As far as the world’s most recognisable hotel brands go, Sheraton is up there as one of the best balanced in almost all facets of luxury accommodation. It’s high end but accessible, elegant but modern, sophisticated but grounded in a way that’s adaptable for all types of guests; for a hotel with roots dating back…
Earlier in the month, we took you to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Today, however, we’re moving things to the nearby Universal Resort and the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which opened on a 37 acre site some two years ago. It’s the fourth of five official on-site hotels currently operated by Loews, servicing the nearby…
“You’re as connected to the city as you are to the sky at Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport”, the hotel’s brochures proudly proclaim. Which is just as well, because the Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport is pretty ideal for travellers passing in and out of our nation’s capital. Less than 10 minutes from Canberra’s CBD, and 50 metres…
There is a sense of comfort to the Langham Hotel in Auckland that hits you from the moment you walk into their lobby. It’s spacious, with plenty of sitting areas and a long check in counter. Those behind it couldn’t be more helpful and the process to get yourself to your room is a painless…
Canberra isn’t typically known as a getaway destination but the short three-hour drive from Sydney makes Canberra sufficiently far away to give you that ‘going away’ feeling yet still close enough that a quick 24-hour stay is more than achievable. Also a plus are the pockets of luxury that you’ll find at our nation’s capital…
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in the “industrial-chic” accommodation of NYLO in New York City. The NYLO chain offer “innovative urban boutique hotels” in five locations around the country, including in Dallas, which we were lucky enough to review earlier this year. And like their Dallas counterpart,…
Today we’re excited to kick off a series of content from our recent travels to the Theme Park Capital of the world: Orlando, Florida. However, we start not at a theme park, but at a resort that serves as a peaceful getaway from the action at both the Disney resorts and the nearby Universal Studios…
This week, the Calgary Stampede returns to Calgary, Alberta. Last year, I was lucky enough to attend the long running event, and while there I stayed a short drive from the event in South East Calgary at Hotel Blackfoot. The privately owned, contemporary hotel offers incredible views of the Rocky Mountains, as well as the…
Yesterday we took you to the beaches of Santa Monica, and now today we take you to the other end of the new Expo Line – the revamped, revitalised and culturally vibrant Downtown LA. At the heart of this is the Ace Hotel, an old United Artists Theatre turned Church (“Los Angeles University Cathedral”) turned 13…
How many times have you been promised an “Ocean View Room” only to find out your hotel is miles away from the Ocean and you can only see it with a pair of binoculars (BYO, of course). Well we have found at least one hotel that proves itself worth every buzz word in the brochure. Say…
As many travellers would know, the Fairmont Hotel and Resort brand is one associated with luxury, with stunning accommodations scattered all over the world. But there’s only one hotel in their chain that’s been built into an Airport, and that’s in Vancouver on the west coast of Canada – the entry point for all Australians who…
The Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel has more than a ‘certain’ charm about it – staying in this establishment makes you feel like you’re taking a step into a Western film. And in the good way. First opened in 1907, the history of the hotel is ever present; from some elements of the decor, to the…
While in Melbourne for the annual PAX AUS convention, I was given the opportunity to stay in two of YHA’s hostels. YHA are known around Australia for running popular, well-appointed youth hostels for travelers on a budget, and their Melbourne Metro and Melbourne Central locations are prime examples of this. My first night was on…
Smack dab in the middle of Perth’s busy West End – sitting just 300m from the Murray and Hay Street shopping malls – is the Ibis Perth‘s 192 room hotel. Though only listed as a three star establishment, it seems unfair to throw it in the same category that many seedy motels around the country…
I now understand why the Hotel Pullman in the inner south Melbourne suburb of Albert Park would be highly desirable around Grand Prix time. Situated on Queens Road, the hotel overlooks the famed race track (as well as the Albert Park Lake) perfectly. If you’re a traveller making your way to the Hotel Pullman via…
