Art Series The Chen: A Luxury Hotel Celebrating Australia’s Rich Multiculturalism
Australia is a county shaped by migrants; it is said that one in four Australians were born overseas, and this rich, cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
While European settlers started the trend in the late 1700’s, Australia today sees migrants from more than 190 countries; from India, the UK, and, most notably, China. (Fun fact, Mandarin has become the most spoken language in Australia after English).
Australian cities have become a melting pot of cultures, and no-where is this more prevalent than the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill. Home to Melbourne’s largest Chinese population, well over half the population of Box Hill was either born in China or has Chinese ancestry. And this is a fact that Melbournians are incredibly proud of.
One hotel that has embraced and showcased this beautiful ethnic diversity is the Art Series Hotel – The Chen. Named for the Chinese born artist Zhong Chen, who migrated to Melbourne as a teenager, The Chen is a boutique hotel that celebrates not only Chen’s abstract art, but Australia’s rich multiculturalism.
read moreMantra Lorne: Where to Stay on the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most scenic drives. A 250 km route that hangs precariously on soaring sea cliffs along Victoria’s coastline, it winds between pretty towns and beaches, all set against the backdrop of Australia’s few temperate rainforests.
Though for one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, most visitors to the area sadly see very little, and most of that through a car window. But you won’t see the best sights from your car.
While the road can technically be driven in a day, you’re doing yourself a great disservice by not setting yourself up in one of the lovely towns along the route and making that your base for several days.
Much more than a scenic highway, this region is home to a myriad of coastal tracks, rainforest trails, and hikes which connect historic seaside villages, taking in ocean views and dramatic waterfalls.
While there are several towns offering accommodation along the route, if you’re looking to stay directly on the beach, one of the best options is Mantra Lorne.
read moreThe Watson Adelaide – Your Guide to the Adelaide Art Scene
I often say that travel is an art. It’s not simply as easy as booking a plane ticket, hotel room, and tours. Art is how we express ourselves and showcase our creativity and uniqueness.
How we travel should be no different than how we paint, sculpt, dance, or sing. It’s not simply about finding a destination that inspires us, it should be an avenue for creating your own unique journey. And that’s what I love about Adelaide.
Yes, South Australia’s capital has many notable attractions, but this isn’t a city that defines itself by a top 10 list. I found Adelaide to be a city that prides itself more in offering unique travel experiences than pushing must see attractions down your throat.
Adelaide is a destination where expressing yourself is the focus, and that begins from the moment you check into The Watson Art Series Hotel. Australia is home to several Art Series Hotels; a brand which looks to provide travelers with artistic comfort to inspire a unique journey.
Oscar Wilde said that “life imitates art far more than art imitates life”. Art has the ability to alter our perception of life, so we were more than happy to let the The Watson Art Series Hotel alter our perception of Adelaide.
read moreRed Earth Motel – The Perfect Outback Base for Discovering Broken Hill
Growing up in Australia in the 90s, my knowledge of Broken Hill came about from the cult film Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Being only five years old I may not have fully understood the plot line at the time; of two drag queens who make their way across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs, but I do remember it being both comical and colourful.
Much like Priscilla, I had only ever passed through Broken Hill briefly en route to Alice Springs to witness Uluru. However, this year I decided that needed to change.
A town named by the early explorer Charles Sturt, for he wrote in his diary that the site looked like a Broken Hill, this year we based ourselves in town for a couple of days.
Made famous by mining, Broken Hill has become the capital of Outback Australia. While I had always thought of the town as a quick stopover, I would end up being pleasantly surprised at the many offerings the town has along with the beautiful landscapes that surround it.
Red Earth Motel proved to be the perfect luxury Outback base.
read moreHow to Book the Cheapest Hotels (Access Massive Hotel Discounts for Free!)
If there’s one thing that gives you a greater thrill than travel itself, it’s knowing that you got a great discount.
