Flights To Fancy

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

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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Hamilton Island Qld: Sunny Winter Short Break

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Hamilton Island Winter Short Break

I take every opportunity to escape Winter, so when I spied Jetstar’s free return fares offer recently I was ‘Johnny on the spot’ (as mentioned in my tips on grabbing a bargain airfare) and snapped up two return tickets to Hamilton Island for a measly $300. It’s been 13 years since I was last on Hamilton Island and while some things have changed, many remain exactly as they were preserved in my memory. Hamilton Island is in Queensland’s Whitsundays region, a short distance from the mainland and a perfect gateway to Australia’s world famous Great Barrier Reef. The region is truly a slice of paradise, so it’s no wonder celebrities like Oprah (who also brought 93 of her fans along for the ride!), Miranda Kerr, Taylor Swift, Naomi Watts, Cate Blachett, Leonardo DiCaprio and Gorden Ramsey have all visited. If you want to find out exactly what draws thousands of visitors to this spectacular island every year read on for all the details …

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Whitehaven Beach: Perfect Pure White Sand

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Whitehaven Beach Title

Whitehaven beach in Queensland’s beautiful Whitsundays is very special to me. I first visited in 1993 on my honeymoon. We returned 10 years later on a perfect day to renew our vows on the pure white sand. When we found ourselves in the area again last month we just knew we had to go back. Whitehaven Beach is consistently rated in the top 10 beaches in the world and it’s easy to see why. If you are a beach person (and even if you are not!) you will be impressed by the pure white silica sands, the pristine National Park setting and the relative remoteness of this perfect beach so close to Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. Read on for all the details …

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Hamilton Island Dining On A Budget

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Hamilton Island Wining & Dining - Marina Tavern - Schnitzel Mexicana

Hamilton Island dining has come a long way since we lasted visited over 10 years ago and these days visitors have real options that cover the gamut from takeaway right through to fine dining. Eating out on a budget is tricky but it is possible. Tight menus littered with seafood and duck dominate the scene, neither of which are to my liking but I was still able to find a few options to excite my palette. Read on for all the details …

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Explore On The Edge Sunset Cruise Hamilton Island

Sydney Fashion Hunter: Explore On The Edge Sunset Cruise Hamilton Island - Sail

Hamilton Island is a tropical paradise in Queensland’s Whitsunday region and the perfect gateway to Australia’s world-famous Great Barrier Reef. A long time favourite of holiday makers from around the globe, there are no shortage of activities on Hamilton Island to choose from during your stay. The hubs and I sampled a few on our recent visit (read my review of our Hamilton Island Whitsunday Apartment here) and we were blown away by our Explore On The Edge sunset cruise. If spectacular sunsets, a state of the art vessel, yummy snacks and free-flowing beer/wine are your thing then you are going to love this! Read on for all the details  …

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