Experienced writer and journalist specialising in business, executive leadership, yachting and superyachts, luxury lifestyle, food and wine, travel and France and Monaco
Is a self-drive canal boat holiday as simple as it looks? Here’s what I found
Locks, high water levels and tricky steering can't dull the enjoyment of a break on the water
A trailblazing journey to the forbidden city of Lhasa
In 1924, French-born Alexandra David-Neel became the first European woman to set foot in the Tibetan city of Lhasa. Now, 100 years on, her story is as relevant as ever.
I Just Stayed at One of the Most-anticipated New Luxury Hotels of the Year — With a 30th-floor Infinity Pool, Incredible Sunset Views, and Some of the Best Food I've Ever Eaten
The Lana just opened in Dubai as the 10th hotel in the Dorchester Collection portfolio, and we were among the first to stay.
Renaissance on the Riviera
From Cannes to Nice, the luxury hotels of France’s Côte d’Azur are emerging from careful makeovers with a fresh look that hasn’t chipped away any of their legendary history.
Mona Haddad: A new economic dawn for Africa
There are 55 countries in Africa and, as it stands, they trade far less with each other than they do with the rest of the world. Mona Haddad, Global Director for Trade, Investment and Competitiveness at the World Bank, believes this has had a detrimental impact on the people who live there.
The cheapest ski resort in Europe? It’s on the Côte d’Azur
With its reputation for fast cars and superyachts, the Côte d’Azur seems the unlikely home of Europe’s most budget-friendly ski resort. Yet that’s exactly where you’ll find value for money this winter, according to a new ranking by French holiday rental site Holidu, which has placed a little-known ski station, just over an hour from Nice, in the top spot.
The tiny French town that changed the course of history
The early hours of March 5, 1815, were tormented ones for Napoleon Bonaparte. He had been back on French soil for four nights, after fleeing incarceration on the island of Elba, off the coast of Tuscany.
Why Japan is home to the world’s oldest businesses
There are so many 100-plus-year-old companies in Japan that there’s a word for them in Japanese: shinise. What is it about doing business in Japan that cultivates such an enduring legacy?
Why Arras is the French Christmas market alternative you need to know about this winter
Even though it’s still November when I visit, you would have to be Scrooge to deny that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Arras. The cold is biting but the sun is shining on the small northern French city. My fingers curl like a cat in front of a warm fire around my first cup of mulled wine for the season. A curious, yet quintessentially seasonal, mix of cinnamon, roasted chestnuts and fried churros lingers in the air.
This 13th-Century Chateau Was Transformed Into a Spacious Retreat in Rural France. Here’s a Look Inside.
Set on 2,500 acres in a small village, the fairytale-like Domaine des Etangs offers the chance to forget the stresses of the modern world in the largest five-star hotel in mainland France.
An infinite smorgasbord of options awaits at this resort in the Maldives
Five minutes after stepping onto a paddle court for the first time in my life, I’m dripping with sweat and already contemplating how much of my water bottle I can pour over my head and still leave enough for essential hydration.
13 Luxe Resorts That Let You Play on Their Yachts
The luxury travel advisors at Virtuoso have named it. Now that travelers have had a taste of private yachting, they don’t want to give it up. According to insights released at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, private yacht bookings are up 79 percent this year compared to 2019.
How this European startup built the leading platform for reducing food waste
As much as he would recommend it, Jamie Crummie knows that dumpster diving isn’t most peoples’ idea of a fun pastime. Yet the many social media accounts dedicated to the practice are telling proof of the treasure that can be found in someone else’s trash – and just how chronic a problem food wastage is.
The Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is run like a superyacht on land
There’s one word you won’t hear uttered at Kudadoo Maldives Private Island: No.
“It’s not in my dictionary,” Resort Manager Ali Shameem says.
The sentiment is echoed by Executive Chef Harshal Antil. “We never say no,” he agrees.
“If there’s a particular item we don’t have, we try to accommodate requests in an alternative way.”
When you’re running an ultra-luxe property on a dot of an island in the middle of the ocean, you can’t just put in a quick call to your local provider for Beluga caviar.
Marvellous Menton: The French border town where rugby, fine dining and lemons meet
As France gears up to host the Rugby World Cup, Chrissie McClatchie explores the fascinating Riviera town where the sport’s inventor was laid to rest, and finds a destination full of youthful swagger, Michelin-starred restaurants and a rediscovered, citrus-inspired zest