Category: Oceania
Top 10 luxury hotels on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
By jduttonsmith on Feb 09, 2012 in Accommodation, Australia, Bars, Events, Going Out, Hotels, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany
As the host of the recently announced 2018 Commonwealth Games, the world’s attention will turn towards Australia’s Gold Coast. It was the 42 kilometres of uninterrupted beach that first drew travellers to the region. However today, while the beach remains as a family favourite, it’s the theme parks, a 24-hour casino and a thriving nightlife 
12 reasons to visit Hamilton Island, Australia in 2012
By Paul Johnson on Jan 29, 2012 in Australia, Cruises & Boat Travel, Events, Food and Drink, Oceania, Regions, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany
From prestigious events to world-class cultural encounters and fabulous natural attractions, here are 12 defining reasons to include Hamilton Island, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, in an Australian itinerary in 2012: JANUARY Visitors to Hamilton Island have over 60 activities to choose from including go-karting, bushwalking, scuba diving, parasailing, squash, tennis, fishing, sailing, 
The top 25 luxury hotels in the world
By Paul Johnson on Jan 23, 2012 in Accommodation, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, California, Caribbean, Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, Europe, Germany, Hotels, Illinois, Indonesia, Japan, Middle East, North America, Oceania, Oman, Regions, Resorts, South America, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Utah, Western Europe, Worldwide
Tripadvisor has once again published its Travellers’ Choice awards – this time for 2012. The top 25 hotels in the worldwide luxury category are as follows: 1. Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo – Chiyoda, Japan 2. Hotel Imperial Vienna – Vienna, Austria 3. Hotel Palacio de la Magdalena – Soto del Barco, Spain 4. La Casa 
Book review: Moon Handbooks Tahiti by David Stanley
By Paul Johnson on Jan 16, 2012 in Books, Oceania, Pacific Islands, Regions, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
Although arguably not as famous as the Lonely Planet books, Moon Handbooks have been in production for over 30 years and are renowned for their wide appeal, from families through to solo adventurers. Landing on my desk recently was their guide to Tahiti written by David Stanley. The first thing to note is that the 
An Australian first: hot air balloon flights launching from Uluru
By Paul Johnson on Jan 10, 2012 in Adventure Travel, Air Travel, Australia, Leisure Travel, Oceania, Speciality Travel
For the first time ever, visitors to Ayers Rock – aka Uluru – will be able to enjoy one of the best views as dawn falls over Australia’s Red Centre. The service will begin in March 2012, courtesy of Outback Ballooning. Flights will last around 30 minutes and pass over the Patji region just outside 
The 3 most luxurious cruise routes for the super rich
By Sal Clinton on Dec 14, 2011 in Alaska, Central America, Cruises & Boat Travel, New Zealand, North America, Oceania, Panama, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel, USA
We’re all aware that cruising is one way to have a sensational vacation. But there is cruising… and then there is luxury cruising. If you didn’t think six-star quality existed you’d be wrong, because the luxury that can be found on some of the highest end cruise ships have it ready and waiting for anyone 
The top 5 luxury destinations in Australia
By Dean van Es on Dec 12, 2011 in Accommodation, Australia, Hotels, Oceania, Resorts, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel
Lilianfels Blue Mountain Resort & Spa Lilianfels is luxury at its finest. There are 85 rooms available, each with a comforting theme. Choose from pink, green or lilac flowery rooms to relax in. The magnificent views of the mountains from your room may keep you from wanting to leave at all. Indulge in a warming 
Top 10 cities for theatre lovers
By Simon Hagger on Dec 07, 2011 in Asia, Australia, Austria, Eastern Europe, Europe, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Leisure Travel, New York, North America, Oceania, Russia, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, USA, Western Europe
Whether you’re an opera addict or a ballet buff, visiting a theatre district can be the perfect way to enrich your city break or holiday. We take a look at some of the world’s cultural nerve centres to find the best destinations for fans of all things theatrical. Milan Stylish and refined, this chic city 
Escaping to Australia's Heron Island just got easier
By Paul Johnson on Dec 02, 2011 in Air Travel, Australia, Leisure Travel, Oceania, Regions, Speciality Travel
Virgin Australia’s new twice-daily service from Brisbane to Gladstone, Mondays to Fridays, allows visitors to Australia even easier access to the tropical paradise of Heron Island. Renowned for wonderful diving and snorkelling right off the island’s beautiful white sandy beaches, Heron Island is the perfect introduction to the delights of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with 
Who will be first to see in the New Year in 2012?
Samoa Tourism Authority‘s official plan to switch time zones to the west of the international dateline will make it become the first place to see the sunrise in 2012. Samoa currently lies to the east of the dateline, a decision made 120 years ago to keep the nation in the same time zone as the
Top 5 luxurious Sydney hotels
During your Sydney vacation you deserve luxury treatment and there is no shortage of luxury accommodations available to treat like you like a queen or a king. Read on for our guide to the best of the best in the land Down Under, including hotels and private rentals. Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay
I’m a celebrity, get me in here!
By Dominic Speakman on Nov 16, 2011 in Accommodation, Australia, Celebrities, Hotels, Oceania, Regions, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany
So, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here has returned to our screens. For some, this is a cause for celebration and more daily discussions in the office (I’ll bring my earplugs) whilst for others it’s just another addition in a long list of reality TV shows that seem to be so popular these 
Interview with Simon Pardoe, Director of The Healthy Holiday Company
By Paul Johnson on Nov 03, 2011 in Africa, Croatia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Fiji, Going Out, Interviews, Italy, Oceania, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Zambia
Simon Pardoe is a director and co-owner of The Healthy Holiday Company, which owns three luxury healthy holiday brands: fitscape, destination yoga and in:spa. Established in 2003, the company is now the UK’s leading provider of healthy holidays with a selection of large private villas and boutique hotels in Italy, Spain, Morocco, France, Greece and 
Interview with Jean-Christophe Nager, General Manager, The Pavilions, Phuket
By Kay McMahon on Oct 15, 2011 in Accommodation, Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Cambodia, Caribbean, Europe, Interviews, Italy, Maldives, Oceania, Philippines, Regions, Resorts, Switzerland, Thailand, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe
Jean-Christophe Nager is the General Manager of The Pavilions, Phuket, a 5-star luxury resort built on a hill-top on the delightful island of Phuket. A Swiss national with more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Jean-Christophe (JC) graduated from Collège St-Michel, Fribourg, in Switzerland in 1978 and studied photography in Montreal, Canada for a 
The results of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2011 are in...
By Paul Johnson on Oct 11, 2011 in Accommodation, Africa, Air Travel, Asia, Caribbean, Central America, China, Cruises & Boat Travel, Eastern Europe, Europe, Hotels, Illinois, Japan, Magazines, Middle East, North America, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, South America, South Carolina, Speciality Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature, USA, Western Europe, Worldwide
Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and resorts worldwide. The awards appear in the November issue (on newsstands from 18th October 2011) and are derived from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice survey. This year, a record 28,876 readers 
