Your ultimate guide to everything fabulous and fun in Singapore

Big-cat spotting on exclusive safari reserves? Rare South African sirloin at Cape Town's Nobu? Organic Shiraz in the Winelands? An 11 hour flight from Singapore is all that stands between you and one of the greatest tourist destinations on earth. In a nation brimming with incredibly luxurious boutique hotels and once in a lifetime experiences, the biggest problem with South Africa is knowing where to start. Helpfully, we've designed what we think is the definitive SA itinerary. Safari splendour Start with a rip-rollicking safari adventure in the most game heavy reserve in Africa, Kruger National Park. Singita Lebombo is our ...read more

Are you a planner or a procrastinator? Either way, we know you love a good holiday. Now's the time to book Chinese New Year because we all know the best spots get snapped up FAST. Our top tip is to escape the throngs of tourists and enjoy a mellower CNY in laid-back Laos. Here's why: Though it still feels off the beaten track, Laos is about to become much easier to get to with direct flights from Singapore to Vientiane. Leaving on Sun (22 Jan) and returning Tues (24 Jan), these flights mean you can have the perfect two-night CNY ...read more

The secret is out and word is spreading: Sri Lanka is Asia's hippest up-and-coming travel destination, with sexy boutique hotels and villas a dime a dozen and more cropping up all the time. It is also the perfect destination for experience-greedy travellers like us who literally want it all: art, culture, beach, jungle, mountains, wildlife and history. After all this, there's nowhere better to reflect and relax than the Maldives, a 1.5-hr flight away. Lightfoot's dedicated travel team have tried and tested this formula (just to be sure) and we think it is the ultimate Indian Ocean combo. First stop: ...read more

If you're hankering for something a little different, a little special for your next holiday, this jaunt through Northeast India might be just the ticket. There are three key components: 1. Get your bustle on in Delhi with guided tours of impressive forts, shopping hotspots and the like; bed down at our trusty 4-star gem, the Claridges Hotel. 2. Escape northeastwards to the Himalayan foothills to luxuriate at the Mary Budden Estate, an eco-luxe homestay deep within the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (pack your hiking boots - the landscape beckons). 3. End with an exceptionally fun elephant-back safari in the jungles ...read more

Quit moaning about the tropical weather, and deal with it as we do. Book an icy escape in your diary right now, and not only will you have a chance to really look forward to it, you can nab an early bird deal while you are at it. Here are three fabulous places to stay in Niseko: Latitude 42 Affectionately called "Lat 42", the self-contained chalet in the lower Hirafu village lies within walking distance to Niseko's best eateries and the Yukoro Onsen. With fantastic views of Mt. Yosei, the four bedroom chalet is perfect for families and friends looking ...read more

Yes the chi-chi hotels are nice, but when you are staying for a week or travelling with tots in tow, there is only one way to go - with room to move. Shopping at the local markets, hanging out in a living room as opposed to a hotel lobby and staying in a real neighbourhood are all major draw cards to apartment rentals. Oh, and you might even be able to cook in the kitchen too! That's why we love the new Roomorama service. Better than a house-swap, this online marketplace of private apartments and homes provide significant savings, plus ...read more

Its been a tough week. We are just back in from the Maldives, testing out the new Six Senses Laamu. Beds insanely comfortable, tick. Amazing epicurean extravagances, tick. Serene tranquillity, tick, tick, tick! If you need a good reason to book your getaway, here it is. This newly opened eco-luxury resort set in the picture-perfect coral atolls is offering a Stay 6 Pay 4 deal... And availability is going quick. Get caught up in summer frenzy and whisk yourself away pronto! If your looking for something a little closer to home, head to the Island of the Gods. Right now ...read more

When it gets hot... it's time to slope off. Crispy days of clear blue skies, endless white powder and sublime vistas Queenstown is truly fit for royalty. The crowned adventure capital of NZ overlooks the beautiful lake Wakatipu and is bounded by the craggy peaks of the Remarkables. With everything from beginner slopes to rolling off-piste runs, they don't call this the Remarkables Ski Area for nothing. If you've just got the hang of zipping across the snow, you're sure to progress quickly here. More advanced? Runs like Terminator, Eliminator, Diangulator and Exterminator will leave your heart pumping. Snowboarders we ...read more

