Beach Resorts in Central Vietnam: Luxury Retreats Offering Serenity and PeaceBy Elena WhitbyMarch 4, 20267 Mins Read Central Vietnam is home to some of the country’s most picturesque coastlines, offering a perfect balance between natural beauty and serene retreats. The beach resorts in this region, while undoubtedly luxurious, prioritize a rhythm of calm and relaxation over the bustling energy of spectacle. These resorts allow guests to immerse themselves in the rhythms of the ocean, the gentle sway of palm trees, and the unhurried pace of the surrounding landscape. Here, each moment is designed to offer a sense of time that flows smoothly, without the interruption of overwhelming extravagance. Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Four Seasons Resort… Read More
Where to Stay in Hanoi: Historical Hotels with Modern Comfort and AmenitiesBy Elena WhitbyMarch 4, 20267 Mins Read Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a city where old-world charm coexists with modern vibrancy. Its heritage-inspired hotels are a perfect reflection of this blend, offering guests an immersive experience that connects them to the city’s rich cultural past while ensuring the comforts of modern luxury. From colonial-style buildings to restored historic gems, these hotels offer both heritage and contemporary sophistication, allowing travellers to experience Hanoi’s fascinating history with ease. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is an iconic hotel located in the heart of the French Quarter. The hotel’s colonial-era architecture is a perfect blend of French… Read More
Where to Stay in Shanghai: Hotels Designed to Contain Scale in a MegacityBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20265 Mins Read Shanghai operates at a scale that can feel relentless. Streets stretch wide, buildings rise aggressively, and distances are measured vertically as much as horizontally. Staying well here often depends on how effectively a hotel can divide, absorb, and compartmentalise that scale: creating internal environments where movement, sound, and visual intensity are filtered rather than amplified. These hotels stand out for how their architecture, room layouts, and internal circulation help guests navigate Shanghai without being overwhelmed by it. Fairmont Peace Hotel Fairmont Peace Hotel sits at the northern end of the Bund, occupying one of the city’s most recognisable historic structures.… Read More
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur: Hotels That Master Vertical Living and Urban ContainmentBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20265 Mins Read Kuala Lumpur is a city shaped by height. Towers rise abruptly from dense neighbourhoods, malls fold into office blocks, and hotels often operate as vertical compounds rather than standalone buildings. Staying well in Kuala Lumpur is less about escaping the city and more about how effectively a hotel contains it: through elevation, internal zoning, and the way daily movement is managed within a single structure. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur sits beside KLCC Park, using both elevation and open greenery to soften the city’s intensity. Arrival transitions quickly from traffic into a controlled interior environment, with park… Read More
Where to Stay in Singapore: Hotels That Balance Efficiency and ComfortBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20266 Mins Read Singapore operates with precision. Movement is measured, systems are visible, and the city rarely feels unstructured. Hotels here tend to reflect that order, but the best ones soften it: introducing comfort, space, and rhythm without slowing the city down. These properties stand out for how well they absorb Singapore’s efficiency while still offering places that feel restorative rather than transactional. Raffles Singapore Raffles Singapore occupies a large colonial compound set back from the road, its white façades and internal courtyards forming a world apart from the surrounding city. Entry happens through wide arches and shaded walkways, immediately slowing pace despite… Read More
Where to Stay in Taipei: Hotels Designed for Everyday Livability in a Dense CityBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20266 Mins Read Taipei is compact, layered, and continuously active. Streets are narrow, buildings stack closely together, and daily life unfolds in tight proximity: between transit lines, night markets, offices, and residential blocks. Staying well here is less about retreat and more about finding a space that absorbs density without amplifying it. These hotels stand out for how their rooms, layouts, and daily-use spaces support everyday living within a dense urban environment. Star Hostel Taipei Main Station Star Hostel Taipei Main Station sits near Taipei Main Station, one of the city’s most compressed and fast-moving areas. Inside, the atmosphere shifts immediately toward order… Read More
Where to Stay in Bangkok: Hotels That Manage Scale and Urban IntensityBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20265 Mins Read Bangkok is expansive, layered, and rarely still. Streets widen suddenly, traffic compresses time, and neighbourhoods shift character within a few blocks. Hotels here are less about escape and more about control: how well they buffer noise, pace, and scale while keeping guests connected to the city. The properties below stand out for how they manage Bangkok’s intensity through layout, location, and spatial rhythm. Riva Surya Bangkok Riva Surya Bangkok sits directly along the Chao Phraya River, facing water rather than road. Arrival bypasses much of the city’s congestion, replacing it with a slower, horizontal outlook defined by boat traffic and… Read More
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: Hotels That Navigate Density with Everyday EaseBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 26, 20265 Mins Read Ho Chi Minh City is dense, layered, and constantly in motion. Streets overlap with commerce, residential life, and informal activity, often within the same block. Hotels aren’t about escaping the city. Instead, they focus on making movement through it easier: through layout, elevation, insulation, and rhythm. The properties below stand out for how they soften density while remaining embedded in everyday Saigon life. The Reverie Saigon The Reverie Saigon occupies the upper levels of a prominent downtown tower, using height and scale to distance guests from street-level intensity. Arrival transitions quickly from traffic to polished interiors, with vertical movement doing… Read More
Park Hyatt Kyoto Hotel: A Serene Stay in Historic HigashiyamaBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 23, 20264 Mins Read Park Hyatt Kyoto sits along the Higashiyama slope, following the line of old streets that carry visitors between temples, stone steps, and tiled rooftops. The setting is active for most of the day, shaped by slow-moving foot traffic and cameras lifted toward familiar views. The hotel doesn’t separate itself from this environment. It stays within its surroundings, then gradually begins to recede as space and pacing shift. As you step inward Entry unfolds in stages. A discreet doorway opens to a short incline, stone underfoot, then a dimmer interior where sound starts to recede. The ceiling lowers slightly and the… Read More
Where to Stay in Japan: Intimate Ryokans with a Quiet, Unstaged FeelBy Elena WhitbyJanuary 23, 20263 Mins Read Some ryokans in Kyoto move quietly, shaped more by routine than ritual. Days follow an easy rhythm, with private space, soft transitions, and a pace that never announces itself. In these places, hospitality stays close without pressing in. Intimacy comes through layout and timing, through how rooms connect and how evenings settle, without performance. HOSHINOYA Tokyo Hidden behind a modern façade in the heart of Tokyo, HOSHINOYA Tokyo reinterprets the ryokan experience vertically. The building rises floor by floor, each level arranged as its own private domain. Shoes are removed early, corridors are hushed, and movement slows almost immediately. Rooms… Read More