There’s nothing worse than getting to an exotic rainforest lodge and feeling gypped because someone else got it for hundreds of dollars cheaper.
That is of course the way business goes; there will always be someone who paid more for the same travel experience, and there will always be someone who got it cheaper.
But what if you could always be the one who got it cheaper? What if you could guarantee that you’re the one who paid less?
In my obsession to stay on top of cheap travel trends, the most recent website to catch my eye has been Club 1 Hotels. They guarantee massive discounts on over a million hotels, and accessing their deals is both free and ridiculously easy.
Here’s how you can find cheap hotels. I’ve vetted this quite thoroughly and can without a doubt say that their promise of massive discounts is true!
read moreThe Top 3 Casino Hotels in Las Vegas
Whether you’ve recently been on a lucky streak or just turned 21, you may be looking to hit the Vegas Strip to see how far your luck can take you.
While most of Vegas’ grandest hotels and resorts are located along the Vegas strip, it can definitely be hard to know which casino hotels are worth your time.
Any trip to Vegas requires a bit of a game plan. From finding that perfect lavish hotel room at a great rate to knowing what casinos and bets give you the best odds of walking away a winner, it pays to do a bit of research before you take on Sin City.
So if you’re ready to test out your blackjack skills or simply want to strengthen your biceps by pulling some slot handles, here are three incredible casino hotels you can throw your dollars at.
read moreA 5 Star Campsite Experience in Brittany, France
This summer we spent a week in Brittany; a beautiful western region of France known for its delicious crepes and cider, as well as the impressive Mont-Saint-Michel.
Though unlike typical tourists who choose to stay in hotels, we chose a 5-star campsite located in Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, a charming village of the northern part of Brittany, also called the french Emerald Coast.
In a place where breathtaking beaches meet wild nature and rich history, you can explore the stunning Cap Fréhel, the picturesque Dinard or the medieval town of Saint-Malo.
Thinking of a 5 stay camping experience in Brittany yourself? This is an overview of our experience.
read moreYour Guide to a Suite Stay in Canberra: Review of Pacific Suites
Having recently been named one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 cities for 2018, Canberra has been receiving a lot of hype and attention.
Rare among Australia’s large cities in that it isn’t situated along the coast, Canberra is instead flanked by wild nature reserves where iconic wildlife roams, surrounded by wine country, and picturesquely nestled alongside Australia’s highest alpine peaks.
The well thought out and completely planned city may be nearly a 2 hour’s drive from the closest beach, but we found Canberra to offer more than enough excitement within the city to keep us entertained and not needing sand beneath our feet.
With a perfectly positioned base for exploring Australia’s bush capital in Pacific Suites Canberra, go behind the political scenes and discover a beautiful city surrounded by the calls of bushland wildlife that easily drowns out the shouting of MPs!
read moreMantra Albury Hotel: A Sophisticated Stop Between Melbourne and Sydney
For anyone considering an Australian road-trip, the first thing you’ll discover is that driving from Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa makes for a very long day.
The drive is nearly nine hours of dodging kangaroos on the road and literally counting sheep (to fall asleep if you’re a passenger, or, if you’re the one driving, to keep yourself entertained!).
Though thankfully, there is an easy way to avoid driver fatigue.
The solution is Albury.
To our surprise, for a city known as a convenient overnight stay, Albury proved to be far more than the quick stopover point we thought it was.
What we found was a city where the great Australian bush and meets modern urban sophistication. Where we stayed was the stunning Mantra Albury.
read moreBest Camping Spots in the UK for Families
The United Kingdom has a myriad of options for those seeking adventure. From waterfalls, to rivers, and mountains; you name it and the UK has it.
One activity that many people enjoy, regardless of age, is camping. Though for families traveling it’s important to choose a site that a) has enough space for children to play and b) is safe.
While there are a lot of camping sites in the UK, the following are some of the best spots we feel are most suitable for families.
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