NEXT YEAR, boundary-bending hotel brand The Standard celebrates 25 groundbreaking years of redefining hospitality. Fittingly, in February 2024 it will unveil The StandardX — a brand that pushes the envelope in a bold new way.

Evolution is the spirit of The Standard, from triggering cultural revolutions to delivering unparalleled experiences in New York, London, Miami, Maldives, Ibiza, Hua Hin and Bangkok. Like its loyal clientele, The Standard embraces the unexpected. As it enters this milestone year, The Standard is reinventing itself yet again.

The StandardX debuts in Melbourne’s trendy Fitzroy neighbourhood. Guests can expect an electrifying new hotel that distills the essence of The Standard into a concept with a unique X-Factor: an energy thriving on discovery that pulsates through the premiere property.

Future expansion for The StandardX brand includes potential openings in Bangkok, Brooklyn, East Austin and more. Each location will be thoughtfully placed, immersing guests in vibrant cultural scenes and bridging gaps between art, fashion, and music.

The StandardX is seizing this opportunity to cater to younger generations, offering spaces with unexpected perspectives that never compromise on human connection. It’s a return to form that made the brand’s first location, The Standard, Hollywood, a legendary experience that was a place to see and be seen in Hollywood.

The StandardX Marks the Spot

Think of The StandardX as the edgier younger sibling of The Standard. At its core, The StandardX is as consumed by community and connection as its parent brand while stripping away unnecessary frills to create spaces for truly connecting. Enter any of the new hotel’s 125 rooms to discover industrial, raw and affordable havens designed for the modern traveller. 

Be immersed in the colourful playground of Fitzroy, where each corner boasts a legendary musical past, filled with record stores, punk clubs, and beloved party spots that drew the creative energy of artists like Nick Cave. 

The StandardX’s design, by Melbourne’s Hecker Guthrie together with The Standard’s in-house design team, captures this rebellious spirit and blends it with the touchpoints that fans know and love. Be captivated by macrame-wrapped columns by local artist Sarah Smalltown, bold artwork from Dane Lovett and custom furniture across all eight floors.

Choose an intimate Cozy King or more spacious Suite Spot; each room is finished in a palette of blue and white that will envelop you in sophistication and style.

Dine and Drink with The StandardX

For the ultimate dining experience guaranteed to impress even the most advanced palate, The StandardX’s trio of innovative food and beverage concepts will satisfy every diner.

Take the elevator to The Roof, an exclusive haven reserved only for hotel guests and revealing unmatched views across Fitzroy and Melbourne. The sky-high destination showcases a menu inspired by Mercado Medellin’s delicious flavours — from tacos to ceviche and beyond — designed by Executive Chef Justin Dingle-Garciyya.

BANG is the hotel’s vibrant all-day eatery, serving bold Thai flavours with authentic flourishes. For in-between, on-the-go meals, delightful snacks and refreshing drinks, stop by The Box to pick up anything you’re craving. 

Embrace your rebellious streak and connect with a new community at The StandardX this February, as trend-making hotel brand The Standard celebrates 25 years of pushing boundaries.

Now through April 2024, opening rates for The StandardX, Melbourne will be 250 – 350 AUD/night. For more details on The StandardX or specific information about The StandardX, Melbourne, please visit www.standardx.com

Article Sponsored by The Standard Hotels
Images courtesy of The Standard Hotels.

EMBODYING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF TOKYO, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo stands at the centre of the city’s buzzing Roppongi neighbourhood and offers unmatched views of the city as far as Mount Fuji.

The ultra-luxury hotel is celebrating its recent five-star award in the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide and an immersive new menu at iconic cocktail destination, The Bar. 

“It is our absolute honour to be recognised as one of the top luxury hotels in Tokyo again,” said General Manager Xavi Gonzalez. “Our passion to delight our guests with memorable experiences inspires us to continuously seek opportunities and treasure captivating moments.”

Your journey into The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo begins as you ascend to the 45th floor and let yourself be swept away. From awe-inspiring floor-to-ceiling windows, take in the iconic city skyline that offers a mesmerising backdrop to your stay.

With 245 guest rooms, including 40 suites, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo delivers a guest experience like no other while its culinary concepts offer a range of delights, from the authentic Japanese recipes of Hinokizaka to the modern French cuisine of Azure 45 and the unique ‘bistronomy’ of Towers and beyond.

Immerse yourself in a world of tranquillity at the world-class spa, awarded four-star spa status in the Forbes Travel Guide for its innovative therapies, world-class service and serene ambience.

Exclusive New Cocktails

The Bar is the famed home to the “Diamonds are Forever” martini garnished with a one-carat diamond for ¥3,000,000 (approximately USD 22,800). Now, it’s elevating its offerings with a new collection of cocktails inspired by Japanese craftsmanship.

Delve into a new and exclusive elevated menu of masterfully crafted cocktails and signature creations that epitomise the essence of Japanese craftsmanship. Each libation weaves tales of passionate artisans from across Japan, their dedication and spirit reverberating with every sip.

Prepare to embark on a journey that not only delights your palate but also unveils these artisans’ profound narratives and remarkable craftsmanship, offering a glimpse into the indomitable shokunin spirit that defines Japan.

The Bar continues to present its time-honoured selection of classic cocktails. Its iconic martini, sophisticated Manhattan and refreshing high ball have long graced the glasses of patrons seeking a taste of perfection and tradition.

Explore New Signature Cocktails

Stepping into a new era of excellence with award-winning head bartender, Kentaro Wada, the exquisite new selection of cocktails embody the finest Japanese ingredients, each sip enveloping you in a world of refined indulgence, where the artistry and mastery of the shokunin are celebrated in every exquisitely crafted drink.

