Indholdsfortegnelse for Volume 53 i Signature Luxury Travel & Style

I write this editor’s letter just hours out from flying off to Africa for what promises to be an incredible journey with Abercrombie & Kent. I’ll be visiting A&K’s recently refreshed Gorilla Forest Lodge in Uganda’s evocatively monikered Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, before continuing on to safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. (My mother, whose favourite film is Out of Africa, is incredibly envious of that second leg.) As the trip will require several flights on compact twin-propellor aircraft, luggage limits are severely restricted – the good people at A&K have provided me with a small but perfectly formed, leather-trimmed duffel bag and the instruction to fill it with no more than 15kg of jungle-toned apparel. As someone who tends to overpack – I’ll generally travel with around 10kg of handrolled silk…

METT Singapore Singapore At METT Singapore, the good life is not simply an ideal but an everyday reality. Marking the Dubai-based brand’s flagship property in the Asia Pacific, the 84-key stay taps into the colonial charm of its location on the once-royal grounds of Fort Canning Park. After unwinding in light-bathed suites, guests can flit between padel and pickleball courts, two outdoor pools and four dining concepts spanning coastal Italian to Korean grill. The hotel will also be home to Madison House, a private members’ club featuring cutting-edge wellness therapies at The Longevity Suite. metthotelsandresorts.com COMO Metropolitan Bangkok Thailand Hidden within the city’s CBD, this boutique institution has been a go-to for modern Thai elegance with a side of culinary oomph since 2003. Now, its 137 rooms and suites sport…

A sun-doused sanctuary carved into Santorini’s Caldera cliffs. A sea-facing retreat conceived as an extension of Paros famed whitewashed village. A deity-worthy Greek mansion of 12 tonal suites, where black volcanic sands give way to the lapis blues of the Aegean. Empiria Group hotels score high in the aesthetic stakes. But for co-owner Kalia Konstantinidou, who manages the Greek hotel collection with her husband Antonis Eliopoulos, the real drawcard of their nine properties across Santorini, Paros and the Peloponnese remains invisible to the eye. “It’s about creating these intangible spaces where emotions grow, where joy grows,” explains Konstantinidou. This principle underpins the pair’s entire brand; ‘empiria’ derives from the Greek word for ‘experience’. Rooted in a strong reverence for place and a carefree spirit, the environments allow travellers to slow…

Proudly sponsored by OCEAN SHIPS MORE THAN 750 PASSENGERS 1. EXPLORA JOURNEYS Redefining the notion of sustainable luxury at sea, Explora Journeys offers exceptional curated itineraries, sumptuous suites and award-winning cuisine. 2. OCEANIA CRUISES A standout in the luxury field, Oceania Cruises offers custom guest experiences through impeccable service, enriching excursions and gourmet fare. 3. VIKING OCEAN CRUISES With sustainability, elevated comfort and cultural immersion at the fore, Viking boasts elegant interiors and unparalleled destination-focused programs. Finalists Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Virgin Voyages OCEAN SHIPS 251-749 PASSENGERS 1. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Regent prioritises exceptional, all-inclusive experiences that cater to travellers seeking destination immersion, effortless attention to detail and superior space. 2. SILVERSEA CRUISES A leader in luxury cruising, Silversea’s fleet of intimate, all-suite ships delivers personalised service, diverse dining…

Don’t you get lonely being on a cruise by yourself?” a friend asks when I share my excitement about an upcoming cruise to Antarctica. “You’re very brave,” she offers. “Not at all,” I laugh. “I love cruising on my own.” Cruising solo offers the best of both worlds, I’d argue. For example, on a cruise ship I have a ready-made social outlet when I want to meet people, share a meal, chat over a pre-dinner drink or team up with a newfound buddy to explore ports ashore. When I want ‘me time’ I have the luxury of a cabin all to myself, a private home away from home – and no-one to crowd my space. But my favourite pastime afloat is to find a comfy armchair with a view, with…

You couldn’t pay me to go into Rome today. It’s a bright July day during Italy’s Jubilee Year. The streets will be swarming with tourists, the sun will be beating down, and I suspect all the gelato will be melting. It sounds dramatic but as beautiful as the Eternal City is, crowds and heat take off the shine. Instead, I’m looking west and all I see is the big blue sea as Cunard’s Queen Victoria sails peacefully away from Rome’s port city of Civitavecchia. Yes, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations in its own right, but I’m on a mission to see the Med at its best, which means without the crowds and chaos. Keep calm and cruise on Choosing to cruise the Mediterranean means…

