Living and breathing online, we still find the crisp smell and feel of a paperback to be a special novelty. Especially with our thirst for creative spaces and escapism, Mr & Mrs Smith stylish hotel collection is definitely a “lust-have” for both the imagination and any travel planning – whether it’s for an extensive travel trip, a honeymoon, a special weekend away or a one-night rendez-vous…

Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Collection: Australia/New Zealand is the latest book in the worldwide series. The guide book features over 30 boutique and luxury hotels, it is great to discover that we actually don’t have to travel far to experience some of these fabulous locations.

From constantly searching for inspiration ourselves to our style black book, we know how much effort and extensive research are put behind to source this type of content. We are impressed by how each hotel was visited and exhaustively researched by Mr & Mrs Smith staff and then anonymously reviewed by one of a carefully selected group of “tastemakers” from the world of fashion, theatre, design, food and wine.

Photographer Earl Carter definitely gets the kudos for his original photography and the front cover shows the sands at exclusive safari camp Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef in the Cape Range National Park, Western Australia. Not surprisingly, The Establishment in our dearest Sydney scored a spot among the top city choices. For our next visit to Melbourne, we wouldn’t mind the rock ‘n’ roll life with a check-in at a vintage pop-star pad of The Bloomfield in the parkside South Yarra mansion. Other destinations on our wish list include Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay, Capella Lodge at breathtaking Lord Howe Island and New Zealand Huka Lodge at the magic banks of The Waikato.

For the ultimate vagabond; we suggest Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Collection: The Global Shortlist with its cherry-picked selection of stylish hotels around the world. Get the inside-scoop from fairytale Provençal châteaux to big city hotspots, secret Thai hideaways and even an eco-friendly jungle lodge in Belize. Over 13 countries are listed and follows in the footsteps of burlesque icon Dita von Teese, bon viveur Howard Marks, the creator of Agent Provocateur, Serena Rees and fashion columnist Bee Shaffer, just to mention a few.

Mr & Mrs Smith have also thrown in practical insider travel tips such as the best rooms to book, restaurants to eat, beaches to enjoy, and the low-down on local arts and culture. Each book also comes with an exclusive membership card for upgrades, discounts, exclusive on-arrival gifts and other life-enhancing extras – “Luxe for less” as they call it.

Having the hotel collection in our hands is like giving a big bag of candy to a bunch of hyperactive kids! We would probably need to sample each location ourselves to satisfy our senses. Actually, one thing we are stomped about is why mecho | the style black book Creator & Editor-in-Chief didn’t get asked to be an undercover reviewer!?

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