In this day of internet travel booking, why would you use a travel agent? Agents are great when ... Time is money. Agents are great at watching out for deals. So having a relationship with an agent who knows what you are interested in, can mean you have a full-time internet deal hunter on your team. You have a crackberry habit. If you or hubby spends enough time on the blackberry as it is, make sure that someone else has the headache when you are on holidays. Hotel flooded, flight delayed - not your problem. You love an upgrade. Agents ...read more

Calling all ski bunnies, alpine addicts and luxury lodge-lovers. Don't fancy schlepping over to Europe this year? Why not sample the perfect powder and exclusive lodges we have closer to home. Head Down Under to Queenstown, New Zealand's premier skiing playground, or slope off to the Japanese Alps later in the year to experience crisp virgin snow, spectacular sushi and secret ski chalets. Style... Über sleek service apartments with oodles of space, open fires and a 'ski chic' designer vibe. Setting... Snug in the heart of Niseko (Asia's hottest après ski haunt) with ski-in, ski-out access to powder-soft slopes. Spa... ...read more

Fabulously Zen villa? Check. Designer bikini? Check. Kids happy and safe? Erm... Planning a family holiday can be tough. You want understated luxury... sleek, sexy design... first-class food and service. And you want your kids to love it, too. Mission impossible? Not for us! Here are our picks for happy guests, little and large. Hey, you're welcome. Dutch house Check into the colonial Dutch beach house Villa If in Sri Lanka for breezy courtyards, columned verandahs, sweeping tropical gardens, 5 en-suite AC bedrooms and 6 attentive staff. With a private entrance to the beach and its reef-protected lagoon, there is ...read more

We all want to leave the tourist trails behind, but not sacrifice our 5 star fluffy pillows and spa treatments. We have picked out the region's top off-track trips. Blissfully isolated but not without that 5 star style and service - a winning combo, we think you'll agree. Laid-back Lao Laos has a charmingly rural, authentic vibe - less explored than neighbouring Cambodia, the adventurous few who visit are guaranteed a rich cultural experience. La Residence Phou Vao is an elegant spa hotel near the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. Gaze over the sacred Phou Si Mountain from the ...read more

If you love yoga, fine food, luxury accommodation and stunning scenery, like the Pyrenees in the south west of France, or the Byron Bay Hinterland, a yoga retreat holiday could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Top Australian yoga instructor Jessie Chapman runs 5-7 day yoga retreats in Bali, France, Bryon Bay and Thailand. Each retreat is focused on your wellbeing, inner strength, connection, relaxation and enhancing your yoga practices. With twice daily yoga, beach & nature walks, or hikes in the Pyrenees, stunning accommodation, massage & spa treatments, gourmet meals, and cleansing juices you will surely feel like a ...read more

Ahhh. The list of must-do holidays is ever growing. How to choose? So many Must Dos! If you haven't experienced a Como Shambhala holiday, then put it on the list. Como Shambhala are well known for their first class accommodation, but for the ultimate experience you should try a wellness package. With the choice of Bali, Bhutan, Maldives or the Caribbean, these estates focus on a holistic retreat for your mind, body and spirit. Each guest receives an initial wellness consultation that's then developed into a plan of treatments and activities that involve diet, exercise, education and relaxation. Programmes run ...read more

So you have done the beach holidays, seen the Great Wall and visited the big bustling Asian cities, so what next? For a rich and fulfilling experience, you should explore an hour, day or week of volunteering in your next trip away. All you need is energy, enthusiasm, an open mind and an open heart.. Tabitha Singapore provides house-building programmes to all types of willing people. After an orientation and some sight-seeing in Phnom Penh, volunteer teams travel to the site to carry out the work. The teams raise money for building materials with Tabitha providing the framework and supervision ...read more