“The men are even more exotic, wearing headdresses adorned with multi-coloured and highly prized feathers” The scene is surreal, primeval, otherworldly. I’m sitting with 18 fellow travellers in a jungle clearing, enveloped by a tangle of mangroves and sago palms, as two spear-wielding warriors lunge and shriek at us, demanding to know if we are friends or foes. Moments later, the humid tropical air fills with the sound of rhythmic chanting and beating drums as a troupe of Indigenous male and female dancers begin a welcome ceremony – known locally as a sing-sing – bouncing and swaying in hypnotic unison. The women are bare-breasted, chests heaving with shell necklaces, arms and legs swathed in foliage and waists wrapped with geometric tapa cloth skirts. The men are even more exotic, wearing…

Arriving in the remote Yasawa Islands, northwest of Fiji’s mainland, feels like crossing into another rhythm of life. Below our seaplane, an artist’s palette of blues swirls around the tiny islet, fractured only by white ribbons of reef. Jungle spills to the water’s edge, concealing thatched bures among the palms. It’s impossible not to feel your pulse slow as the plane touches down on the surface of the bay, engines fading into silence. Beauty here isn’t manicured or manufactured – it’s raw, radiant and alive. Two broad-shouldered, traditionally dressed Fijian men wade into the shallows to greet our seaplane. They intertwine their hands, forming a seat to carry me ashore. I attempt to protest but they tell me it is tradition and before I realise it, I am barefoot and…

How does it feel to be back in the saddle, after a few years consulting on cruise ship dining and other ventures? Tiring! I feel a bit like McEnroe returning to Wimbledon – you know all the moves, but the volleys and the leaps over the net aren’t quite as sharp as they were before. Still, I know the science of it all, and it’s good to be back. It’s funny you should use that analogy. Josh Niland recently told me being a chef is like being an athlete – your years of working 35 hours over two days in front of a grill are finite. Do you agree? Absolutely. I was talking to some young chefs today, and they all aspired to get to the grill. I told them,…

FROM POLAR EXPLORATION TO POLE POSITION Luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys is upping the exclusivity factor with two unique sailings. For those who would like a front-row seat at the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, the line has announced that guests reserving a suite aboard Explora 1 – which will be docked in the heart of Monte Carlo’s Port Hercule in June 2026 – will gain exclusive access to the F1 Paddock Club VIP hospitality experience. This experience includes gourmet dining, live entertainment, and the possibility of spontaneous encounters with legendary drivers with access to the inner sanctum of the race during the Aramco Formula 1 Pit Lane Walk. Meanwhile, the cruise line is offering a rare and transformative experience in the Caribbean aboard Explora II in late January…

Asked to name his favourite meal, Master French Chef Jacques Pépin told an interviewer, “If you have extraordinary bread and extraordinary butter, it’s hard to beat bread and butter.” A truism perhaps, but an insight into culinary excellence as lived by Pépin, Oceania Cruises’ first Executive Culinary Director. Little wonder that the cruise line has French flour custom milled to a specific grade to make fresh baguettes and specialty breads daily. I am onboard Oceania Cruises’ Allura for a preview cruise from Genoa to Trieste, intended to sort out any glitches. With an allocation of 10 chefs for every passenger, I have no time to lose exploring the ship’s 12 dining venues and five bars. Even I can’t get to them all in four days, but I do my best.…

Spanish moss drapes languidly from dozens of centuries-old oak trees that flank an impressive 200m tree corridor leading to the grand front porch of Rosedown Plantation. Four striking goddess-like marble sculptures are found in the landscaped gardens in the forecourt of the historic homestead, established by the wealthy Daniel and Martha Turnbull. In its heyday, in the 1820s-40s, the plantation in southern Louisiana comprised 1400 hectares of crops (mainly cotton fields), making Turnbull one of the richest men in the United States. The centrepiece of the estate is the two-storey, six-bedroom house of the Turnbulls. Just 10 years shy of marking its 200-year anniversary, the property was fitted with some of the finest furnishings available. Many pieces were imported from Europe, or arrived from locations north of the Creole State,…

