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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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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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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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Paris // 10 photos to have you dreaming of a getaway
Paris is a city unlike any other. It evokes a range of emotions. I feel like a free-spirited wanderer when walking the streets and lanes. I feel like a romantic when sitting in the parks. And the very first time I visited over 15 years ago, I cried because it pulled at my heart. I never stopped dreaming of Paris. Paris cannot be described; it can only be felt. So sit back and enjoy a photo journey that will have you dreaming of your next visit to Paris. Do you love taking a visual journey through beautiful cities? Well check out my story on 10 photos to have you dreaming…
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Luxe Stays // Burgenstock Resort, Switzerland
Like many of us, I get my travel inspiration from Instagram. And one day aimlessly scrolling through my feed, I saw this image pop up. And I just knew I had to organise a luxe stay! It took a bit of saving. But eventually, I arrived at the magnificent, very luxe, Burgenstock Resort, nestled high above Lake Lucerne. The Arrival Burgenstock is accessible by road but to gain the full experience of opulence you really need to arrive by boat. I arrived into Lucerne by train on a perfectly blue-sky morning. The luxurious, high-speed Burgenstock Catamaran conveniently departs from the wharf directly opposite the train station. It’s a 30-minute trip…
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Luxe Stays // Top 5 luxury pool villas to self-isolate
Do you wish you had warning on COVID-19? So you could jet off somewhere luxurious and be ‘stranded’ in self-isolation? Here's some inspiration of my favourite Middle East private pool villas.
