February 1, 2022
Seaplane or speedboat? Beach or water villa? A guide to the most important considerations when picking a Maldives resort...
October 1, 2020
My comprehensive guide on all of the steps you need to follow, costs and timescales, if you're planning to visit Dubai during COVID.
September 4, 2020
I was a little sceptical about coming to the Amalfi coast. I figured that if I was ever going to enjoy a summer here it would be at a time when it was less crowded and hopefully less expensive. Neither of which turned out to be particularly true.
August 19, 2020
Since becoming one of the worst hit countries at the very beginning of the COVID pandemic, Italy has seen a massive reversal in its fortunes.
It is now one of the safest countries in all of Europe and has seen a steady influx of tourists, willing to adjust their behaviour in order to enjoy the piazzas, galleries and trattorias without the crowds.
Rome was our first stop on this trip and as such it became the gauge by which we measured the rest of our time in the country.
March 10, 2019
Whilst Sydney is undeniably the more famous city, with the likes of Bondi beach and the Opera House drawing millions of visitors each year, ask most Australians and they'll tell you that Melbourne has it firmly beaten when it comes to bars, coffee shops and restaurants. With four days to explore the city I went all out to eat and drink my way through everything the city had to offer...
September 30, 2018
The day I flew all the way to Brazil in First class, just to have dinner in one of the world's top restaurants, before choking out the chef. Standard...
October 23, 2017
The Conrad Maldives has a huge variety of different eating and drinking establishments located across both islands. The most famous of which is Ithaa, the underwater restaurant, which I personally didn't bother with - it is universally derided for being an eye wateringly expensive tourist trap (I did clear a little bit of debris off the glass ceiling for the poor suckers inside, during our orientation dive though ?.)
Whilst it is easy enough to drastically reduce the cost of accommodation here, you will realistically need to budget at least an additional $50 per person per day in order to eat lunch and/or dinner. Add to this the cost of the seaplane transfers and you can see that this is still by no means a cheap holiday, even if you are getting it 'cheaper'.
October 5, 2017
One of the major advantages that the Conrad has over other Maldivian resorts is its sheer size. There is undoubtedly a charm in being able to walk around your entire island resort in five minutes but I imagine that after a couple of nights things start to get pretty boring.
With ten different bars and restaurants to choose from, all with their own unique identities and cuisines, the Conrad does not suffer from a lack of options. There are also tennis courts, two infinity pools, numerous watersports and several beaches, as well as a house reef.
If you are staying in a beach villa you'll be located on the Main Island whilst the majority of the water villas are across the water on the Quiet Island. Either way, you'll probably find yourself moving back and forth between the two islands throughout your stay, although most people tend to have a favourite...
June 11, 2017
Siem Reap has a thriving culinary scene, with some of its restaurants factoring into conversations about the top eateries in Asia, with many of them having a positive social angle...
June 10, 2017
Being driven around in an air conditioned Lexus was great in and of itself but better still was the endless supply of icy cold towels and water and of course the friendly conversation from the man himself. I made all the arrangements via email, which he responded to very quickly.
June 6, 2017
As we were only in town for one night and I’ve been to Bangkok countless times before, we tried to check out a few new places, mostly within walking distance of the Conrad Bangkok. The Conrad’s central location, right next to Sukhumvit, meant that we were right in the heart […]
April 7, 2017
Cuca – Jimbaran Trendy restaurant offering very modern and expertly executed tapas Cuca restaurant is a modern glass and concrete building set in an expanse of private gardens, very close to the Intercontinental in Jimbaran. The main premise of the restaurant is that money is saved by keeping ingredients as local as […]
December 26, 2016
On this weekend trip I stayed with friends in Jersey City. JC is a place that still gets a bad rep from New Yorkers, despite being 5 minutes from lower Manhattan on the PATH train, most people think of it as being somewhere vaguely near Jupiter.
November 22, 2016
Coffee shops, bars, restaurants and culture. How to spend 24 hours in Helsinki like The Luxury Traveller...
October 19, 2016
This southernmost region of Bali is breathtaking, clifftop views and white sand beaches abound. This natural beauty has led to a proliferation of high end resorts.
October 19, 2016
Ubud has something for everyone: mountains, waterfalls and jungle; Laid back or action-packed; Down and dirty or refined and elegant.
Ubud holds a very special place in my heart and I hope I've inspired one or two of you to check it out too!
October 19, 2016
'The Island of the Gods' is a varied and wonderful place, with its many regions offering very different experiences...
October 15, 2016
Last time I recommended Katz's Deli on Houston. I can't come to New York and not a get a Pastrami sandwich. However, near to the Andaz is 2nd Avenue Deli...
October 15, 2016
Here I was, ready to head to Ireland for the first time (albeit very briefly) before spending a weekend in New York City whilst flying in both First and Business class.
September 1, 2016
Dinner on our single night in NYC was at ABC Kitchen. This is a lively, trendy restaurant and bar tucked away near Union Square. The food was fantastic