Best of 2017
Stephanie Holmes has had a remarkable year in Travel, Travel travelling to various locations in 10 countries, as well as many New Zealand weekends away. Here are her top picks from a year on the road ... and in the air.
Best hotel: Efendi, Acre, Israel Two ancient houses were reconstructed and merged over a period of eight years, restoring original features such as colourful ceiling frescoes and a 400-year-old Turkish bath. Think natural light-filled, rooms with high ceilings and views of the Mediterranean ocean and nearby mosques. Calls to prayer float on the breeze as you watch the sunset from the rooftop bar. Absolute perfection. efendi-hotel.co.il Best bed: Four Seasons Boston Like being enveloped in a hug from a fluffy, white cloud. Divine. fourseasons.com/boston Best flight: Emirates — Auckland to London Flying to the other side of the world is usually a drag. Not when you’re in the comfort of Emirates Business Class cabin however. Excellent service, high-quality food and wine, and a comfortable, lie-flat bed made this 26-hour marathon actually pretty enjoyable. emirates.co.nz Best in-flight food: Qatar Airways I flew Economy Class on the world’s longest flight from Auckland to Doha (more than 17 hours), then Business Class on the way back. In both classes, the food was delicious and there was plenty of it. Highlights included chicken in Catalan sauce with yellow rice, an Arabic mezze platter and a cream cheese omelette. qatarairways.co.nz Best airport lounge: Cathay Pacific’s The Pier at HKIA The Pier, Cathay Pacific’s Business Class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1. As well as showers and plenty of space, there’s also a Chinese teahouse, noodle bar and a relaxation room. A haven of tranquility — words not always associated with airports. cathaypacific.com Best restaurant: Long Chim, Perth In Perth’s beautifully restored State buildings, you’ll find innovative Asian flavours, mind-blowing cocktails and a cool atmosphere. Highly recommended. longchimperth.com Best bar: Cocktailbar Massimo, Korcula, Croatia An open-air bar on top of the turret of a 15th century Old City fortification, where the drinks arrive by basket and pulley system and the views are of islands, super yachts and sunsets. Best tour: A Walk Thru Harlem Walking around the streets of Harlem with living hip-hop legend Grandmaster Caz was the best way to begin three days in New York City. You can read about it in Travel next year. Best destination: A dead heat Borneo for adventure; Fiji’s Dolphin Island for luxury; Croatia for its pristine seas; Israel and France for their food, culture and history. I’ll stop showing off now ...