Travel & Lifestyle

Let me tell you a little story of megaphones, neon masks and confetti. Once upon a time, in a town called Berlin, people started dropping into a cosy little underground bar in the middle of Kreuzberg. The vibe is relaxed and the small crowd of mostly young hipsters is lounging on steps or on chairs…

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…

As we steamroll towards summer, and Sydney’s temperature really ramps up, some of the city’s most festive annual – and inaugural – events are being readied for crowds of locals and visitors to get across. Whether it’s watching a provocative Japanese film in the air-conditioned comfort of Event Cinemas, indulging in exclusive dishes by renowned…

Head along to Waterloo from 8th to 10th November and you’ll find Sydney’s latest pop-up, inspired by none other than Mamma Mia. Designed to celebrate the home release of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the temporary space will be themed towards the movie and host Retrosweat and Cork & Chroma classes (soundtracked by ABBA…

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…

There’s a bit of a price war going on over the Pacific right now, and the winners are us as consumers. Whether you’re flying to Honolulu or Los Angeles from Australia’s East Coast, full service airlines such as Hawaiian, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are offering fares below $800, and even as low…

Sydney’s new luxury boutique hotel is kicking off the warmer season by celebrating with summer’s most beloved spirit – Gin. West Hotel, a collection from Hilton that launched in February earlier this year, have teamed up with the local distillery, Archie Rose Distilling Co., to bring a gin-infused bar menu and summer cocktail list to the…

Vance Joy will be returning to European stadiums in 2019 as the main support on P!nk‘s summer tour. Spanning over two months, the tour will follow Vance’s own highly successful tour which has totalled 83 dates globally and will wind up in Europe this November. Australian fans won’t be missing out, with the singer-songwriter playing…

ACL still feels like a dream. Some of the most fun weekends of my short lived life so far! Especially for an Aussie kid who left school at 13 with a dream to change the world through music, this opportunity became my classroom to learn from my peers, make new friends, show and tell, and connect new dots that couldn’t have been as divine if I didn’t take the risks to chase after my…

The team behind Mona Foma are celebrating the infamous summer festival’s new home in Launceston by launching an airline, Air Mofo, to fly mainlanders to the event for free. Festival curator and Violent Femmes rocker Brian Ritchie is giving away airline seats in rows of six via a competition that’s now live and will also…

Following a very successful entry into New Zealand with properties in both Wellington and Queenstown, thematic hotel brand QT Hotels & Resorts has today announced the signing of QT Auckland. The property will be located at Viaduct Harbour and mark the 10th QT Hotel overall, introducing a unique hotel to the city with the brand’s…

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…

Earlier this month, I was flying around Canada with WestJet and Air Canada, long the only Commercial players in the Canadian domestic market. Now there are finally budget (or “ultra low-cost”) airlines entering the country, with Westjet’s Swoop (like Jetstar to Australia’s Qantas) having commenced flights in June, Jetlines commencing flights next year and Flair…

Dubbed Japan’s “first true Low-Cost Carrier”, chances are, unless you’ve been to Japan, you’ve never heard of the carrier Peach. The airline started flights in 2012 with All Nippon Airways (ANA) the largest shareholder. ANA’s other budget carrier, Vanilla Air, which was a rebrand for what once was AirAsia Japan in 2013, has recently started a merger…

Chophouse, Sydney CBD’s beloved contemporary steakhouse which turns 10 years year, has officially expanded to Parramatta with their second restaurant. It marks the first ever expansion for the stylish restaurant, bringing their quality cuts of meat to Parra’s Centenary Square, gutting out the former digs of Jamie’s Italian. Recreating their sleek, moody atmosphere with a…

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…

Merivale have stepped into the widely underutilised (in Sydney) realm of Cambodian cooking with the new Kingdom of Rice, the group’s latest pop-up packed with flavour and colour. It follows the widely acclaimed Dirty Italian Disco as Merivale’s second pop-up at their Tennyson Hotel in Mascot, helmed by the same culinary minds behind ACME –…

The lush scenery of Cairns is about to welcome a new luxury resort from Crystalbrook Collection with the five-star Riley. The very central resort is the result of an expansive new development at the northern end of Cairns’ iconic waterfront Esplanade, distinguishing itself with a philosophy that claims to be “all about living in the…

Earlier this month, I travelled to the US for the weekend with Delta Air Lines to cover the Foo Fighters’ Cal Jam Festival in Los Angeles. You know, the one that “Nirvana” reformed at. Yes, with flights to the US more affordable and more frequent than ever, the idea of a weekend getaway to the…

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….

In just a few months, passengers flying Delta Air Lines between Sydney and Los Angeles will notice some big upgrades to the service’s Boeing 777 fleet. Landing on April 18th 2019, the American airline will retrofit the aircrafts with their highly lauded “Delta One”, which is the world’s first all-suite business class, as well as…

You have to be careful when promised a luxury festival experience nowadays. One minute you’re proudly uploading Instagram stories and living your #bestlife, the next minute you’re stranded in The Bahamas being chased by rabid dogs, desperately downing questionable ham sandwiches, and watching through tears as your tent is used as fire fuel. Okay, maybe…

Located “just three kilometres from downtown Toronto”, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport sits on an island off the city’s centre; accessible by ferry or a relatively new underground walkway. And it may just be the world’s most conveniently located airport, as they go out of their way to make sure every passenger feels like a…

Just in time for the summer months to come and drive Melbourne’s locals towards St Kilda beach, Piccolina Gelateria have unveiled a new store on nearby Aceland Street. Marking the third store for the business, often referred to as the best gelataria in the city, the new space channels the surrounding street scape and the…

It’s time to update that bucketlist because Lonely Planet have revealed their annual “Best in Travel” lists for 2019, collating lists of the hottest destinations, experiences and travel trends for the year ahead. Each year, the accompanying travel book sells well around the world, highlighting various hot-ticket destinations and events that should be on every…

Whether you engage with the race itself or not, Melbourne Cup is always a good excuse to get out of the office and sneak a long festive lunch in with the colleagues. Sydney’s best restaurants and bars always put their best food forward when it comes to “the face that stops the nation”, putting together…

Delicious World Pasta Day is upon us, an open celebration of what is quite possibly (definitely) one of the top 10 things ever created. And since today is the best time to show appreciation for the diverse Italian-born food, we thought it best to have a quick chat with Aussie chef Dario Manca (well known…

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…

After-dark museum spooktaculars, scary Inner-West pub raves, Bojack Horseman dress-up parties, and ghoulish dog shows. Yeah, it’s Halloween in Sydney alright. Each year some of the best venues in the city attempt to out-do themselves and lure you into webs of themed events and expensive drinks. Not all are made equal though, so we’ve done…