The DoubleTree Hotel & Suites in Houston, Texas, is part concept hotel, part apartment building – with the newly renovated Houston location serving its guests every bit the comfortable experience they would expect from a Hilton hotel, with just that little bit extra you wouldn’t expect. I was greeted with a fast check in, complete with a…
For a travelling Australian, passing through London can be an expensive endeavour. Take one part “poor Aussie dollar” and throw in another part “general expensive nature of one of the world’s greatest cities” and you have a recipe for an expensive holiday. Last year, I made tracks through the city as I headed back towards…
There’s something grand about Sydney’s newest and still largely unknown CBD hotel, Primus Hotel, from the minute you walk into the lobby. It feels like no other accommodation space in the city – reminiscent more of the well kept, classic hotels of London and New York, than the modern hotels that the city is used to…
It’s not every hotel room that greets you with a Spiral Staircase. But it seems that selected Two Bedroom Apartments in the Ibis Melbourne on Therry Street do just that. I was lucky enough to spend a night in one such room last month. Greeted by friendly staff at the front desk, and a vibrant…
The Novotel Atrium Darwin, or simply ‘The Atrium’ as locals call it, has been a long-standing popular hotel destination with visitors for many years now. Situated further down the Esplanade, the hotel offers a range of rooms perfectly fit for families, couples and solo travellers to enjoy. For our stay, we were put up in…
It was an easy 15 minute walk from Sydney’s Central Station to our home for the weekend at Adge Apartment Hotel in the heart of hip Surry Hills. “Home” is the definitely the right word to use, as our stay at Adge felt more like a home away from home (please excuse the cliché) then…
In an age of modern accommodation, hotels that cater to tradition are a rare breed. Even those which have been standing for a hundred years or more are constantly moving to cater to the trends of modern travel and the needs of the busy traveller. Though flat screen TVs in every room and plenty of…
The entrance to the Mecure Potts Point is tucked away on Victoria St in the heart of Sydney’s King’s Cross. As the quiet, unassuming ground floor lobby gives way to the reception on the second floor, the Mecure’s appeal is clear and present – it’s an oasis of class in an area renowned for debauchery….
Located just a short five minute (or less) drive away from the bustling main street of Airlie Beach, the Club Croc Hotel offers guests a relaxed and enjoyable stay, with exceptionally attentive and friendly service. With a large pool that includes a waterfall and heated spa, barbecue facilities, a games room, a spacious bar and even…
When you’ve got an annoyingly short layover in any city, finding satisfactory accommodation can be a bit tricky, especially if your flight onward is an early departure. Luckily, if you’re ever in this situation in Sydney, the ibis hotel chain has you covered. The ibis Sydney Airport Hotel is perfect for any short term stay…
When it comes to an overnight airport stay, there are only three things that really matter: convenience, comfort and cost. Is it easy to get to from the terminal? Will my well earned (and usually rather brief) sleep be a pleasant one? And will I be keeping things within budget? In this respect, Four Points…
While it’s fairly simple to get around in Melbourne, you want to get the location of your hotel exactly right, especially if you are down for a series of events. In this particular case, I was down in Melbourne for a music festival (Soulfest) at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and to check out the new…
Making my way from Toronto for a day trip to Niagara Falls, ahead of a long… long flight home to Australia, I knew I had to have a comfortable night’s rest. But I also wanted to make sure I had the best view possible of the falls – and as it happened, at the Hilton…
Having stayed at numerous InterContinental Hotels across different cities, there’s a certain degree of trust I place in IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), and a high expectation that stems from consistency, cleanliness, and a distinctively premium feel. However, I’ve never stayed at a Crowne Plaza– a brand also handled by IHG – so wasn’t exactly sure…
The Holiday Inn hotel chain has undergone a staggering amount of changes over the last decade, taking it from a budget hotel/motel chain that most people associated with overnight stops along highways or airport layovers, into an upmarket full service – though reasonably priced – group of hotels that focus on comfort and quality of…
