Written by

Paul Chai

Paul Chai has been a travel writer for over two decades. He has dived with great white sharks in South Australia, walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and stuffed himself with enough food and wine working on the Good Food Guide to make his GP shake his head. Chai is currently managing editor of Dream by Luxury Escapes.

AsiaAustraliaIndonesiaMiddle EastNews

Arrival Hall: Travel News You Need to Know

Travel news from the past month, including a new chef at Bamurru Plains and more thrilling ways to see the Victorian High Country. Explore trending travel news from the last month and get ready to bookmark for your upcoming holiday plans. Tree change: Norfolk Island makes its debut in Australia’s Best Beaches list Norfolk Island, […]

Cruise

5 Reasons To Maximise Your Time Onboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Leave the crowds behind for days of leisure onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, where family fun is never far away. Paul Chai lets the landlubbers head ashore while he and his son get the Spectrum of the Seas (almost) all to themselves. Skipping a popular port excursion can mean more time and less crowds, so […]

AustraliaExplore

Grab Your Fork: 11 Aussie Food & Drink Festivals to Dine For

Noodles made with fresh abalone, pizzas piled high with truffles and tropical delights from the far north, Australian food festivals highlight the best and brightest of our regional cuisines. Cooking shows the world over love to tell us how food brings people together, but that is particularly true of a good food festival. Lovers of […]

AustraliaNew South Wales

Harbour Master: 5 Reasons to Love The Star Grand Hotel in Sydney

With a prime position on Sydney Harbour and a wealth of restaurants, bars and entertainment just a short walk away, The Star Grand Hotel in Sydney is a shining example of a great city getaway. From the moment you enter the glitzy lobby of The Star Grand Hotel in Sydney you feel like a VIP […]

AustraliaNew South WalesExplore

Beat the Heat: The Coolest Place to Be in Sydney This Summer

You might be thinking about a frozen cocktail at Bondi Icebergs, an ice cream on Manly Beach or taking the plunge into the ocean at Balmoral, but Sydney’s coolest spot this summer is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia). Summer in Sydney can have a very Speedo-driven focus for many, with the city’s […]

AustraliaNew South Wales

Driving Force: Family Fun on a Multi-Generational Road Trip

Hitting the road with the extended family can sometimes mean a few bumps in the road, but hiring the right car from car-sharing marketplace Turo can be a great way to ensure a smooth ride. There are few places in Sydney where you can dine as close to Sydney Harbour as Doyles in Watsons Bay, […]

AustraliaQueensland

Stellar Stay: Why The Star Grand is Brisbane’s Most Exciting New Hotel

Just like its name suggests The Star Grand Brisbane has very lofty ambitions to be the most talked about hotel in Brisbane, as part of the city’s new $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct. Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct is the city’s shiniest new playground with restaurants, bars and event spaces set on, and high above, […]

Explore

6 Reasons to Book Crystal in 2025

Be spoiled by a personal butler, dine out at an award-winning Nobu restaurant and take advantage of a free suite upgrade; a Crystal cruise is simply exceptional. Cruising is all about indulgence; the joy of simply unpacking once in your comfortable suite, being a few minutes’ walk to internationally recognised fine dining and having impeccable […]

AustraliaVictoria

How to Have a Retro-Packed Weekend on the Mornington Peninsula

Australia’s retro-motel makeover trend is in full swing and now Mornington Peninsula has a drive-up-to-your-door stay that has been thoroughly modernised and provided with social common areas both inside and out for guests to mingle. Pulling into the fairy-light-strung courtyard at The Keith Motel on the Mornington Peninsula, you’re likely to see a family having […]

AustraliaVictoria

How to Have a Perfect Weekend Away in Hepburn Springs

This historic spa town offers a getaway packed with indulgence as guests float in thermal pools, visit the onsite spa and retreat to a stay every bit as relaxing as the mineral springs themselves. Despite all its mod cons, there is something about the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa that makes you think you could see […]

Malaysia

Return to Splendour: Discover the Flavours of Malaysia at EQ Kuala Lumpur

Updating a classic can be a dangerous move, but EQ Kuala Lumpur has risen from the rubble of its popular predecessor, The Equatorial, and is modernising the city’s much-loved cuisine, too. Paul Chai finds that rare beast: a sequel better than the original. I am holding in my hand a piece of the best bread […]

AsiaMaldives

Why SO/ Maldives is the Ultimate Stylish Island Stay

Striking the perfect balance between ultimate privacy and unforgettable adventure, SO/ Maldives blends luxury, style and social vibes in a new and vibrant way. The hermit crab may well be the spirit animal of the Maldives. The over-the-top, over-the-water resorts that adorn these idyllic atolls, with their waterslides, rope hammocks and rock-star interiors, are designed […]