Kylie Kwong: My Beijing
As the spotlight falls on the Olympic city, the renowned Sydney chef shares her favourite haunts in China’s vibrant capital – including where to find the world’s best Peking duck.
Chic magnate
Hôtel Costes. Le Café Marly. Georges. These are but a handful of boldface names in the hospitality empire of Paris stylemakers the Costes brothers. From a pretty park to a cosy bar, Gilbert Costes takes us on a local’s tour of the city he loves.
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Paris day tripper
Exhausted after a few days in Paris? How about a trip to a quaint town? Or a plush chateau? Savour these quick escapes less than an hour from the French capital.
Sleep easy in Paris (for less than $200 a night)
Louis Vuitton, Celine, Chanel… save your euros for the trés chic shopping in Paris with our pick of the city’s best boutique hotels for less than $200 a night.
Val d’Isère, France
Snow Queen
Val d’Isère is the new jewel in France’s ski-resort crown. Courted by regal Mont Blanc and glitzy Courchevel, this valley favourite reigns supreme après-heures, too.
Val d’Isère is the new jewel in France’s ski-resort crown. Courted by regal Mont Blanc and glitzy Courchevel, this valley favourite reigns supreme après-heures, too.
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Magic Mountain
From boom town to ghost town and back again, Telluride is riding high as one of Colorado’s most exciting ski resorts. Pat Nourse discovers this steep and deep alternative Aspen.
Kangaroo Island: Into the wild
Introducing Australia’s first ‘super-lodge’, a luxury eco-retreat on Kangaroo Island where utter isolation is its biggest drawcard. Step into another world at the exquisite Southern Ocean Lodge.
Rome: Bar Italia
Rome’s once-sleepy bar scene is enjoying a renaissance and breathing new life into the Italian capital. Our favourite cocktail king, Marco Faraone, uncorks his top picks.
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Ah, Abruzzo
Land of vineyards and olives, shepherds’ huts and monasteries, Abruzzo is a region of rustic charms and age-old traditions – not to mention the best lasagne Kendall Hill has ever tasted. Is this Italy’s best-kept secret?
Australian long weekends: Get outta town
Need a plan for your next long weekend? Here’s our round-up of the best places to visit within an hour’s drive from the capital cities. Load up the car.
London design: Top drawer
Design queen Ilse Crawford reveals her favourite London haunts, from quirky shops and markets to a brasserie with seats ‘stolen’ from a Sydney train.
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Heart of Hong Kong
In the centre of Kowloon, Mongkok is an exotic blend of rich culture and time-honoured traditions including, of course, good ol’ fashioned haggling.
Fun in the Philippines
White talcum-like beaches, friendly locals and an energetic nightlife are just some of the charms of Boracay, a tiny island in the Philippines which is a magnet for funseekers.
Dubai: Sand castles
Carved out of the desert, Dubai is a man-made urban oasis. But just as the sands are ever-shifting, so too is the city. Hop on as we follow its rise.
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Hong Kong: Shop around the clock
Welcome to Hong Kong – where retail therapy is a national pastime. So you have 24 hours in this great city? Here’s our shop-by-shop city guide. Credit cards at the ready…
Bhutan: Nature’s temple
The Kingdom of Bhutan will make your spirits soar – from the gentle people to the dramatic landscape that’s literally breath-taking.
Paris: Behind the Louvre Doors
There’s more to the world’s most famous museum than the Mona Lisa. With some inside knowledge and a well-crafted plan of action, step off the tourist trail and discover this Parisian icon’s hidden masterpieces.
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The real Shangri-La
Authentic travel experiences may be thin on the ground but, refreshingly, a trip to China’s Yunnan Province promises a truly sacred landscape where minority cultures rule among its many awesome natural attractions.
Fiji: South Pacific style
Tropical kitsch has had its day. Fiji is back on the luxury list with elegant new boutique resorts and stylish makeovers of some old favourites. The islands’ famed white-sand beaches await.
Barcelona buzz
This Catalan city is so hot right now – edgy street art, bustling markets, eye-popping architecture and the food… Find out why it’s fast becoming Spain’s gastronomic capital.
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The world’s ten best spa retreats
The international spa scene is booming so lie back, relax, and let your cares float away ... The only thing to concern yourself with is which of the world’s 10 best retreats – from Bali to the Baltic Coast – to visit first.
Maldives Pleasure Island
Underwater spa? Check. Personal butler? Check. Azure vistas, fine dining and absolute privacy? Check. Welcome to Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives. Is this the world’s most exclusive resort?
Kerala, Little India
Beckoning visitors away from the beaches, Kerala’s backwaters unfurl like a scroll revealing an impossibly lush landscape and rich cultural make-up.
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Florence for food lovers
Want to avoid the tourist traps and eat like a Fiorentino? We asked Sydney restaurateur Giovanni ‘Johnny’ Paradiso for the inside scoop on where to find the best gelati, panini, aperitivi... Bellissimo!
Out of range
Bamurru Plains, in the Northern Territory’s Mary River wetlands, is offering a luxury wildlife experience like no other. Just be sure to watch out for the crocs. And the bush pigs, brumbies, buffalo...
Australian mid-winter escapes
From rugged mountainside retreats to cosy country cottages, take a mid-winter break with our favourite weekend escapes.
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Welcome to Wellington, New Zealand
Forget what you know about capital cities. This New Zealand hub is gaining a reputation as a city of great style, and great fun. Plus, it’s only four hours away. Go on, ‘jump the ditch’ as the locals say.
Puglia, Italy: Southern Bella
Head to the heel of the boot and succumb to Puglia’s simple charms, from its dream-like landscape and rustic cuisine to rolling olive groves and distinctive conical trulli.
Mildura, Victoria: A River Runs Through It
From its landscape shaped by desert and river, to its rich cultural mix and gourmet appeal, Mildura in far north-west Victoria is a place of contrasts.
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The 8 best secret islands in Italy
They're Italy's best-kept secret. Eight tiny islands scattered off the north-east coast of Sicily; the Aeolians. From party-central Panarea to the therapeutic charms of Vulcano's steaming mud pools.
