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Visit Netflix’s new ‘funhouse’

There’s a new kind of “house” in Philly, and by house we mean the sprawling, neon-lit, pop-culture funhouse of Netflix, one you can actually walk into.

Netflix House Philadelphia recently opened its doors at the King of Prussia Mall, offering fans a chance to step off their couch and into some of their favourite shows.

Inside, you’ll find over 100,000 square feet of immersive experiences – a mix of VR games, mini-golf, escape-room-style puzzles, themed food, merch and more. Two of the early centrepieces: a 60-minute pirate-style quest called “ONE PIECE: Quest for the Devil Fruit” and a carnival-meets-mystery event inspired by Wednesday (very spooky, very playful).

If you’re not into puzzles or spooky vibes, there’s still plenty to do: a nine-hole mini-golf course, VR versions of hits like Stranger Things and Squid Game, a themed restaurant called “Netflix Bites”, a merch shop, a theatre for screenings and fan events. So this place is basically a hybrid between a gaming arcade, immersive art installation, and a social clubhouse.

For a company that’s long lived in your TV screen, Netflix has now built a place where the stories really feel like they come alive; a playground for anyone who’s ever paused a show and thought, “What if I could walk inside this?”

It’s like a reminder that even in a world of algorithmic suggestions and streamed binges, there’s still something special about showing up to something in person.

Malta is the world’s hottest new dive spot

Saltwater lovers, rejoice: Malta is having a seriously big moment beneath the waves.

The Maltese Islands just scored major bragging rights in the 2026 Scuba Diving Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, a.k.a. the PADI community’s annual ceremony of “who’s absolutely nailing it underwater.” And Malta? Absolutely nailed it.

The Mediterranean country is now officially known to have the Best Cave, Cavern and Grotto Diving Destination on Earth. Not too shabby for three tiny islands better known for sunshine and rabbit stew.

But the accolades don’t stop there. Malta also grabbed second place for wreck diving (the seabed is stacked with WWII relics, scuttled ships and photographic gold) and second place for shore diving, because here, great dives are literally a few steps from your sun lounger.

Add a handful of “One of the Best” rankings, including Best Value, Best Overall, Best Beginner Diving, Best Advanced Diving, and Best Wall Diving, and you’ve got a destination collecting awards like they’re seashells.

MTA Chairman Dr Charles Mangion says the success reflects Malta’s commitment to sustainability, operator expertise and the serious effort going into protecting its marine environment. In other words: they’re earning every single shiny gold thing they get.

And with Scuba Diving Magazine splashing these results across print, digital, newsletters and social channels reaching millions of divers, Malta’s underwater fame is about to crank up even further.

So, grab your fins. Malta’s waters are waiting.

Zannier Bendor set to open in 2026

If you’ve ever dreamed of running away to your own private French island, but preferably one with a top-tier spa and multiple restaurants, Zannier Bendor is about to make that fantasy very real. Opening May 1, 2026, this freshly revived slice of Provence is stepping back onto the world stage after a five-year glow-up.

Originally the passion project of pastis pioneer Paul Ricard (because of course the man behind anise liqueur also built an island), Île de Bendor has been lovingly restored by the Ricard family and the team at Zannier Hotels.

And the result is a rewilded, reimagined Mediterranean haven with 93 rooms spread across three distinct personalities: Delos (1960s French Riviera chic), Soukana (the zen wellness escape your burnout has been begging for), and Madrague (charming two-storey houses perfect for families who travel with stuff).

Food-wise, come hungry. There are three restaurants, four bars, a creperie, and the kind of culinary programming that heavily suggests you may never cook again. Expect sea-view fine dining at Le Grand Large, Provençal classics at Café Paul Ricard, and the wildly popular Nonna Bazaar making its mainland-France debut with enough sharing plates to ruin normal dining for you.

And then there’s the 1,200-square-metre spa, which casually pulls from Ayurveda, TCM, osteopathy, naturopathy, and whatever else your body didn’t know it needed. Pools, hammam, mud baths, Pilates, pickleball – all you have to do is pick your path to enlightenment.

Paul Ricard wanted an “island garden.” Zannier Bendor is bringing it back, with extra glamour, extra soul, and like, way more trees.

Bar Herbs opens in Sydney

Sydney’s CBD has gained a new basement-level excuse to accidentally miss your train home: Bar Herbs, MUCHO Group’s latest after-dark playground dedicated to the noble martini. Think late-90s New York energy without the bad shoes and chain-smoking, tucked beneath Clarence Street like a neon-lit secret you suddenly feel strangely protective of.

