Hotel Reviews

Hotel Review: The Press Hotel flows with history in Portland, Maine

As part of Marriott’s highly regarded “Autograph Collection”, the one of a kind Press Hotel in Portland, Maine is a shining example of the kind of magic one can spark when channeling a building’s history into something new and exciting. In this case, it’s the site of the old Portland Press Herald newspaper, the state’s…

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Hotel Review: Peppers King Square beats fast in the heart of Perth

On the Western edge of Perth’s densely packed CBD, opposite the vibrant piazza of Kings Square, and a short walk from the nightclub lined streets of Northbridge and Perth’s busy RAC Arena, stands the modest Peppers Kings Square. It’s a hotel that boasts an enviable, dynamic location and has a lot to offer guests and…

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Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott’s newest location in Downtown El Paso thrives with comfort (Texas)

Set in the heart of Downtown El Paso, and having just opened up mid last year, is the new hotel and convention centre from Courtyard by Marriott. Sitting in a hub of museums and just around the corner from the El Paso train station, the 9 floor hotel boasts a stunning outdoor pool that overlooks…

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Hotel Review: Shangri-La’s twin towers stand stately over Bangkok’s Chao Praya

I can’t take my eyes off the bedhead in my Deluxe River View Room. First my phone scans it – vertically and horizontally (because social media demands both orientations now) – and then my eyes. I’m mesmerised. The scene of gold, Elephants and gods painted across dark wooden panels, is the most striking feature of…

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Hotel Review: NoMad represents a new era for Las Vegas

The “hotel within a hotel” concept has been done before in Las Vegas; it didn’t work out particularly well for Marriott’s famously funky W brand – although location had a lot to do with it – but the concept has proven viable before, particularly with long-standing favourite Nobu Hotel. It’s an interesting approach to redefining…

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Hotel Review: Ovolo The Valley is a marvel of convenience, technology and “free”dom (Brisbane)

Tucked off Wickham Street in the Fortitude Valley is one of Brisbane’s finest and newest hotels, sitting comfortably alongside a slew of great dining and entertainment options in the city’s famously bustling district. The hotel in mention, Ovolo The Valley in many ways sits at the heart of this, surrounded by an area of Brisbane…

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Hotel Review: The Sanctoo Villas & Spa – it’s complicated

You don’t have to look hard to find a picture-perfect villa in Bali. The shimmering private pool, the immaculate bathroom and the lofty bedroom – and we’re just talking about the small ones – is the now generic Villa recipe plastered all over social media (mostly Instagram) every single day by people living out their…

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Hotel Review: Shangri-La wears the ’boutique’ label well in Vancouver

One would reasonably expect that Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver is entirely worthy of the opulent luxury brand and its reliable reputation. It is, after all, Shangri-La’s North American flagship and – so far – only one of two on the continent, with the other being in Toronto. In 2008, it was the first to open; slightly…

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Life on the Border: El Paso, Texas – Where to stay, what to eat & how to get to Mexico (and back again)

Way back in 2011, when I was flying home from my second SXSW, I jumped on a Southwest flight flying from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles. En route, I enjoyed a brief stop over in El Paso – a common stop with this airline (for whom El Paso is a hub) – an airport which…

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Hotel Review: The Shack Up Inn brings together music and comfort in Clarksdale, Mississippi

When I was a child learning to count and spell, I never thought I would visit Mississippi, the word used to measure time and to prove how good I was at spelling. But, I took a chance on Clarksdale. It’s a small town located in the north part of Mississippi, about an hour south of…

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Hotel Review: Park Hotel Farrer Park puts you in the middle of food heaven (Singapore)

Sitting atop Farrer Park MRT station and on the edge of Singapore’s Little India is Park Hotel’s latest addition to their hotel family. Only a few train stops away from the Singapore’s MRT hub, Dhoby Ghaut, Park Hotel Farrer Park is a good choice if you want to have a little peace and quiet but…

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Resort Review: Bali’s Karma Kandara makes the most of its clifftop location

A luxury resort in Bali offering the kind of lavish stay island fantasies are made of, built with all the ostentation and pampering you could possibly want, is nothing new nor surprising. In fact, it’s expected on the Indonesian island nowadays, where a consistent influx of tourists watch as hotel and resort brands, both internationally…

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Hotel Review: The Blackman welcomes guests to a world of fantasy

Melbourne’s older trilogy (The Larwill Studio and The Chen are fairly young in comparison) of gallery-like properties from Art Series Hotels are located not too far from one another. You’ve got The Cullen, where it all started, directly opposite Prahran Market; The Olsen in close proximity at the top-end of Chapel Street; and finally The…

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Hotel Review: The Olsen is still one of Art Series’ finest achievements

Positioned near the CBD end of Chapel Street, The Olsen remains one of the favourites of Art Series Hotels’ ever-expanding portfolio of gallery-like, boutique-minded properties. It owes much of its understated elegance to the works of John Olsen, whose delicate landscapes feel a world’s away from the group’s first property, nearby The Cullen, where the…

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Review: Hong Kong’s Hotel VIC offers supreme luxury without the price tag

With 671 rooms/suites and an overall aesthetic that has been finessed by three different firms – Rocco Design Architects for the building, AFSO for three dining spaces and public areas, and Hirsh Bedner Associates for guest rooms – the stunning Hotel VIC on the Harbour is certainly an ambitious undertaking, even for Hong Kong. Operated…

