Get the low-down from the original style-seekers' latest good-time hunting expeditions, find destination inspiration and insider tips from around the world. Welcome to the official Smith blog: we hope you enjoy your stay
Swaying palms, soft white sand, sparkling waters (and champagne): if you’re a bride to be, chances are you’ve fantasised about a beach wedding in Thailand. Smith reviewer and roving travel reporter Carmen Roberts spills the beans on her dream destination wedding at Trisara, a romantic resort in Phuket… What wowed you most about Trisara as a wedding hotel? Privacy [...]
Totting up your 2012 travel wishlist? Jade Mountain in St Lucia is worthy of going straight to the top… Abundant in all the Caribbean vacation clichés (sun, sea, snorkelling, secluded sands), Jade Mountain has everyone feeling like a honeymooner. It’s an architectural triumph that insists visitors to this friendly island enjoy all the tropical paradise [...]
With our gong from the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2011 for Best Website still shining proudly on the mantelpiece, here’s another hand-picked hotel star that helps make our collection great: Schoone Oordt in South Africa’s spectacular Garden Route & Winelands… Style Tranquil Victorian homestead Setting Foothills of the Langeberg Mountains Why this week? This [...]
Today’s hotel of the week – the Dylan – claims the coveted spot with hands-down-the-best-reason ever: a Michelin-starred dining boat. Oh yes. As you may already know, this historic theatre-cum-hospice and former Anouska Hempel temple on Keizersgracht in Amsterdam has an acclaimed restaurant, Vinkeles (not to mention beautifully designed bedrooms, a fleet of Johnny Loco [...]
Great news! We’ve unearthed our first boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, the tea-rich teardrop-shaped island nation languishing off the south-east coast of India. Here’s a little preview of our latest launches… Rustic manor house The Wallawwa in Negombo makes a seductive first-night sojourn, with a soothing spa to ease any post-flight stress (plus it’s pretty handy for [...]
The post-wedding blues are rife at Smith HQ, but there’s still one more reason to celebrate: a whole host of new hotels for May. Don’t go packing those flags away just yet… First up, we forayed into Portugal, combing the coast north to south in search of hotel-shaped hot cakes. Torres Vedras, north of Lisbon, [...]
Ok, so there isn’t Union Jack bunting draped around Smith HQ and we don’t have matching ‘Wills 4 Kate’ mugs, but with the country’s most anticipated nuptials nearly upon us, we thought it churlish not to get into the spirit of things. In true royal wedding style, we are indeed wondering about Kate’s dress. And [...]
Despite our recent April Fool’s fun, David Cameron won’t be assisting with subsidised dirty weekends and you can’t really gatecrash Wills and Kate’s honeymoon, but you can still plan your own. For inspiration, look no further that our latest bunch of heavenly hideaways, from Newport in Rhode Island to Italy’s golden, glam Riviera di Levante… [...]
Following up on our interview with Amanda Wakeley earlier this year (not to mention her chic weekend packing tips post), we’ve delved further into her non-stop fashion life to bring you all the best tips from her international travels. Here, the OBE-bestowed British fashion designer, brides’ best friend and all-round wonderwoman reveals the most stylish [...]
With a look book that’s generally considered to be the last word in British bridal elegance, Amanda Wakeley (OBE, if you don’t mind) is renowned for her fashion finesse (not to mention after-dark attire, if Beyoncé’s recent Vegas clubwear and Florence & the Machine‘s choice of performance get-up, below right, are anything to go by). [...]