On the promenade that hugs the strip of coastline from Mareterra, Monaco’s new eco-district, a short stroll from the popular Larvotto Beach, is a meditation cave lined with rose-quartz crystals. Look for a stained-glass window in the wall, duck through a low-key entrance and there it is, a sparkling pitstop away from all the big spending, fast-revving good times going on outside. Monaco is the world’s second-smallest country, but it has always lived it large. Its 200 hectares are studded with deluxe hotels, designer boutiques and Michelinstarred restaurants. Super yachts gleam in its marinas, bob in its brilliant blue bays. In Casino Square, the principality’s fountain-spurting heart, low-slung Bugattis and Ferraris purr lazy laps past the ornate Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (which has a new tearoom under the aegis of…

Strolling through the Altstadt of Zürich, cobblestone streets lead me through a time capsule of centuries-old buildings and leafy squares, with wrought iron signs swinging above chic boutiques and vibrant cafés. Zürich may be Switzerland’s largest city, yet its heart is walkable and charming, with the Limmat River gurgling through it on its path from Lake Zürich to the Aare River. From the river, it’s a short walk to Lindenhof, the oldest green space in the city and home of a Roman settlement. The views over the river and lake from this pretty park are spectacular, and I watch locals playing chess under the linden trees. In autumn, they are a beautiful shade of gold, while in spring, their flowers have a divine fragrance. Culture shot Just under an hour…

As portals into magical other worlds go, the heavy oak front door of Ardbeg House is up there with the rabbit hole Alice in Wonderland introduced to popular culture in 1951. Stand outside it – buffeted, probably, by briny, drizzle-flecked gusts of wind from the strait across which Northern Ireland lies just 21km to the south – and you’re surrounded by a leaden sea, craggy green contours and white Victorian terraced housing. Step inside, and it’s not only the warmth that envelopes you, but an enchanting interior design ethos which militates against the insipid tenets of conventional ‘good taste’. The first-time visitor to Ardbeg House (which, like the distillery of the same name, is owned by Glenmorangie, itself a subsidiary of LVMH) may find themselves a little overwhelmed as they…

Dusk rising A new Nordic wellness retreat is propelling Estonia’s quiet Hiiumaa Island – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve brimming with wild beaches, rambling forest and unique biodiversity – into global consciousness. Opening mid-2026, Eha (meaning ‘dusk’ in Estonian) is a collection of eight suites and three forest cabins taking cues from traditional Estonian forms. Its wellness programs are designed around the island’s five seasons, including ‘springrise’, with dining led by Green Michelin Star chef Peeter Pihel. Between thermal rituals, foraging and local traditions, unwinding on this sleepy island is effortless. eharetreat.com URBANE UNWIND Sydney’s upscale borough of Double Bay has debuted a boutique new wellness hub complete with cedar saunas, vitamin C showers and a salt therapy cave. Its name? Reset. Open since October, the facility foregoes maximalism in favour…

From its mythical founding by the siren Parthenope to its Roman streets and Baroque churches, Naples’ layered history has long lured travellers. From 7 to 16 April 2026, Limelight Arts Travel is running a 10-day residential tour led by Dr Mary Jane Cayler, a classical archaeologist with decades of excavation experience. Naples in Depth will dive into the city’s hidden attractions, exploring underground archaeological sites, the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and museums like Capodimonte and MADRE. Limelight Arts Travel keeps things slow, with long-stay hotels and plenty of time to soak in the city. Guests won’t just tick off the main sights – they’ll leave with a deep, lasting sense of Neapolitan heritage. limelight-arts-travel.com.au…

With one of the most avid fanbases of any carrier, countless discerning travellers insist on only flying Singapore Airlines – despite the fact that its fares can be among the highest. The airline’s legendary service and hospitality, outstanding cuisine, extensive route network and the Singaporean reputation for efficiency and attention to detail lead many fliers to feel that any additional expenditure represents excellent value for money. Add the pleasure of transiting through Changi – regularly judged the world’s best airport, a blessedly orderly traveller’s nirvana where the biggest gripe is that the carpets are too plush – and you have an almost unbeatable combination. Singapore Airlines’ exceptional business class service is a particular crowd-pleaser. The attentive cabin crew, who undergo twice the amount of training than is industry standard, play…

You must have cruised extensively in the course of your work. What advice would you give someone going on their first cruise to help them maximise their enjoyment of the experience and take advantage of everything a great ship has to offer? Any insider hints or hacks? There are so many great options out there. It’s important to do your homework and find the right experience that suits you. There is now a cruise experience for all budgets, tastes and demographics, and that has really helped define and advance cruising in general. Like hoteliers, cruise operators have grown extremely sophisticated with how they attract their target guests, and how to respond to and meet their evolving needs. The best cruise lines in the industry understand guest expectations; they not only…

