Qualia, Hamilton Island, Australia

Visiting Australia's tropical region is a must for locals or tourists alike. The Whitsunday islands on the Great Barrier Reef are a beautiful playground of sun, sea & surf. One of the loveliest resorts on Hamilton Island is Qualia, a luxury resort set on the edge of the island, that offers excellent accommodation, Spa facilities, In house dining, concierge service and so much more.

After being picked up from the airport on the island provided refreshments and then whisked away to the resort's fabulous gates that are reminiscent of Jurassic Park you enter and feel all your worries and stress melt away. Upon arrival, you're taken to relax with a glass of bubbly while the paperwork for your stay is done.

There are three main types of accommodation, Leeward Pavillion, Windward Pavillion or Beach House. They are all amazingly spacious and luxurious, with great views and plenty of privacy. The Beach House is a stand alone house perched on the edge of the property with magnificent views of the seas and islands. As the property is so vast, each pavilion has a golf cart available to the guest to get around.

There are two dining areas, the more casual Pebble Beach restaurant on the beach by the pool, and the Long Pavillion restaurant that has fine dining. Both restaurants feature fresh local produce and are an enjoyable experience. Private dining along the pool can also be arranged for that romantic dinner a deux or relax in your pavilion with in-room service.

With such excellent facilities, it was difficult to find the enthusiasm to leave the resort and explore the island, fortunately, it's not a large island and we did discover some lovely coastline and beaches. We also enjoyed a beautiful sunset cruise while sipping wine with a small group of other guests.

A must is the private beach 1/2 day drop off, where you are set up with an umbrella, towels, picnic and drinks of your choice. Don't let me get started about the Spa...it's fabulous for the mind body and soul and I enjoyed its indigenous approach to the experiences.

Romance and relaxation are the keys at Qualia with the style and luxury that ensures a fabulous break be it a few days or more.

Koh Lak, Thailand

We decided on a trip to Khao Lak in Thailand, about one hr from Phuket to celebrate our Anniversary. We chose to stay at The Sarojin 5 star hotel overlooking the white beaches and beautiful, Andaman Sea.

The hotel has the nicest gardens and just exudes serenity. The welcome you receive is so gracious and immediately puts you in the right frame of mind. 

We were escorted to our villa with its private pool. A room you can certainly relax in,  the bathroom giving you the feeling of being outdoors. The villa is private and comfortable and encourages you to indulge in time to yourselves or if you're feeling more social, you can go and lay out by the stunning hotel pool.

Then, of course, there is the lovely white sand of the beach area, where the gentle breeze keeps you cool while you unwind and let your worries melt away. Enjoy a cocktail and lunch by the seaside; the chefs produce delicious dishes to tempt any taste buds.

There are many tours you can take to fill in your days if you feel like being active. Tours to see the monkeys, Phi Phi Island, the elephants, river rafting, or scuba diving which we enjoy. The waters are crystal clear and the aquatic life is abundant. The Sarojin has a luxury motor boat that takes you across the waters to Similan Island for snorkelling or diving and the onboard lunch is decadent and plentiful. The mainland tours are private and you're allocated a guide, car, and are given the full VIP treatment.

As we celebrated our anniversary, the hotel organised the most romantic private dinner by a waterfall, with our chef and more than 150 candles. It was more than a dream; it was enchanting.  I felt spoilt and very special, this made our evening one always to remember.

With indulgent spa treatments included this is one place I can recommend to relax, recharge and reconnect. Loved it!