Ready, AIME…

Silver service at Silversea soiree
August 30, 2012
There’s something to be said for enjoying lunch with uninterrupted views of the Opera House on a gorgeous Sydney spring day. There’s another to be said for spending the time talking about cruising with one of our favourite brands, Silversea. Guests at yesterday’s lunch at Quay were presented with the luxe cruise line’s new 2013 Atlas, hot off the press and beautifully bound as a coffee table-style magazine, full of exciting destinations, itineraries and spectacular images leaving us day dreaming about where we’d like to sail.

The Atlas has something for everyone, from the inexperienced to those that call the Silver Shadow, Silver Spirit, Silver Cloud, Silver Whisper or Silver Wind their second home. Listing more than 200 sailings to 450 destinations across all seven continents, the brochure also highlights new ports that have been added to 2013’s line-up including Fukukoa in Japan, Port Arthur in Tasmania, Sabang in Sumatra and Soller de Majorca in Spain, to name a few.

This year also marks an inaugural dedicated brochure for Silver Explorer, the cruise line’s ultra high-end expedition ship. Making 28 maiden calls in 2013, the 132-passenger ship takes guests into both Polar regions and exotic destinations in between.

With no hidden extra fees, a Silversea cruise means that all you have to do is be escorted to your ocean view suite and enjoy the true opulence that surrounds, including your own personal butler to take care of everything else.





Swissotel Sydney's swish style
August 24, 2012
Completing its revamp, Swissotel Sydney has unveiled a stylish, new-look Crossroads Bar and Jpb Restaurant in time for summer punters. Located on level 8, the hotel's signature restaurant, now headed by new executive chef, Tanja Nixdorf, serves delectable contemporary dishes with a Swiss twist for dinner, while lunch patrons can sit back on the plush pods in the Crossroads Bar for a tasty bite. Warm, earthy tones have been used in the re-design of the split-level dining room, while the funky bar boasts vibrant hues and a touch of Asian inspiration with its red lanterns.





Uniworld launches 2013 Europe & Russia brochure
August 22, 2012
On a sunny Sydney day we made our way to Otto Ristorante on Woolloomooloo Wharf to chat to the team from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises about their upcoming European and Russian offerings for 2013. There's a lot to look forward to.

Next year the company will feature 30 itineraries around the region, including six new programs focused on Central and Eastern Europe as well as the end of year holiday period. Other highlights are the new trips along the Po River and the Venice Lagoon on the 13-day "Splendours of Italy" and eight-day "Venice and the Po River" journeys.

The season will also see Uniworld introduce its latest luxury build, Queen Isabel, to the Douro River of Spain and Portugal. As part of a million dollar refurbishment, the River Countess has undergone a major remodel to reflect the spirit and heart of Italy in preparation of its inaugural season. Several of Uniworld's fleet, including River Duchess and River Royale, have also been refurbished.

To help celebrate the launch of this new program, Uniworld is giving two people the opportunity to win a 15-day cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam on the "European Jewels" itinerary. Enter the photo caption competition via the brand's Facebook page before the end of October, 2012, to go in the draw.



Singapore's new star
August 20, 2012



Singapore's fashion elite and style setters were treated to a swank private party at the waterside Glass House on Sentosa Island last week. The occasion? The upcoming launch of the W Singpaore - Sentosa Cove hotel.

More than 300 guests sipped cocktails and moved to suave W signature sounds while enjoying a night of great food, warm breezes and entertainment by local acts and DJs.

Vacations & Travel magazine, who's senior staff are partial to some bubbles or a well mixed martini, slipped in to cover the event and as glamorous as it was, it's just the first of many events to be hosted by the hip hotel, which will throw open its doors on September 16. Needless to say, we're predicting that this will become the hottest NYE party destination in the city-state.

