%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-australia-new-zealand-hotels-capella-sydney-00-AUSNZHOTELSWB25-2a94fb5657e443af87d54312ad285ecc.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
The 5 Best City Hotels in Australia and New Zealand
The Capella Sydney hotel is located in the transformed former Department of Education building in Sydney, Australia.
Timothy Kaye/Courtesy of Capella Bangkok
The phrase 'central business district' might conjure automatic associations with banking institutions, drab architecture, and a general lack of cultural charm, but Sydney and Auckland prove that there can be so much more to a city's downtown scene. Perhaps that's why—yet again—all of this year's reader favorite hotels can be found within the bounds of these cities' CBDs.
Sydney sweeps this year's top three. Here, guests are in close proximity to premier attractions, including the Sydney Harbor (with its iconic bridge and opera house), the Royal Botanic Garden, Symphony Orchestra, and more. Past year's winners Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (No. 1 in 2024) and Park Hyatt Sydney (No. 1 in 2023) remain reader favorites, coming in at No. 2 and No. 3 in the 2025 survey. The latter's waterfront positioning is particularly enviable, since many of its tastefully decorated 155 rooms and suites offer balconies with harbor views. As one WBA voter enthused, 'The outdoor spaces are unbeatable. It's the best location of any city hotel.'
T+L readers were enamored with a pair of hotels in Auckland's CBD for similar reasons. 'We loved this space for watching boats, morning breakfast, spacious rooms, and cocktails outside,' said one voter of Hilton Auckland (No. 5). Guests of the hotel are well-positioned for a visit to the New Zealand Maritime Museum, which offers scenic sails in addition to its rotating exhibitions. Also nearby is Sky Tower to take in 360-degree views from the 60th-floor Sky Deck, which sits just over 600 feet above street level.
The winning hotel on this year's list is also the newest, having debuted in 2023, but it's already established itself as one of the region's greats in WBA voters' eyes. Read on to find out why.
Capella Sydney The bathroom of the Liberty Suite at the Capella Sydney hotel.
Timothy Kaye/Courtesy of Capella Bangkok
It took the Singapore-based Capella Hotel Group seven years to transform Sydney's historic Department of Education building into a serene, 192-room hotel—its first outside of Asia—but the effort is paying dividends in WBA voters' eyes. The ground-floor art collection introduces guests to Australia's dynamic art scene, with works from such Indigenous artists as Judy Watson and Otis Hope Carey, but to give travelers an even deeper understanding of Sydney's cultural might, the hotel curates an impressive array of experiences. Walking tours deliver unexpected insights into everything from the city's coffee culture to its architecture and history, including its Aboriginal heritage. As one reader summarized, it 'should not be missed!'
1. Capella Sydney
Reader Score: 95.79
2. Park Hyatt Sydney
Reader Score: 94.93
3. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
Reader Score: 91.20
4. Park Hyatt Auckland
Reader Score: 90.00
5. Hilton Auckland Reader Score: 85.07
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-header-kelly-benthall-travel-as-TRAVASAIRBNB0625-d26aa2285f8e4da3a9c6089ce0e86b35.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
a few seconds ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Retired Early and Now Travel the World Staying in Airbnbs
For Travel + Leisure's column Traveling As, we're talking to travelers about what it's like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. Burnt out from corporate America, Kelly Benthall got her finances in order and gave up her Texas lifestyle to retire at 53 and live around the world in Airbnbs with her husband, Nigel. Here's her story… I was living in Texas and working in oil and gas. As time went on, and the kids left, my job became extraordinarily stressful—to the point that I had to be wheeled out on a gurney through the lobby, hooked up to an EKG. After all those years of feeling like I needed to overachieve, my doctor said my job was trying to kill me. Once I realized that, my husband, Nigel, and I got a financial advisor who gave us some sound projections and advice. I always thought I would retire at 65 and play golf. Nigel didn't have a retirement plan. He was going to work forever, and it took me a couple of years to get him to turn the corner. But at 53 years old, I decided to retire. Once the job went away, all my stress dissipated and my levels returned to normal. I wasn't raised traveling. Our family would take our modified van from Texas to Ohio every year to see my grandmother—that was our big trip. I didn't even have a passport until I got married the first time in my 20s, and we just went to Mexico. Eventually, at work, I said yes to every single trip that came up because I was interested in seeing the world. I love foreign languages and talking to people from different countries. One time, one of my contractors was pregnant and couldn't go to Kalimantan, Indonesia. I knew nothing about what she was doing, but I went anyway. I find travel quieter and calmer [than being at home]. I'm attuned to every little thing because it's new and different, so I relax and take it in. I am not a playground tourist—I don't go to all the major tour sites. I might walk by and walk in, but I like just hanging out at a cafe and chatting with people. While I have lots of friends and family in Houston, it's not ultimately where I wanted to be, sof when Nigel and I both retired, we got the idea to travel the world, living for a month at a time in Airbnbs. Kelly and her husband while in Provence, France. We started with a trial run in 2023, spending a month in Mexico to make sure we could actually live with just