Kita e Minami e Mojito is an irresistible journey into Japanese delights. Inspired by the country’s summer festivals, it contains dark and light rum, zesty Awaji Island lime, and elusive Setouchi Islands caviar lime. 

Bee’s & Tea allows you to follow in the footsteps of Japanese honeybees with a mix of Okunoyama matcha, Setouchi lemons, and Ki Wa Mitsu honey.

Today’s… (Honjitsu-no…) offers a cacophony of flavours that transport with herb-scented consommé and velvety Haku Japanese Craft Vodka. The drink arrives with a perfectly paired canapé of Negroni jelly and kombu-marinated tomatoes. 

Nishi kara no Old Fashioned invites you to Japan’s smaller islands, where Ishigaki’s vanilla meets Fukuoka’s seasonal Haruka citrus. Set off by caramelised bitterness, this is a sophisticated variation on a classic.

Hakka Chocolat Royale lets you indulge in the luscious blend of Japanese Hakka mint and Valrhona dark chocolate paired with Fruity Mio Sparkling Sake from Hyogo.

Yoshimitsu allows you to experience a blend of Five XP Riesling brandy and Uji matcha leaves perfected by the matcha artisans of Horii Schichimein. Referencing the Muromachi period, this sophisticated cocktail captures the spirit of Japan in every drop.

Iconic destination The Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo takes cocktail craftsmanship to new heights with its exclusive new menu inspired by artisans, offering yet another reason to book your next stay soon.

For more information about The Bar, please visit bar.ritzcarltontokyo.com/en
For reservations, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/japan/tokyo

Article Sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo.
Images courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo.

The Reimagined Lobby at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand

FOR YEARS, there was one choice along Bangkok’s buzzing Sukhumvit strip for those looking for a contemporary luxury homebase. Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit had it all: great location, French sophistication, a rooftop bar with all the views yet none of the faff, a verdant lazy-days photo-worthy pool, and the sumptuous rooms and suites we’d come to rely on from this storied brand including the famous Sofitel MyBed. 

Sensing that not just the hotel but also the neighborhood needed some exciting new life, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit underwent a massive renovation that maintained all the elements we always loved but supercharged them. Rooms and suites are brighter and softer, there are two exciting new restaurant and bar concepts off the stunningly soaring lobby upping the F&B game, and there’s a new skybridge offering direct walking access to the BTS and the heart of the city. The hotel has reemerged as the neighborhood grande dame it used to be, version 2.0: an anchor, a hub and a nurturing cocoon. You might say the same about the Sofitel brand overall, these days. And for that, much credit is due to Maud Bailly, who took over as CEO of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems brands worldwide in January 2023, just as Accor solidified a strategic reshuffle. 

Quick primer for you hotel nerds: Accor is now divided into two empowered divisions supported by corporate functions and a shared platform. First, the Premium, Mid-scale & Economic Division, whose properties are organized by region. Second, the Luxury & Lifestyle Division, organized by brand, in which the former is represented by Orient Express, Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel/Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems, and the latter includes Ennismore.  

Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems find themselves in the same umbrella under Bailly because, despite having different styles, they each offer guests collections of unique places to find luxury that incorporate local soul while affirming their French roots. We asked Bailly, featured on the cover of Forbes France this July as one of 40 influential women shaping France, to share her vision of the Sofitel and MGallery brands (which comprise 240 hotels in 58 countries), what exciting evolutions lie ahead for them in Asia (there are 10 properties in Thailand alone!), and some packing tips because we can never get enough travel advice from women always on the go. 

Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia: What’s your interpretation of the Sofitel DNA? What was exciting about the brand when it launched 60 years ago? Why does it matter now? And where is it going? 

Maud Bailly: Sofitel is the only French global brand, the second-largest brand in the luxury hospitality industry with 123 hotels, about 31,000 rooms, and 49 countries by the end of 2023. We have a large diversity of top locations, from urban historic centers like Sofitel Barcelona Skipper, to airport locations, to mind-blowing romantic resorts, and six gems of Sofitel Legend hotels like the one we opened this year Sofitel Casco Viejo in Panama.  

In a luxury world with very similar codes, we believe Sofitel brand can differentiate itself by a specific positioning on quiet and committed luxury, reconciling quality and discretion, with a very recognizable signature: “the French zest for life” that is based on four brand markers that we are deploying across our entire network:   

The Sofitel promise also stands in its logo, the symbol of cultural link: two interlocking rings, reflecting the encounter of the French and the local culture of each hotel. All Sofitel hotels embody this union of two cultures, proving that they are also, and maybe first, places meant for their local communities.  

And finally, the last and the most important brand marker: Sofitel is meant to be heartful, it should lead the way in sustainable luxury, with a strong CSR commitment​. 

T+L SEA: What CSR activities are you most passionate about? 

Maud Bailly :  

1. Promoting diversity and inclusion 

2. Giving back to local communities by strengthening local anchorage and solidarity 

3. Fighting against food waste especially by leveraging AI 

To change the perception of a sector that can sometimes be perceived as a predator we developed a demanding CSR roadmap. Our ambition is to demonstrate that our brands can be sustainable places and can have a positive impact on the local communities, that we can combine beauty, experience and eco-responsibility. 

