from Banyan Tree takes its history of boundary pushing further by doing more with way less in the Balinese jungle.
- Ute Junker
AI travel influencers are here. Human travellers hate them
They are very easy to mistake for people, some even have family trees. The ranks of virtual ambassadors are growing in the tourism industry.
- Natalie B. Compton
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 top luxury cruises to sail away on in 2025
There’s plenty to tempt guests away from relaxing on their cabin verandas as cruise companies offer ever-more immersive, exciting and educational itineraries.
- Charis Perkins and Kirstie Clements
You can fly from Europe to America for free. There’s just one catch
Delays are an inevitability that clouds travel in the post-COVID world. But in Europe at least, they can have a silver lining.
- Andrew Hobbs
The rituals of a ryokan prevail in this new international hotel
Banyan Tree makes its Japan debut in Kyoto’s historic temple district, and honours a revered art form.
- Kate Hennessy
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 new and extraordinary international hotels to book in 2025
From New York City to Rome, luxury hospitality is being redefined. These city stays are destinations in themselves.
- Kirstie Clements and Charis Perkins
The hotel boss who starts her day at the gym (away from the buffet)
Renae Trimble, CEO of Accor Plus, leans on her teen sport habit to kickstart her morning (but you won’t catch her at the buffet).
- Lauren Sams
Why Mick Jagger and Yves Saint Laurent loved this Marrakech hotel
This hidden boutique hotel where the rooms are dedicated to cultural icons doubles as an art gallery with a $10m collection.
- Ute Junker
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 delicious culinary adventures in 2025
Take your pick: milk a goat during a shore excursion, select from a plants-only menu, or get served “wind and weather on a plate”.
- Kirstie Clements and Jill Dupleix
Trust Los Angeles to have a crazy entertainment venue like Level 8
Once you navigate the hidden doors, it’s easy to hop from a pool deck to a Japanese restaurant to an oyster-champagne bar to a speakeasy … and more.
- Tony Davis
Can’t stand the tourist hordes? Book a ‘coolcation’
Savvy travellers are visiting holiday hotspots in Europe beyond summer or heading to Canada or Norway for a cooler experience.
- Ute Junker
Why the Amazon is best explored by water
A Seabourn expedition will take you into the heart of the rainforest and up close with pink dolphins and piranhas.
- Tim Johnson
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 getaways to satisfy your adrenalin-rush needs in 2025
Check out these action-packed adventures for thrill-seekers, snow-chasers and space enthusiasts.
- Kirstie Clements and Charis Perkins
You can’t buy it on the phone. You can’t find it on the internet
To get hold of the world’s best mezcal, you need to go to a private bar in Mexico City. It’s like taking a spiritual journey around the country.
- Kate Hennessy
Qantas plans lavish farewell for Richard Goyder
He led the company to an excruciating reputational crisis. But he will exit to well-wishes and speeches delivered in one of Sydney’s most salubrious hotels
- Myriam Robin
- Top 50 Hotlist
- Life & Leisure
10 country and coastal retreats to book in 2025
Get away from it all at these luxury lodgings primed for relaxation, solitude and wellbeing.
- Kirstie Clements and Charis Perkins
