Travel News

Kendall Hill congratulates the winners of the 2011 Travel Awards – a rollcall of the best travel destinations, services and experiences Australia has to offer.

Standing knee-deep in a river between Thailand and Myanmar, surrounded by bathing elephants, is the definition of joy, writes Kendall Hill.

Leaning towards a group trip? With the whistlestop grand tour back in fashion, Rob Ingram boards a bus for an itinerary taking in Italy’s best-loved attractions.

A colossal undertaking is set to transform Italy’s most popular monument, writes Josephine McKenna.

Food that levitates? Check. Arabian luxury digs in the Abu Dhabi desert? Check. Planking and cold-smoking? Check. It must be the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100. Restaurants of the moment, exciting new talent, emerging trends, savvy travel tips… consider this your new global hit list.

Food that levitates? Check. Arabian luxury digs in the Abu Dhabi desert? Check. Planking and cold-smoking? Check. It must be the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100. Restaurants of the moment, exciting new talent, emerging trends, savvy travel tips… consider this your new global hit list.

Food that levitates? Check. Arabian luxury digs in the Abu Dhabi desert? Check. Planking and cold-smoking? Check. It must be the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100. Restaurants of the moment, exciting new talent, emerging trends, savvy travel tips… consider this your new global hit list.

Food that levitates? Check. Arabian luxury digs in the Abu Dhabi desert? Check. Planking and cold-smoking? Check. It must be the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100. Restaurants of the moment, exciting new talent, emerging trends, savvy travel tips… consider this your new global hit list.

Food that levitates? Check. Arabian luxury digs in the Abu Dhabi desert? Check. Planking and cold-smoking? Check. It must be the Gourmet Traveller Hot 100. Restaurants of the moment, exciting new talent, emerging trends, savvy travel tips… consider this your new global hit list.

Personal butlers, virgin jungle, mansion-like villas: welcome to the other world that is Soneva Kiri by Six Senses, where every indulgence is covered, writes Anthea Loucas.

Assessing the impact of the summer’s disasters on food and Queensland's tourism industry.

Camping needn’t be down and dirty. Kerryn Burgess pops the cork on Victoria’s flash wilderness retreats.

In the world of luxury cruising, few do it with the class of Silversea. Leo Schofield soaks up five-star life on the ocean aboard the sublime Silver Shadow.

Oprah may have only just discovered it, but we’ve always revered the unique treasure that is the Sydney Opera House. With major changes now afoot, there’s no better time to get up close and personal with our very own cultural icon.

If your stress levels are peaking but there’s no time for an overseas jaunt, check out our pick of Australian short breaks, long on luxury yet short on travel time. You’ll be unwound before your BlackBerry knows you’re gone.

History can be difficult to come by in China’s most cosmopolitan metropolis. In a bid to reimagine the city’s golden age, Kendall Hill goes in search of its last art deco treasures.

Rum, rumba and revolution. What’s not to like about the hottest city in the Caribbean? Leo Schofield is seduced by the faded glamour and glory of Havana, a time-warped city with one foot in the past and a tentative toehold on the future.

The legendary El Bulli chef has given the world far more than just foams and spheres, writes Colman Andrews.

On vacation in the Blue Mountains, Frank Moorhouse risks ordering a martini – and is amply rewarded.

From the food and the venue to the outstanding winners, the focus was on the country’s finest at this year’s Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards.

The winners’ circle in the 2010 Travel Awards is a rollcall of outstanding local holiday experiences. Put your hands together for the cream of the crop.

Copenhagen’s Noma, crowned Best Restaurant in the World, celebrates Nordic produce, much of it hand-picked from the wilds. Aussie Luke Burgess joins the cooks and foragers.

Pat Nourse talks to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, about her new book, Committed, plus pizza, the power of travel and Australian driving conditions.

Whether you can eat it, cook it, drink it, smoke it, fly it, drive it, sail it, shake, rattle, rock and roll it or just simply luxuriate in it, we’ve got 2010’s most compelling food and travel trends nailed. The GT team have combed the globe, polishing plates, swirling glasses and leaving no hot-stone treatment unturned to bring you this sizzling list.

