World's 16 most beautiful hotels have been named - one of them is in Sydney

Manly Pacific Hotel in Sydney has just been named one of the world's 16 most beautiful hotels at the Prix Versailles World Ceremony held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of architecture and design" and judged by a panel of well-known architects, designers and other creatives, the Prix Versailles celebrate beautifully designed museums, hotels, restaurants and airports around the world.

Other hotels that have made it to the list include: Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain; W Macau in China; and La Fantaisie in Paris. Planning to check into the Sydney property which emerged from a $30-million transformation in 2023? Don't forget to read our review.

About 40 per cent of leisure travellers are willing to pay more for flights with lower emissions, according to a new study by Macquarie University researchers. Dr Dylan Thompson, who co-authored Air Travellers' Attitudes Towards Carbon Emissions: Evidence From the Google Flights Interface, said the main takeaway from the paper is plenty of passengers are willing to pay more to travel if it helps the environment, and airlines should continue to develop ways to reduce emissions. "There is an incentive for airlines to keep doing this," he said. The study is based on a survey of 401 people.

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Is your name Anne? Or do you know someone who's called Anne? More importantly, have they made a significant contribution to their community, family or society? Well, now is the chance to register them for a royal treat aboard Cunard's new ship Queen Anne. The vessel is making its Australian debut in Sydney on February 28 and, to mark the occasion, four women named Anne will be invited on the ship for an all-expenses-paid experience, covering gourmet meals, spa treatments and live entertainment. Flights to and transportation in Sydney, as well as accommodation on the ship or at a luxury hotel are also included. cunard.com/en-au/deservingannes

In an age when certain destinations have become so overrun by tourists that they have started charging an entry fee (yes, Venice, we're looking at you), it's worth heading to places that welcome travellers with open arms rather than price tags. With that in mind, have a look at Booking.com's 2025 Traveller Review Awards, which has ranked the 10 most welcoming regions in the world, with South Australia appearing at the top.

"Booking.com's Traveller Review Awards are compiled using more than 360 million customer reviews, spanning accommodation partners, and rental car and taxi operators," says Todd Lacey of Booking.com. Other destinations that have made it to the list include: Osijek-Baranja in Croatia, Kakheti in Georgia, Madeira in Portugal, Misiones in Argentina, Graubunden in Switzerland, Britanny in France, Baja California Sur in Mexico, Kien Giang in Vietnam and Drenthe in Netherlands. There's an Australian sub-list, too, with the following destinations in the top spots: Montville and Maleny in Queensland, Margaret River Town in WA, Mudgee in NSW, Ocean Grove in Victoria, Bicheno in Tasmania and Port Lincoln in SA.