With autumn kicking in down under, our top tip for a warm-weather staycation is Australia’s aptly named Sunshine State. Here, we bring you our pick of the best Queensland holiday houses… BEST FOR COASTAL COOL Alinghi, Great Barrier Reef Stay A contemporary cedar, glass and steel eco-eyrie set in 14 acres of bushland, this architect’s [...]
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Posted in Australia, Destinations, Self-catering, Travel tips, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
For the ultimate Bali bar crawl, we recommend heading to chic shoreside Seminyak, playground of the Indonesian island’s style set. On a recent hotel-hunting jaunt, we checked out some of Seminyak’s best bars: fabulous cocktails, delicious dishes and beach views made for a seductive night out. Don that designer kaftan, and go… Relative newcomer Potato Head [...]
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Posted in Bali, Eating & drinking, Indonesia, Restaurant review, Travel tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Diving in Fiji will blow you away. This beach-blessed South Pacific archipelago is considered one of the world’s best dive destinations, and whether you’re a qualified scuba diver or a first-time snorkeller, the rainbow-bright tropical fish and vibrant coral will leave you breathless. On a foray to find new boutique hotels in Fiji, Smith took [...]
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Posted in Activities, Boutique hotels, Destinations, Fiji, Uncategorized, Worth getting out of bed for | No Comments »
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Rev up the romance with the ultimate Thai beach break at The Sarojin hotel, Phang Nga, which likes to play Cupid with seductive suites, a come-hither pool and spa, and white-sand shores. Sitting pretty on a sublime stretch of coastline, it’s the perfect place to unwind in style with your Valentine. Style Secluded tropical retreat [...]
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Posted in Boutique hotels, Hotel of the Week, Thailand, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, January 30th, 2012
Given the abundance of gorgeous getaways on Indonesia’s most popular island, deciding which are the best Bali boutique hotels is a tough gig. As ever, we’re happy to do the hard work for you, in the name of research. Just back from a recent tour of stylish Smith stays there, we’ve selected five top spots [...]
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Posted in Bali, Boutique hotels, Destinations, Indonesia, travel, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Unique in the Smith collection, Bay of Fires Lodge & Walk in north-east Tasmania combines a stay at a boutique eco-retreat with an inspiring two-day guided trek along one of Australia‘s iconic coastlines. Turquoise seas, snow-white beaches and wildlife-filled bush make the Bay of Fires the perfect place to recharge… *** 1 Day One kicks [...]
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Posted in Activities, Australia, Eco travel, Tasmania, travel, Travel tips, Uncategorized, Worth getting out of bed for | 3 Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
A cyclist in a wetsuit pedals by clutching a surfboard. An old man in wizard’s robes skateboards along the pavement. Buskers play the didgeridoo… Laid-back Aussie beach town Byron Bay, on the north coast of New South Wales, is just over an hour’s flight north of Sydney, but it might as well be a parallel [...]
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Posted in Activities, Australia, Boutique hotels, Destinations, Eating & drinking, Travel tips, Uncategorized, Worth getting out of bed for | No Comments »
Monday, October 17th, 2011
He drums for Aussie alt-rock band The Vines, he microbrews his own beer and he DJs at some of Sydney’s coolest bars. OK, so he claims to be a fairly average surfer, but what’s not to like about Hamish Rosser? When not touring with the band, Smith tastemaker Hamish (right) loves travelling, even penning a [...]
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Posted in Activities, Insider interviews, Reviewers, Sydney, Travel tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
We’re all busy and we all work hard, so how do you decide where to take your next break? Sometimes a city stay holds sway with its promise of bustling bars, head-tilting galleries and bucket-list sights. At other times, you find yourself hankering for a tropical tryst, watching coconuts bob up and down in the [...]
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Posted in Boutique hotels, Thailand, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2011
What do you call a Mexican who’s lost his car?* What cheese do you use to lure a bear up a mountain?** Where can you hear great gags like these and more? At The George in Rye in East Sussex on the 23rd of September! Style Quirky-smart Regency inn Setting Cobbled Cinque Ports streets A [...]
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Posted in Events, Hotel of the Week, Sussex, Uncategorized, United Kingdom | No Comments »