Our 7-pillar roadmap is: 

1. Get rid of any single-use plastic items for our guests in our hotels, with 100% elimination, as well as identification of alternative options to be used in the extended supply perimeter 
2. Get certified: Implement new certifications to reach 40% of hotels certified (for example, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit is Green Key certified) 
3. Go for net-zero: Support hotels with energy efficiency/green energy action plans to reduce CO₂ emissions by 25% by 2025 
4. Change our food habits: At least 50% of hotels should be measuring their food waste production. And all should be shifting to more sustainable culinary options with a target of 25% of menus made up of plant-based alternatives 
5. Support diversity and inclusion, through RiiSE, Accor’s network of diversity, KPIs (in all executive committee and Accor executives’ bonuses). By 2025, 45% of general managers and leadership roles at headquarters should be filled by women, with 40% of leadership roles globally hitting at least 40% women.  
6. Strengthen local anchors and solidarity by developing substantial links to give back to communities in which we are based 
7. Train train train: 100% holding and GMs trained by the end of the year 

I’m convinced that the power of a brand, no matter how fascinating it is, is no longer enough. We decided to stand for a committed luxury, inclusive, diversity-promoting, luxury that gives back to our local communities and serves something bigger than ourselves. 

It has to be rooted in a genuine purpose, a value system and a positive societal impact. For me, this is the most powerful lever of attraction and retention. 

T+L SEA: Glad you brought up RiiSE. The hospitality industry has long been dominated by men, but more and more women are becoming luxury GMs and taking on other important leadership roles. How is Accor/Sofitel working on gender parity?  

Maud Bailly: The group has been a pioneer on the diversity and inclusion subject, long before Rixain French law appeared in 2021. With 300,000 people working all around the world, diversity is obviously at the heart of our DNA. Diversity of cultures, backgrounds, educations, skills, jobs—there are 138 different kinds of jobs in hotels, where you can find up to 25 different nationalities, and this is a real gift. And we value diversity as an immense lever of collective intelligence, with strong KPIs to monitor it, notably through our RiiSE diversity network, with 20,000 members all around the world.  

I am against quotas, but for quotas until we don’t need them anymore. I believe the sum of individualities is greater than collective individualities.  

When I started this new role on the first of January, we were counting 26% of women as general managers in our hotels; they are now 29.5% and we hope to reach 32% by the end of the year. 

With RiiSE we are also fighting against all forms of violence and are very involved with several NGOs to help women victim of violence: finding them a place to stay with their children, conducting webinars with testimonies, and even training our teammates within Accor to detect early indicators of violence. 

Finally, I am very involved in mentorship to help women both within and outside of Accor. I am trying to help every woman to embrace their sensitivity as a form of freedom and truth towards others. As Gustave Flaubert said, “I am endowed with an absurd sensitivity; what scratches others tears me apart.” Being a woman in this industry and more globally is finding the right balance between intellectual and emotional quotients, which is a combination for success. 

T+L SEA: Wellness is huge right now. What new, interesting things are Sofitel and MGallery in Asia doing to meet guest needs in spa, health and wellbeing? 

Maud Bailly: We are always listening to our guests, and studies have shown that 80% wish to focus on their wellbeing. Guests are now seeking more personalization, as well as a reconnection to oneself and others. Desires for nature intertwine with a strong attraction to new technologies, and, hence, to sustainable results. This is how our new holistic wellness concept The Purist Retreat & Spa was born. An innovative offering centered around four pillars of wellbeing: care, sleep, nutrition, and movement. It provides a means to live better, find balance, and establish new lifestyle habits. 

The very first The Purist Retreat & Spa is opening its doors in December 2023 within the MGallery in Trouville, Normandy, in France, an ideal destination for its fresh air and seawater. Here, the offering is reinvented, modernized, and tailored to a guest seeking a holistic experience. The treatment menu has been enriched with exclusive novelties and complemented by a 360° wellness offering.  

The Purist Retreat & Spa is intended to be deployed worldwide, in each case emphasizing the expert hands of our teams and strong CSR commitments. In our spaces, guests regain control of their health, learn to understand themselves (better), and take daily self-care. 

Globally, all Sofitel hotels have a dedicated luxury spa. We are also dedicated to the Art of Sleep, from jet-lag kits, to our pioneering Sofitel MyBed, to sleep rituals.  

Our MGallery hotels offer signature treatments and local know-how in the wellness space, using local products inspired by the destination and ancestral techniques (for example, the farm within the hotel serving all organic ingredients at the restaurant in Legacy Yen Tu, herbs from the garden used in the spa treatments, etc). And we highlight outdoor experiences, from sunrise in Sapa at Hotel de la Couple, to mountain hiking at Veranda Chiang Mai, to personal wellness gurus at V Villas Phuket. 

T+L SEA: What innovations should we be looking out for in Sofitel and MGallery food and beverage in Asia? 

Maud Bailly: The French zest in all our hotels starts at breakfast! Sofitel will soon introduce a project around the art of the croissant—a century-old true symbol of the French breakfast around the world. From mastering the traditional pur beurre croissant to perfection following the French pastry guidelines, to creating a cultural link in styling the croissant, Sofitel Croissants will let the guests taste the essence of different places, celebrating the diversity of global cuisine where unique flavors come together, ultimately linking the French culture with other cultures around the world. 

At MGallery we aim to turn our hotels into lively destination places for locals with one of the brand pillars being Memorable. “Memorable” stands for memorable moments, design and mixology. We are creating a signature cocktail to tell the story of each hotel, its creativity, savoir-faire and local anchorage. 

T+L SEA: What’s your favorite destination in Asia-Pacific? 

Maud Bailly: Vietnam. 

T+L SEA: How often per month do you travel? And can we get your most important packing tips, please?  

I am traveling three to six times a month! My life could be summarized this way: “from checked bag to carry-on,” I became a worldwide expert of under 100ml beauty products. 

Travel tips: drink a lot of water, no alcohol, sleep as much as you can each time you can, don’t eat too much on a plane, take some high hydration masks, and never forget your flight socks! 

T+L SEA: What did you want to be when you grew up? 

Maud Bailly: A hand surgeon! 