Sentosa Cove has undergone massive developments of late with amazing residential waterfront villas and apartments already among the most sought after and expensive real estate in the world. The opening of the W Singapore - Sentosa Cove is the icing on the cake - we're looking forward to coming back post-opening as all the development settles down to see how this exciting precinct takes on a personality of its own. -Anthony Gallagher











Siam in Sydney
August 10, 2012



It’s not often the Director of a successful hotel chain has time to share life stories about travel, golf, and the secret to running a thriving business, but we were amongst a handful of lucky guests to meet with the man behind Siam @ Siam Design Hotel & Spa during his brief trip down under. The group’s signature boutique Bangkok hotel is well known amongst international travellers for its innovative take on design, encompassing an industrial art concept with the natural elements of earth, water, wind and fire to its stunning interior. Siam @ Siam is now bringing these unique elements to the beaches of Pattaya when it launches a brand new property in October 2013. Listening to what is in store for the new hotel - a possible split-level rooftop swimming pool with stunning views – we like what we heard.

Colombia, but not as you know it
August 10, 2012



Our penultimate day in Colombia, and we have to admit we've been surprised by just about everything we've seen. The last couple of days have been spent in the country's coffee triangle, where we've enjoyed a spot of ziplining over plantain and coffee crops; horse riding past waterfalls; and mountain biking down some of the steepest terrain we've ever encountered (still sore from the latter - ouch!). And then there are the hotels. Highlights include the gorgeous Bambusa Hacienda, where all-white rooms come decorated with bespoke furniture and colourful artworks and lush gardens envelop a swimming pool, and Sazagua, with its tiered plum-coloured buildings and semi-open dining areas. Who new Colombia was so chic? -Natasha Dragun

Cartagena calling!
August 6, 2012



Day seven in South America and we've finally landed in the Colombian city of Cartagena. And we don't want to leave. We've spent the day exploring the historic streets of the Old City, where buildings are painted a rainbow of colours and salsa music is de rigueur. Sundowners were at Cafe del Mar, which enjoys a waterside perch on top of the old city walls. And now we're off on a boat cruise to explore the offshore islands dotting the Caribbean. More to come. -Natasha Dragun

Hyatt’s healthy habits
August 3, 2012



Guests visiting Hyatt hotels worldwide will notice a change in the in-house dining options available, with the hotel group now taking a lighter approach to keep in line with its new food philosophy of healthier eating. We were lucky guinea pigs for some delicious dishes served at Sydney’s newly revamped, Park Hyatt earlier this week, even somehow convincing guests the decadent dessert was a healthy treat. With a more conscientious effort to develop dishes, executive chefs across the hotel’s portfolio are testing their regions producers to uncover the finest locally sourced products available before plating up smaller portions for guests, all in a bid toward its sustainable cuisine movement. The initiative comes soon after the innovative, “For Kids By Kids” menu, promoting healthier habits, was released last month to younger customers in USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

Let it snow, let it snow
July 30, 2012



We're in Falls Creek enjoying incredible views, soft snow and oh-so-tasty gluhwein. As non-skiers we're trying our hand - mostly dragging our feet - at ski biking. A fantastic way for beginners to hit the slopes with private lessons provided on the kiddy runs, making us feel part of the snow-packed action. Staying in the direct ski-in, ski-out homely Trackers Mountain Lodge, we're surrounded by 360 degrees of spectacular scenery. We suspect it's time to hit the spa before being served a seven-course degustation by the open fire, after all, ski holidays are supposed to be indulgent.



Santiago a-go-go
July 30, 2012



We've arrived in Santiago, the Chilean capital, after a great flight with LAN - have to say, was very impressed with the Pisco sours and dulce de lece in Business Class (the flat beds were also pretty nice!). Coming in to land in Santiago was particularly special, as the city is framed by the soaring mountains of the Andes. To combat jet lag we sampled a couple more Piscos, ate some fantastic seafood and enjoyed a walking tour of town, which is flat and safe and very pleasant to explore. We're moving on tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates.

