Travel & Lifestyle

Flight Review: Southwest Airlines – Los Angeles to San Antonio (WN3124)

We continue our Flight Review series, this time back in the USA on our way to Texas for SXSW. Instead of flying directly to Austin, I flew in via San Antonio – about 90 minutes drive from Austin – flying Southwest to get there via an affordable direct flight, here’s my review of their service:…

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Must Eat Destinations: Blacktail Restaurant + Lounge (Vancouver, Canada)

While it’s a relatively new addition to Vancouver’s dining scene, Blacktail Restaurant + Lounge has cemented itself as one of the city’s must-visit venues. The menu showcases ingredients that are sourced predominantly from the Cascadia region, which spans the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon, as well as Canada’s British Columbia. The drinks list similarly…

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The Art of Mastering Thai Cuisine at the Peninsula Bangkok

Situated on the banks of the city’s famous Chao Phraya River, The Peninsula Bangkok is the perfect spot to stay if you’re looking to explore the local markets (both on land and on water – Bangkok’s Taling Chan Floating Market is a must see), take a journey upstream to the awe-inspiring temples or downstream to…

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The Jubilee Hotel will host its annual Craft Beer and Wine Expo at the end of this month (Brisbane)

Saturday 30th April will see The Jubilee Hotel play host to a bevy of craft breweries and winemakers as part of their inaugural Craft Beer and Wine Expo. With the event showcasing over 100 beers from Australian craft brewers, there’s bound to be something on offer to satisfy the thirst of even the most discerning…

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The Triffid gets a massive makeover with a new rooftop and menu (Brisbane)

Brisbane’s iconic The Triffid has completely refreshed its looks and refocused its offerings as they unveil their newly renovated urban beer garden with a brand spanking new rooftop to boot! Also bringing in a sweeping change to their cocktail and food menu, and heavy bevy of entertainment options. The crew behind this longstanding live music…

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Sydney’s legendary Pub Life Kitchen opens second venue in Rozelle

If you know your food in Sydney then you know that Pub Life Kitchen is pretty much the pinnacle of both pub food and this burger craze that has been sweeping the city for the past few years. Owner and Chef Jovan Curic has made a name for himself with some of the most loved…

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Hotel Review: Club Croc Hotel – Airlie Beach (QLD)

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…

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A Day and Night in “The Big D”: Dallas, Texas

Until now, the only impression of Dallas I had was courtesy of the Cowboys and the short time I’d spent at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on my way through to Austin. It’s the ‘Big D’, right? I’d been told that if I heard ‘Everything is bigger in Texas’, it’s Dallas they’re referring to most of…

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Six things you have to eat in New York City

You know they love their food in the US, but it’s taken to another level in New York City, with a mix of some of the country’s finest restaurants alongside mouth-watering slices of pizza, cupcakes that people line up for hours for and the “cro-nut” (or whatever the new trend might be). But what are…

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Travel Diary: Ash Grunwald surfs, rides and flies his way to Toronto (Canada) via Singapore, Tokyo and LA

Along his journey to Canadian Music Week in Toronto last year – which is just about to return for 2016 – Aussie musician Ash Grunwald encountered electric bicycles, cars, plenty of waves and the contrast of rural Nicaragua and the USA. He’s shared these and more stories with us from his time over the pond… Having a beer…

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Flight Review: Jetstar’s Boeing Dreamliner 787 – Gold Coast to Tokyo Narita (JQ11)

Last year, Johnny enjoyed his first ever flight on the 787 Dreamliner, flying from the Gold Coast to Tokyo (Narita) with Qantas’ budget airline Jetstar. As this week’s flight review, we get the low down on what the experience was like on the service with the world’s newest airliner. Airline: Jetstar Route: Gold Coast to Tokyo…

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H&M will expand to include two new stores in Broadway and Bondi this August (Sydney)

Popular Swedish fashion giant H&M are ready to continue their long overdue Sydney expansion by adding two new stores this August, the first located in Westfield Bondi Juction, and the second in the refreshed and refocused Broadway Shopping Centre. Both stores will spread H&M’s acclaimed collections even further, as well as bring in their constant…

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Review: +39 Pizzeria – Toorak (Melbourne)

Situated on Malvern Rd, the second venue of Melbourne’s beloved +39 Pizzeria has settled in quite comfortably into its new Toorak space. With polished concrete floors, re-purposed timber tables, and crisp white walls adorned with dark wooden shelves filled with a variety of San Pellegrino drinks, the aesthetics of the new venue perfectly match the…

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Review: Lotus The Galeries x Black Star Pastry x Valrhona Chocolate Mother’s Day Menu 2016 – CBD (Sydney)

Following a successful event menu for Lunar New Year by teaming up with Black Star Pastry (BSP), the kitchen at increasingly popular dumpling restaurant Lotus, The Galeries have linked with premium French manufacturer Valrhona to put together a set menu designed especially for this coming Mother’s Day. The very marriage of some of Sydney’s most…

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First Impressions: Hunter Gatherer – North Sydney (Sydney)

This week North Sydney spruced its nightlife with the launch of new bar and eatery, Hunter Gatherer, adding to the few options the area offers for the “make a night of it” crowd. It seems the ambient splendour and quality of canape and cocktail served up at Hunter Gatherer’s opening night, may hint at a…