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Hotel Review: QT Perth translates the wild west with swagger and theatre

The QT Hotels & Resorts brand has now firmly established its own distinctive language, without coming across as formulaic. The quirky, off-kilter designs and high-concept luxury boutique approach has given the brand a unique way of interpreting and translating location, whether it’s bringing in just enough of Surfers Paradise to brighten the grand QT Gold…

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Hotel Review: San Francisco’s Hotel Zephyr sticks out at Fisherman’s Wharf

You’d be correct in assuming that San Francisco claims some fantastic boutique hotels across all price ranges. After all the city has long been known as one of the most creative and free-spirited in the U.S, and it’s hotel scene has benefited greatly from all that openness. From the beatnik throwback of Hotel Boheme and…

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Resort Review: Baba Beach Club in Phuket is a hidden treasure of fun and luxury for music lovers (Thailand)

Heading north from Phuket International Airport, the streets are lined with small fields of trees that turn into the haphazard, yet charming landscape of colourful houses, tin sheds, food stalls and businesses that make up the region. There, amongst the colourful and natural landscape, appears the vividly pink Baba Beach Club sign. Its presence evocative…

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Hotel Review: Fraser Suites provides plenty of value in East Perth

Perth’s high density of hotels has dramatically pushed up competition within the city’s hospitality scene over the past few years. Quality accommodations aren’t hard to come by in the most isolated city in the world, one that is incredibly becoming one of Australia’s most exciting and creative destinations, and that sizable bank of worthy digs…

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Hotel Review: Felix sets a new standard for Sydney’s airport hotels

You wouldn’t expect Sydney Airport to welcome a greatly finessed, high concept boutique hotel, would you? The sprawl of hotels dotted around both the domestic and international terminals has historically favoured properties which play it safe. Some are great – actually, most are – but almost all of them are in dire need of some…

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Review: Kimpton’s newest Los Angeles Hotel La Peer delights with a unique sensibility

Tucked away in a forgettable street (La Peer St, no less) as you appraoch the outskirts of the trendy West Hollywood area, is a brand new hotel from the trusted Kimpton chain, the La Peer Hotel. It’s a stunning space which seems to do everything it can to be unlike all the other hotels in…

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Hotel Review: Novotel Canberra is a refined yet playful gem in the heart of the capital

Sitting in the heart of our nation’s capital is the Novotel Canberra, a 7 floor hotel with incredibly spacious rooms that sits alongside Northbourne Avenue, which is currently being outfitted with a new light-rail service. It was a friendly and easy check in process as I arrived, though the playfulness of the lobby design (especially…

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Hotel Review: Hotel Zed Kelowna (Canada) is a stylish motel refit with the playfulness of a hostel in wine country

There was a time in the travel industry when saying you ran a motel was anything but an attractive quality. Now, all over the world, clever hoteliers are bringing inspired re-fits to motels, helping not just reframe what we know a motel to be, but to go so far as to make it, dareisay, “chic”….

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Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo embraces the Peranakan heritage of Katong Singapore

Around the world, Hotel Indigo is renowned for its ability to shape its design, architecture, style and even offerings around the city it’s built. But few do it better than the Katong Singapore location. This spot is one of the newer in the international chain’s catalogue, having opened in 2016 – and it’s fair to…

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Hotel Review: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge offers an unforgettable wilderness experience

The immense beauty of Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair National Park – a deserving UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a good trade-off for no Wi-Fi, phone reception or television. Throw in a charming lodge to rest your feet after iconic hikes, a deceptively understated restaurant serving up beautiful local produce, and an exceptional…

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Hotel Review: Mantra St Kilda Rd’s modern comforts are just a short tram ride away from Melbourne’s CBD

Mantra St Kilda Rd is characterised by its stunning and elegant modern charm, with a chandeliered, ballroom style entrance and lovely art deco apartments. Every wall is adorned with bold paintings, and with its red carpet entrance way, it brings a sense of grandeur to the venue. The hotel boasts a well-equipped and very spacious…

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Hotel Review: Melbourne’s Mantra on Jolimont is a Jolly Good Time

The Mantra on Jolimont is a true gem nestled on the outskirts of Melbourne City, and a prime location for those looking to stay a comfortable and affordable distance away from the bright lights of the CBD. The hotel is a short tram ride from Flinders St Station, or a 15-minute walk for the intrepid…

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Hotel Review: 25hours Hotel The Circle in Cologne is a 1960s space themed experience like no other (Germany)

Part of the AccorHotels group, 25hours Hotels are a unique run of hotels around Europe; currently boasting 12 hotels across 8 cities. The brand runs on the slogan “Come As You Are”, in reference to the iconic Nirvana song, a sentiment amplified by the fact that no hotel in the brand is like the next….

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Hotel Review: Shangri-La reimagines the “Urban Resort” with Hong Kong’s Kerry Hotel

Ever since Kerry Hotels launched as a brand back in 2011, it has been well received as a fascinating, and interesting, expression from Shangri-La Group, who are best known for their opulent namesake properties. While Hotel Jen, another critical darling from the group, plays more in the mid-range category with a strong commitment to design…

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Hotel Review: Hilton juggles quantity and quality in San Francisco’s Union Square

Union Square has long been a useful anchor for visitors set to explore San Francisco, one of the most consistently impressive and dynamic cities in the world. It’s why many big-name hotel chains can be found spread throughout the heart of metropolitan heart of San Fran, with Hilton Union Square remaining one of the most…

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