Silversea sails in style
July 27, 2012



In true Silversea fashion, the stunning Silver Cloud sailed into what can be described as a glittering London last night, concluding its 16-day Baltic cruise that commenced in Copenhagen. The luxury cruise ship, accommodating just under 300 lucky guests, is small enough to sail up the River Thames into the heart of the city, just in time for the start of the Olympic Games this weekend.

Muscat on our mind
July 19, 2012



After two nights in Salalah, we're back in Muscat and have checked in to the sublime Shangri-La - which is actually three hotels in one. There's a family-friendly property, a business hotel, and an adult's only resort. Naturally, we're in the latter (Al Husn)! It comes with a private beach and pool, and rooms have balconies overlooking a fab stretch of sand. There are some 20 restaurants across the three areas. We tried out the signature Moroccan eatery, Shahrazad, where we enjoyed an endless parade of specialties courtesy of the entirely Moroocan restaurant team. Reviews and photos to come. Our Deluxe room is divine, with niceties ranging from complimentary minibar and Wi-Fi to Moorish screens, a huge soaking tub and L'Occitane amenities. Tomorrow we check out and make our way to the cool highlands. Stay tuned for details!

Oman to the max
July 17, 2012



It's day three in Oman today, and we've seen everything from drop-dead-gorgeous hotels to dromedaries. After a night in Muscat, staying at the fabulous Chedi resort - more on this place to come later - we flew down south to the coastal city of Salalah. Yesterday was all about eating: breakfast was finger bananas and coconut from roadside stalls; lunch was a Yemeni-influenced feast, enjoyed picnic-style on the floor of a traditional restaurant; afternoon tea was the traditional Oman dessert of halwa; and dinner was camel kebabs by the sea. Today we're off to climb mountains - probably a good thing considering that we can feel our waistline expanding as we speak! Stay tuned for updates.

Get your skates on this winter
July 17, 2012



Sydneysiders should be flocking to the beach this cold season, following Bondi’s transformation into a winter wonderland complete with ice-skating by the water. As part of The Sydney Winter Festival, visitors of all ages can enjoy fun on the ice before warming up in the Alpine Lodge with a hot chocolate. The rink, emblazoned with the Royal Caribbean logo, is part of a new promotion for the cruise line tying in with the imminent arrival of Voyager of the Seas. From November, Voyager will become Australia’s largest cruise ship to be deployed specifically for this market and will boast the region’s first onboard ice-skating rink at sea.

Japan Ease
July 13, 2012



We've long been a fan of Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige's work – his countless woodblock creations are some of the greatest examples of traditional ukiyo-e prints ever produced. So we were rather excited to hear that a collection of his works, the complete series of Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, would be coming to Sydney. The Mayor of Taito City, Mr Hiroshi Yoshizumi, opened the exhibition last night, with introductory talks provided by experts on Hiroshige's artworks – 20 of which were accompanied by photos from the Taisho era (1912-26) and Edo period (1603-1868). The exhibit will be on display at the Japan Foundation Gallery until August 9. Don't miss out.

We’re fans of Mandarin Oriental
July 12, 2012



We were delighted to rub shoulders with select managers of Mandarin Oriental properties across the globe in Sydney yesterday, in town as part of their whirlwind Australian trip. Announcing exciting updates and giving us a first look of soon-to-open properties - including Paradise Bay in Bodrum Turkey, an all-villa private walled hotel in Marrakech, and a new hotel in Chengdu, China, occupying a glistening multi-purpose building - the team hosted media and tourism officials at Rose Bay's waterside Pier restaurant. Thankfully the sun was shining! The MO group’s expansion is well on track to complement the existing 45 hotels in 28 countries around the world. We also got a sneak peek at the new "Fans of Mandarin": Kevin Spacey, Christian Louboutain, Sophie Marceau and Karen Mok. The stars join other famous "fans" such as Liam Neeson, Barry Humphries and Harry Connick, Jr., to name a few. In 2013, the group celebrates the 50th birthday of their flagship property, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, with special events hosted year-round at the luxurious property in the heart of the city.

