highlightCategory: Stay

Where to rest your head at night

Sleep atop Venice Lagoon

Venice has always known how to show off, but AQVA takes the theatrics to a whole new level. This gleaming, glass-wrapped houseboat sits out on the lagoon like a minimalist mirage, made up of the best parts of a boutique hideaway. It’s also entirely unlike anything else in the city. Like, think of it as Venice but from a better angle.

Step aboard and the whole place feels like it’s been designed by someone who really cares about natural light; three serene double bedrooms, a sleek kitchen for popping Prosecco or pretending you cook on holiday, and panoramic windows framing those moody Venetian blues from sunrise to starlight. Honestly, you’ll soon forget land ever existed.

Days on AQVA unfold at a deliciously lazy lagoon pace: sip espresso while the water taps gently at the hull, drift past colourful islands like Burano and Torcello on a private cruise, or stretch into the morning with yoga on the deck. Nights dial things up with sunset aperitivos, chef-prepared dinners starring Adriatic flavours, and skies so clear you’ll swear someone ordered them specially for you.

Best of all, you’re wrapped in total peace. Venice as it once was, without cruise-ship crowds and without the “scusi” shuffle through alleyways. AQVA gives you the city’s beauty minus its chaos, letting you float on the edge of it all in quiet, glass-cocooned bliss.

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.

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.

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.

Sleep on the WACA Ground

Ever dreamed of sleeping on sacred Aussie soil? Well, this might just bowl you over. To celebrate the first Test of the Ashes, cricket legend Mike Hussey (better known as Mr Cricket) is opening the gates of Perth’s iconic WACA Ground for one extremely lucky (and probably cricket-mad) Airbnb stay.

That’s right, instead of watching from the stands, you’ll be camped out on the pitch. Forget the five-star hotel; this is more like five stumps under the stars. Up to four guests get the honour of dozing off, where legends have dived, sledged, and sworn at umpires, and yes, it’s all free. Whaaat?

The experience includes a guided tour of the WACA and its museum, a backyard-style game with Hussey himself (start stretching now), a proper Aussie dinner, and a movie night on the field. Sunrise brings brekkie and another hit-out with Mike, just in case you fancy testing your cover drive before coffee.

To top it off, you’ll also score tickets to Day 2 of the sold-out Perth Ashes Test and your very own personalised pickets around the ground.

The catch? There isn’t one…except that you’ll need lightning-fast fingers when bookings open at midday (AEDT) on Friday 7 November. Travel’s on you, but bragging rights? Priceless.

Sleep inside an art installation

Paris has always been dramatic, but this autumn, it’s officially gone full sci-fi. Le Meurice, the impossibly elegant Dorchester Collection hotel that’s been seducing artists for centuries, has teamed up with the design wizards at Things From. to create Suite 1835 – an immersive pop-up that’s both luxury stay and sensory hallucination.

Available from the 8th of October to the 31st of December, this suite isn’t just somewhere to dump your bags; it’s an interactive art installation where the furniture glows as you move, the carpet is made of aluminium, and the walls seem to hum with the future. Basically, it’s Versailles meets Blade Runner.

Guests can even wander into a neighbouring meditation room – think mirrored cube, AI-generated visuals that react to your “energy,” and a quadraphonic sound system.

Naturally, this kind of transcendental weirdness doesn’t come cheap – rooms start at AU$6,883 per night – but hey, enlightenment has never been part of the breakfast buffet. The silver lining? Some of the profits go toward scholarships at Ensaama, so at least your trip to another dimension helps fund the next generation of French designers.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Paris through light, sound, and slightly trippy introspection, Le Meurice’s Suite 1835 is your one-way ticket to the future. Who wants in?

Hotel Indigo Melbourne opens

Melbourne doesn’t exactly have a shortage of hotels, but the brand-new Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Little Collins isn’t here to blend in. Sitting pretty at 288 Little Collins Street, it’s smack in the middle of the city’s action – coffee, street art, and impulse shopping sprees all just a stroll away.

Inside, it’s not your standard beige sleep box. Each room is splashed with bold design nods to Melbourne’s fashion and laneway culture, with plush beds and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can spy on the city without actually leaving your robe.

And then there’s Fern Bar & Dining, where cocktails are crafted with the same seriousness Melburnians usually reserve for flat whites. Menus lean seasonal, plates lean generous, and the vibe says “I’m on holiday” even if you’re just here for an overnight work trip.

Of course, there’s also a gym if you’re that way inclined, and spaces that are as happy hosting laptops as they are late-night catch-ups. It’s slick without being stuffy and playful without being try-hard, acting as the perfect reminder that this vibrant city does boutique hotels better than most.

Want a stay that feels like Melbourne turned down the clichés and turned up the personality? Hotel Indigo on Little Collins has the keys.