Where to Shop, Dine and Stay in Sydney

Quintessentially’s guide to Sydney.

photo source: Collette Dinnigan

As the temperature rises in Hong Kong and the heat gets a bit too much to handle, a trip down under may just be the thing to get you away this summer. Sydney is a great place to visit right now – the temperature averages around 8-18Celsius andit’s cool and crisp except for the occasional showers.
Quintessentially’s guide to Sydney tells you where to shop, stay, dine and party in Sydney.

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Hotel Rooms: Banyan Tree Samui

Set to open in Koh Samui this July 2010.

Banyan Tree is scheduled to open a new resort in July 2010 on the south eastern coast of the Koh Samui island on Lamai Bay, entitled Banyan Tree Samui.

This will mark the third destination for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts in Thailand since its flagship resort, Banyan Tree Phuket, opened in 1994. The new hotel is situated in the most picturesque bay, surrounded on all sides by cliffs and thick jungle to create a unique atmosphere of seclusion and tranquility.

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Part 2: Top 10 Places to Shop in Singapore

The guide to shopping in Singapore continues.

Ann Siang photo source: William Cho

Following Part 1 of our Top 10 Places to Shop in Singapore story yesterday, here’s the complete list that makes for a fun-filled shopping trip. Besides the well thought out shopping districts and air-conditioned malls, Singapore offers up interesting multicultural and chaotic local shopping experiences you won’t want to miss! Check out 6 to 10 below:

6. Ann Siang Road

Singapore’s Soho area. Ann Siang Hill, located next to Singapore’s financial district, is filled with old style Straits shop houses that have been remodeled on the inside into chic little fashion boutiques, bookstores, cafes and lots of cool concept stores. Shops to visit include Asylum - a studio/gallery/retail store - Fred Perry Laurel, Books Actually, Front Row for Singaporean designers, The Patissier, and Screening Room – a rooftop cinema and bar.

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Where to Stay, Shop, Spa and Party in Tokyo

Quinessetially’s guide to Tokyo.

Tokyo is a favourite destination with many Hong Kongers who makes frequent trips to this city every year. We ask Quintessentially to give us the inside scoop on what’s hot, and what’s definitely not, in the world’s coolest cities. Here’s their guide to Tokyo.

Where to shop?

Takeshita-Dori
Takeshita-Dori is a street in Harajuku famous for its youthful (and sometimes eccentric) high fashion. Up-and-coming Japanese designers sell their mind-boggling produce in the nifty boutiques that line this street, and the Japanese youths flock here in the hopes of being the first to know about the next big thing. Even if you aren’t tempted to buy anything, it is well worth a visit just to window-shop or gawp at the extraordinary parade of dressed-up youngsters.

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Waldorf Astoria to Open in Shanghai

Get ready for more luxury hotel openings in China.

The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai is set to open late July 2010. Located at the former heritage building of the Shanghai Club on the Bund, the new property will house 20 suites and all the grand luxurious details that is to be expected of a Waldorf hotel.

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