T+L SEA: Haha! We’d say we’re surprised but actually you came to this job from operations in a totally different industry. How does running the Paris Metro Montparnasse station equip you to run one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands? 

Maud Bailly: A principle has always driven me: to fully embrace each experience, whether it’s spending six months on the field at SNCF learning to couple TGV carriages, overseeing missions for NGOs in inspection, envisioning tomorrow’s solutions within Manuel Valls’s economic and digital cell at Matignon, or over the past six years at Accor, alongside my wonderful teams. 

Throughout all my experiences, I have remained true to who I am, my values, my drive to build powerful teams through diversity, my desire to empower those around me, and my commitment to the cause of women.  

The expectations of the new generations have evolved significantly in their approach to work, that is why we are very focused on the purpose—how we are serving something bigger than ourselves. I am deeply involved in the transformation of the hotel industry to make it more environmentally friendly by eliminating plastic usage, making our buildings cleaner, thereby reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing food waste. 

I am always guided by René Char’s quote: “There are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle.” 

The general manager of Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Oliver Schnatz, introduces us to his newly spruced-up grande dame

“The renovation of the hotel did not only cover all of our 345 guest rooms and suites, but we also have a put a very strong focus on enhancing all the public spaces in the hotel. This includes the bridge that was built to connect the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit directly with the Asok BTS station, the Sukhumvit MRT station, and Terminal 21 shopping mall.

“When we conceptualized the new food and beverage outlets for the hotel one of the key objectives was to create venues that would appeal to the community as much as they would appeal to our in-house guest. Judging by the number of local residents we are now welcoming on a daily basis, it seems that we were able to achieve this and become a meeting spot for the community.

“Our soul is in providing exceptional and personalized service.

“There are indeed many new hotels coming into the market on a regular basis and with our renovated product we can definitely compete with them. But ultimately it is the service culture in a hotel that creates these memories that make you want to return. I truly believe that we have a very caring and passionate team and they are the ones creating the opportunities to set us apart from many other luxury hotels.”

To find out more about the lovely new look and feel at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, read here. 

Article Sponsored by Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit.
Images courtesy of Sofitel, unless otherwise noted.

BANYAN TREE BANGKOK HAS MADE its mark over the last quarter of a century as a distinguished destination for locals who love its iconic bars and restaurants and guests who adore its 312 tastefully appointed guest rooms and location in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district on South Sathon Road.

Not only is the hotel located steps from world-class shopping centres and must-see tourist attractions, its innovative facilities include incredible dining both on- and off-site, incredible room choices — such as its new Wellbeing Sanctuary Suites — an award-winning spa, and some of the best views of the city from its 61st-floor dining and drinking complex.  

Epicureans delight in Banyan Tree Bangkok’s ten exquisite dining venues across a spectrum of global flavours, certain to entice any palate and captivate the senses. The legendary Vertigo & Moon Bar sits sixty stories high, repeatedly ranked amongst the world’s premier rooftop bars, where visitors and locals mingle under the stars while sipping inventive cocktails and live music. One floor below, the equally stylish Vertigo TOO seduces with its own take on sky-high cocktails and live bands served beside sweeping city vistas.

But Banyan Tree’s exceptional fare reaches beyond the hotel with the splendid Saffron Cruise. This memorable evening voyage glides guests down the glimmering Chao Phraya River as they indulge in gourmet tasting menus. From aromatic Thai classics to Asian fusion and international haute cuisine, Banyan Tree Bangkok’s dining destinations promise extraordinary journeys for the palate that make lasting impressions in this dynamic capital.

The Iconic Vertigo & Moon Bar 

As a pioneering rooftop bar in Bangkok’s sky-high scene, Vertigo & Moon Bar stands tall on Banyan Tree’s 61st floor, coming blazingly to life at sunset with 360-degree views. Its sleek decor exudes contemporary flair with glinting details, an ambient soundtrack and artsy vibe.

Vertigo’s soaring perspective reveals Bangkok’s aesthetic landscape unlike anywhere else, revealing a mesmerising backdrop for everything from romantic dates under the stars to business drinks and festive celebrations above the bustling streets.

The venue’s cascading decks make ideal vantages for fun gatherings and chilled-out cocktails. Below, the intimate Moon Bar proffers its own majestic sights. Whether opting for the à la carte menu or speciality sets, visitors savour this rooftop’s heights literally and figuratively as a pioneer in Bangkok’s elevated culinary scene.

Curated Culinary Cruises

In 2019, Banyan Tree Bangkok debuted a one-of-a-kind gourmet cruising experience along Bangkok’s storied Chao Phraya River: the Saffron Cruise. This elegant two-storey vessel floats amid Thailand’s riverside heritage sites, evoking the country’s rich culture between delicious bites for discerning diners.

On the top level, an al fresco Moon Deck echoes Banyan Tree’s Moon Bar with inventive drinks served alongside panoramas of the meandering River of Kings. Below, an intimate air-conditioned lounge sets the stage for revelry as royal vistas pass through the windows. Dine on a melange of delectable Thai appetisers and entrees, the flavours onboard entwining with glimpses of gilded temples and scenes of daily riverside life.

The refined Saffron Cruise hosts up to 120 diners aboard the two-tiered ship for a voyage featuring the freshest authentic Thai cuisine. Departing nightly at 7pm, the vessel glides past landmarks like Wat Arun’s majestic spires and the Grand Palace’s glinting facades, offering enriching glimpses of Bangkok’s history.

Onshore at Banyan Tree Bangkok, diners continue discovering Thai heritage reflected in the hotel’s refined design and dedication to culinary excellence and service, proven by its long list of honours and awards. 

For more information reservations, please +66 (0)2 6791200 or email: hostesses-bangkok@banyantree.com

Article Sponsored by Banyan Tree Bangkok.
Images courtesy of Banyan Tree Bangkok.

