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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.

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’ Inaugural 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. Luxury Escapes’, and Australia’s, first-ever direct flight to the Maldives took off on Monday night and I was lucky enough to be on it. This is not my first Maldivian rodeo and the […]

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 […]

Dream MagazineIndonesiaBali

3 of the Best Places to Eat in Canggu

Much of the excitement in Canggu these days is away from the black sand of Echo Beach and in the kitchens of its thriving restaurants. Paul Chai dines out in this Balinese hotspot that is proving catnip for food lovers from all over the world. On my last visit to Canggu, almost a decade ago, […]

Dream MagazineEuropeMalta

Fights & Flights: A Journey Through Malta

Uncover Malta’s compelling history of warrior monks and Grand Masters of the Order of Malta, and its softer side of delicate wines, passionate local chefs and historic harbourside bars. Paul Chai discovers this southern European marvel. Everywhere you drive in Malta, the road is lined with prickly pears, bulbous spiky cacti that look like a […]

EuropeMaltaExplore

Even On a Shorter Leg, Emirates Business Class Makes A Huge Difference

With seamless service and top-notch food, Emirates Business Class makes even a modest-length journey simply fly by. Emirates and the Malta Tourism Authority inked a strategic partnerships this year to boost inbound tourism, and if you are fortunate enough to fly to the island nation on Emirates Business Class it elevates an already great trip. […]

DubaiFlightsMiddle EastReviews

Why Emirates A380 Business Class Makes It Hard to Return to Reality

Step into one of the best Business Class experiences in the sky aboard Emirates’ A380. There are business classes with wide, comfy seats and restaurant-quality food, and there is the Emirates A380 Business Class that makes you feel like you are staying in a luxury hotel with wings. The seat and the route Dubai (DXB) […]

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