News

The club is expected to blend the allure of The Bahamas with distinctive Royal Caribbean experience, service and design.  Royal Caribbean cruise line and The Bahamas have joined forces to introduce a 17-acre private beach club in the nation's capital, granting Royal Caribbean passengers' access to three pools, swim-up bars, private cabanas and restaurants on […]

The debut of these game-changing hotels has redefined luxury, innovation and the very essence of the travel experience.  A family-run chateau in Paris, an all-inclusive wellness property in the Dominican Republic and a newly renovated Hong Kong staple are among the world’s 100 best new and reopened hotels, according to the latest annual guide by […]

A new dawn in luxury Amazonian exploration begins with Abercrombie & Kent's Peruvian riverboat. A newly unveiled luxury riverboat by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group promises to ferry guests into the heart of Peru's secluded marvels, with the vessel marking the company's debut in South America's river cruising realm.  The riverboat features ten double cabins […]

Travellers from around the world have acknowledged Melbourne Airport's excellence in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. Melbourne Airport has been named the best airport in Australia and the Pacific for the second year running at the Skytrax 2024 World Airport Awards. For the fourth time in five years, the Victorian hub has […]

3D body scans, oxygen therapy and a dedicated onsite nutritionist await those checking into the latest hotel by Kerzner Group, located at the entrance to Dubai's international financial district.  The latest development by hotelier Kerzner Group has blurred the lines of wellness and luxury hospitality, with the newly opened One Za'abeel hotel in Dubai offering […]

Australia’s Capella Sydney and Southern Ocean Lodge have impressed AFAR's travel experts, recognised in the 31 Best New Hotels of 2024 list. Two Australian stays have been named in the 'Best New Hotels of 2024' by AFAR. 31 properties were listed in this year’s selection, as chosen by a panel of AFAR travel editors, writers and […]

The maritime tradition of christening a boat is set to receive a star-studded update, with award-winning actress and performer, Hannah Waddingham serving as the official Godmother of Princess Cruises’ newest ‘Love Boat’, Sun Princess. Best known for her Emmy-winning turn as Rebecca Walton in Ted Lasso, Hannah Waddingham joins a long list of esteemed Godmothers, […]

Qatar Airways demonstrates the future of virtual flight assistance with conversational AI Sama 2.0 Revealed at the recent ITB Berlin 2024 tourism trade fair, the English-speaking Sama 2.0 is purported to be the world’s first digital cabin crew powered by artificial intelligence. Accessible through the Qatar Airways app, as well as QVerse – the airline’s […]

A groundbreaking addition to Australia's capital city, the esteemed Crystalbrook Collection is set to open its Canberra hotel in 2027.   Slated for a 2027 opening, this Crystalbrook luxury hotel marks a significant milestone in the brand's expansion, bringing its sustainable ethos to the heart of Australia’s political hub. Located on Bunda Street, opposite to […]

The Queensland hotel and spa struck gold at the Australian Tourism Awards. It's official: The Reef House Palm Cove offers the finest luxury accommodation in Australia. The coveted Australian Tourism Awards, which took place in Darwin on 15 March, saw the Queensland property awarded gold in the Five Star Luxury Accommodation category. On the coastline […]

On the back of the inaugural flight on the airline’s new Melbourne to Istanbul route, here’s everything you need to know about flying with Turkish Airlines.  In March, Turkish Airlines launched its direct route from Melbourne to Istanbul. But how much do you know about this multi-award-winning airline? Scroll down for all the details, from […]

Scoot is soaring to new heights in Thailand and Malaysia, with its latest flights providing unparalleled access to the region's renowned golden shores and rich cultural experiences. Singaporean low-cost airline Scoot is poised for growth in Southeast Asia, unveiling plans for additional direct flights from Singapore to popular destinations in Malaysia and Thailand. The airline […]

Greece welcomes a new era of sustainable luxury with the much-awaited launch of Gundari Resort, opening in May 2024 on Folegandros island. Folegandros, an untapped island between Paros and Santorini, will welcome the brand new Gundari Resort to its southern coast in May 2024. Spanning 80 acres on the rugged cliffside, the resort is set […]

Combining heirloom sophistication with a modern aesthetic, Cunard’s Queen Anne is set to rule the sea – bringing together a lavish ballroom with a rooftop DJ booth. The world’s oldest cruise line just got a little younger. Cunard has unveiled the newest addition to its fleet, Queen Anne, due to set sail for the first […]

Frothy surf, soft sands, bohemian-hip culture and rich Aboriginal history have combined to crown Byron Bay's The Pass as the best beach in the world, according to Lonely Planet. Australia's Byron Bay has taken the pole spot in Lonely Planet's latest book, Best Beaches: 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches. Renowned for its pristine […]

Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Trending Destinations are in for 2024: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines are the places to be. The illustrious Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list for 2024 has been released, with Dubai named the Top Destination in the World for the third year in a row, […]

Fiji is the place to be for Aussies, with visitor numbers for 2023 the highest in history. In a resounding triumph for Fijian tourism, the South Pacific country set an unprecedented record in 2023, hosting the highest number of Australian visitors in its history. The island paradise surpassed pre-COVID tourism numbers and welcomed a surge […]

The swirling Hollywood rumour mill has been put to bed, with the next season of HBO’s The White Lotus headed to Thailand. Following months of speculation, the Land of Smiles was officially announced as the setting for the third instalment of the smash TV series. Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) and HBO both released official statements, […]