Vivid and vibrant, Sydney beckons you with its pulsating energy, burgeoning arts and cultural events, fine dining experiences, and a laid-back beach vibe. The New South Wales capital is Australia’s largest and oldest city with settlements taking you back to the colonial era.

While Darling Harbour with its iconic sights is the crown jewel of the city, you will find an array of swanky hotels, boutique retreats, heritage properties, and spa resorts vying with each other to offer the best in accommodation and showcase some of the best views. From six-star luxuriant havens to a palatial outpost of an international chain, here are some of the best hotels to stay in Sydney for your next holiday.

Best hotels in Sydney

“I’ll be out here journaling,” I call to my friend, Maggie, as I nestle into our balcony’s river-view lounge chair. I know stringing together sentences will be tricky. We’ve just returned from a sleepless “sleepout” beneath the Milky Way core in one of the world’s largest salt flats, Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans.

My coffee still hasn’t worked its magic, but despite my fatigue, I crave deep reflection. It’s the final day of our nearly two-week adventure through Botswana with safari operator Desert & Delta. Our immersive itinerary packed the awe, from half a dozen golden hours spent watching elephants slurp from the Chobe River to an Indigenous San–led trek around Tsodilo Hills, a series of towering quartzite with hundreds of rock art sites that date back millennia.

This luxury safari lodge in Botswana is the best place to see a migration of 30,000 zebras in Africa

I thought I’d reached my lifetime quota of wonder on this morning’s scenic helicopter jaunt from the salt-pan sleepout back to our accommodation, Leroo La Tau Lodge along Botswana’s Boteti River. I had no idea what was in store.

I scan the Boteti between journaling thoughts, expecting the same scene I’d enjoyed the previous morning: a few zebra here, a crocodile or two there. Yet in the distance, a dust cloud is gaining steam. Its catalyst, I realise, is a herd of zebra — and they’re getting closer. Soon, the black-and-white-striped beauties emerge atop the river bank like soldiers readying for battle. Within minutes, dozens, and eventually hundreds, of zebra parade down to the lodge’s waterfront. By the time I’ve grabbed my camera, a chorus of hee-hawing wildebeest and trumpeting elephants have joined.

“It’s the zebra migration!” I whisper to Maggie, who raced from her failed mid-morning nap to watch the spectacle, nicknamed Africa’s “secret migration.” Her slack-jawed expression confirms my suspicion: we’ll have to skip lunch.

For safari buffs, few sights beat the great wildebeest migration. A mind-blowing concentration of roughly 1.5 million of the creatures follows seasonal rains between Tanzania and Kenya. I’ve been fortunate to witness the marvel during several Serengeti safaris, and it’s well worth the hype. Yet after watching the congestion of tourist vehicles near the Mara River in 2022 — a problem that some conservationists fear could impact the wildebeest’s transit — I began to research migration alternatives.

The journey of Botswana’s zebra captivated me. In 2014, biologists with WWF and Elephants Without Borders discovered that Burchell’s zebra travel more than 300 miles (482.80 km) through southern Africa, between the floodplains of the Chobe River and Nxai Pan National Park, just north of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

This movement of 30,000-some zebra is the longest-known land mammal migration in Africa, according to WWF’s report on the research. In recent years, scientists have confirmed the zebra travels another track, directly between the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. That puts Desert & Delta’s Leroo La Tau Lodge in the heart of the action.

“This is where the zebra regroup,” Mathale “Metal” Mosheti, our guide, tells us as we watch the herds congregate by the river. Given the mind-blowing wildlife concentration surrounding the lodge, we skipped the afternoon drive to nearby Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Instead, Mosheti joins us for a stationary safari in the lodge’s cosy game-view hide, a panoramic perch built into the river bank.

“Zebra spend much of their time here accumulating numbers and waiting for the rain,” Mosheti said, his voice largely drowned out by the cacophonous barks and brays of zebra. This area, including the lodge’s private roughly 1,600-foot expanse of riverfront, acts like a meeting place for the creatures. Many migrating zebra spend about half of the year here, from around mid-April to early November. They congregate and wait for rainfall. When the time comes, they meander along dispersed migration routes to follow the green grass before reuniting back near this Leroo La Tau home base.

Yet zebra aren’t the only ones flocking to the lodge’s secluded ribbon of the Boteti. The morning may have started with an abundance of zebra herds — also known as dazzles or zeals of zebra — but it’s evolved into a Noah’s Ark-like afternoon, complete with elephants, wildebeest, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, kudu, and fish eagles. Just as mind-blowing as the wildlife diversity is admiring the scene sans crowds.

This seclusion is largely due to Leroo La Tau’s post off the main tourist track, says Stephen Frenkel, marketing and sales manager for Desert & Delta Safaris. “The zebra migration is well-known for the area, but when you look at that in the bigger picture, it’s still very much a hidden gem of the northern Botswana safari experience,” Frenkel says. That means overtourism, so far, is not a concern, he says. Visitor numbers are low, and the handful of other properties in the region are well dispersed.

Desert & Delta acquired Leroo La Tau, which translates to “lion’s paw” in Botswana’s national Setswana language, around 15 years ago. It’s a collection of 12 thatched-roof suites, each complete with a private balcony and a full glass-walled side overlooking the river — perfect for watching the zebra migration from bed, the shower, or your balcony.

In 2023, the company refurbished the property to elevate the migration-viewing experience. “The idea was to lean into the highlight of the migration, in combination with [the region’s] big blue skies and wide-open spaces,” Frenkel says.

The nature-inspired aesthetic continues into the lodge’s main dining area, a spacious wood-finished room with vaulted ceilings and a loft library above the bar. Outside, the leadwood and acacias that ring the river-view fireplace are a collection of logs and branches elephants have pushed down around the lodge.

