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Another day, another adventure.

Hotels & Spas

Hotels & Spas

Ready to spoil yourself? Enjoy these articles that celebrate some of the world’s best places to stay. Most appear here for the first time; some first appeared in the Australian Financial Review, Traveller and vogue.com.

Thimpu-Six-Senses-Bhutan-Ute-Junker

The best places to stay in Bhutan

Our pick of the best hotels in each must-visit location.

forestis-dolomites-ute-junker

Unwind at this sustainable spa retreat in the Dolomites

High in the Italian Alps, this swoonworthy bolthole proves that nature really is the greatest healer.

Southern-Ocean-Lodge-Ute-Junker

Southern Ocean Lodge Is back. Here’s our verdict

Destroyed by devastating bushfires, a new iteration rises from the ashes.

Haldane-Suite_Raffles_London_at_the_OWO

Discover London’s most memorable stay

The interiors are sumptuous, the service superb, but it’s the incredible history that sets Raffles London at the OWO apart.

Christmas at The Dorchester London

The hotels that go all-out at Christmas

One has 2000 roast turkeys on the menu. Another brings in Buddhist monks to get the new year off to a serene start.

Satori-yacht-in-the-Mediterranean-Stuart-Pearce

The best way to sail the Mediterranean

Aboard a charter yacht with vintage silverware and not one but two chefs.

dairy flat lodge kitchen

The luxury country escape designed for food fans

The day starts with an oven-fresh croissant and gets better from there.

Eden on the Celebrity Edge

The cruise ship that even design snobs will love

Set foot on Celebrity Edge and you won’t ever want to leave.

pool at Ibiza Six Senses resort

A holiday at this Ibiza resort could help you live longer (yes, really)

Forget cooking classes – at Six Senses Ibiza, they will teach you how to wind back the years.

clayoquote-wilderness-lodge-vancouver-island-ute-junker

Back to the wilderness

A decade on, this Canadian lodge is better (and more luxurious) than ever.

Enjoy an island getaway that's twice as nice.

These twin Maldives resorts deliver double indulgence

Enjoy an island getaway that’s twice as nice.

ponant-Margaux-Coupez-expedition-cruising-ute-junker

Why we love expedition cruising

From the forests of Papua New Guinea to the Arctic Circle, expedition cruises let you explore the far frontiers.

hotel-plaza-athenee-paris-ute-junker

This 100-year-old hotel is still the best in Paris

Do the French really do it better? At Hotel Plaza Athenee, the answer is yes.

That is just one of the reasons Beyonce loves to relax here.

This super-stylish Brazilian beach resort is miles from anywhere

That is just one of the reasons Beyonce loves to relax here.

kai-hotel-yufuin-japan-ute-junker

Discover Japan’s most dazzling new hotel

Inspired architecture, outstanding food, even an onsen: this Kyushu retreat has it all.

laucala-island-fiji-ute-junker

Inside Fiji’s most expensive resort

From a welcome massage to home-made Magnum ice creams, Fiji’s most exclusive island has some surprises in store.

eremito-umbria-italy-ute-junker

Silent retreats get a luxury makeover

Ready to disconnect? Then you are going to love the latest trend in luxury – the silent retreat.

spicers-tower-lodge-ute-junker

Unveiled: this Hunter Valley hideaway’s $6m renovation

It was once the area’s most luxurious lodging; now Tower Lodge is back, better than ever.

The world of wellness keeps getting bigger, with new treatments drawing on modern science and indigenous treatments.

What’s next for for spa lovers

The world of wellness keeps getting bigger, with new treatments drawing on modern science and indigenous treatments.

the-museum-hotel-antakya-turkey-ute-junker

The floating hotel that preserves ancient treasures

Showcasing 2,300 years of history, a stay at The Museum Hotel Antakya is like waking up in a museum.

glenburn-penthouse-hotel-calcutta-ute-junker

The Glenburn Penthouse is Calcutta’s most stylish bolthole

It’s as if your eccentric maiden aunt’s place had been given a makeover by an exceptionally talented stylist: inside Calcutta’s best boutique hotel.

