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Written by

Stephanie Mikkelsen

Steph once had an Instagram account dedicated to Melbourne's best sandwiches (before it was a thing), and now spins words about hotels, regional dining, viennoiserie and travel things in between. Is passionate about copy with puns, multi-channel content strategy, good PR hooks, pastry crawls and cultured butter.

IndonesiaBali

This Award-Winning Bali Hotel Has a Pool Big Enough to Rival the Ocean

A Josper grill restaurant, Legian Beach at your doorstep and swimming pool worth diving in to – here’s why The Stones Hotel keeps drawing people back to Bali. Legian quietly sits between Kuta and Seminyak, often overlooked by travellers planning a Bali escape. The Stones Hotel is a reason to change that. It’s a want-for-nothing […]

AustraliaVictoriaNews

Luxury Escapes Live: Melbourne’s Best Travel Event is Coming!

Clear your calendar, Melbourne. There’s a new date for your diary – and it comes with overwater villas, beachside cocktails and once-in-a-lifetime adventures (no passport required… yet). On 16–17 May 2026, the iconic Royal Exhibition Building will transform into a high-energy celebration of travel as Luxury Escapes Live makes its much-anticipated debut. Think exclusive offers, […]

AustraliaIndonesiaBaliNews

Ending Soon: These Escapes Are Almost Gone!

Beachfront Vietnam resorts, island hideaways and city escapes – these limited-time offers are wrapping up soon, and the inclusions make them worth moving on now. Some stays are easy to replace. These aren’t. With breakfast, credits and upgrades built in – and the offers ending soon – this is the moment to stop browsing and […]

MaldivesNews

You Can Reach This Adults-Only Maldives Resort Without a Seaplane

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives, is an adults-only island escape with overwater villas, beach access and reef snorkelling – and you won’t need a seaplane to get here. The Maldives usually comes with a side of seaplane: scenic, yes, but also weather-dependent, luggage-limited and occasionally a test of patience after […]

AustraliaQueenslandNews

The Adults-Only Mission Beach Retreat Everyone’s About to Be Talking About

Nala Resort in Mission Beach, Queensland, is an adults-only coastal hideout where private villas, a palm-fringed pool and a polished restaurant scene sit just steps from the Coral Sea. Mission Beach has always appealed to travellers who like their Queensland coastline a little quieter. It’s framed by rainforest, faces out towards Dunk Island and feels […]

AsiaReviewsSingapore

Pastries, Pools and Spas: This Singapore Hotel Does It All

COMO Metropolitan Singapore delivers a downtown sanctuary with TikTok-famous pastries, Michelin-starred bites, and the city’s largest COMO Shambhala spa. Orchard Road is loud, flashy and impossible to ignore – and then there’s COMO Metropolitan Singapore, quietly doing its own thing. Part of the new COMO Orchard destination, it blends rooms, restaurants, wellness spaces and fashion boutiques, so you can start the day with Cédric Grolet pastries, browse a […]

CruiseDream MagazineEuropeItineraries

Hush Hour: A Small-Ship Summer Cruise in Norway

Gliding noiselessly through the Norwegian fjords, the Havila Capella is part ferry, part mail run, part cruise ship. Stephanie Mikkelsen discovers dramatic coastal waterfalls, experiences life in remote Scandinavia and realises that silence really is golden. Crossing the imaginary line of the Arctic Circle isn’t like I expected. The night before, I’d heard the PA […]

AsiaReviewsSingapore

Is This the Most Beautiful Hotel Renovation in Singapore?

Following a top-to-toe redesign, this Marina Bay icon has reemerged with bold colours, gallery-style floors and one of the city’s most dramatic atriums. Mandarin Oriental Singapore has always been one of the city’s recognisable landmarks, thanks to its soft green exterior and the dramatic atrium designed by John Portman. After a major transformation completed in […]

EuropeReviewsUnited KingdomLondon

This Mayfair Hotel Feels Like a Private Pied-à-Terre

A stylish stay in Mayfair that brings fresh, understated luxury to central London’s Hanover Square. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair opened in June 2024 and has been quick to stake its claim as one of London’s most discreetly luxurious addresses. With just fifty suites, hand‑painted silk wallpaper in every corner, a 25‑metre subterranean pool, and a rooftop […]

AfricaAsiaAustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandVictoriaWestern AustraliaEuropeFranceGreeceNews

Where to Stay: The Best New Hotels of 2025

Rooftop retreats, private lagoons and luxury revivals mark some of the most exciting hotel openings from the last twelve months. Explore them here. From Sydney to Singapore, this year has ushered in a slew of new hotels that offer more than just a room. This generation of hotel openings blend design, location and personality to […]

AustraliaVictoriaItineraries

Is This Victoria’s Most Underrated Wine Region?

Uncover one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets by exploring the Moorabool Valley, the perfect destination for your next wine weekend away. If you’ve never considered Victoria’s Moorabool Valley for a wine weekend, it’s time to look beyond the usual suspects and onto this quietly brilliant corner of the state. Less than an hours’ drive from Geelong, the valley […]

AsiaEuropeNewsSouth Australia

The Calile in Brisbane Named on World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards List

Only one Australian escape made the cut in this year’s top 50 extended list, with the Fortitude Valley stay going three-for-three. Brisbane’s The Calile has once again earned international acclaim – officially named among The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 and notably, the only property in Oceania to make this year’s prestigious list. The James […]

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