Travel hot list, August 2023: Revamp for Melbourne heritage hotel
The top new hotels and attractions for August include a Sydney backpackers’ resurrection, an unassuming ’70s building in Melbourne revamped and a new Spanish gallery finally opening, close to 100 years after its conception.
Major revamp puts the groove back into heritage Melbourne hotel
In reimagining this city property, designers look to have taken the 1970s ball and run with it.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★
Former Sydney backpackers revived as glamorous new hotel
For an urban hotel, location doesn’t come much better than at the 82-room Hotel Morris.
- by Riley Wilson
Striking new gallery finally opens after almost 100 years
Madrid’s new Royal Collections Gallery began construction in 2006, but was first conceptualised in the 1930s.
- by Julietta Jameson
The Melbourne hotel where you can now book the entire top floor
Pullman on the Park, Melbourne, is offering a whole floor - sleeping up to 36 people across 18 rooms - for a getaway with a difference.
- by Julietta Jameson
Rafael Nadal teams up with hotel chain to launch beachfront property
It’s fitting for the tennis champion that the first property of his hospitality venture would be on his home island of Mallorca.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★★
Hong Kong hotel sets the new gold standard for opulence
The Rosewood is an exquisite grand luxury hotel and represents a new era for the East Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood on the Kowloon side of the city.
- by Kristie Kellahan
★★★★★
New Italian hotel offers five-star style without the stuffiness
The Rome Edition’s dining and entertainment, along with the unique design and international atmosphere, have redefined ideas of classic luxury.
- by Maria Pasquale
The Aussie company bringing tiny holiday homes to the world
Tiny Away is becoming big news for both landowners and travellers, with plans to add 5000 homes globally by 2026.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★½
To sleep at this luxury bush lodge is to feel cradled by Mother Earth
The more than $2500 price tag of Arnhem Land’s exclusive Seven Spirit Bay gets you memories to last a lifetime.
- by Kerry van der Jagt
Long-delayed London hotel is finally taking bookings
Announced in 2015, London’s first luxury Peninsula hotel has a launch date and several oh-so-British features to tempt you into a stay.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★
Offbeat location, but new Melbourne hotel is fun and affordable
The Motley in Richmond offers an arty oasis with a more locally inspired experience.
- by Guy Wilkinson
Tasmanian farm stay making waves for its clever, high-spec design
Iron Creek Bay Farm Stay, a little-heard-of budget accommodation in Tasmania, has just been shortlisted for an important international architecture award.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★½
Bewitching stay in the heart of Australia is pure magic
The scenery in this part of the world stirs the spirit in ways you simply don’t expect.
- by Sue Williams
Ugly duckling bargain hotel adds some interior pizazz
This much-loved hotel in Spain’s capital has had a welcome revamp.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★★
The verdict on notorious Melbourne prison’s luxe hotel conversion
Pentridge has been converted from a place you don’t want to be to a place you don’t want to leave.
- by Anthony Dennis
★★★★★
Perfect score for this cool hotel in a hot destination
Doha’s searing heat tends to deter travellers over summer, but there’s more than enough to do in the cool of this magnificent Mandarin Oriental outpost.
- by Anthony Dennis
Byron’s new luxury villas are for lovers of food, nature and design
A lot of homework, strong attention to detail and a little help from their friends have helped NSW couple Greta and Perry Smith create the Byron Shire’s newest luxury lodgings.
- by Julietta Jameson
★★★★½
For once, an Aussie tiny house where the experience matches the hype
This is a Kangaroo Valley gem – a cosy, well-equipped space in such a delightful setting you’ll be reluctant to stray far.
- by Rob McFarland
★★★★
An Instagrammer’s dream, this hotel is almost too cool for its own good
This Porto, Portugal, hotel stays on the right side of being the preserve of hipsters, while offering some of the best views in the city.
- by Jamie Lafferty
Former Italian monastery turned glorious hotel gets a revamp
The Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel is situated for glorious sea views and is built around an 800-year old Cistercian monastery
- by Julietta Jameson