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No more drop toilets: bush retreats go luxe

Leave the tent at home and wake up in luxury with these new-breed Aussie bush experiences.

Paris-seine-cruise-pierre-via-pixabay-ute-junker

Sailing down the Seine

I never thought I’d enjoy river cruising – but now I’m a convert, thanks to a cruise packed with ancient castles, modern art and plenty of cheese.

Hotel-Tornabuoni-Florence-Ute-Junker

Il Tornabuoni Hotel, Florence: Medici meets modern

Housed in a historic palazzo, Florence’s newest luxury hotel has a stellar location, stylish interiors, and a sun-drenched rooftop.

windjammer-underwater-breathing-ute-junker

These science-based treatments offer a new way to spa

Science meets spa at these innovative wellness retreats.

Wharekauhau-Lodge-South-Island-New-Zealand_Ute-Junker

At this New Zealand lodge, food is the main event

Just 90 minutes from Wellington, this luxury lodge has it all – including its own beaches and rivers, lakes and wetlands,

Jean-Michel-Cousteau-resort-fiji-luxury-ute-junker

Fiji’s best luxury resorts

When you need an island escape, this is where to go.

sustainability-luxury-hotels-zannier-bai-san-ho-vietnam-frederik-wissink-ute-junker

The hotels taking sustainability to new heights

For luxury hoteliers, community now matters as much as conservation.

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Six hotels in Japan we can’t wait to check in to

If the Tokyo Olympics has you dreaming of Japan, our hotel hot list will stoke your wanderlust.

best-spas-australia-crown-sydney-ute-junker

Six of Australia’s best day spas

Treat yourself to some five-star indulgence at these wellness havens.

Bamurru-Plains-luxury-lodge-safari-Australia-Emma-Pritchett-Ute-Junker

Going wild at Bamurru Plains

Immerse yourself in nature at one of Australia’s most unusual luxury lodges.

luxury-hotels-interiors-COVID-kalesma-mykonos-ute-junker

Hotel design takes a turn to tranquillity

Get to set enjoy the simple life, as hotel interiors embrace neutral colours and natural fibres.

kittawa-lodge-king-island-tasmania-ute-junker

Is this Australia’s most exclusive luxury lodge?

With just two private villas, Kittawa Lodge on King Island off Tasmania takes the luxury lodge experience to a new level.

bill-bensley-shinta-mani-wild-cambodia-luxury-wilderness-ute-junker

Luxury in the Cambodian wilderness

Bill Bensley’s spectacular tented camp, Shinta Mani Wild, lets guests experience luxury in the heart of the Cambodian wilderness.

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Four reasons to stay at The Lake House, Daylesford

You will need more than a weekend if you want to explore all the delights of The Lake House Daylesford – just 90 minutes from Melbourne.

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Best riads in Marrakech

Find your own personal oasis in Morocco’s fabled desert town.

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Luxury hiking in the Himalayas

Enjoy sweeping scenery and plenty of creature comforts in the former mountain kingdom of Sikkim.

rome-design-hotel-location-spanish-steps-hotel-de-la-ville-ute-junker

Rome’s newest design hotel has a prime location

Stylish interiors, a prime perch near the Spanish Steps and rooftop views across Rome – the Hotel de la Ville has it all.

rwanda-africa-safari-luxury-lodge-wilderness-safaris-ute-junker

Africa’s most luxurious safari lodge is in a surprising place

Rwanda’s best luxury lodge raises the bar with its next-level design and its one-of-a-kind experiences.

hotel-alexandra-copenhagen-ute-junker

Copenhagen’s best design hotels

Copenhagen is about immersing yourself in good design: so choose a hotel that lets you sleep in style.

It has indulgent treatments, a clifftop pool and spectacular al fresco treatment pavilions - but the real reason that Nihi's spa is so memorable is how you get there.

Enjoy Asia’s most memorable spa experience on this remote island

It has indulgent treatments, a clifftop pool and spectacular al fresco treatment pavilions – but the real reason that Nihi’s spa is so memorable is how you get there.

tasmania-wilderness-nature-luxury-Pumphouse-Point-Ute-Junker

Tasmania’s best wilderness hideaway

Nestled into the ancient rainforest, Pumphouse Point is a luxury lakeside retreat that is heaven for lovers of fine food.

cruises-scenic-eclipse-antarctica-cruising-food-luxury-travel-ute-junker

This five-star ship will convert you to cruising

More like a super-yacht than a cruise ship, the Scenic Eclipse sets new standards for luxury travel with its food, its suites, and its own submarine.

london-luxury-design-hotel-treehouse-bar-restaurant-ute-junker

This new London hotel is a playground for grown-ups

London’s newest luxury hotel does things differently. Its bar features vintage sofas, its restaurant feels like a forest, and in the quirkily-designed rooms you will find retro toys that take you back to your childhood.

luxury-hotel-design-restaurant-venice-interiors-ute-junker

How Venice’s new luxury hotel is breaking the mould

Venice has no shortage of five-star hotels. The city’s newest opening, however, does things differently. With contemporary interiors and a surprising location, this luxury retreat is already winning fans.

In a largely-uninhabited island archipelago, this new luxury resort offers next-level experiences, including midnight kayak adventures and world-class snorkelling right off the beach - where you may also spot turtles laying their eggs.

Reef snorkelling, midnight kayak tours: this tropical resort is simply next-level

In a largely-uninhabited island archipelago, this new luxury resort offers next-level experiences, including midnight kayak adventures and world-class snorkelling right off the beach – where you may also spot turtles laying their eggs.

A-listers from Amal and George to Victoria and David love these tropical islands. Here are three ways to see them in style. Read More...

3 ways to kick back in the Seychelles

VOGUE

A-listers from Amal and George to Victoria and David love these tropical islands. Here are three ways to see them in style. Read More…

Hayley & James Baillie like to do things differently, as the revamp of their luxury desert camp proves.

Reasons to linger at Longitude 131

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Hayley & James Baillie like to do things differently, as the revamp of their luxury desert camp proves.

Where everyone makes an entrance thanks to the dramatic gate that leads to its long palm tree-lined drive.

Belmond Mount Nelson, Cape Town

TRAVELLER

Where everyone makes an entrance thanks to the dramatic gate that leads to its long palm tree-lined drive.

A luxurious haven surrounded by chimpanzees, One & Only is bringing high-end tourism to a new part of the country.

One & Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda

TRAVELLER

A luxurious haven surrounded by chimpanzees, One & Only is bringing high-end tourism to a new part of the country.

COMO The Treasury review, Perth: Australia's best city hotel Read more: http://www.traveller.com.au/the-treasury-perth-gmesn7#ixzz5oRMOhxZF Follow us: @TravellerAU on Twitter | TravellerAU on Facebook

COMO The Treasury hotel, Perth

TRAVELLER

The service hits the mark every time: friendly, informal, & utterly faultless.

UTE JUNKER

Luxury Travel and Lifestyle - Writer, editor, podcaster. Co-founder, tonicmag.com.au

Ute Junker has been reporting on luxury travel and lifestyle for more than 20 years. She spends much of the year on the road and is happiest snorkelling a coral reef, tucking into a new cuisine, or enjoying an up-close encounter with wildlife.

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I learned something about hotel bathrooms the othe