We’re a country of cruisers. According to the latest CLIA report, almost one in 20 Australians took an ocean cruise in 2024, one of the highest rates in the world. Expedition cruising has seen a constant flurry of growth as adventurers seek out voyages to far-flung places where big ships can’t go. As the name suggests, micro-cruising takes the size scale down even further. Usually with less than 50 passengers, and often as few as 12, this style of cruising is popular for nature lovers, extended families, friendship groups, solos, celebratory occasions, wildlife enthusiasts, and photography and special interest clubs. Maureen Gordon, co-owner Maple Leaf Adventures, sums it up by saying, “Our guests are people who want the special, in-depth experience of an area. They are interested in learning and…

Step onto the deck and the world tilts. Icebergs rise like monoliths, jagged and immense, their sheer faces dwarfing the ship. The water lies still, broken only by the occasional crack of shifting ice. Penguins march across the ice in perfect, almost comical formation, while humpbacks drift past in silent arcs, a reminder that life endures here against every expectation. This is Antarctica with Seabourn, the perfect mélange of ultimate adventure and utter indulgence. Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit were purpose-built for the polar seas, their Polar Class 6-rated hulls cutting through ice-choked waters to reach bays and fjords few ships possess the fortitude to approach. On board are 24 expedition-grade Zodiacs, kayaks and two submarines that carry guests 300m beneath the surface to discover sea spiders the size of…

Christmas in London is a magical experience steeped in tradition and festive cheer. Picture grand Christmas trees sparkling in historic squares, carol singers echoing through cobbled streets and cosy pubs serving hearty traditional winter dinners. But could joining an exclusive three-day house party in one of the world’s most prestigious hotels in the heart of London be the ultimate way to spend a traditional English Christmas – blending royal heritage with warm, personal hospitality? The good folk at The Goring, the discreet Belgravia hotel that the Middletons booked out for their family and friends on the eve of daughter Kate’s wedding to Prince William, certainly seem to think so. Within sight of Buckingham Palace garden walls, the hotel was also favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen…

This summer, the ocean is calling… and it sounds a lot like champagne corks popping, poolside playlists and sunsets that stop you in your tracks. From cheeky weekend escapes to leisurely South Pacific sojourns, Royal Caribbean’s 2025/26 summer sailings on Voyager of the Seas departing from Brisbane and Anthem of the Seas departing from Sydney promise endless horizons of sunlit pleasure. Royal Caribbean’s short getaways deliver focused bursts of indulgence. Mornings could drift by in the adults-only Solarium with coffee and quiet conversation and by afternoon a hot stone massage at Vitality Spa will have smoothed away city stress. Whether you’re on a getaway with the girls or splurging on the ultimate extended date night, sun-dappled decks, exotic cocktails and conversations that linger into night will transform a weekend into…

The verdant Yarra Valley, just one hour from Melbourne, has long been an alluring proposition for a day trip or a weekend away. The main attraction of this region is its cool-climate wines (in French terms, colder than Bordeaux but slightly warmer than Burgundy). These wines are best discovered by visiting a cellar door, with an experience amongst the vines where you can linger and learn. With sweeping views of the vines and beyond that, the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley, the multi-award-winning Oakridge Wines offers an array of masterclasses and tastings led by passionate oenophiles eager to impart inspiring lessons in viticulture. It’s a recognised favourite. Oakridge has been named by Halliday Wine Companion in the top three of 2025 Top 100 Wineries and has long been recognised…

“After morning yoga, I slip into the hotel’s private onsen... where I stay until I resemble a lightly poached dumpling” I fear Banyan Tree has ruined yoga for me. It’s 6:30am and I’m lying supine on an open-air Noh stage – traditionally reserved for kabuki and other centuries-old Japanese performing arts – while the rest of Kyoto slumbers. Above, light slips through slats of cedar and cypress. The nearby forest chirps obligingly with cicadas, and our yoga instructor, Addy, whose voice could coax tension from stone, guides us through a series of butter-smooth sun salutations. In short, it’s supremely serene. And therein lies my conundrum. How is my yoga studio back in Sydney, which now resembles a fluorescent shoebox, ever to suffice again? It’s a first-world problem of the highest…