Ishikawa – the new hotspot in Japan
Ishikawa is an emerging area for Australian travellers with a rich history and centuries old traditions. Tack on a few days when you next visit Japan.
Author Archive for: Helen
Entries by Helen Hayes
REVIEW: Cirque du Soleil KURIOS
What Cirque du Soleil KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities Where The Entertainment Quarter, Sydney The Story The exquisite program has so much information on the show, and the many characters who grace the stage. Being Cirque du Soleil, an incredible amount of planning and research goes into every character – these are not just actors […]
Luxury island stay in Africa
Who knew? You can be pampered on a luxury island stay in Mozambique! The helicopter flies over azure seas with mangrove-edged islands a contrast in green. It looks like the Maldives, Tahiti or The Seychelles, but it is none of those. We are in Mozambique and our minds are about to be officially blown. We […]
Review: We recommend this luxury hotel in Johannesburg
Review: AtholPlace Hotel & Villa, Johannesburg Where: 90 Pretoria Avenue Atholl 2196 Johannesburg, South Africa AtholPlace is an exceptional luxury hotel in Johannesburg. It is well located, 40 minutes from the international airport and close to Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square. Back story: AtholPlace Hotel & Villa is owned by the Morukuru Family and […]
Sailing in the Seychelles
I am looking into ET’s eyes and tickling him under his long, wrinkly, elephant skin neck. He makes a throaty, purring sound and moves a little closer, his eyes deep pools of wisdom that I lose myself in. And wise he is, because this Aldabra giant tortoise on Curieuse Island could live for 200 […]
Time for new luxe luggage? Check this out
The new collection from Victorinox is gold! Stay away from the boring old black luggage so you can tell your luggage apart when you’re standing by the luggage carousel at the airport next time. Check out the new Colour Story Capsule Collection from Victorinox. The new range sees some of the brand’s most popular products […]
Milford Sound: A night on Fiordland Jewel
We swoop over the magnificent snowy peaks on a day as blue as blue as can be, and gasp in awe as Milford Sound reveals herself. The pilot picks out our landing place on the deck of the Fiordland Jewel, and we descend ever so gently to the helipad. The helicopter is just one way to arrive for the overnight stay, […]
Flight Review: What it’s like to fly in United’s Polaris Business Class
The Airline – United Airlines The Flight – UA 839 from Los Angeles to Sydney, depart 10.45PM, arrive 8.19AM, flight time, 14hrs 34 mins. The Aircraft – Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner, 36 seats in Polaris Business Class, 70 in United Economy Plus and 113 in Economy. Polaris is set up in a 2-2-2 configuration, with Premium […]
My top ten travel experiences of 2018
2018 was a great year, and now it is behind us it is time to reflect on the many wonderful travel experiences I had. Travelling is balm for the soul, whether it is to a big city, an African savannah, the Australian desert or a snow-covered mountain. Here are my top ten – in no […]
To Infinity Pacific and beyond on Sydney Harbour
The Finer Things in Travel was invited to go for a cruise on Sydney Harbour on board the magnificent Infinity Pacific superyacht – and how could we say no? We boarded at Pyrmont, opposite The Star, and after shoes were taken off, and bags stowed, a glass of sparkling was in our hands – the […]
The Serengeti – my top 12 tips for going on safari
Serengeti is a Maasai word meaning ‘endless plains’ and you couldn’t have a more perfect word really. The UNESCO World-Heritage listed Serengeti National Park spans 14,763 square kilometres and borders Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the north, Ngorongoro Crater in the south-east and touches Lake Victoria to the west. It was established in 1952 and is perhaps […]
Five things to do in Beverly Hills
When in Los Angeles, stopover in the leafy, refined, hangout-of-the-stars – Beverly Hills. It is more than just a pretty face with a high price tag, with plenty of things to do. Shop till your stilettos hurt Yes, the first place that comes to mind when you talk about shopping in Beverly Hills is Rodeo […]