Perhaps the most exciting enhancement for zebra-migration travellers: an upgraded viewing hide, which is now just as much about fun as it is wildlife-viewing function. The perch has more tables and chairs, the option for private dining, and, when the stars align, sundowners among a who’s-who of African animals.

Stationary experiences, like the game-watching hide or Boteti-view balconies, complement safari drives in neighbouring Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Leroo La Tau guests can see numerous species along the lodge riverfront, but it’s rare to see big cats like lions. “The lion is an ambush predator; they will not bother or waste their energy to try their luck here because it’s open,” Mosheti says. Instead of hunting near this open waterway, they patiently wait in the national park, where the hiding spots are better. Other predators visible there include hyenas, cheetahs, and jackals.

Back at the lodge, a lack of predation and noisy safari vehicles lets you watch the animals in their natural states. “When you see an animal in any park unless they’re quite habituated to vehicles, they will stop what they’re doing to watch you or change their behaviour or pattern,” Frenkel says. Swooning over species from the viewing hide — or porch, shower, or bed — means the animals come to you, on their terms. They’re interacting as they would without human gawkers, hence the flurry of elephant and zebra scuffles that add drama to the Planet Earth documentary unfolding before our eyes.

“When you’re watching the migration in this sense, it really does provide an opportunity to see exactly what their natural engagement is and what their natural idiosyncracies are,” Frenkel says. “It’s an authentic migration experience.”

(Feature image credit: Stephanie Vermillion/Travel + Leisure) 

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: South Africa’s Super Bloom: Best Wildflower Views in the Country

TRAVELLERS SEARCHING FOR a new and secluded beach haven in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay will be thrilled to discover Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, perched on an unspoilt island that sits a 30-minute boat ride from Phuket and just 20 minutes by boat from Krabi.

The stunning Koh Yao Yai offers couples, families and groups an ideal space for reconnecting with each other, nature, and truly getting away from it all; enveloped by over a kilometre of golden sand beaches, verdant jungles and incredible ocean views that stretch to the horizon.

The new all-suite, villa and penthouse resort stretches across 27 acres that were formerly a coconut plantation and features views of a deep blue bay ringed with limestone islets and rich with tropical birds. 

Step off the resort’s private jetty into a world of indulgent, exclusive luxury where all your cares seemingly melt away with the sea’s ebb and flow. Take a dip in a shaded swimming pool, find refreshments at the pool bar or dive beneath the waves and swim with colourful schools of fish. 

Indulgent Accommodations

To call the resort’s 148 suites, villas and penthouses luxurious is an understatement. Each choice seamlessly melds classic Thai touches with every modern amenity.

The intimate One- and Two-Bedroom Villas offer true seclusion along the shoreline and are popular with couples looking to escape it all. Your private butler can meet any need during your stay, while complimentary bicycles and direct beach access provide opportunities for quality time.

Guests with young children adore the Family Pool Access Suites, finished with welcoming beechwood furniture and bunk beds as well as a terrace that lets little ones jump right into the resort’s family pool — complete with waterslides, smoothie bar, and movies at night — while parents watch from cosy sunbeds. Or choose a Family Sea View Suite with ocean vistas, an in-room slide and secret play areas.

Those looking for more indulgence can choose the 300 sqm Two-Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villa with two ensuite bedrooms, eco-friendly grass roofing, private pool terrace with outdoor rain shower and the full attention of a private butler.

Wellness lovers appreciate the Wellness Lagoon Pool Villas, secluded from the rest of the resort and surrounded by serene garden and lagoon views. Enjoy yoga, workouts or meditation from your private pool deck before surrendering to a massage, facial or body wrap at your in-villa spa.

When it’s time to go all out, choose one of the resort’s 366 sqm Sea View Pool Penthouses with endless Andaman Sea views, the assistance of eight dedicated butlers, two skylight-lit rain showers, oversized soaking bathtub with sea views, two dressing rooms, an infinity-edge pool and sundeck with cabana for complete outdoor relaxation. The most unique of these penthouses also features a glass-bottom infinity pool that can be viewed from the living room below.

Specialities to Savour

Guests hoping to dine on the finest fresh seafood set against the romantic sound of waves crashing won’t be disappointed at Beach Restaurant, Anantara Koh Yao Yai’s signature restaurant serving Thai and international seafood delights as well as dry-aged steaks and speciality sushi. 

Pakarang crafts delicately flavoured contemporary Thai favourites and an expansive breakfast daily, including live cooking stations, organic, lactose and gluten-free options. Step into the resort’s Japanese restaurant to enjoy traditional omakase menus alongside modern delicacies.

When thirst calls, head to the Pool Bar, Family Bar or Beach Bar to enjoy craft beers, fine wines, cocktails, smoothies, milkshakes and more. 

Incredible Experiences

Delight in a range of unforgettable excursions and immersive experiences, such as vintage sidecar tours to a rubber plantation, batik or tie-dye classes, island-hopping, mountain climbing, kayak outings to mangrove canals or longtail boat cruises to natural sand banks for candlelit dinners. 

The resort’s Kids’ Club is amongst Thailand’s largest, including a bubble pool with vacuum fountain ball shower, water slide, dance studio and activities such as recycled crafts, seedling planting, cooking classes and nature walks. 

The toddler zone offers expert childcare for one- to four-year-old guests, with a dedicated nap room, stimulating activities like baby yoga, and a restaurant serving all their favourite food and drinks. Throughout the resort, all the restaurants feature kid-friendly menus. 

Anantara Spa offers the perfect escape for every guest, featuring five treatment suites to enjoy a wide array of massages, traditional Thai treatments, a hammam and one of the largest hydro pools in Thailand. 