each other. At the time, we had been married for about seven years. We stayed in the middle of the jungle in Tulum in a very intimate space—the door between the bedroom and kitchen was glass, so there was no privacy at all. But we did Pilates on the roof together every morning and cooked dinners. We bought a Christmas tree and decorated it. And we did a great job—I was very proud of us. So we came back and started planning our global travels. I watched all the YouTube videos I could find and listened to people's advice. Initially, I went to some local real estate agencies, but I like places that have local flair. What I found is that Airbnb, more than other platforms, is good with that because we can connect with local hosts. Plus, we can search easily for things that are important to us, like outdoor space. We've had some nice places with rooftop pools that weren't expensive. Being able to see all the ratings and not having to sign a lease makes it easy. It's also been affordable. We're now staying in this place in Aix-en-Provence, where we've been for eight weeks, and got a 70 percent discount for a long stay. So we could stay for a week somewhere, or we could stay for six weeks for the same price. I thought, how did no one ever tell me about this? That really is the thing that's made this all possible, and I'm grateful for it. Kelly and her husband while lounging in the pool at their Airbnb. We started in Dubrovnik, and took Nigel's 87-year-old mom with us. It was interesting because the language is so different. We did a walking tour with someone who spoke English so we could get the lay of the land. The city was amazing, like a movie set. We learned to walk up and down its hills. We stayed in a neighborhood that had these local bodega-type shops. The older guys would play buće (bocce) in the evenings, and we would go out and sit with them. We asked our Airbnb host what we could do for the community even though we don't speak the language, and ended up helping harvest grapes at this small winery. They can't hire too many people because of tax issues, so they rely on volunteers. It was hot and difficult work, but a fun way to learn about the culture. Since then, we've also picked up trash on beaches in Mauritius. When you're a tourist, you might not think about it, but when you're visiting for longer, it's different. That's one of the things that helps us connect with the locals. They know we're not just using and leaving. We hope to get more involved with our community work. We would eventually like to work with kids, but we'll have to stay longer to earn that trust and get the language down. When we get to a new place, we'll usually start by finding a local market. We'll explore and find the things locals do. In Seville, for example, we were across the street from a community center, so we'd go and see all the classes people were taking. It was easy to get involved with the neighborhood because they would all gather outside in the evening, so we joined them. That's usually how we acclimate ourselves. We also like to walk around and get lost. Since we're in places for so long, we have time to ask around. A few times a week, we'll do day trips. The other day, we took the train to Avignon and went wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Kelly and her husband while traveling together. In Mauritius, we got really close with our Airbnb host. They lived across the street and invited us over to use their property. We spent New Year's Eve with them. It was just lovely. We stayed in Lecce for a month and would drive to the different coasts. We spent a few days south of there, and I met a woman who took my photograph from behind while I was watching a sunset and drinking a glass of wine. She invited us to a dinner party the next night, so we extended our stay. No one spoke English, except for one kid. We sat in the middle of the table with the hosts, and everyone sat as far away as possible because they knew we didn't speak the same language. But by the end, we were able to communicate using Google Translate and through the child. That was memorable, and I still keep in touch with them. I find comfort in spreadsheets, so we use one to plan our travels. It's color-coded following the sun by region. Then, I have the cost of living compared to the U.S. We also don't want to spend a ton of money on flights, so we pick a general area. Right now, we're doing Europe, and we do a bit of the Schengen shuffle if we need to because we can't stay too long. Nigel's family is in England, so it's been our jumping-off point. We have six kids, and one daughter, two grandkids, and Nigel's mom are all there. Our other kids are in California, Utah, and Texas, so we do a U.S. round for about three months. We stay in each place for at least a month to get the discount. We wanted to spend some more time in Provence because neither of us had been, so we've been in the region for three months now. Next, we're going to go back to England since I've never seen my husband's home country. Then, we're going on a road trip and will spend a month in Ireland. Airbnbs there are about $65 a night, pretty cheap. You can't even get some hostels for that amount. We could stay in bed-and-breakfasts on this road trip, but I don't want to be put together and mingle all the time. I need my own space and a kitchen. We cook all the time with ingredients from the local markets. It saves us money, and it gives us a lot of privacy, which we don't get in hotels. In Mauritius, we did go to a hotel for a nice meal on Christmas Eve, and I was like, 'Oh, I forgot how nice hotels are because everyone is serving you rather than serving yourself.' But I don't think I could live in a hotel. After that, we'll go back to the spreadsheet and feel it out. I know we want to go to Asia, then New Zealand. We also want to go to Bali and South America. We've got all of these big-picture plans. Panoramic