Luxury Travel

The past few months have been a powerful reminder of how supportive and connected this industry truly is. After the recent passing of my mum, I’ve been incredibly touched by the kind messages and check-ins from so many of you – thank you. It has really struck me how important it is to make memories while we still can. I’m very fortunate to have collected plenty over the years through my travels – including with my mum – and I’m now more steadfast than ever about doing more of this with my girls. After all, you only live once. It was a pleasure to attend ILTM Asia Pacific in Singapore last month, where I had the chance to reconnect with long-time partners and meet exciting new brands in the luxury…

Back in 2018, I penned a piece about the new wave of luxury travel. Sightseeing was out, and ‘immersive travel’ – soon to become an overused buzzword – was officially in. Discerning travellers were expanding their horizons, both literally and figuratively, in search of experiences that took them deeper into the heart of a destination. This was an exciting time in the industry that spurred a creative flurry among hotels, tour operators and cruise lines, who began asking: How can we show the side of a destination that only the locals know? What exclusive insider experiences can we give guests access to that no-one else can? How can we create memories that will linger long after guests return home? Seven years later, this deeper, more enriching kind of journey has…

CHRIS DWYER Chris is a London-based travel and food writer, recently returned to his homeland after 18 years living in Hong Kong. From helicopter tours in Bhutan to visiting remote islands of Micronesia, dining at the world’s finest restaurants to chronicling the food eaten by domestic helpers in Hong Kong, he celebrates a destination’s unique cultural context and tells the stories of the people who make the world so fascinating. He gives us a taste of Istanbul for this edition (page 168). SUSAN ELLIOT Susan travelled Australia for 25 years as a presenter and producer of a TV travel show before taking up feature writing. She loves trips with a twist – from station-hopping through the outback in a luxury Cessna Caravan to chasing the aurora australis across the Southern…

Move over Maldives – Queensland is officially Australia’s poster child for paradise. Tangalooma Beach on Moreton Island was recently named one of the world’s most seductive stretches of sand in a global ranking by Lonely Planet, taking its place alongside coastal icons in the Seychelles, Zanzibar and Hawaii. It was the only Aussie beach to make the cut, and with good reason. Just 75 minutes from Brisbane by boat, Tangalooma delivers barefoot luxury with a wild edge. Think sugar-white sand, water so clear it shimmers like glass and sunsets that turn the sky molten. Set on the edge of a marine park, it’s a dream for snorkellers and dolphin-spotters alike – especially at the famed Tangalooma Wrecks, a sunken playground of coral, turtles and tropical fish. Originally scuttled as a…

NEW OPENINGS MONDRIAN GOLD COAST The Gold Coast has its fair share of gleaming hotels, but the new Mondrian may well outshine them all. Bringing the brand’s signature blend of art, design and laid-back glamour to Burleigh Heads, this is the hospitality group’s first foray into Australia – and it lands with serious style. Designed by Fraser & Partners with interiors by Studio Carter, the dual-tower build (one hotel, one residences) curves skyward with a sculptural silhouette and interiors inspired by sea, sand and sun. Expect textured stone, warm timber and endless ocean views. Highlights? Magnesium plunge pools and a long main pool that melts into the Pacific. Add in two restaurants – including Haven by Arron Tecce (ex-EST, Felix and Manly Pavilion) – as well as the cocoon that…

The Dream Weave Vispring – the British name behind some of the world’s most luxurious sleep moments – debuted its 2025 collections at Salone del Mobile with a nod to tradition and a vision for the future. The heritage brand, known for handcrafted mattresses made with the finest natural fibres, now introduces its Wool Collection of Fabrics: 25 refined textiles in everything from satin-smooth finishes to tactile tweeds and classic herringbone – all crafted from 100 per cent British wool. POA vispring.com Table Talk Bolia’s Pana dining table brings Scandinavian simplicity to the centre of the room. Designed by Steffensen & Würtz, it’s all clean lines and soft curves, with solid FSC-certified wood construction and refined craftsmanship you can feel. The design is subtle yet striking – a gently bevelled…