Clik here to view.
A home away from home in Melbourne
The Lyall “Good morning Mr. Jenkins! Your suite is ready.” I almost danced around with joy when I heard those magic words. It was 10am and I’d just arrived at The Lyall after a gruelling 30+ hour...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Collecting Starpoints that deliver getaways like no other
Collecting points for freebies is fun isn’t it? When I was a kid, I had a piggie bank which was filled almost religiously every week, and a little box in which I stashed coupons from the neighbourhood...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Inside the most opulent suite I’ve ever seen!
On my recent trip to the Southeast Asian Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, I had the opportunity to stay at the country’s premier resort, the Empire Hotel & Country Club. The hotel is huge and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
25 Hours Bikini Hotel Berlin – cool, funky, quirky
The ground floor entrance to the 25Hours Bikini Hotel Berlin. “So where are the bikinis?” That was my first thought when I entered the hotel… and I’m sure I’m not the only one with that thought! As I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chilling on the Perhentian Islands
It was supposed to be my little offline holiday – a few days of chill time at the Bubu Villas on Pulau Perhentian Kecil (‘Pulau’ means island in the Malay language) on the east coast of Malaysia. It...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Experiencing the Mashpi Cloud Forest
The mist-shrouded cloud forest. The Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve is located about a four-hour drive north of Quito, Ecuador. The drive from Quito is gorgeous, with stunning vistas of the snow-capped...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What makes an accommodation epic?
Would this accommodation qualify as epic? “What are you doing?”, my partner asked. “I’m working on a project with Booking.com and I’m looking for an ‘epic’ accommodation”, I replied without looking up...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A hotel fit for a king
In my previous post, I talked about what makes an accommodation ‘epic’ and my assignment from Booking.com to find an accommodation that reflects my definition of ‘epic’. I thought hard about what I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ten dreamy luxury hotels in Mauritius
Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located east of Madagascar (map). Everyone has visions of what paradise is like, most of which involve tropical islands with white sandy beaches,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The perfect luxury boutique hotel
Singita Boulders Lodge, Sabi Sand, Kruger, South Africa. Agency HKLM. Art Director: Paul Henriques. Stylist: Georgina Pennington. Photographer: Mark Williams. 14/11/11. Imagine this: you have the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The magic of Phinda
Entrance to Phinda Private Game Reserve. We’d just passed the main gates of the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve when we spotted something moving stealthily through the tall grasses. Someone in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A weekend in Malacca
The 16th century Portuguese A Famosa fort in Malacca. Malacca (or ‘Melaka’ in Malay) is a state with a capital city of the same name situated about a two-hour drive south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver
The impressive façade of the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver. The Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is something of an anomaly in this vibrant Canadian city, at least, that’s what I soon discovered. Located in an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cool glitz and a phenomenal view
The Fairmon Pacific Rim Hotel Vancouver. The doormen opened the doors with a smile and a “Good Afternoon” as I entered the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. As the doors opened, I found myself...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The wonders of Majeka House
Wonder welcoming us with a cup of tea. “Good afternoon! Welcome to Majeka House! My name is Wonder. Can I help you with your bags?” I stopped in my tracks. “Sorry, did you say your name is Wonder?”, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Experiencing the Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita
The first time I saw the Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita was from a helicopter tour during my first trip to Mauritius. Widely recognised as one of the most luxurious resorts in Mauritius, the Four...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A home by the sea in Langkawi
Casa del Mar Langkawi Langkawi is an archipelago consisting of 99 islands situated in northern Malaysia near the border with Thailand. Also known as the islands of legends, Malaysian children are all...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Help design the perfect boutique hotel
Kristin & Marcus, the founders of Amberlair. Have you ever wondered – if you had the opportunity to help design the perfect boutique hotel – what it would look like? What services, facilities,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A luxury weekend in Amsterdam
A typical scene in Amsterdam. If you’ve been reading my blog or following me on social media, you probably know that I live in Amsterdam and that I absolutely LOVE my city! One of the best things...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Safari at the Gondwana Game Reserve
The light was fading quickly but we were determined to find them. Our guide expertly manoeuvered the jeep around a tight bend and stopped. Silence reigned as the dust settled. I surveyed the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finding bliss at Jordan Wine Estate
Mountain views from Jordan Wine estate. I stepped out onto the terrace of my suite at the Jordan Wine Estate. The birds chirped excitedly as the sun slowly disappeared behind the hills, blanketing the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My stay at Hotel Pacai in Vilnius
The front façade of Hotel Pacai. Hotel Pacai is a five-star hotel in Vilnius (map), the capital of Lithuania. Opened in 2018 after five years of restoration work, this hotel is located in a 17th...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Malaysian chic at The Ruma Hotel
The Ruma Hotel & Residences Kuala Lumpur. The Ruma Hotel and Residences is a new addition to the five-star hotel scene in Kuala Lumpur. Located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) district, a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My birthday weekend in Amsterdam
It’s a bit of a tradition for me to celebrate my birthday by going on a leisurely cruise along the canals of Amsterdam. I would normally hire a boat, invite some friends and pack some food and wine for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The art of wellness in Birštonas
A strange tickling sensation on my back woke me up. The second I jolted back to life, I sensed an ethereal feeling of lightness, like I was floating in the air. I opened my eyes and chuckled. I was in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A weekend of indulgence at Lanzerac Wine Estate
Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. The Stellenbosch winelands near Cape Town are one of my favourite places in the world. I’ll never tire of the magnificent mountain scenery, gorgeous vineyards,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A piece of paradise at Constance Prince Maurice
Kamal welcoming me at Mauritius Airport. “Welcome to Constance Prince Maurice!”, exclaimed the driver as we turned off the main road. I had just arrived in Mauritius and was met by Kamal. He led me to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Grand experience in Kuala Lumpur
The Grand Hyatt KL from the pool. We stepped into a grand space – a gleaming marble floor, an epic staircase that swooped up in a gracious curve and soaring columns. “It’s a pity they don’t build hotel...
View ArticleClik here to view.
True bliss in Mauritius
Bliss is defined as perfect happiness or great joy. On my trip to Mauritius, that’s exactly what I experienced: a dream we all dream of having… every night This Vine was filmed while I sat on the soft...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finding paradise in Grootbos
Walker Bay Grootbos is a private nature reserve near the southernmost tip of the African continent. Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, Grootbos is a two-hour drive southeast of Cape Town and...
View Article