With luxurious beachfront accommodations, incredible dining, and family-friendly amenities on a secluded Thai island, Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas provides an ideal escape for every traveller.

For more information about Anantara Koh Yao Yai, please visit www.anantara.com/en/koh-yao-yai-phuket.

Article Sponsored by Anantara.
Images courtesy of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas.

THINK OF FOUR SEASONS and think sumptuous hotels, but equally worthy of planning trips around: the folks who make the tastes we crave. Working with some of the best chefs, mixologists and designers in the world, Four Seasons in Asia have set as their main goal bowling us over with amazing food and drinks.

From Bangkok and Hong Kong to Tokyo and Hangzhou, travelers have their pick of 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in 8 hotels. Complementing the dining offerings are compelling bars—six on the Asia’s 50 Best list—shaking up innovative craft cocktails in immersive surrounds.

The unrivaled jewel in the brand’s culinary crown is the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, which, with seven Michelin stars, houses the most stars under one roof in the region. Leading the charge is three Michelin-starred Caprice, the monument of French fine-dining helmed by chef Guillaume Gaillot that pairs refined menus with a palatial dining room and Victoria Harbour views. Also among the hotel’s multi-award-winning eateries are Lung King Heen—in 2018 it became the first Chinese restaurant in the world to receive three Michelin stars—and Sushi Saito, the one-starred concept by legendary Tokyo-based sushi master Takashi Saito. Spend some chill time at futuristic ARGO, whose acclaimed mixology nabbed it 34th in the most recent World’s 50 Best Bars awards.

Sip on more award-winning cocktails in Japan, where Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi’s VIRTÙ serves cocktails that fuse Japanese ingredients and French flavors. Signature restaurant SÉZANNE has earned Michelin stars and a World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking. In the show kitchen, chef Daniel Calvert meticulously plates up modern French cuisine that match with lovely interiors by designer André Fu and an eclectic collection of Champagne, wine and sake.

Continue the culinary journey at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. It might be one of the newest hotels in the city, but it’s already shining bright as a culinary go-to. The hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Yu Ting Yuan is oh-so-hard-to-book thanks to its refined, detail-oriented dishes, handcrafted dim sum, and opulent setting inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. Next door, celebrate Argentina’s golden age at BKK Social Club, this year No. 13 on World’s 50 Best Bars list. Look out for transportive bespoke cocktails served in glam booths, to an upbeat, globally inspired soundtrack.

Those seeking an immersive journey through Chinese cuisine should book at Jin Sha at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. The restaurant landed a star this year in Hangzhou’s first Michelin Guide for its neoclassical approach to Zhejiang cuisine, amid some of China’s most enthralling scenery and gardens designed by Bill Bensley. The 11 private dining rooms boast outdoor terraces.

With an ever-growing collection of exciting concepts, Four Seasons is redefining what hotel restaurants and bars look like, taking us on grand culinary adventures, and we are totally here for it.

www.fourseasons.com/dining

Article Sponsored by Four Seasons.
Images courtesy of Four Seasons.

NESTLED INSIDE MACAU’S MOST EXCITING integrated resort lies an award-winning sanctuary like no other on the peninsula. Banyan Tree Spa Macau is your ticket to an indulgent escape that beautifully complements the destination’s luxurious accommodations and thrilling activities.

Located in the renowned Banyan Tree Macau at Galaxy Macau, the Forbes five-star rated spa boasts 21 treatment rooms and couples suites that offer treatments from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and beyond. With 3,400 sqm of space, the spa’s expert staff ensures that every guest leaves with a calm and rejuvenated body, mind and spirit.

Banyan Tree Spa Macau draws on the rich traditions of Asia, resulting in intimate retreats that artfully combine romance, serenity, and exotic allure. The spa’s thoughtful design includes private spa pavilions and suites that feature local touches infused into every detail, creating a harmonious blend with the natural beauty surrounding the resort.

Unearth health and beauty remedies infused with aromatic oils, herbs, and spices that have been passed down for centuries and boast ancient healing powers. Banyan Tree Spa Macau aims to instil a sense of deep tranquillity, inviting you to let go and be drawn into the serene surrounds.

Delightful Signature Treatments

Choose from an extensive menu of Banyan Signatures and holistic treatments designed to provide physical, mental and spiritual renewal. 

The Royal Banyan is amongst the most well-loved signature treatments, delivering the best of Eastern and Western massage techniques to improve blood circulation and ease muscle aches. Enjoy a warm herbal pouch dipped in sesame oil, a coriander cucumber cleanser and a jade face massage before finishing with a therapeutic herbal bath.

The Tropical Rainmist signature treatment is widely known as one of Banyan Tree Spa’s finest innovations, allowing you to unwind beneath the sensory pleasures of a rain shower that mimics standing beneath a refreshing rainfall. The treatment includes an exhilarating body scrub followed by a deep moisture boost, resulting in perfect tranquillity as tension is kneaded away during your favourite style of massage, followed by a bath soak, steam bath, honey milk nourisher and lavish hair wash. 

Elsewhere on the spa menu, explore beloved treatments tailored to encourage sleep, detox, mobility and more.

International Accolades and Collaborations

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is known throughout the world for naturally luxurious, ecological, and culturally sensitive experiences. Since launching in 1994, the hotel brand has grown steadily and developed a stellar reputation and world-renowned spa, with Banyan Tree Group named Best Spa Operator by TTG Travel Awards 2023. 

Banyan Tree Spa Macau has won a slew of impressive accolades as well, including the Grand Jury Award at the SpaChina Wellness & Spa Awards 2023, hosted by the renowned Asian luxury spa publication, SpaChina. It also won on the global stage when it took the title of Macau’s Best Resort Spa 2023 at the World Spa Awards.  

