Flights To Fancy

Travelling the world in luxury for less a week at a time

Asia is the world's largest continent. Therefore, it has plenty of opportunity for travel enthusiasts to see and explore the beauty of Asia.

Bali: Cleopatra Luxury Salon & Day Spa Review

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Cleopatra Luxury Salon & Day Spa Seminyak Bali 1

Our working lives are often so hectic that the only chance we have to really relax is on our precious few days of leave from the daily grind. For this reason, I make it a point to visit a day spa (or two!) every time I’m away. Bali is renowned for its (cheap) massages and there are literally hundreds of places to satisfy your need for ahhh and ahhh on this tiny island so choosing a Spa is daunting. My preference lies in the middle ground somewhere between a $5 beach massage and blowing $250 at a 5 star resort. I recently discovered Cleopatra Luxury Salon & Day Spa in Seminyak and spent a blissful three hours testing out the best of the treatments on offer. If you are looking for a Spa in Bali that offers the perfect fusion of quality and value then Cleopatra is for you. Read on for all the details …

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Restaurant Review: Bella Italia Legian Bali

Fash Packing by Sydney Fashion Hunter: Bella Italia Legian Pepperoni Pizza

Each time I head to Bali I always find it takes a few days for my body clock to adjust to local time. The downside is I often find myself hungry at odd hours so when the cravings hit at 11pm it surprised me that there were very few places still serving. Of course room service was an option at the Magani Hotel but I decided to make it my mission to find some late night bites to include in my epic list of 110+ things to do in Bali. To make my search even more complicated I was craving garlic bread, so now I needed not only to find somewhere open but was going to be picky with menu choices! Regular readers will know that I love TripAdvisor for their honest reviews but one of the great features is they list opening hours which made my search a whole lot easier. I found Bella Italia Legian pretty quickly and the 1am closing time suited my needs perfectly. Read on for all the details …

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Chez Monique Ubud: Jewellery Making Fun In Bali

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Chez Monique Jewellery Making Class - Finished Earrings

*** Updated January 2020 ***

I’m becoming a little bit of a DIY expert just quietly. Remember last week when I shared all the details of making my own perfume in Bali? Well I’m at it again, but this time I made my own jewellery. I’m not talking about stringing a few beads together or plaiting a friendship bracelet either. I’m talking the real deal here. You already know how much I love silver jewellery, so you can imagine that I was over the moon to learn from skilled craftsmen and make a unique piece of jewellery at a Chez Monique Ubud Bali. They even let me use a blow torch! Read on for all the details …

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Perfume Making At L’Atelier Parfums Bali

Sydney Fashion Hunter: L'Atelier Parfums Perfume Making - Title

Smell is such a powerful sensory experience. A hint of a familiar aroma has the ability to transport you back to a place, a person or a moment instantly. The memory invades your consciousness and appears almost as vivid as the first time around. For this very reason, some women choose a signature scent to wear exclusively, which their nearest and dearest immediately associate with them.  This coupling is not unlike a marriage in that they choose one and forsake all others for eternity. I have yet to discover ‘the one’ that will see me make that sort of commitment, but what if you could make a unique blend to your own exacting specifications rather than buying off the rack like everybody else? Wouldn’t that make you more likely to commit to your one and only? While the extravagance of perfume making was once a folly reserved for a privileged few, L’Atelier Parfums et Creations in Bali allows us mere mortals to get in on the act. If you want to make your own perfume in a fun, relaxed atmosphere then a L’Atelier workshop is for you. I just know you are going to love it as much as I did. Read on for all the details …

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Magani Hotel Bali: An Oasis Amid Legian Chaos

Sydney Fashion Hunter: The Magani Hotel Bali Review - Main Pool

When you land in Bali the heat and humidity hit you like a tonne of bricks the moment the aircraft door is opened. You are left in no doubt that you are in the tropics but that’s what you came for right? To enjoy some time in the sun in a beautiful setting. But you do occasionally need a reprieve from the chaos that is every present in the streets. The most critical element, which can make or break your trip, is the accommodation you choose. Ideally this will be an oasis of calm where you can truly relax. Finding the perfect home away from home often involves being torn between the luxury you crave and the dollars you want to part with. The Magani Hotel Bali solves that problem nicely. Read on for all the details …

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Restaurant Review: Hitana Legian Bali

Bali Restaurants Hitana Fruit Crepes

We were wandering back to our hotel after dinner one evening and had a hankering for something sweet. We had dined at the Hitana Legian on our last visit and knew that their dessert menu would satisfy our cravings. It was almost empty later in the evening with only a few guests lingering over their last drinks but unperturbed in our quest we chose a beach side table and reacquainted ourselves with the menu. Read on for all the details …

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Why Holy Guacamole Bali Should Be Your No 1 Pick Of Restaurants In Legian

Holy Guacamole Sangria

*** UPDATED JANUARY 2023 ***

I’ve dined at Holy Guacamole Bali in Legian more times than I can count. In fact, it is one of my favourite restaurants in Legian. On previous visits I’ve even roped in some friends who were all as equally impressed with this kitsch little Mexican restaurant in Bali. I first stumbled on Holy Guacamole in 2016 the day before Nyepi when nothing else was open. Our ‘go to’ Legian Restaurants were closed and we were wandering the streets aimlessly looking for sustenance. We were hot, sweaty and hungry when we found Holy Guacamole Legian. And we were so glad we did. I visited last in December 2022 and Holy Guacamole Bali is still going strong. If you are looking for a Legian restaurant that ticks all the boxes for a casual meal read on for all the details …

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