Coming from Australia, it’s always fascinating to see just how different hospitality concepts are in the USA. Particularly New York City. I always return with ideas on how to change a city like Sydney and make it much more the world-class destination it pretends to be (it’s getting there, just not there yet). That said,…
Staying anywhere in Manhattan will break the bank. I don’t care whether it’s a budget hotel, a mid-range or a luxury stay. If you want to stay even one night in Manhattan, you’ll need a hefty savings account. Blame the cost of living, of course. Visiting New York City is prohibitively expensive right now, but…
For decades, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was one of the most dreaded entry points in the USA. No one I’ve spoken to likes flying into L.A., and at its best, the furiously busy airport is a functional failure. At its worst, it’s a nightmare. But things have finally changed in 2024, the first full…
It’s been a massive weekend of announcements for Disney, thanks to their annual fan event D23 taking place in Anaheim, California. And this year may have seen more announcements for their theme parks around the world than ever before. Some attractions were long rumoured, like the Indiana Jones attraction at Animal Kingdom, or even semi-confirmed…
Are you a Disney fan dreaming of visiting the iconic Disney theme parks around the world? With 12 unique parks spread across six resorts in North America, Europe, and Asia, each park offers its own special blend of entertainment and adventure. Let’s explore these magical destinations and what makes each one special. The Six Disney…
There’s nothing quite like New York’s Lower East Side. Casually referred to as the L.E.S, this section of lower Manhattan is where you’ll find many of the city’s best beats, from Katz Deli and Russ & Daughters, to world-renowned cocktail bars like Superbueno and Double Chicken Please. Fanning off from the narrow strip of Sara…
It’s always wonderful to see Australian artists getting the recognition they deserve overseas. But rarely do you expect to see Australian musicians featured in a museum in the USA. However, when The Punk Rock Museum opened in Las Vegas last April, three Australian punk bands saw themselves featured alongside the legends of the genre. Founded…
Would you believe that Vietjet, Vietnam’s newest low cost airline has just celebrated it’s 200 millionth passenger trip. To celebrate, the airline is offering 30% off Business and Sky Boss tickets from now until the 11th August on www.vietjetair.com, the Vietjet Air mobile app, booking offices, and official agents worldwide. The flight period is from 19…
The era of the climb is over, but Uluru’s array of dazzling cultural experiences has made it an even more vital destination for all Australians. It’s not every day the world’s longest surviving culture invites you into its home, but here I am. Layered-up in a laundry-load of clothes, my breath fails to cloud despite…
Opening on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood earlier in the year, the new Power Up Cafe is a companion to Super Nintendo World in the theme park’s lower lot. The “cafe” sits in the New York strip, taking inspiration from the “real life” Mario universe you saw featured in the billion-dollar making Super…
When you think about where to get yourself some great Chinese dumplings and Dim Sum, it’s fair to say that the American desert doesn’t immediately come to mind. Nonetheless, Las Vegas in Nevada proves to hold a secret treasure trove of some of the best dumplings in North America, with plenty of options on the…
As long as I can remember I’ve wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. I was lucky enough to frequent the park as a kid, but never got to stay in the iconic hotel that expanded on the experience of visiting on the park. That was until earlier this year. So what is it like…
Three of the USA’s biggest and brightest cities, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, each have their own unique style of pizza. Yes, you read that correctly. Los Angeles has a signature pizza style, and it’s only now gaining traction outside of The Golden State. The classic New York slice is so ubiquitous that you’d…
Deep in the heartland of the United States rests a valley, north of sprawling cornfields but south of the intersections that connect the country’s four quadrants. For 11 months and 3 weeks, it is just a grassy hilly field. But for three days in August, it transforms into Hinterland. Hinterland began in 2015 as a…
Packing for a trip can be stressful, but having the right essentials in your hand luggage can make all the difference. With flight delays and lost baggage being common occurrences, having your most important items with you at all times ensures you’ll be prepared no matter what travel mishaps come your way. Read on for…