Whether you can eat it, cook it, drink it, smoke it, fly it, drive it, sail it, shake, rattle, rock and roll it or just simply luxuriate in it, we’ve got 2010’s most compelling food and travel trends nailed. The GT team have combed the globe, polishing plates, swirling glasses and leaving no hot-stone treatment unturned to bring you this sizzling list.

Whether you can eat it, cook it, drink it, smoke it, fly it, drive it, sail it, shake, rattle, rock and roll it or just simply luxuriate in it, we’ve got 2010’s most compelling food and travel trends nailed. The GT team have combed the globe, polishing plates, swirling glasses and leaving no hot-stone treatment unturned to bring you this sizzling list.

Whether you can eat it, cook it, drink it, smoke it, fly it, drive it, sail it, shake, rattle, rock and roll it or just simply luxuriate in it, we’ve got 2010’s most compelling food and travel trends nailed. The GT team have combed the globe, polishing plates, swirling glasses and leaving no hot-stone treatment unturned to bring you this sizzling list.

Whether you can eat it, cook it, drink it, smoke it, fly it, drive it, sail it, shake, rattle, rock and roll it or just simply luxuriate in it, we’ve got 2010’s most compelling food and travel trends nailed. The GT team have combed the globe, polishing plates, swirling glasses and leaving no hot-stone treatment unturned to bring you this sizzling list.

From Albania to Afghanistan, some of the world’s most unlikely travel destinations offer unique and unforgettable experiences, writes Andrew Mueller.

Entertainer Mary Coustas, aka Effie Stephanidis, is beguiled by Greece. She shares her tips on how to embrace its quirks and become a true Hellene.

We asked a diverse mix of Greek-Australians to share their favourite experiences in the motherland. Told with heartfelt pride, these are travel tales with kefi.

At an 1850s homestead on a sheep station in the Flinders Ranges, Kendall Hill discovers a level of outback luxury that the early settlers could only have dreamed of.

Pearling may have put Broome on the map, but it’s the region’s unspoilt beauty that has kept it there. Now this West Australian tourist town has two new – and impressively green – beach resorts that will ensure its place in the sun.

Flashier holiday spots may steal the limelight, but with pristine beaches, old-school Aussie charm and a new restaurant from seafood supremo Rick Stein, the New South Wales South Coast is having its time in the sun.

Get a bird’s-eye view of South Australia’s foodie hot spots, including Kangaroo Island, the Eyre Peninsula and the Barossa Valley, from aboard a private plane. Fasten your seatbelt and stow your tray table for a delicious ride.

A stone’s throw from town, two new guesthouses are luring Sydneysiders with waterside settings and five-star hospitality. Pat Nourse sets seaplane for Berowra Waters while Emma Knowles checks into Pretty Beach House.

After a serious nip and tuck, the chic Villa Magna hotel in Madrid is doing famously, writes Kendall Hill.

Kendall Hill signs up for “jamónturismo”, the ultimate experience for devotees of the famed Iberian ham. Think of it as wine tourism for carnivores.

Fortuitously wedged between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the ancient, sun-drenched province of Cádiz entices visitors with its ramshackle charm and a cuisine shaped by the bounty of the sea.

Cue the spa gently perfumed with local herbs. Alain Ducasse’s outpost of understated luxury, L’Andana, offers guests an experience that is as rooted in the terroir as the tenacious vines in this quiet corner of Italy.

Expect fun, sun and, yes, occasional excess when you stay at the hot new clifftop resort of Sri Panwa on Thailand’s island playground. Kendall Hill kicks up his heels and experiences the life fantastic.

Kendall Hill, a firm believer in the “more is more” school of packing, learns how to travel with minimum clothing and maximum style from – who else? – a Louis Vuitton employee.

Renowned for stylish digs, sublime local fare and the kind of scenery that made the country a movie star, New Zealand’s South Island also boasts a cast of highly affordable luxury lodge experiences. Rob Ingram stays at five of the best that – best of all – won’t break the bank.

It’s no secret that recent times have been tough for Australia’s favourite holiday island. But with a raft of gorgeous new resorts, glam bars and clubs and, above all, the love of a good party, there’s no keeping Bali down. Dive in – the water’s fine.

You’ve voted, we’ve counted, and here they are, the results of the 2009 Australian Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards. Winners, take a bow.

