The Hottest Travel News Around The Globe

With travel well and truly back on everyone’s radar, keep up-to-date on what’s new and trending right now.

From a Balinese sanctuary that engages blind therapists to massage its guests to the debut of a new expedition to Timor-Leste, here’s all the travel news and inspo you need to lock in your travel plans for this year and beyond.

Copacabana Palace celebrates 100 years

Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, continues to celebrate its centenary this year with a program of arts, gastronomy and cultural events that will sweep visitors up in the city’s party spirit. Check the #100doCopa hashtag in August to see Rio’s glitterati shimmying down the red carpet for a showstopping party. This year will see the landmark beachfront hotel expand the MITICO art series and curate one-of-a-kind experiences as part of its Master Series of world-renowned guests.

a top view of the outdoor pool in Copacabana Palace — Soak up luxury and elegance at Copacabana Palace.

Lazarus Island goes tiny

Adding to its Sustainable Destination cred, Singapore’s Lazarus Island (Pulau Sakijang Pelepah) is now home to five tiny eco-friendly, low-carbon emission cabins. A 15-minute boat ride from Sentosa Island, the beachside Tiny Away Escape bracelets an otherwise uninhabited area of Singapore Strait, providing the ultimate escape from the Garden City.

an aerial view of Lazarus Island in Singapore — Singapore’s Lazarus Island now boasts five tiny houses thanks to Tiny Away Escape. (Image: Monk3ySeendo)

Bali resort engages blind therapists

The Asa Maia resort in Uluwatu, Bali, has engaged blind therapists from the Indonesian Union for the Blind to provide massages to guests. According to general manager Axel Jehangir, they offer an exceptional experience thanks to their heightened sense of touch. Jehangir says that “as well as relieving aches and pains for our guests, this unique treatment offers job opportunities" to the therapists who have limited means of making a living.

a blind massage at Asa Maia, Bali — Opt for a ‘Blind Massage’ at Asa Maia, Bali.

Start your holiday early at La Prairie Art of Beauty Lounge

Pre-emptively hydrate your skin and achieve a post-holiday glow before you depart, with a 45-minute facial at La Prairie Art of Beauty Lounge at Sydney International Airport. In partnership with Heinemann Duty-Free, it’s the first of its kind in Australia and sits within the airport’s new luxury precinct.

a look inside the La Prairie Art Of Beauty Lounge — Pamper yourself at the La Prairie Art Of Beauty Lounge. (Image: Jersch Horizon Blue)

Insider tips

Research conducted by Pureprofile on behalf of Tourism New Zealand has found that 86 per cent of Australians surveyed wished they’d had a local recommendation before their trip. To avoid post-holiday regret, Tourism New Zealand has launched the Local Lens Series, which includes tips such as grabbing a lamb and gravy toastie at Kai Nui in Taumarunui or walking the poignant Bridge to Nowhere in the ‘Valley of Abandoned Dreams’.

verdant greenery surrounding the Whanganui River, NZ — Paddle down the scenic Whanganui River in New Zealand.

Kick up your heels in Cuba

Simply Cuba Tours has released a new 10-day experience designed to showcase the beauty of the Caribbean country. The tour includes Old Havana, the outstanding karst landscape of the Viñales Valley, the mountains of Soroa and the crystalline waters of Cienfuegos.

an old American car in Havana, Cuba — Discover atmospheric Cuba with Simply Cuba Tours.

The Cuba Vista tour kicks off in November 2023 and is sweetened by a range of experiences. Sip mojitos in dimly lit bars, drift across the dance floor during a salsa class, learn about Cuban culinary traditions and delve deeper into the country’s history, arts and culture.

a cuban woman smoking a cigar — Delve deeper into the country’s history, arts and culture by meeting locals.

New mindful trek with World Expeditions

Travel writer and author Nina Karnikowski will lead conscious travellers on a 15-day adventure around the Everest region of Nepal in October. The author of Go Lightly: How to Travel Without Hurting the Planet and upcoming travel memoir The Mindful Traveller, will share her insights on reflective writing, mindful photography and how to forge a deeper connection to place. Mindful Travel in the Himalaya with Nina Karnikowski runs from 13 to 27 October and includes accommodation, professional guides and porters.

a photo of Nina Karnikowski — Join Nina Karnikowski on a mindful Nepalese trek. (Image: Peter Windrim)

Intrepid debuts new Timor-Leste expedition

Intrepid has launched a new nine-day Timor-Leste Expedition, which aims to immerse travellers in the local way of life. The mountainous island is one of Southeast Asia’s least-visited destinations, and that’s precisely why Intrepid developed the itinerary: to promote sustainable economic growth, support local communities and deliver alternative destinations to travellers. The inaugural tour, which will highlight ancient traditions and stunning landscapes, will depart on 15 October.

a scenic landscape in Timor-Leste — Explore the unspoilt Timor-Leste with Intrepid Travel.

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Cruise news

Sea Zero

Hurtigruten Norway has given the world an early glimpse of its first zero-emission ship, set to launch in 2030. Electric and equipped with batteries that charge in port, its raft of futureproofing concepts includes retractable sails with solar panels.

the Hurtigruten’s zero-emission ship sailing — A first look at Hurtigruten’s zero-emission ship.

Set the pace

Sparkling new travel brand Explora Journeys is shaking up the ocean-going experience with its slower pace of voyages that aim to help guests relax, reconnect and get under the skin of the places they’re sailing to – whether that’s the bonnie British Isles, epic Arctic Circle or the heady Caribbean.

the ship of EXPLORA I Caribbean — Sail with EXPLORA I.

Play the hits

Holland America Line is marking 150 years of sailing in 2023. As part of its celebrations around the globe, guests onboard the anniversary sailings can tuck into recreated historical dishes such as roast chicken paysanne with pommes frites, as well as commemorative cocktails with throwback happy hour prices.

Cruise with character

The craggy cliffs, medieval castles and quaint villages found along the Rhine River are storybook settings already. But, as part of its Storyteller Series, Avalon Waterways has added Scottish actor and author Graham McTavish of Outlander fame to the mix with its Kiltn’ It: Facts, Fiction & Fairytale Settings on the Rhine cruise. Bookmark it now.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The Lowdown: The hottest travel news around the globe right now

With travel well and truly back on everyone’s radar, keep up-to-date on what’s new and trending right now.

Copacabana Palace celebrates 100 years

Lazarus Island goes tiny

Bali resort engages blind therapists

Start your holiday early at La Prairie Art of Beauty Lounge