With the Southern Hemisphere winter well and truly underway, at Smith HQ in Melbourne we’re feeling sodden, sniffly and in serious need of some sunshine. As luck would have it, our frosty months coincide with Fiji’s mild dry season – so pack a suitcase full of swimmers and make haste for Pacific paradise, Royal Davui Island [...]
As our globe-trotting readers will know, there’s an exclusive Smith extra waiting for you at all our luxury boutique hotels around the world, thanks to our free Mr & Mrs Smith membership. But sometimes, this little treat is so tantalising we simply have to dispatch someone to try it out. This week we spent an [...]
This week, we’re setting our sights on a mid-year minibreak full of rest, relaxation and retail therapy. Celebrate the solstice with a stay in the heart of Hong Kong, at boutique city hotel Ovolo 2 Arbuthnot Road. Style Futuristic city slicker Setting In-the-thick-of-it Central Why this week? Take cue from the changing weather and skip town for a [...]
This week we’re dusting off the ski boots and setting our sights on snow-covered slopes. Swap rainy cityscapes for jaw-dropping mountain panoramas at Azur Lodge in New Zealand, set on the hills over Queenstown’s spectacular Lake Wakatipu. Style: Luxe lakeside lodges Setting: Lush Queenstown hillside Why this week? As the southern hemisphere’s cooler months creep up, it’s the [...]
This week we’re wowed by the warm waters and white beaches of the Maldives. With its palm-dotted sands, piercing blue seas, overwater spa and underwater restaurant, family-friendly hotel Anantara Kihavah Villas is the stuff of desert-island dreams. Style Breezy seaside retreat Setting Blissful Baa Atoll Why this week? If you’re already setting your sights on school holidays [...]
Longing to live the high life? Ascend from the world of mere mortals to Spicers Peak Lodge, a summit-set haven in rustic Queensland’s Scenic Rim. Within easy reach of Brisbane, this mountain retreat offers gourmet dining, outdoor pursuits, spa pampering and vineyard-hopping in Australia’s Granite Belt wine region. Style Luxe modern chalet Setting Peak plateau Why this [...]
Xin Nian Kuai Le! Or for the Cantonese speakers out there, Gung Hay Fat Choi! Wherever you’re celebrating Chinese New Year in 2013 we wish you well, and welcome to the Year of the Snake… It is officially this Sunday 10 February but expect fireworks, feasting and family visits for at least five days kicking [...]
Escape the ennui of the everyday with a dose of the extraordinary at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in Chiang Rai. Perched in the jungle hills of northern Thailand, the hotel boasts gorgeous views of the Mekong River, Myanmar and Laos, and an elephant camp on its doorstep. Style Northern Thai splendour Setting Three-country crossroads Why [...]
Can’t decide between a chill-out holiday or a cultural break? Boutique retreat Alila Ubud in Bali offers a serene mix of both, with poolside pampering in the tropical jungle just a hop from the island’s arty heartland… Style Verdant hillside village Setting Sweet valley high Why this week? Book through Smith by 31 January to enjoy our exclusive [...]
In Melbourne‘s fashionable South Yarra, Lyall Hotel and Spa is a classy cocktail of sleek rooms, sensual day spa and chic bistro-cum-bar. It’s the go-to destination for a swathe of stars – Gwen Stefani and Paris Hilton included – as well as savvy magazine editors, who we’re sure adore the within-walking-distance designer label boutiques. Style [...]
