luxury Archives - Photo Tips, Creative Photography + Travel Guides - The Wandering Lens

Wilderness Wonders at Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 07:19:14 +0000

Kulala Desert Lodge – A Visual Hotel Review Staring into the distance, sand dunes dance in a haze of heat and oryx are spotted wandering on the horizon. It’s a desert scene of dreams, one that you can experience somewhere just as rugged as it is luxurious; Kulala Desert Lodge. Namibia is one of those places that takes your breath away at first sight. Flying over vast landscapes of rocky, sandy wonders was just the start of my time in the Namib Desert, on route to Sossusvlei, one of the most photogenic regions on earth. As we descended towards the runway, a small dirt airstrip beside mountainous ranges, it became obvious the desert was far larger than I’d imagined. Those images we see of Sossusvlei on Instagram are one thing, actually seeing the entire region from above and witnessing the expansive landscapes as they stretch for hundreds of miles is another. I’d actually say that nothing can really prepare you for how Namibia will dazzle you, especially when travelling with Wilderness Safaris. From Windhoek it’s roughly one hour by small plane with Wilderness Air, a flight you want your camera out for the entire way. The scenes below are some of...

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London Luxury: Sofitel London St James Visual Hotel Review

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:44:55 +0000

If you could take a few days to walk in the footsteps of royalty, wake up to views of the past yet sleep in the luxury of today, would you be tempted? Well if your hand isn’t up in the air mine sure is! As a big fan of London’s historic buildings, streets and parks I based myself in the St James’ area for a weekend at the Sofitel London St James. Located right in the heart of the city the hotel is within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the West End and the beautiful Hyde Park. Actually, you don’t really need to walk that far at all to see a bit of history with the hotel itself located inside an old bank and the hallways telling their own stories of years gone by. Just around the corner is Her Majesty’s Theatre, Trafalgar Square and Clarence House, then there’s also one of my favourite places in London, St James’s Park and the Horse Guards Parade within a five minutes stroll. Sofitel’s reputation for luxury is showcased throughout the rooms and facilities with little French touches blending with traditional English décor. The Rose Lounge, filled with so much pink,...

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Visual Hotel Review: Hotel St Moritz, Queenstown

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:17:39 +0000

great rates hereArriving in darkness I knew we were in for a sunrise like no other on our first day in Queenstown. Like kids on Christmas morning, we ran straight to the window to peel open the curtains and reveal the scene that was waking behind. Rugged mountain peaks with a fresh coating of snowy goodness stood tall above the teal perfection of Lake Wakatipu. Sunshine was slowly crawling into the valleys as the snow began to glisten in it’s morning glow. It immediately confirmed our suspicions…winter in Queenstown is like being in a real world snow globe. Lets rewind though to the previous night when my sister and I checked into the luxe Hotel St Moritz, part of Accor’s MGallery collection. The entrance was reminiscent of a European ski village with stone and wood blending by a log fire where people sat sipping mulled wine. Hello winter perfection! Opening the door to our Alpine Suite we were blown away by the size and grandeur. If you can imagine two squealing adults running from room to room in disbelief, thinking so many thoughts but only managing to say ‘eeee’. This was us. Calming down enough to soak it all in, the...

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A Night At 2132m High In The Swiss Alps

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:33:35 +0000

There’s something romantic about being in the mountains. The crisp fresh air, sweeping views and majestic heights of rugged peaks as far as the eye can see. If you’re after a unique hotel experience, I’ve found one that’s pretty special! The beautiful Swiss Alps are home to ski villages and chalets aplenty, but on top of Mount Pilatus which overlooks Lucerne, you’ll find Hotel Pilatus Kulm. Originally opened in 1890, the hotel has been recently been refurbished and offers an experience like no other…sleeping at 2132m above sea level. During the day it’s a popular tourist attraction and you’ll find it can get quite busy. During the evening however if you’re lucky enough to be spending the night, it’s just you, the mountain air, the odd mountain goat and the stars. From 5pm until 8am Mount Pilatus is yours to explore without any selfie sticks or tour groups getting in the way. Sit outside with a giant rug and a hot chocolate while you watch the stars twinkle over the snow covered mountains, or take a hike to watch the lights of Lucerne sparkle below. Staying at Hotel Pilatus Kulm can be as romantic or adventurous as you wish....

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Singapore Stopover: The W Experience

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:48:19 +0000

Whenever I see the letter W my mind is immediately drawn to visions of water. Thoughts of long refreshing swims and warm summer weather follows shortly after and it’s not long before I start looking up destinations to visit that all revolve around the letter W. It just so happens that this letter also represents one of my favourite hotel brands. W Hotels wow you with details regardless of where you choose to stay with them in the world. The W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is no exception and is the ideal stopover destination if you’re keen to float around and soak up the sunshine before your next flight. Located on the lush little island paradise of Sentosa, this hotel is a trendy, relaxing haven of all things tropical and water is a key focus! While you can explore the nearby attractions of Sentosa Island and visit the southern most point of South-East Asia at Palawan Beach or wander through Sentosa ResortWorld and the impressive SEA Aquarium, sometimes a stopover should just be about chill time. W Hotels are the concept kings in my opinion when it comes to transforming public areas of their properties around the world. The custom...

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The Maldives: A Snorkel Safari in South Male Atoll

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 08:00:21 +0000

The Maldives. Two words that conjure up visions of luxurious over water bungalows, sparkling swimming pools and white sandy beaches. You’ll find all this and more on over 1100 dreamy islands dotted within the atolls, 105 of which are home to hotels and resorts. One thing everyone needs to do when visiting the Maldives? See the underwater world! While each resort will have a swimming beach that’s the definition of paradise, there is nothing quite like jumping off a boat into the ocean and exploring an open ocean reef. While staying on Kandoomafushi Island in the South Male Atoll I booked a boat trip to ‘Turtle Point’ to photograph underwater in the Laccadive Sea. The 45minute boat trip was reason enough to take my entire camera bag, passing exotic islands and local fishermen in their traditional wooden Dhoni boats. What I was excited about though were the turtles…surely being named ‘Turtle Point’ was an obvious hint at what resides below the surface!? Arriving at Turtle Point I was a little surprised to see it was actually a spot in the middle of the ocean, no nearby islands, no beach to swim to, just water for as far as the eye could see. Jumping off a boat is...

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Escape into the world of W Retreat Maldives, Fesdhoo Island

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 10:35:14 +0000

Imagine a world where you have a soundtrack perfectly composed to your tropical surroundings, echoing as you float from pool to beach to boat. As my seaplane landed on the turquoise waters at sunrise, the W Maldives Retreat and Spa sat like a beautiful mirage in the distance across the lagoon. Approaching the island shortly after landing the water suddenly turned from a deep ocean blue to a crystal clear aquatic wonderland so perfect I wanted to jump in fully clothed! The W Retreat Maldives is one of the hundreds of island resorts dotted across the coral atolls of this island nation in the Indian Ocean. Based on Fesdhoo Island, the W has its own chilled out vibe, something unique that makes it stand out amongst the rest and that is evident throughout the world of W Hotels globally. It’s simply cool. Each room has a surround sound system allowing the customised tunes to play as you slip into your private pool, bath tub or as you lounge on your rooftop deck. The décor is hip and trendy but still so damn comfy you don’t even need to leave your little oasis. I stayed in the Beach Oasis, a luxurious...

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