I learned something about hotel bathrooms the other day.
Which was surprising, since this is a subject about which I’ve always had Many Thoughts.
Spending too much time in hotels over too many years, I have strong opinions on everything from the best amenities to the correct shape for a bathtub.
(Nix those round tubs – they may look great but they take forever to fill up.)
A good bathroom should have big piles of towels – I’m not going to use them all, I just want to know they’re there - and cuddly bathrobes that instantly switch me to holiday mode.
(Unless I’m in the tropics, that is, in which case I want something loose and light.)
Lights: bright. Floors: heated.
The one element I’ve never worried about too much, however, is the sink.
It’s a fairly basic piece of equipment.
You don’t spend too much time with a sink. Hand washing, teeth brushing: they’re both over fairly quickly.
The other reason you need a sink, of course, it to launder your smalls. And that’s where I’ve recently come unstuck.
Travelling through Central Asia I encountered something I haven’t seen for years: the hotel sink without a plug.
They were a thing back when I was young, exploring Asia on a couple of dollars a day, but it’s been years since I’ve seen one.
In three weeks of travel, however, only one or two of the hotels I stayed in supplied this essential luxury.
Let me tell you, it’s hard to wash your undies without a plug in the sink!
So next time I check into a high-end hotel, I’m going to revel not just in the extra-long bathtub or the high-end amenities: I’m going to thank the heavens for the simple pleasure of a sink full of water.
Find more musings on travel over at my Substack account - it’s free to sign up, and you’ll get it delivered straight to your inbox.

Next time you’re in Singapore, should you be pla

Next time you’re in Singapore, should you be planning to have dinner at @mrniland’s @fyshsingapore - and you really should - head to @singaporeedition hotel a bit earlier so you can check out the fab interiors. BYO photographer highly recommended.

No surprise that @qatarairways was named World’s

No surprise that @qatarairways was named World’s Best Airline this week - the last couple of times I’ve flown with them, they were terrific. And there’s another thing they do well too: and that’s the lounge.
They have a huge number of lounges at @dohaairport but the newest - Al Mourjan Garden Lounge, which I just tried - is something special.
It has everything you’d expect - quiet spaces, lively areas, a la carte dining - and a few added extras including a small gym, for workouts and stretching, and a full-scale spa (not the poky rooms you find in most lounges) where I had an absolutely superb massage (which you have to pay for, but it was well worth it.)
The other fabulous feature: it opens onto the airport garden, and the oxygen-rich air on your face is the best break you could ask for.
The lounge is only open to business class and first class passengers but you don’t need to be a @qatarairways frequent flyer to get in: as long as you are flying in the right class, you have access.

People come to Central Asia for its incredible his

People come to Central Asia for its incredible history and its wild natural beauty, but I want to give a shout-out to its transport. We’ve boarded high-speed trains at futurist Soviet-era stations, and travelled through high-altitude tunnels that go for 5km at a time. But it’s in our last stop, Tashkent, that I’ve had one of my favourite transport encounters.
Tashkent’s metro stations are not as grandiose as their Moscow equivalents but they were built on the same principle: that the public needs exalted spaces.
And the closest station to our hotel, Kosmonavtlar, certainly fits the bill, with its portraits of pioneering cosmonauts like Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova.

So here’s the thing about Bukhara. I’ve wanted

So here’s the thing about Bukhara.
I’ve wanted to visit Bukhara as long as I can remember. This oasis city has an incredible history stretching back several millennia, and for centuries it was a major cultural capital under both the Persians and the Arabs.
A large chunk of the city centre has a World Heritage listing in recognition of its gorgeous architecture, including mosques, madrassas, bazaars and caravanserais.
All of which is wonderful. But the other thing about Bukhara is that at this time of year it’s hot. Really hot. And let me tell you, sightseeing in 42 degrees saps you.
So here’s my hot tip: do as the locals do and head out after dinner. The temps will still be around 38 degrees but without the sun beating down on you - and with locals out in force, feasting, shopping, having fun - Bukhara by night is magical.

I’ve always loved cemeteries and burial places b

I’ve always loved cemeteries and burial places but this one is beyond compare. Sit back and let the beauty of Samarkand’s Shah-I-Zinfandel necropolis - a cluster of magnificent tombs laden with mesmerising details - wash over you.

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© 2019 Ute Junker, All Rights Reserved | Site By Design Counsel

LISTEN UP

Subscribe to my podcast I Know This Place, a series about the world’s most interesting places, seen through the eyes of the people who know them best. Join me on the road as I talk with chefs, architects, historians and more about the places that are special to them.

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Join my absolutely zero spam email list for insider travel tips and other news.

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© 2019 Ute Junker, All Rights Reserved | Site By Design Counsel

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