Bar Herbs’ whole thing is simple – make martinis that taste great, don’t take themselves too seriously, and let people order them exactly the way they want. Dirty? Dry? Somewhere between ‘respectable’ and ‘who hurt you?’ They’ll tweak it to your liking without judgement.

Their signature lineup runs from seaweed-vodka dirty numbers to dill-spiked New York throwbacks, plus a Gibson that’s super herbaceous.

If you’re not on your martini era, the broader menu dips into revamped classics; a yuzu-and-hibiscus Cosmo that’s a little too tasty, a pandan Espresso Martini (finally, something new), and a Negroni built with enough vermouth to make Milan blush.

It’s all overseen by MUCHO’s famously people-first crew, who are on a mission to make Sydney more fun, one excellent drink at a time. And with a daily happy hour slinging AU$13 martinis and AU$7 beers, they clearly mean business.

So yes, paradise might actually be a basement. And it might be called Bar Herbs. Just take the stairs down and let your evening unravel from there.

HX Expeditions unveils new ‘1896’ cabin

If you’ve ever wondered what it felt like to be a polar explorer in 1896 without the frostbite, questionable hygiene standards and general likelihood of dying, HX Expeditions has you covered.

To mark 130 years of expeditioning glory, they’ve unveiled the 1896 Cabin, a lovingly reconstructed late-19th-century explorer’s quarters aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen – think vintage furnishings, atmospheric lighting, and historic scents.

Launching 29 January 2026 and available for just one night per voyage (because even nostalgia has limits), the cabin lets guests slip back in time for €450 per night. That fee doesn’t just buy you ambience, it also feeds the future, with 50% of profits going straight to the HX Foundation, helping fund conservation and education initiatives. So yes, you can sleep in a wooden time capsule and feel morally superior about it.

The cabin is the handiwork of AROS Marine, whose designers briefly abandoned sleek modernity to deep-dive into 19th-century expedition style. They teamed up with HX’s hotel operations crew to recreate something authentic enough to impress historians but comfortable enough for people who travel with noise-cancelling headphones.

But wait, there’s more. Because what’s a milestone without a drink? HX is also sending a barrel of fortified wine on a fleet-wide world tour, where it will slosh its way from pole to pole before being bottled as a limited-edition vintage in 2027. We’ll take a drop.

Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa opens

Kosmos puts you somewhere the city lights can’t reach and the stars take centre stage. Like, the night sky here is so clear it practically taps you on the shoulder. But that’s probably because the resort is nestled in Colorado’s San Luis Valley within a certified Dark Sky Park.

And its story is as bold as its view: founder Gamal Jadue Zalaquett fell for the valley’s raw isolation and sky-high clarity, and decided the world needed a place where comfort, sustainability, and serious stargazing could coexist.

But the villas are the main event. The Stargazing Villa sleeps up to four, with a king bed, two twins, a private indoor jacuzzi, and a geodesic dome for telescope-toting stargazers.

The upcoming Galaxy Villa cranks it up: two master bedrooms, a loft, a kitchen, a meditation space, sauna and cold plunge, and a telescope deck that practically dares you not to nerd out over the constellations. Hempcrete walls make it eco-friendly, using a sustainable, breathable mix of hemp, lime and water that naturally regulates temperature and locks away carbon without making a fuss about it. And every corner is designed to feel effortlessly cool (spoiler alert, it succeeds).

Here, the night sky becomes the entertainment, guided astronomy sessions turn learning into play, and two telescopes per villa (including a high-tech digital one) make sure no celestial sighting is missed.

Combine that with Colorado’s crisp mountain air and a view that stretches to infinity, and you’ll never want to leave. Tbh, we’re right there with ya.

Relax at Honey Rock Landing

If you roll up at Honey Rock Landing in Colorado, you might initially wonder if you accidentally crashed a farmer’s day off but nope, you actually stepped into one of the coolest farm-orchard getaways ‘round.

Perched along the Gunnison River and surrounded by the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, this place is a regenerative, organic orchard that grows peaches, cherries, pears, veggies, eggs… and even honey (hence the name).

But the real magic happens when you stay in the cave suites, carved straight into sandstone cliffs. Inside, expect a king bed downstairs, two queen beds tucked up in a loft, a cute kitchenette, and a bathroom with a fancy copper bathtub.