iFly brings back the dinosaurs
July 11, 2012


They may have been extinct for some time now – 65 million years to be exact – but dinosaurs roared back to life entertaining visitors of all ages at the Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures last weekend. As Australia's premier treetop experience, set some 20-30 meters above the ground level, iFly offers visitors an unparalleled view across the Illawarra, South of Sydney. The dinosaur puppet shows, which were held over three consecutive weekends, were part of a new series of performances for Illawarra Fly's youngest fans, under a specially designed iFly 4 Kids program. Those that missed the dinosaurs need not fear: Snow @ The Fly commences in September, just in time for school holidays, treating kids to a winter wonderland. Parents are advised to pre-book via Illawarra Fly's website.

New places to meet at Uluru
July 6, 2012



Come October, Voyages will have completed more than AU$29.5-million worth of upgrades on its hotels and resorts at Uluru. The makeover is being revealed in stages, and we went along to the unveiling of the Ayers Rock Resort’s new Uluru Meeting Place last night. Held at Sydney’s Sofitel hotel, the soiree was hosted by Voyages’ managing director, Koos Klein, with live music performed by indigenous entertainers – the company is dedicated to hiring and training indigenous employees.

A bit about Uluru Meeting Space: It features a modern conference centre as well as one ballroom able to seat 420 people and  another with a capacity for 300 people. The space is part of the Ayers Rock Resort complex, which comprises the five-star Sails in the Desert Hotel, the Desert Gardens Hotel, the self-contained Emu Walk Apartments, the Camel Hotel, Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge and the Ayers Rock Campground. Phew!

Voyages also own Uluru’s Longitude 131 resort – a set of seriously stylish “tents” offering unbeatable views of the rock.




Sheraton gets social




We raised our glass to toast Sheraton on the Park Sydney last Thursday at the global launch of their newest initiative, Sheraton Social Hour. Some 70 key guests packed the hotel’s Conservatory Bar to sample a fine range of bubbles and wines as part of their Wines of the World premium range – with Chandon being the pick of the crop last night. The new program offers guests a specially curated menu of premium wines and weekly tasting events between 5pm and 7pm across more than 240 participating Sheraton hotels around the world. Hoping to encourage more social interaction between locals and visitors, those in Australia can enjoy the experience for a flat fee of AU$15 in Sydney, Gold Coast and Port Douglas on various days of the week.

High time for high coffee
June 21, 2012



Coffee aficionados across town are applauding the InterContinental Sydney for making little black beans classy and introducing Australia to a new concept in dining: the High Coffee Experience. We were on hand to trial the new offering at a pre-launch event hosted by celebrated chef and coffee connoisseur, Stefano Manfredi, who collaborated with the hotel on the project. Taking the traditional afternoon tea to the top, the High Coffee features a feast of savouries and sweets complemented by tastings of Espresso di Manfredi by Piazza D’Oro coffee. Starting with an Espresso di Manfredi Spice Martini and finishing with Café Corretto - a shot of Espresso di Manfredi “corrected” with a shot of grappa - the experience is available between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day at the Cortile lounge, but coffee lovers beware: bookings are essential. 



A mad hatters tea party
June 13, 2012
We were among the lucky guests of Virgin Atlantic's Mad Hatters Tea Party last night to celebrate the Sydney Film Festival, with the airline major sponsors of the British Film segment. The soiree was inspired by the airline’s new “High Tea” offering on its Upper Class service from Sydney to Hong Kong. The evening of British hospitality with a Virgin twist also included a rather rambunctious British comedian getting the crowd well and truly wound up before concluding the night with a private screening in Gold Class of My Brother The Devil, also attended by the filmmaker, Sally El Hosain.


 

and Peter Hession (Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas), among others. Thanks to the lovely team from Gate7 (Jo, Kristy, Melanie, Beth) for a great evening. And get to Vegas people! We will be...