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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.

NewsVictoria

Arrival Hall: All the Travel News You Need for September

The month’s travel news including an exciting new Melbourne cocktail pop-up, the extended World’s 50 Best Hotel’s list and a Japanese whisky bar takeover. High Society: Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne launches Society Sessions Rendezvous’ Grand Vestibule, a perfect example of Melbourne’s historic Edwardian Baroque style, plays host to a unique night of modern cocktails and hotel […]

AsiaDream MagazineIndonesiaBaliReviews

Hall of Flame: Offbeat Wellness at Anantara Ubud Bali Resort

In northern Ubud, fire ceremonies, rice paddy hikes and a home base hidden in impenetrable tropical jungle highlight the spiritual side of an otherwise buzzing Bali. Paul Chai gets his guru on at the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort. It’s getting hot in here. My family and I are gathered around a fire pit in Ubud […]

AustraliaVictoriaDream MagazineNewsReviews

Melbourne’s Newest Hotel Redefines Luxury on the Yarra River

The brand’s first in Australasia, the award-winning 1 Hotel Melbourne brings new life to a hitherto neglected stretch of the city’s Yarra River with 220 metres of uninterrupted river frontage. Paul Chai checks in. Melbourne’s last remaining heritage goods shed from the city’s shipping heyday has been transformed. Now the architectural centrepiece of 1 Hotel’s […]

AustraliaNew South WalesReviews

Coastal Connection: Simpson Cottage Offers History and Luxury in a Retro Seaside Idyll

An ephemera-packed, historic sandstone cottage from the 1800s in a seaside town with chilled vibes reminiscent of the 1970s; a couple of days at Simpsons Cottage – in the coastal getaway of Bundeena in Sydney – leaves you with fond memories of a simpler time. It’s the birds that you notice first. Opening the white […]

ReviewsVictoria

A New Local Stay with Bold Italian Flavours at Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton

The first internationally branded hotel to land in this storied Italian neighbourhood, Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton is leaning into the suburb’s heritage. Opened in April this year, Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton offers a quieter city stay overlooking leafy Lincoln Square; but outside the front door is a tram to take you just a few blocks […]

AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaEuropeFranceFijiNews

Arrival Hall: The Latest Travel News From July

Travel news from the past month including a truffle takeover at Crown, special family offers on Mt Buller and Aman unveils its inaugural Caribbean season. Lancemore adds outdoor saunas to two of its best Victorian escapes Lancemore Hotels has partnered with Melbourne wellness brand Orans to launch The Slow Season – a winter offering built […]

AsiaDream MagazineHomes & VillasIndonesia

Inside Villa Skyfall: The Indulgent Lombok Hideaway That Has 007 Written All Over It

High in the hills of Kuta in Lombok is Villa Skyfall, a James Bond-themed residence that is so over-the-top luxurious it would suit either 007 or one of his feline-stroking nemeses. If you are going to hatch a nefarious plan to take over the world, there are worse places to do so than poolside at […]

AustraliaQueenslandNewsReviews

This History-Making New Build is the Talk of the Sunshine Coast

As the first internationally branded hotel built in this part of the coast in 40 years, there has been a lot of hype, and hope, surrounding the new Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel. And the good news is it lives up to the buzz – and then some. The new Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel has the […]

AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaEuropeFranceFijiNews

Arrival Hall: The Latest Travel News From May & June

Travel news from the past month including exclusive rare wine pourings at Bistro Guillaume, new beachfront residences from Six Senses, degustation heroing caviar, ice driving with BMW and a return to the history of expedition travel. Guillaume opens the cellar Bistro Guillaume at Crown Melbourne opened La Cave Privée on 18 May, and some bottles […]

FlightsMaldivesBaa AtollDhaalu AtollGaafu Alifu AtollLaamu AtollLhaviyani AtollNoonu AtollNorth Ari AtollNorth Malé AtollRaa AtollShaviyani AtollSouth Ari AtollSouth Malé AtollNewsReviews

Direct to Paradise: Onboard Luxury Escapes’ Melbourne to Malé Flight

Australia’s first direct flight to the Maldives has changed the game on one of the world’s great bucket-list trips. Here’s what to expect onboard. It’s official: 2027 dates are now available on our exclusive direct flights from Melbourne to Malé. With packages including flights and a five-night stay starting from $2,399 per person, you can […]

AustraliaNew South WalesNewsReviews

This Hotel is About to Be Sydney’s Most Talked-About Stay

A community hub, a revival of a classic Sydney building and one of the most eccentric stays in a hotel scene that could benefit from some personality; 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia is a star and here are the reasons why. With arrival of the new movie-themed 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia, the inner-city suburb […]

AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaNews

Arrival Hall: The Latest Travel News From January & February

Recent travel news including a new initiative to help communities in Victoria’s High Country affected by the bushfires, a new Thai resort from Minor Hotels and a renovated Queenstown luxury alpine retreat in New Zealand. Helping the High Country: support fire-affected Victorian businesses with a new consumer portal “Victoria’s High Country at Home” allows people […]

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