Over the last year and a half, Canada’s Porter Airlines has been rapidly expanding its services, debuting a wide variety of new routes on the brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. They started flying those jets (the first in North America to do so) in February of last year. Up until that debut, the airline had…
You know the image. A huge burning sun laying to rest over a horizon lined by giraffes, elephants and zebras painted in silhouette. The howl of a hyena. Roar of a lion. For many Australians, the intoxicating promise of an African safari seemed like a dream forever out of reach. Until now. On 1 July…
With the the launch of the hi-tech Sphere and a multitude of modern new experiences in Las Vegas, it may seem that the classic “Las Vegas Residency” isn’t getting the attention it once did. But the reality is, more major artists are performing in the city than ever before, each bringing in tens of millions…
Opening on Philadelphia’s South Street last year, YOWIE describes itself as a “hotel and shop focused on curating small collections from friends, independent artists, and designers”, with their very own cafe WIM offering coffee and light meals. The “invisible service” boutique hotel offers 13 unique rooms, that sit above the coffee shop and store, and…
Last Fall, I was lucky enough to travel through the northeast of the United States – an area known as New England – with my Mum. It was a trip we’d planned to do for many years. Originally, in the Spring, as the leaves on the streets were freshly growing and the flowers freshly blooming;…
Outside of their locations in Hong Kong and Shanghai, one doesn’t think of dumplings when planning a trip out to Disneyland. But this all changes this week as one of the world’s best, Michelin star winning, dumpling spots Din Tai Fung opens at Downtown Disney in California. With the soft launch taking place earlier this…
Air Canada have been giving their Airbus 321-200s a much needed overhaul, from head to tail, featuring everything from larger baggage compartments, to a camera on the tail and belly – a first for a narrow body aircraft. This will help bring the aircraft up to the standard of their newer narrow body aircraft, both…
Welcome to ‘Dining Icons’ where our writers take a look at some of the world’s most iconic food and drink experiences – both reputable and under-the-radar – and report back to answer the simple question: is it worth it?. For our first edition, we’re taking a look at Giorgio Baldi, an Italian restaurant just outside…
Disney Cruise Line – which finally arrived in Australia and New Zealand last October – have just confirmed their ship Disney Wonder is set to return for a third season on our shores in 2025/2026. Having already completed its first season, and with a second already announced for October 2024 through February 2025, the confirmation…
Right now New York’s iconic theatre district – Broadway – may have the most amount of chart-topping artists represented in its catalogue than ever. And this was well recognised at this weekend’s Tony Awards, with the two most nominated productions being Hell’s Kitchen, featuring the catalogue of Alicia Keys, and Stereophonic, with original music from…
Things are heating up in the kitchen, with just two weeks to go till the Home Cooking Show and Cake, Bake, and Sweets Show come to Melbourne for a weekend of workshops, recipes, demonstrations, hands-on experiences and, of course, plenty of food and drink. The show will run from July 5th to 7th at the…
Since 2018, CUPRA has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s fastest-growing car brands. Originating from Spanish manufacturer SEAT’s motorsport division, Cupra Racing, the move for the brand to launch in its now standalone form has led to growing popularity in a number of markets, including Australia. CUPRA’s line of vehicles brings the performance dynamics…
Whether you’ve seen the movie Saving Mr. Banks, heard the folklore or have noticed the lamp yourself, chances are you know that Walt Disney had small apartment near the entry to Disneyland in California. Situated above the Fire Station that sits on the left hand side of the park’s entry, Walt would be able to…
While a spate of skyscraping new-builds has given Downtown L.A. a much-needed kick into modernity, Santa Monica hasn’t added much to its hotel count over the last few years. The city of Santa Monica has around 40 hotels, including a few eye-popping grand dames like The Georgian Hotel (with its unforgettable candy blue exterior), the…
At the end of November last year, Korea’s large scale digital art gallery – ARTE MUSEUM – opened their first (and still only) location in North America, on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s part of a burgeoning trend of immersive experiences in the city, and sits amongst seven locations for the gallery around the world….
