October Travel Hot List: ‘The new Byron’s’ cool motel and celebrity restaurant
The motel renaissance continues in Bellingen, a fashion photographer informs a new Melbourne hotel’s look and a new Bangkok property offers a serious wow factor.
★★★★
Former motel in ‘the new Byron’ gets upgrade and celebrity restaurant
The Three Blue Ducks team have taken over the restaurant at this former motel, which has also been given a contemporary new look.
- by Trudi Jenkins
Bangkok hotel has wow factor for business or pleasure
This new Bangkok hotel offers an easy switch from work to leisure to wellbeing.
- by Julietta Jameson
New Melbourne hotel takes cool cues from legendary fashion photographer
Hotel Indigo is a celebration of Helmut Newton’s local connection and his overall illustrious (and often controversial) legacy.
- by Julietta Jameson
Retro UK motels get the Soho House treatment
American-style roadside stays aren’t typically associated with Britain, but new budget-luxe chain Mollie’s dares to change all that.
- by Sonia Taylor
Luxury lodge makes this remote country more appealing than ever
Some 600,000 people visited the Himalayan nation of Nepal in the first eight months of 2023. Less than a tenth of that figure visited the nearby Kingdom of Bhutan.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★½
Surprising Aussie connection for this luxurious Mexican resort
Luxury hotel brand Belmond’s Riviera Maya property has been one of the top resorts in the region since the ’90s. After a major upgrade, it’s now even better.
- by Ute Junker
★★★★½
This fishing lodge might be Queensland’s most luxurious
More than a high-end stay, Noosa Sportfishing Lodge offers a premium experience unparallelled in the region.
- by Katherine Scott
★★★★★
Singapore’s incredible green hotel is a glimpse of the future today
Cascading foliage, bulbous curves: first-timers do a double-take when they arrive at this Singapore hotel.
- by Jane Richards
Major overhaul of Fiji’s first five-star resort nears completion
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort is polishing its stars with a revamp as the island nation enjoys a boom in visitors.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★
This old-school Victorian motor inn is now fun and fabulous
Following a serious facelift, this former motel near Bright in north-east Victoria has morphed into a swish boutique hotel.
- by Sue Wallace
★★★★½
This amazing glamping resort shows Saudi Arabia can be fun
Arabia is the birthplace of glamorous camping, so it’s no surprise this resort near the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Hegra is a glamping masterclass.
- by Belinda Jackson
★★★★
Virgin’s cheeky new hotel is perfect for an adults-only New York stay
Rooms featuring playful touches like a “couples pack” and peephole suggest this is not the place for families.
- by Kylie McLaughlin
Iconic London building transforms into luxury hotel
An intriguing war-time meetings hub is about to make its debut as Raffles London at The OWO.
- by Julietta Jameson
You can now stay in this opulent villa inspired by 17th century Malay palaces
YTL Hotels has opened what it calls its most opulent villa, the House of Terengganu at Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia.
- by Julietta Jameson
Sydney’s new airport hotel might be the city’s coolest
It might be near the airport, but the Moxy is luring locals with good music, booze, coffee and great design.
- by Julietta Jameson
Up-and-coming part of Amsterdam gets cool new hotel
Amsterdam is taking measures to dial back mass tourism and its reputation (among some sorts) as a den of iniquity.
- by Julietta Jameson