Big news for safari enthusiasts: South African Airways is set to resume its non-stop Perth-to-Johannesburg flight services from 28 April 2024. South African Airways (SAA) has announced the recommencement of its direct flight service between Johannesburg and Perth for the first time since before the pandemic. From 28 April 2024, the restored service will operate […]

New York Times names Tasmania and Brisbane among its top 52 places to travel in 2024. There’s more to Australia than Melbourne and Sydney, according to the New York Times.  Long-underrated Tasmania and foodie hub Brisbane have each landed a spot on the publication’s list of ‘52 Places to Go in 2024’. As the only […]

Southern Ocean Lodge reopens after the devastating 2019 fires that destroyed Kangaroo Island, with a multi-million dollar renovation. After a three-year journey of reconstruction following the 2019 Kangaroo Island bushfires, the highly awaited reopening of Southern Ocean Lodge has arrived. The flagship property of Baillie Lodges has been meticulously reconstructed in a A$55 million fit-out, […]

Chef Michael Wignall will make his way to Flying Sauces, the world's first zipline restaurant, for a Maldivian residency in February 2024. Soneva Fushi will soar to new heights early next year when renowned UK chef Michael Wignall brings the flavours of his Michelin-starred restaurant, The Angel at Hetton, to the private atoll. The new […]

Cabins fit for a rockstar, Mad Men-inspired martini bars and floating specialty restaurants with Michelin Star chef-curated menus: Virgin Voyages sails beyond the everyday to provide adults-only experiences that reimagine cruising as you know it. Departing all year round from Miami and seasonally from Barcelona, Athens, Sydney and Melbourne, each of Virgin Voyages four super […]

Our in-house experts and 4,000 Luxury Escapes members have spoken: these are the top destinations and trends emerging for the year ahead. Want to know where travel insiders are jetting off to in 2024? Luxury Escapes' annual Travel Trends report has landed. We asked 4,000 Luxury Escapes members, and our in-house experts, what 2024 holds […]

Icon of the Seas officially joined Royal Caribbean's 28-ship fleet on Monday, taking the crown as the world's largest cruise ship. The world’s biggest cruise ship is now in the hands of her new owner, with Royal Caribbean International accepting delivery of 1,198 feet long, and 250,800 gross ton Icon of the Seas on November […]

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, AYANA Bali and LUX* South Ari Atoll Maldives are among the winners of these prestigious travel awards. The winners have been announced for the 2024 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, a globally recognised stamp of distinction from the publishing powerhouse behind Vogue, GQ and Condé Nast Traveller. Among the […]

There's nothing standard about the brand-new The StandardX. Opening in Melbourne's Fitzroy in February 2024, this hotel is the first of its kind in the world. Melbourne's hotel scene is set to welcome a cool newcomer in 2024 with the opening of The StandardX, the younger sibling of parent brand The Standard. The luxe latter […]

One of Sydney's leading property developers is bringing a fresh and vibrant hotel concept to the heart of Paddington. Central Element (CE) property development, in collaboration with Boston Global Group, is gearing up to break ground on Australia's first 25hours hotel, set to open its doors in December 2024. Situated in the heart of the […]

Uluru is set for a tourism boost with Virgin Australia announcing two new direct services from Melbourne and Brisbane to be introduced in 2024.  Virgin Australia has announced its return to Uluru with two new nonstop services from Brisbane and Melbourne, allowing the carrier to connect the capital cities with the iconic Red Centre destination for […]

Thailand grants visa-free entry for Indian travellers from November 10, 2023.  It’s time to pack your bags and set off for the Land of Smiles as Thailand has temporarily scrapped visa requirements for all Indian and Taiwanese travellers. For a six-month period from November 10, 2023, until May 10, 2024, this move to introduce visa-free […]

Discover a better way to travel with the second print issue of Dream by Luxury Escapes on sale now. Pour yourself a cuppa, kick up your feet and flip through the glossy pages of the second issue of Dream by Luxury Escapes, where you’ll be transported to exciting destinations including the Maldives, Egypt, Hawaii, Malta […]

TFE Hotels has commenced construction on the luxurious Hannah St. Hotel, located on Melbourne’s Southbank.  Melbourne's hotel scene has a new kid on the block: the boutique Hannah St. Hotel.   The $150 million hotel will house 188 rooms across 10 levels of the gleaming 62-storey Queensbridge Building, a new residential tower near Melbourne’s Crown […]

The little-big city of Adelaide is gaining global attention. Move over, Melbourne and Sydney: ‘underrated’ Adelaide has been recognised by Wall Street Journal as possibly the coolest city in Australia. It’s hailed as ‘an almost utopian alternative to the typical urban sprawl’ thanks to its leafy parklands, surrounding Adelaide Hills and glistening beaches. Also commended […]

The Accor-owned SO/ Hotels brand is set to bring its fashion-led flair to the Maldives for the first time ever this November. The Maldives is about to get a whole lot more glamorous with the grand opening of SO/ Maldives. Synonymous with art and fashion, the SO/ brand has previously collaborated with the likes of […]

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has expanded its fleet to 19 ships with the delivery of Norwegian Viva – the second of six ships in the Prima Class set to debut through 2028, following Norwegian Prima’s 2022 launch.  Norwegian Viva has launched to great success, providing guests with elevated experiences – including more wide-open spaces, stunning design […]

Discover Silver Nova – Silversea's newest jewel of luxury cruising – offering a groundbreaking asymmetric design that brings you closer to each destination.   Silversea’s newest and grandest offering, the magnificent Silver Nova, is now cruising: and offering unparalleled luxury. As the second ship in the groundbreaking Nova Class, Silver Nova offers a home-away-from-home for up […]