There’s even a private patio that looks out onto the orchard. Perfect for sipping coffee while birds swoop overhead, or maybe pretending you’re living in a secret nature hideaway.

Want to be a fruit nerd? Go on a farm tour. It’s about an hour; you’ll learn how Honey Rock grows its produce using regenerative methods, how the soil almost breathes carbon, and why the chickens are basically pest-control officials.

And in the evenings, you can skip stones in the pond, chill by the river, or sink into that copper tub with a book. The whole place feels rustic while dripping in luxury, like camping, but with WiFi and without the ratty sleeping bag. Hell yeah.

Oddtrips has launched

There’s a new kid shaking up the travel world and they’re not here to take you to the places straight off a “Top 10 Things to Do in…” list. Say hello to Oddtrips, a Melbourne-born travel brand built for the incurably curious, the wanderers who’d rather get lost in Kyrgyzstan’s mountain passes than queue for yet another temple selfie.

Founded by Sasha Fidler, who grew up in Kazakhstan surrounded by sweeping steppes and stories that never make it into guidebooks, Oddtrips is all about taking the road (or goat track) less travelled. Hint: you’re more likely to swap five-star resorts for five-billion-star skies and meet locals who actually live where you’re visiting.

These are self-guided, private, and small-group journeys with heart (and just enough oddness to keep things interesting). Think Japan’s sleepy countryside, Pakistan’s untouched valleys, Lapland’s wild white silence, and the Baltic coastline no one talks about (yet). Each trip is meticulously designed with local knowledge, a touch of style, and zero tourist fluff. Just the way we like it.

“Travel should be independent, local, and deeply human,” says Fidler, and that’s exactly what Oddtrips delivers. Backed by travel industry pros with 15+ years’ experience and accredited by ATIA, it’s the real deal for travellers who crave the unexpected.

So, if your idea of adventure doesn’t fit neatly in a brochure, it’s about time you joined the odd ones out.

Domu Retreat opens

Somewhere above the turquoise sweep of Tasman Bay, there’s a place where your phone finally stops buzzing, but mostly because you’ve turned it off. Welcome to Domu Retreat, a brand-new luxury “slow-stay” hideout perched on New Zealand’s South Island (read: a place where Michelin-starred dining meets magnesium-pool serenity).

Run by chef Toby Stuart (yes, the guy with actual Michelin credentials) and wellness guru Sabina Bronicka-Stuart, Domu is the antidote to busy holidays. Forget the jam-packed itinerary – here, the only schedule is breakfast, a four-course dinner, and whatever your body feels like in between. Yoga? Optional. Silence? Encouraged. Napping? Basically guaranteed.

With just six suites and room for twelve adults max, it’s private, personal, and peacefully screen-free, meaning you won’t find a TV anywhere. Instead, you’ll find views over Abel Tasman National Park, an open kitchen serving up wild game and local seafood, and enjoy table talk that lasts well past dessert.

“People come for the food, but stay for the quiet,” says Toby. “Silence is the new luxury.”

Sabina agrees: “We built Domu so guests can finally stop rushing. Here, wellness isn’t an itinerary – it’s an invitation.”

So, if your brain’s running low on calm and your calendar’s running high on chaos, you know where to go. Book your stay now.

Cardamom Tented Camp does responsible tourism

Deep in the wilds of Cambodia, where the jungle hums louder than your phone signal, Cardamom Tented Camp has just been named among the best in the world for responsible tourism.

The eco-lodge was one of only 30 finalists celebrated at the ICRT 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Awards in London, a gathering that honours the planet’s most inspiring and sustainable travel projects.

Competing in the Nature Positive category, Cardamom Tented Camp rubbed eco-shoulders with the likes of Kenya’s Emboo Safari Camp and Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. Not bad company for a 12-tent hideaway that’s only reachable by boat (or a good old-fashioned hike).

Since opening in 2017, the camp has stayed true to its mission: protect the forest, support local communities, and prove that travel can do more than feature on the ‘gram. Solar-powered everything, no road access, and a wastewater filtration system are just the start.

And every guest stay helps fund Wildlife Alliance patrols that keep poachers and loggers at bay, making that morning kayak through misty mangroves feel even better.

As lodge manager and conservationist Allan Michaud puts it, “We strive to deliver a genuine ecotourism experience in a setting we’re proud to protect.”

And clearly, the world agrees. Because while some places promise sustainability, Cardamom Tented Camp lives it – one wild, wonderful stay at a time.