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Review: Sushi with a Twist – Woollahra (Sydney)

Sushi with a Twist may be a bit too on-the-nose to be a catchy name for Woollahra’s newest sushi train, but it certainly lets you know what to expect once you enter that brightly lit space of life-sized illuminated soy sauce bottles. Left-field and experimental rolls are the forte here, but the owners and Chef…

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Mr Claws to take over the kitchen at Huxtable for a one day pop-up event (Melbourne)

Earlier this year, Fitzroy lost one of its most popular go-to restaurants with the closing of Huxtable, the beloved hatted restaurant from the same team behind burger franchise Huxtaburger. While, Huxtable sits in silence on Smith Street, the kitchen lights are being turned back on for a one day only pop up before the month’s…

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Leichhardt’s Capricco Osteria announces regional dinner series (Sydney)

Leichhardt’s popular modern Italian restaurant Capriccio Osteria will begin a new series of regional dinners from Tuesday 3rd May, scheduling five-course dining experiences for the first Tuesday of every month, from May until August. Co-owner Matteo Galletto and Chef Bryan Gerlini have designed the dinners towards food and wine pairings which highlight a specific region…

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RivaReno opens a gelato parlour in Barangaroo (Sydney)

RivaReno Gelato, the award-winning Italian gelateria first based in Darlinghurst, has opened a new store in Sydney’s rapidly expanding Barangaroo precinct. With a commitment to serving authentic Italian gelato and imports its single origin Valrhona chocolate, caramelized pecans, mascarpone, pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds from Italy directly, the brand seeks to expand on their popularity down at…

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Where to spend Mother’s Day 2016 in Sydney

In just over two weeks, on Sunday 8th May, Mother’s Day will be coming around to amplify the love and appreciation we all have for that leading lady, often resulting in extravagant long lunches or dinners at some of the best restaurants in town. As pretty much every restaurant in Sydney is offering up a…

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Discount offered to hotel guests travelling to both Calgary and the nearby Rocky Mountains (Canada)

Independent Canadian hotel groups, Hotel Arts Group and Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts are jowning forces to offer guests who stay at hotels owned by both companies a 15% discount. Hotel Arts Group own two urban hotels in Calgary – Hotel Arts and Kensington Riverside Inn (pictured and reviewed HERE) – whole the three Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts…

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Cathay Airways reveals inflight internet plans for their new Airbus A350 fleet

As reported by Australian Business Traveller earlier this week, Cathay Pacific‘s next generation Airbus A350-900 fleet will be taking to the skies this June, and with it will come some new in-flight internet options – with the Hong Kong based carrier enabling internet for an entire flight for US$20 or US$10 for an hour. The service…

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Iceland Airwaves festival adds 40 artists to growing line-up

Ahead of the Iceland Airwaves festival taking place in November this year, a huge 40 acts have now been added to the line-up, including Warpaint, Minor Victories, Kate Tempest, Samaris, Torres and Singapore Sling. They join previously announced artists including PJ Harvey, Julia Holter and múm with Kronos Quartet. The 2016 instalment will be the festival’s 16th…

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Hotel Review: Standard Queen Room at the ibis Sydney Airport Hotel

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…

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Southbank’s Fish Lane to host a festival full of live music, food, and craft beers (Brisbane)

Southbank’s freshly upgraded laneway, Fish Lane, will host its first ever festival next month on May 7th. Set to be an exhilarating night of live music, fresh food eats and craft booze, Fish Lane Festival will bring together the best in the business from midday to 10pm. With a focus on showcasing local heroes from…

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Luna Park’s Tango Train set to take its final trip (Sydney)

Luna Park Sydney is inviting guests aboard it’s beloved, very long standing ride, The Tango Train, to celebrate it’s 36 year run at the theme park before it’s laid to rest and replaced by a fresh new attraction. Registered guests can enjoy a free ride and a special commemorative memento on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of…

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Grain Bar’s new menu pairs premium spirits with cured meats and caviar (Sydney)

Cured & Caviar is what the team over at Grain Bar are calling their new concept menu, which launched only a few weeks ago, highlighting a strong focus on fine, premium spirits (of which they have plenty, given it’s the bar at the lush Four Seasons) with house-cured meats and caviar. It’s the only pairing…

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Hotel Review: Four Points by Sheraton at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport, California)

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…

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Review: Sth Central (new breakfast menu 2016) – South Yarra (Melbourne)

Tucked away beside the rush of South Yarra Station and underneath a residential apartment block, Sth Central stands as a local gem in one of Melbourne’s most cafe and restaurant dense suburbs, catering to the locals with simple food done well, and with fresh produce. With their new schedule to open for breakfast, Sth Central…

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Urban Purveyor Group welcome Fratelli Fresh to their portfolio

Renowned dining and retail group Fratelli Fresh has officially been scooped up by hospitality collective Urban Purveyor Group, adding an enormous amount to their already rich portfolio, which has already seen a rapid expansion in the previous months with a forthcoming Italian restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, a massive move for their acclaimed Ananas Bar &…

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