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Luxe Stay // Four Seasons Hotel, Baku
The Four Seasons brand is synonymous with luxury. And the Four Seasons Hotel in Baku is elegance with old-world charm. I first discovered this incredible property on the trusty old Instagram. I knew if I ever visited Baku, the Four Seasons was where I was staying. Located centrally between the modern city and along the medieval walls of the old town. Only minutes away from the trio of flame-shaped modern towers and steps from the Caspian Sea. The Arrival Baku was pleasantly surprising. Arriving into the modern Heydar Aliyev International Airport was not what I was expecting of a country straddling Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The new terminal was opened…
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Burj al Arab // Inside Dubai’s jewel of the desert
Burj al Arab, one of the most iconic hotels in the world. Known as a seven-star luxury retreat where only the rich and famous can stay. Where Agassi and Federer played a game of tennis on the rooftop helipad. And where there is more security at the gate than at Fort Knox. But did you know normal people, like me, can still get access? Burj al Arab sits on an artificial island 280 metres from Jumeirah Beach. It is connected to the mainland by a private curved bridge. There is heavy security on the bridge, and you must have a room or dining reservation to be able to enter. All…
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Luxe Stay // Jumeirah Vittaveli, Maldives
I had been dreaming of visiting a tropical island in the Maldives. Sandy white beaches. Crystal clear turquoise ocean. Drinking cocktails out of coconuts. I thought I would visit with my future husband. We all know the Maldives are only for loved up couples…. right? Well wrong! I was a single, independent woman and I was not waiting for a future husband to take me to the Maldives. So, when I randomly quit my job, I booked a flight. And 48 hours later I landed in Male. The Arrival The arrivals hall at Male International Airport is like an open shed with 5-star hotel lounges lined up next to each…
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Tanzania // 10 photos to have you dreaming of a lion safari
Tanzania has the largest population of lions in Africa. I had dreamed of going on safari and seeing lions in the wild. And I was not disappointed. Experiencing 49 lion viewings across the most popular conservation areas in Tanzania. I saw it all. From mating lions and tree-climbing lions. To feasting lions and a beautiful pride with six playful cubs. These photos will share some of the highlights of my interaction with the Tanzanian lions in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. I had an incredible experience in Tanzania. Primarily due to the number of lions, I saw in the wild. However, lion populations have declined by half in just a…
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Portofino // Escaping life for an Italian dream
Have you ever wondered if you could escape life, where would you go? Well, I had this very conversation last week. And I have it all figured out. Portofino. You may not know where Portofino is, but I can bet you have seen the postcard. Portofino is a little fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline. It is known for its charm and has become synonymous with elegance and understated luxury. It’s where Louis Vuitton sits next to a local Italian ristorante. Where the rich and famous park their superyachts in summer. And where I dream to own a little café that serves local tapas and has a communal…
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Luxe Stay // Bayan Tree, Seychelles
I’ve never been one for a tropical island, sit on the beach or by the pool, do nothing type of person. When I plan my holidays, I do stuff. Lots of stuff. I see sights, I learn history, I meet the locals and I try to immerse myself into something new and unexplored. Well in 2018, I decided I needed a break for my birthday. So I picked a tropical-like island. I booked a private pool villa. And soon after I arrived at the Mahe Airport, Seychelles, I was heading to the Bayan Tree Resort. The Arrival I arrived in Mahe on an Emirates flight from Dubai. It’s less than…
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Dubrovnik // exploring the pearl of the Adriatic
Dubrovnik was my third stop in my road trip through the Balkans. I had already visited Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I had visited Croatia previously but stayed up in the north around Zagreb. This was my first, long-awaited visit to Dubrovnik. And I really do not think I knew what to expect. A little history // Being so far south does not mean Dubrovnik escaped the conflict during the break-up of Yugoslavia. In 1991 Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers of the Yugoslav People’s Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. But after extensive restoration and repair, today it is a prominent tourist attraction.…
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Special Feature // Kangaroo Island
We are only a third of the way through 2020, but wow what a year! Firstly, an Australian summer from hell, with the country burning from bushfires. Then the floods came. And then the world stopped due to COVID-19. It may be a while before we can travel internationally again. So, it is the perfect opportunity to support our local tourism. Tourism Australia has kicked off a With Love From Aus campaign. Telling the world to take time to daydream and we will see you again soon. But as an Australian as soon as it is safe and our state borders open or lockdown is over let’s get out and…
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Luxe Stays // Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London
Soaring 125 metres into the sky The Shard is an architectural icon and Western Europe’s tallest building. With unobstructed views across all of London, you can see why a luxe stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard was on my bucket list. The Arrival I arrived in London on the Euro Star from Paris. An easy black cab ride to The Shard and I had arrived. Ok, so I was carrying a backpack and was wearing cargo pants and sneakers…no judgement! But I probably should have dressed up a little! The Shangri-La Hotel only occupies 18 floors of The Shard. The reception is on level 34. Slightly confusing if…
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Montenegro // small but mighty
I was taking a road trip through the Balkans. By the time I reached Montenegro, I had visited Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. I had heard the stories of war, the stories of resilience and the stories of hope. I was excited to be visiting Montenegro, small but mighty. A little history // Montenegro is the smallest Slavic country and is one of the newest countries in the world. It declared its independence from Serbia in 2006. Nothing about the Balkan history is straight forward. State boundaries have changed continuously over the years. Since WW1 alone Montenegro has gone through seven incarnations. It is believed that Montenegro got its…