Searching for Piedmont’s prized white truffles with a trifolau is secretive stuff, writes Kendall Hill.

Great skiing, spectacular hiking and stellar eating – San Cassiano, in the heart of the Dolomites, is where stylish Milanese go to play. Throw in small-town charm and an elegant family-run boutique hotel, and you won’t want to leave this chic mountain bolthole.

When in Rome, do as the locals do: head to Pigneto. This dynamic suburb off the tourist track is abuzz with bars, cafés and restaurants. Discover one of the city’s best-kept secrets.

The world’s cities can be divided into two categories: the early-to-bed types and the party animals. You know the former – places that are steeped in history and tradition but are no fun at night. The party towns, however, brim with youth and creativity and come alive after dark. Here are our top five picks.

It seems every aspect of our lives is over-shadowed by economic gloom, and the travel industry is no exception. But it does have some clever ideas to beat – or at least ease – the so-called credit crunch.

New York, London and Paris might be off the itinerary this year, thanks to a world recession and the dire Aussie dollar, but don’t despair. There are still places where our currency can buy lasting memories on a budget.

Some of the best food to be had in Darwin is at its many markets, where cross-cultural influences and abundant tropical produce are everywhere. Bonus: the sunsets are free.

This former royal residence, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, has been transformed into a luxury island resort – complete with its own wildlife sanctuary and ‘green mountain’.

Ever wish you had a hotline to top hoteliers, airline reps and frequent flyers to receive that elusive upgrade or get a table in the best restaurant in town at short notice? Michelle Rowe canvassed frequent flyers for their best-ever travel tips. We guarantee they’ll make you a better traveller. Bon voyage.

The luxurious Chedi Muscat hotel fuses Omani traditions with a tranquil, minimalist sensibility, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the soul of Arabia.

The $45-million renovation of the Grand Hyatt Melbourne has transformed the landmark property into a sleek space with a strong focus on food.

Each year, thousands of pilgrims make the long trek to Santiago de Compostela in Spain’s north-west to celebrate their faith. Leo Schofield discovers the riches, secular and otherwise, of this holy city.

Two new vibrant boutique hotels, each with a sharp design aesthetic, bring a dash of style to Brisbane and Canberra.

Pat Nourse has seen the future of luxury hotels, and it’s in Beijing. Opposite by name, contrary by nature, The Opposite House swims against the stream to deliver a fresh take on upmarket lodgings.

Medieval and modern merge at Murmuri Barcelona, the new design-driven boutique hotel that’s in sync with Spain’s coolest city. And it’s got more than just a murmur of style.

Pat Nourse answers all your questions about El Bulli, the world's most famous restaurant.

Being green is as easy as ABC with our guide to the places, faces and phrases of eco-travel. And soon, the only footprints we'll leave behind are on the beach.

Get the five-star treatment at Emerald Valley Villa, an Ubud-style eco-retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland, replete with waterfall and concierge.

As we finally get wise to eco-tourism, one beautiful stretch of Queensland has been quietly going about the business of sustainable tourism for years.

Antarctica. The very word sends shivers down the spine, yet so many dream of making the pilgrimage. What does the future hold for this frozen outpost at the very end of the world?

From hypersonic planes to SMS check-ins, Emily Ross reports on where the travel industry is heading.

Hollywood heavyweight Robert De Niro enters the hotel game. George Epaminondas investigates.

Matthews Evans goes in search of the city’s famed dumplings – with their fragant sticky pork, sweet fatty juices and silken skin – and discovers a whole new world in the flavours of Shanghai.

It may be the powder capital of Australia but there’s more to Mt Hotham than snow. With a boutique resort, first-class restaurants and glam spa experiences, you needn’t even hit the slopes.

Surrounded by national parkland, vineyards and unspoilt beaches, the new Injidup Spa Retreat offers a chic pampering experience in tranquil surrounds.

On the northern-most tip of the Maldives, The Beach House offers modern luxury in impossibly beautiful – and remote – surrounds.

Author Di Morrissey channels her inner Italian and falls head over heels for the Amalfi coast. Join her for the cruise of a lifetime (and a spot of shopping).

