Travel isn’t just about the destination (or even the journey to get there) but about the experiences we enjoy and the memories we gather like so many mental souvenirs.
Whether you’re looking to nourish your body and mind, explore exciting new locales, soak up some sun during a digital detox, or check in at a fascinating new hotel, travel is all about changing perspective, learning new ways, meeting new people and embracing new landscapes.
In this September’s Wunderlist round-up, we do all that, from luxurious new boutique hotels in Bali and New Zealand, and fascinating guided tours of Hong Kong’s nightscape, to pampering wellness retreats in Cambodia and Bhutan.
And for those looking for a well-deserved lie-in, there’s even coffee on delivery in Vietnam.
Coffee on the Go
Mornings are never easy, even when you’re on holiday. Fortunately, they just got a little easier. In a nod to Vietnam’s rich coffee heritage, Alma Resort Cam Ranh’s barista now cycles up to guests’ pavilions and handcrafts their brew for them.
The Essence of Vietnamese Coffee, Brought to Your Door service is available to guests staying at the resort’s oversized one-, two- and three-bedroom suite pavilions, and guests choose from four signature coffees: bold and robust iced black coffee; smooth iced white coffee with condensed milk; sweet and creamy Vietnamese-style classic bạc xỉu; and salted coffee with a unique savoury-sweet blend.
Available from 11 am – 5 pm, the new service sees the barista cycle up to the pavilion with fresh ingredients and prepare the coffee in the privacy of the guests’ accommodation (you can then sip to your heart’s delight in the suite’s private terrace jacuzzi).
London Calling
If you have the best London shopping and dining on the radar this Autumn, you’re in luck with the opening of The July London Victoria, a new apartment-hotel, a quick five-minute walk from Victoria Station.
This sustainable urban sanctuary, located near Market Hall’s food hub, countless restaurants and dazzling theatre productions, offers 114 Art Deco-styled rooms, including a pair of Family Apartments with interconnecting rooms that are ideal for families who want both space and privacy.
You’ll also dine well at The Idler, headed up by chef Jay Campbell, who serves modern British cuisine with a Mediterranean twist, complemented by creative cocktails and selected wines, while the on-site Deli, with its freshly baked pastries and gourmet sandwiches, is the perfect pit stop before heading out for a picnic in one of London’s leafy parks.
Also, look out for the hotel’s “neighbourhood key”, which acts as a backstage pass to curated events and dining perks – the hotel is even launching reading and running clubs, with the aim of allowing guests to foster real, genuine and long-lasting connections.
Capture the Night in Hong Kong
Visitors to Hong Kong will now be able to explore Wan Chai, one of the city’s oldest and most eccentric neighbourhoods, with a new tour from luxury hotel The Hari.
The Hari Hong Kong has teamed up with travel content creator @explore_hongkong to create the private Best of Wan Chai at Night Tour – Explore Hong Kong Like a Local tour, a 2.5-hour experience that delves into the history and stories of Wan Chai and neighbouring Causeway Bay. The itinerary covers everything from rides on the city’s iconic trams, a chance to explore wet and street markets, visit an ancient 140-year-old tea shop, and meet the ‘villain hitting’ Grandmas eking out justice through Chinese folk sorcery (pictured above).
You’ll also cross one of Hong Kong’s busiest streets, sample local delicacies, and stop for views of the city’s iconic skyscrapers.
Rural Bliss Arrives
If you’re planning a New Zealand road trip this southern summer, be sure to book a pit stop at the North Island’s newest luxury retreat.
The Clements Hotel is a new boutique hotel, housed in Cambridge’s original 1866 Beaux-Arts Masonic hotel, that promises refined luxury and soulful charm in the heart of the bucolic Waikato.
Each of The Clements’ 29 rooms and suites has been designed with timeless elegance, with some offering beautifully restored Edwardian ceilings and others offering a more contemporary ambience. We would suggest you book one of the suites in the former century-old stables (this is world-famous horse country after all); the Corner Suite features a free-standing bathtub, walk-in shower, and a spacious 30sqm terrace for alfresco dining.
In addition, many of the building’s original architectural features, including stained-glass windows, red brick walls, and the sweeping wooden staircase, have been carefully restored.
After sampling the best locally sourced ingredients at the Gallery Restaurant, overlooking the gardens and terrace, make your way downstairs to the original 150-year-old basement, which has been reimagined as “1866”, an underground speakeasy bar inspired by Chicago’s Prohibition-era haunts that serves drops from the adjacent Cambridge Distillery Co, including a spirit crafted from a rediscovered 1860s Irish recipe, a fitting tribute to Irish-born Archibald Clements, who built the original hotel in 1866.
Time for Wellness in Cambodia
Cambodian wellness retreat Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West has launched a signature retreat programme.
In October, the Chakra Balancing Retreat (24-26 October), co-led by Lana Yang and veteran yoga therapist Aimee, is a three-day retreat designed around the ancient yogic principle of chakra alignment, balancing the body’s energy centres through asana, breathwork, and meditation.
This ‘Autumn Alignment’ features a full spectrum of yogic tools, including dynamic morning flows, deep yin and restorative practices, guided philosophy discussions, and silent mornings for reflection. You’ll also be able to nourish your body with vegan meals that are light, cleansing, and specially crafted to support energetic clarity.
In addition to scheduled retreats, guests can reserve private, fully customizable wellness journeys throughout the year.
These include the one-day Yoga & Spa Daycation, which combines a 90-minute morning yoga, breathwork, and meditation session with a nourishing three-course vegetarian lunch, reflective journaling grounded in yogic philosophy, and a choice between a restorative spa treatment or Tibetan sound healing session; and the three or five-day Wabi Sabi Yoga Retreat, which blends daily meditation, energising yoga, themed journaling, and plant-based cuisine with optional excursions such as forest hikes, traditional monk blessings, or kayaking.
Bukit Bliss
The newest boutique resort to open on Bali’s acclaimed Bukit Peninsula, Seascape Uluwatu is the perfect pampering destination for couples seeking an intimate and refined retreat.
Blending minimalist design with modern comfort, the hotel’s accommodations include the Cabana Room with its intimate infinity pool, and lavish Two-Bedroom Villas with garden or ocean views. The Pecatu retreat also features an ocean-facing main pool. An on-site gym and even a luxury shuttle service to Bukit’s most popular attractions, including Padang-Padang Beach and Uluwatu Temple.
After your exploration, return to the resort’s Tsune Uluwatu restaurant, an elegant signature eatery serving modern interpretations of authentic Japanese dishes, or retreat to the Svaha Spa Bingin, which offers traditional Balinese treatments designed to relax and revitalise.
Time to Reconnect
Wellness lovers looking for the ultimate escape might want to take advantage of new flights from Hong Kong with a wellness retreat at one of the world’s last untouched spiritual sanctuaries.
The Bhutan Yoga, Sound & Meditation Retreat, in partnership with Kalm Wellbeing (19 – 24 October) at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, invites urban-weary souls to reconnect with themselves in the tranquillity of the Himalayas.
Led by teacher and author Kathryn McCusker, and held at Bhutan’s only five-star wellness-inclusive resort, this six-day immersive journey will offer deep self-discovery, balance, and renewal and includes a wellness consultation with the in-house Traditional Medicine Doctor, twice-daily Kundalini yoga, breathwork, meditation, and sound healing, a one-on-one with Kathryn specifically focused on guests’ retreat intentions, five traditional wellness treatments, vegetarian meals featuring locally sourced ingredients, Bhutanese cooking classes, pottery, archery, and monastery visits, and five nights at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary.