If you love travelling (like we do), we’re sure you’re always on the hunt for a new hotel or destination to head to for your next holiday! Here are some great spots and hotel deals to check out.
Open this year!
TOKYO: The newly opened AC Hotel Tokyo Ginza is a modern Marriott hotel positioned ideally in the city’s upmarket shopping and entertainment district. Guests are welcomed with pâte de fruits served with an aperitif or digestif on arrival, before checking in to one of the 296 rooms, all of which are bathed in loads of natural light, and come with complimentary Wi-Fi. marriott.com
BALI: The luxurious Raffles Bali has opened in Jimbaran Bay, offering private pool villas and amazing ocean views. Less than 30 minutes from the airport, each villa features indoor and outdoor showers, rattan furniture, local textiles, daybeds and a private garden with a gazebo. Guests can call on their Raffles Wellbeing Butler to arrange excursions and other activities during their stay. raffles.com/bali
NEW ZEALAND: Park Hyatt is opening its first NZ property in September. Park Hyatt Auckland is located by the waterfront and its rooms and suites feature Maori accents such as custom-designed tukutuku panels and wool rugs. The hotel will house various eateries and bars, including signature restaurant Onemata that serves New Zealand seasonal produce, and the Captain’s Bar for classic cocktails with a local twist. parkhyattauckland.com
Nordic Adventure
Once we’re back in the travel saddle, it’ll be nice to try a very different kind of getaway. How about a thrilling sea safari on the west coast of Norway? Scott Dunn offers a seven-night package to the Norwegian fjords, where you can enjoy gorgeous scenery and get up close to wildlife including seals, eagles and puffins. Popular spots to visit include the seal colony at Grasøyane and the Runde Bird Sanctuary. Find out more at scottdunn.com.
Gift of Travel
Luxury resort brand Aman has introduced gift cards that can be used for accommodation, dining, spa treatments, retail or activities. Order them online with cash values ranging from under $20 to more than $30,000! Valid for three years from the date of issue, they can be sent through the post or emailed to the purchaser or recipient. At the end of their stay, guests will be able to present the gift card to get deductions from their bill. (Valid for all Aman destinations, except China.) aman.com/gift-card
Travel Updates
Luxury tour operator Lightfoot Travel has launched a new COVID-19 travel restrictions section on its website. It lists official travel protocols from countries all over the world and will be updated weekly. Very useful! Check it out at lightfoottravel.com/en/covid-19-travel-restrictions.
All Aboard!
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has launched The Vietage, an exclusive 12-seater luxury carriage that travels between Hoi An and Quy Nhon. During the six-hour ride, passengers can enjoy the beautiful countryside as they sip drinks at the bar, dig into a three-course meal and enjoy head and shoulder treatments. The train leaves Da Nang Railway Station each morning and returns from Quy Nhon in the evening. thevietagetrain.com
Countryside Escape
Surrounded by rice fields, Farmhouse Smiling Gecko is a stunning sustainable resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The property features traditional Cambodian stilt houses, wellness areas for massages and yoga, and outdoor spaces to enjoy nature, while local chef Mariya Un Noun whips up tasty fusion dishes. The hotel is also part of a social project, Smiling Gecko, that aims to empower locals and build a self-sufficient community. greenpearls.com/hotels/farmhouse-smiling-gecko
See more in our Travel section:
Melinda’s adventure in Italy and Europe
The story of a frequent flyer
Top things to do in Hong Kong
