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Luxury holidays

The hotel lobby.

The London hotel so fabulous, you could live in the loos

Built in the 1800s, this iconic hotel remains as stylish as ever, and a place to see London at its most vivacious.

  • Penny Watson
The new Lake Como Edition.

Como FOMO intensifies with new hotel opening

This famed area of Italy, much loved by the Byron, Napoleon and, of course, George Clooney, has turned a new page with the arrival of the Lake Como Edition.

  • Julietta Jameson
Le Bristol’s Lumiere suite, €15,000 a night plus tax.

My hotel charged $100 for a baguette. I’ll just eat a bag of chips, thanks

My hotel suite was so nice I didn’t want to leave the room, but paying exorbitant prices for room service wasn’t in the budget.

  • Lee Tulloch
The average waiter in France isn’t necessarily aloof; they’re just leaving you in peace.

French waiters, Italian drivers: How to survive travel’s tricky bits

We face many classic challenges while on the road, from dealing with dodgy taxi drivers to adapting to American tip culture.

  • Brian Johnston
The resort’s pool has been refreshed, but the popular swim-up bar remains.

Noosa’s landmark hotel has a brand-new look (and a great restaurant)

This iconic Queensland hotel has had a makeover, and its new Italian trattoria is a key attraction.

  • Trudi Jenkins
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Cocooned bed design at Garde.

One of WA’s most notorious prison complexes now has a five-star hotel

Step inside the revitalised Convict Quarter, where heritage-listed cells have been traded for luxury suites, infrared saunas and sleek Asian fusion dining.

  • Louise Goldsbury
Ayers Rock Resort.

Seeing Australia’s big attractions could soon get much easier

Journey Beyond’s acquisition of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia means cross-country rail trips, Uluru and a reef escape could all be part of one itinerary.

  • Julietta Jameson
The main pool.

There’s a new Raffles in Singapore and it’s not like the old one

This new resort came with great expectations, as the country’s second Raffles property after the best-known and most historic hotel in Singapore.

  • Craig Platt
Five star bed, no star sleep.

My five-star hotel gets no stars for ignoring my noise complaint

I was just getting into bed when I was almost blasted out of it by the sudden amplification of music from the hotel’s ballroom, directly below me.

  • Lee Tulloch
Into the Zodiac to explore Dambimangari Country and the Horizontal Falls.

The clever French invention opening up Australia’s wildest coast

Want to poke around among the mangroves at high tide? Want to get a spray from a Kimberley waterfall? The Zodiac will get you there.

  • Jim Darby