Travel Journal
‘Mr & Mrs Smith's passion for hotels runs deep – this book lays it beautifully bare.’
- Sienna Miller, Actress
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Mr & Mrs Smith is returning to its publishing roots with the launch of The World’s Sexiest Bedrooms this November.
The 296-page hardcover book – published globally by Thames & Hudson – features 35 supremely seductive suites shot by in-demand art photographer, Polly Brown, chosen for her flirtatious and playful style.
Sarah-Jane Clarke—among the most recognisable figures in Australian fashion—has unveiled a very new project: a thoughtful, ethically-crafted luxury lifestyle line designed for those who wander. Developed following a three-year sabbatical, in which the designer criss-crossed continents, traversing remote villages and dizzying, skyscraper-packed cities, the debut SARAH-JANE CLARKE collection (Resort 2019) abounds in travel-easy fabrics: luxurious Italian linens and cottons of soft ivory, fresh white, faded mulberry and zookeeper khaki. It will be available in full online.
Travel tips and trends from Alison Veness, Editor of 10 Magazine and Creative Director at Large for Vogue Australia. Alison shares her secret address, travel essentials, favourite destinations, how travel inspires her work and much, much more. Happy Travels! x
Byron Bay is unquestionably one of Australia’s most desirable holiday destinations — and for good reason. There isn’t much not to love about the sunny beachside town on NSW’s north coast — from its string of pristine beaches, array of award-winning boutique hotels, first-class culinary offerings and its unrivalled laid-back vibe, Byron Bay is Australia’s quintessential vacation hotspot.
Travel tips and trends from Creative Director and stylist Emma Elizabeth, founder of Local Design. Emma Elizabeth shares her secret address, travel essentials, travel disasters and how to best embrace adventure holidays! Bon voyage. x
Despite it being one of the world’s most vibrant, progressive and culturally enticing city’s, it’s uncommon for Singapore to be described or labelled as “bucket list-worthy”. It seems to be much more common for travellers to frequent the metropolis merely as a result of an airport layover on route to their final destination, or at best, an impromptu jaunt into the city centre to pass time before their next flight.
“Food,” James Beard, the quintessential American cook once said, “is our common ground, a universal experience.” The best way to understand where a city’s been and where it’s going—to glean an insight into its heady, complicated, invigorating intersection of economy, environment and culture—is to break bread with locals, to sup outside the tourist heat-map, to transport one’s taste-buds somewhere entirely unexpected.
In celebration of life’s simplest and most rewarding pleasure, we’re presenting our picks of toothsome culinary experiences dotted through Europe. From afternoon cooking classes to gastronomic tours to burgeoning foodie hotspots, there’s a structure to suit every wanderer: be it novice chefs with an afternoon to share, or the culinarian in search of new ways to connect with other people, and reignite all of the senses. Bon appetit.
When the swarms of sun seekers jet off on overseas jaunts to escape the country’s brisker months, it means the locals who aren’t afraid of sub-zero temperatures, duck down puffer jackets and white frosty mornings reap the rewards. Because let’s be honest, what’s not to love about winter in Australia? The desirable destinations that are brimming with bright-eyed tourists in the warmer months return to their natural, locals-only state; the roads are free of overfilled rest areas and heavy time-delaying traffic; and most importantly, some of the most breath-taking landscapes and experiences Australia has to offer are best enjoyed in winter.
Every crooner worth their stripes—from Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday—has sung the same ode to springtime in Paris, when the trees burst free from their winter dormancy, and everything is bathed in yellow light. “I never knew the charm of spring, I never met it face to face. I never knew my heart could sing, I never missed a warm embrace, ‘til April in Paris.”
As the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle draws closer—May 19th, to be exact—London is deep in royal wedding fever. Tatler, the go-to glossy of England’s upper echelons, has infinite takes on the nuptials—how to organise a royal hen or stag do, a history of royal wedding dresses—while travel agents craft Windsor-themed tours and viewing parties (Firmdale Hotels are offering scone-abundant afternoon teas), and pubs extend their hours for gin-soaked celebrations.
Whether you’re an art novice or bona fide connoisseur, the Biennale of Sydney is unmissable and attracts many international visitors who travel for their art. Curated by the Mori Art Museum’s Mami Kataoka, the 21st edition launches March 16 until 11 June and spans seven venues, from the cavernous Carriageworks to the not-for-profit 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
New York can be a little overwhelming—to put it lightly—every time we visit there’s a new slew of must see and dos. To make your next Gotham sojourn little easier, our WLU correspondent on the ground has rounded up some of the best (mostly downtown) places to dine, drink, stay and explore in the world’s most frenzied, roiling metropolis.
It’s rather magnificent to be in love, right? Thing is, when it comes to Valentine’s Day stayovers, the prevailing mise en scene can be a little, well, cliché: petals scattered across white sheets, embroidered robes for two. To help you toast your romance in chic and memorable surrounds this year—and elude the cheesiness—we present an edit of amorous settings catered to more discerning duos. Best of all, there’s not a teddy-clasping-a-love-heart in sight. Amour pour toujours!
Wild, rugged and ancient, Australia is home to some of the world’s most spectacular and varied landscapes. On this vast island continent, you’ll find lush tropical savannahs and pure, unsullied beaches. You’ll explore underwater wonderlands dotted with multi-hued coral and remote, red-rocky outcrops that feel like giant works of abstract art. Just in time for Australia Day (which, by the way, we’re very much in favour of changing to a time that’s respectful to all), we’ve jotted down our ten favourite stays that capture the splendour of this land.
SYDNEY: January blues be banished – it’s time for hotel lovers the world over to raise their glasses to the winners of the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards… And the first to be popping corks will be Provençe’s art-packed escape, Villa La Coste, named Best Smith Hotel 2018 – the judges and the public alike swayed by its elegant design, artistic endeavours, first-class fare and creative caché.
As Nicola Moulton writes in British Vogue, “wellness retreats are the new holiday choice for overworked, overachieving urbanities.” Fine by us. For the perpetually busy, taking time out to reflect and rejuvenate—physically and mentally—can feel like another annoying to-do. But a new slew of luxury reprieves from modern life do the chef-cooked meals and scheduling for you. All you have to do is show up with an open mind.
‘Tis the season to ... take as long a holiday as your diary permits. If you’re in the mood for a last-minute sojourn abroad, there’s no shortage of snow-capped cities and Christmas Market capitals to spend December 25th in—mulled wine on hand. We’ve jotted down our picks of the best—and sometimes, most unexpected—destinations serving up a generous dose of yuletide charm.
Travel tips and trends from one of the best in the business, Jesse Desjardins, social media guru and Head of Social at Tourism Australia. Jesse shares his shares his secret address, favourite places in Australia to visit, travel essentials and the effect that travel has on him. Hope you enjoy this dose of wanderlust and stay tuned for the next instalment. X
