Hotel Reviews

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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”….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

Unless you’re heading there on business, chances are the riverina city of Albury isn’t too far up the bucketlist when it comes to those essential Aussie road trip destinations. Although, the major regional city, located on the banks of the Murray River, is a convenient and completely worthwhile stop-off on the way to (or from)…

Boutique hotels are at their best when you can see the sincerity in their design. Soulful touches and nostalgic nods to the property’s primary source of inspiration, whether that be a neighbourhood, a concept or a nearby institution, is always appreciated and is what ends up the most memorable part of any stay. The Fleming…

Two train stops from Singapore’s shopping street, Orchard Road, lies Oasia Hotel Novena. With its own lift access to the Novena MRT station via its basement level (which also takes you directly to/from your room floor), you’re instantly connected to the rest of Singapore. Nesting between three hotels, this hotel attracts a lot of medical…

Jumping off the tram from the Airport, right on Cavill Avenue on the Gold Coast, it didn’t take long to spot the towering structure that is the Novotel Surfers Paradise, which sat just meters from the spot. But if my memories of Schoolies some [REDACTED] years ago is anything to go by, a towering hotel…

Having an address as iconic as 1 Leicester Square might lead one to expect to find another overpriced London Hotel, resting on the laurels of its location rather than on the experience it could provide its guests. Rest assured, Hotel Indigo‘s newest residence, which opened earlier this year, goes above and beyond to present one…

It’s hard to surpass the classic beats of good old fashioned hospitality. While Melbourne Marriott Hotel may play it extremely safe in a city that’s dotted with interesting boutiques and creative accommodations, there’s enough charm throughout this 10 floor property to sit nicely beside the luxury amenities often expected from one of the hotel group’s…

It all started here for Art Series Hotel Group, the boutique hotel brand renowned for dedicating each of their properties to an individual Australian artist. Opened in 2009, The Cullen was the first for the group, and has arguably remained one of their finest achievements, thanks to the late great Adam Cullen and his grungy…

It’s not everyday you spot a helicopter buzzing around Los Angeles at eye-level. Dramatic and impressive, the check-in at the sky lobby of InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is an astounding way to usher in the guest experience at this (almost) one-year-old luxury hotel; reception is placed on the 70th floor, surrounded by enormous floor-to-ceiling glass…