Giglio may not have the glamour of neighbouring Elba and Montecristo, but this secluded island off the coast of Tuscany has its own charms, namely a disarming innocence. Oh, and great wine.

Breaking up a long-haul journey with a stopover isn’t just a good way to avoid jetlag, it’s also a great way to fit in another top destination in the same journey. So kick off your trip with a day or two in one of the world’s most exciting stopover cities – you won’t regret it.

Looking to get off the beaten track on your next holiday, but want to go somewhere with excellent brag value? Here are the hottest spots on the planet to visit in 2008.

Searching for the perfect place for a bit of fun in the sun? Here are our 10 favourite beaches in the world. Don’t forget to pack the sunblock.

Hang out in a kitchen, tour a food market or meet the world’s big names in cooking.

Margaret River has never looked so good, with hot new five-star properties, relaxing day spas and some of WA’s best food adding to the region’s intoxicating wine, sun and sand allure.

Byron Bay just keeps getting better, but it’s the satellite communities of Bangalow and Brunswick Heads that have turned up the heat with their own brand of cosmopolitan cool. Dive in.

First, we take Manhattan… Aussie-themed restaurants are bringing some Down Under flavour to New York.

The magic of the Scottish Highlands meets the mystique of the Orient Express. All aboard The Royal Scotsman for the journey of a lifetime.

Ever wondered what a hotel room costing $35,000 a night looks like? Check out New York’s most expensive suite. Butler, meditation room and bronze unicorns included.

Faraway Bay, a tiny, secluded bush camp overlooking the Timor Sea on Western Australia’s northernmost tip, is an exquisite and exclusive wilderness escape. Fly in and experience the real Australia.

New Zealand’s lush countryside and dramatic, craggy coastline meet at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay. Now with a new luxury lodge, it’s the makings of an unforgettable retreat.

Introducing the glam new kids on the block in Port Douglas, the beautiful, Asian-inspired Balé and sleek, sophisticated Pool – two distinctly different resorts in one of Tropical North Queensland’s most popular coastal getaways.

It may have a Maori moniker, but Akaroa is a little slice of France nestled on New Zealand’s South Island.

This Greek island's beauty is mesmerising, especially when you're bewitched by the charm of 1864 The Sea Captain's House in the historic town of Oia.

Boasting extraordinary natural beauty, the sleepy Town of 1770 is one of Queensland's best-kept secrets. Drop in at Sea Breeze - a glamorous getaway where modern design meets eco-friendly sensibilities - and you have, quite simply, heaven on earth.

Just a short flight away, New Caledonia offers a taste of France as well as pristine waters, white beaches and luxe sailing. Bienvenue.

More than moose and mounties, Canada’s Yukon province is steeped in goldmining history. Now experience-seekers can trace the path of early miners on the river journey of a lifetime.

Check in to Brisbane’s new boutique beauty, the Emporium Hotel. It’s a hotbed of style with fine dining and prime shopping at your doorstep.

Don’t know your ayurveda from your elbow? Think qi gong is a ball game played by Chinese men? Get through the maze with our A to Z of spa terms.

Balmy weather, sleepy ambience, lush tropical setting... it’s easy to understand why Palm Cove has become the new spa capital of Australia. Bliss begins here.

Shaking off its old image as glitzy Dubai’s poor cousin, Abu Dhabi is quivering on the starting blocks of becoming the next Arabian hotspot. Follow its form and get set for the race ahead.

It’s one of the most glorious food regions in France. Experience this gastronomic gem at an exclusive gourmet retreat being set up by two former Sydneysiders. Bienvenue.

Young, modern (and rugby mad) Montpellier, on France’s Mediterranean coast, is preparing to host the World Cup. Friendly and hospitable, this university city is ready to party.

Global warming may be playing havoc with snow levels around the globe, but these hot new projects will give ski buffs a great run for their money.

Aspen? Colorado? No, it’s Dubai’s latest project – an indoor ski resort replete with chalets, mixed terrain and sub-zero temperatures.

A visit to the Top End experiencing the indigenous arts culture yields a far richer bounty than just the canvas or objects collected along the way.

Joe and Dina Grilli’s fiercely modern Primo Estate cellar door in South Australia’s McLaren Vale is all class – just like their wines and olive oils.