Romantic Retreat:
EL’s newlywed visits Krabi
Our favourite part of the world for a fuss-free family beach holiday is Dunsborough in Western Australia. Apart from the stunning beaches and super-relaxed vibe, it’s a pretty town with just the right mix of shops and cafés to be interesting without being too touristy.
There’s loads to do in the area for all ages and interests – from animal farms, parks and playgrounds to chocolate factories, boutique galleries and wineries. Margaret River town with its river walks and streets lined with curiosity shops, bars and restaurants makes a good day out.
If you have more time, a trip to Boranup Karri Forest, Cape Leeuwin lighthouse and on to Augusta (Australia’s most southwestern town) is well worthwhile. There are also some stunning walks and cycle tracks in the region; I highly recommend doing all or part of the Cape to Cape Trail, which runs for 123 kilometres along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge. The scenery is spectacular; we’ve even spotted killer whales frolicking in the Indian ocean, so be sure to take binoculars with you!
Dunsborough is a three-hour drive from Perth, so it’s easily doable for a break of five days or more, and there are plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets. (We love it so much, we bought a holiday home there!) And the best part is that it’s in the same time zone as Hong Kong, so there’s no jet lag to deal with!
A recent survey by FlightNetwork asked 600 travel journos, editors, bloggers and agency reps to name the most beautiful beaches on the planet. The list included 50 spots from Oregon in America to a black beach in Iceland, and everything in between.
Mexico and Australia were the only two countries to score two entries in the top 10. But it was the small nation of Turks and Caicos (southeast of the Bahamas) that nabbed the top spot, with the ridiculously turquoise waters
Once we can all go travelling, what better way to celebrate than to do your “first” getaway in style? Elite Havens has a stunning collection of luxury villas and chalets across Asia where you can enjoy a five-star holiday.
The beauty of a villa is that you and your family or friends can indulge in all sorts of services and facilities that are in place just for you – from private pools and barbecue terraces to entertainment, with well-trained staff and a dedicated concierge team to take care of your every whim and fancy. Keen for a delicious meal cooked by a private chef and served alfresco by the villa pool? No problem!
Contact the Elite Havens team at reservations@elitehavens.com and get a special five percent discount off best rates. elitehavens.com of Grace Bay ( pictured) taking the honour. Whitehaven Beach in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef came second, with Anse Lazio in the Seychelles coming in third.
The highest-ranked Asian beach in the list was Maya Bay, in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. This is the beach that came to global fame upon the release of the film The Beach, in 2000 – so, while it’s undoubtedly beautiful, it’s also very, very discovered. Put it this way: you won’t have the place to yourself!