Consistently working to make wellbeing as welcoming as possible and invite everyone through its hallowed doors, Banyan Tree Spa Macau has also forged an impressive partnership with Lululemon Macau to create a collaborative and transformative wellbeing day experience, offers indulgent therapies and teaches guests how to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily lives. 

Immerse yourself in the luxurious haven of Banyan Tree Spa Macau, perfectly complementing Macau’s best integrated resort. Indulge in a range of treatments inspired by ancient Asian traditions, where aromatic oils and healing herbs combine to create a profound sense of tranquillity and peace. 

For more information on the Multi-Award Winning Signature Spa Services at Galaxy Macau’s Banyan Tree Spa Macau, please visit www.galaxymacau.com/hotels/banyan-tree

Article sponsored by Galaxy Macau.
Images courtesy of Galaxy Macau.

HIDDEN IN THE HEART OF BANGKOK, shielded by verdant trees and iconic malls, is a luxury resort that offers the best of both worlds: immediate access to urban convenience and a lush and serene bolthole to get away from it all. It’s a place with enough excellent dining options, wellness experiences, and immersive children’s activities for the entire family to be entertained on property for an entire staycation weekend (or more!), yet literally attached to Siam Paragon mall, with walking access to the BTS Skytrain and a plethora of the buzzing sights and locations visitors to Bangkok came to explore, if your goal is getting out there and amongst it. It’s a place you’ll want to return to over and over again, to re-experience favorite treats and to discover new ones. Trust us: we have.

We’re talking about Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, which we like to consider our own personal manse in the middle of the Thai capital. How do you make a regal and gilded property of one of the world’s most historic hotel brands approachable and warm? It all comes down to service—smooth, personable, indulgent and intuitive. And Siam Kempinski is particularly attentive to the little ones.

Upon check-in we are greeted by a Lady in Red (they’ve recently introduced Gentlemen in Red, too) who escorts us to our two-bedroom animal-themed family suite. So glad we’d kept it as surprise for the kids, because when they open the door and see the loft beds and tigers happily prowling across the walls and carpets, they roar with delight! They’re the queens of the jungle!

Our Lady in Red shares the hours for cocktails and canapes in the top-floor lounge that affords great views of the lavender and inky dusky skyline, confirms our reservation for Sunday brunch at ALATi, and hands each of the girls their own playtime map. These really are their tickets to making the hotel home, offering a journey to five fun points throughout the property where they can collect prizes and stamps, and also giving them exclusive shopping and entertainment privileges—which really are just as much gifts to us parents as the kids.

Oh, how they adore putting on pretty dresses for afternoon tea in the lobby among the fancy chattering ladies. But what proves even more exciting for our five-year-old is the graceful harpist in her beautiful ball gown, who warmly shows her the pedals and the strings between pieces.

Gratitude also due to my wonderful husband, who takes our daughters to the Kids’ Club when I head off the spa. More aspects of Siam Kempinski that are resort-like are these two oases—one for calming rejuvenation and the other for more exuberant juveniles. While I am indulging in a Winter Warming Energizing massage that soothes my joints and Collagen Forever Young facial, my children are jumping in the ball pit and doing arts and crafts. High-tech creative arts, too: the Kids’ Club has a mesmerizing program where the kiddos make drawings of a certain theme, buses and cars for example, which the staff scan and they appear on a huge screen animated for the entire day. It’s like seeing your dreams come to life.

For dinner, my husband and I are excited for Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, the Michelin-starred restaurant tucked in the middle of the hotel. Upon entering we are transported to glamorous, romantic old-world Thailand, a luxurious dining space where we’re surrounded by dark wood, gold-accented art, lush, rich violet and other regal colors and textures. We toast to our family with Champagne and ease into the meal, as our waiter brings a series of small bites to the aperitivo area by the lotus ponds before we move to our table and our sumptuous tasting menu of deconstructed Thai cuisine reconceptualized for modern senses by acclaimed Danish chef Henrik Yde-Anderson.

Sunday morning calls for breakfast poolside, so we can all take advantage of the great weather and huge water-and-tree-filled central courtyard. The girls have pancakes and eggs in their bathing suits and bathrobes so they can get into the water quickly. On another visit, we stay in a duplex pool-access suite, and the girls LOVE plunging into the water from our private porch. The lagoon pool is a bit deep for our five-year-old to stand up in by herself, but this makes for a great opportunity to practice her swimming and in just one weekend she learns to hold her breath under water for two full strokes. Our two-year-old, meanwhile, is happily occupied in the shallow splash pool nearby. While splashing around with our children, at least one always in waterwings, we nonetheless find it reassuring to look up and see friendly lifeguards everywhere, not to mention waiters bringing tropical cocktails and comfort food. Highly recommend an East-meets-West combo of the fish and chips plus the kra pow gai (chicken stir-fried with chili and basil).

Today, however, it’s back to the suite to shower and change for Sunday brunch, one of the longest in Bangkok. The combination of a la carte plates including a decadent seafood platter, the open kitchen where you can see all the chefs clattering away, and the lengthy dessert buffet that makes our girls’ eyes go wide is pretty great entertainment. Then a smiling server rolls the cheese cart up to our table and it’s excitement overload with all the options to taste with figs and berries and artisanal honey. It’s never too early to start them gourmet, we say.  

www.kempinski.com/en/siam-hotel

Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast for up to 2 persons, from THB 16,090++
Two Bedroom Theme Family Suite inclusive of breakfast and Executive Lounge access for up to 2 adults and 2 children, from THB 36,500++ 
Sunday Brunch at ALATi THB 3,400++ per person

Article sponsored by Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Images courtesy of Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.