jungle views from an Airbnb rooftop. There are definitely challenges. I miss our friends and family, and being able to drop in on people. We always book a place with an extra room so we can have people visit. But it can also be a bit isolating if we don't make an effort. It's not just being in another country. Being retired is weird at this age. At first, I felt a little guilty doing nothing. Now, I realize it's OK to be bored. I enjoy it. I've gotten a lot more creative in this chapter, a lot more introspective. Nigel always wants to go and do things, and I have to remind him, we're here for a long time. You don't need to see everything right away. We're not here as tourists. We're here as kind of locals, while also doing a bit of touring. People will ask where we're from, and that's a complicated answer. They also ask what we do—not so much overseas as they do in the U.S. We're fortunate to have this lifestyle, but it's difficult to explain to people in a way that doesn't sound braggadocious. I tell people we're looking for places where we belong in the world and are exploring and looking for adventure. My background is in behavioral psychology, so I like that I get to walk in the shoes of other people and understand their perspectives. It's been eye-opening. In Texas, we say hello to everyone. In places like France, people are super-friendly, but they'll say bonjour and that's it. They don't automatically become friends with you. It depends on where we are in the world. Once we spend a month in a place, it feels like home. We always feel like we should spend more time there because just when we're getting to the point where we know where everything is, it's time to go. We have our local wine bar and fishmonger, and it's time to leave again. We can't stay during the high season because it's expensive and I don't like crowds. I've found observing and absorbing cultures to be very unifying. The world is giant, but also so small, and traveling really teaches us respect. I have so many friends and family members who just don't understand what we're doing. But if everyone would just go and explore, it would break down these perceived barriers we all have. You realize people have stereotypes about you that may not be true. I can't force my interests on other people, but I do feel strongly about it and think it's something everyone should do.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-dominica-NOBEACHCARIBE0725-82ed2ba390414354938bba5251228bcc.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
31 minutes ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Never Liked the Caribbean—but This Island Made Me Fall in Love With It
I've been to the Dominican Republic twice, yet it feels like I've never truly experienced it. The first trip was all Airbnb beachfront lounging, and the second ended with a resort security guard stopping me from going on a simple run outside. While my travel companions soaked up the sun, I've always been more of an explorer—someone who craves wandering, connecting, and discovering what makes a place tick. Long, lazy beach days just aren't for me. After similar trips to St. Martin and the Bahamas, I started to wonder if the Caribbean simply wasn't my scene—until I remembered a trip to the tiny island of Saba 15 years ago, where people kept telling me: If that's your travel style, you'd love Dominica. Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, the island nation of Dominica—tucked between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles—rightfully earns its nickname, The Nature Island. While it has its share of white- and black-sand beaches, it's the lush rainforests, winding rivers, waterfalls, and volcanic hot springs that truly define it. A couple of months ago, I finally flew there, thanks to a new nonstop route from Newark International Airport (EWR) to Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM). The road to the capital city of Roseau twisted and turned past dramatic sea cliffs and through thick, verdant forest—every turn a surprise. We drove through rustic villages and the hills and canyons of a national park before eventually winding our way to Fort Young Hotel. Unlike other Caribbean waterfront accommodations, the site was built in a military fortress dating back to 1699. While it's served as a hotel for six decades, it ha snow transformed all that heritage into a contemporary, sleek, and comfortable space, complete with an on-site dive shop and art gallery. Embracing the island's natural assets and culture, and located right across from downtown, I was able to walk to local markets and coffee shops in under five minutes. Throughout my five-day stay, Dominica never stopped enticing and entertaining me with its endless activities showcasing its natural beauty. I was floored by the side-by-side twin cascades of Trafalgar Falls (read more about my visit to them here) and couldn't get enough time in the natural sulfur hot springs of the family-run Ti Kwen Glo Cho, Creole for 'little corner of water." Despite most of the terrain being endless shades of green, I was stunned to find the Calibishie Red Rocks on a barrier reef, an area filled with nooks of sea caves and crannies where waves crash high into the sky. We also sailed down the serene Indian River in a rowboat with Cobra Tours. The way the tropical foliage reflected on the glassy water made it feel like a real-life version of Disneyland's Jungle Cruise. Just as I had that thought, our skipper pointed out that the little shed to the left was the exact location used as the witch's house in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. It's no surprise Hollywood discovered this picture-perfect setting. Trafalgar Falls in Dominica. Rachel Chang/Travel + Leisure But what pulled at my heartstrings more than the nature were the people who have made Dominica home. With so many buildings still visibly impacted by Hurricane Maria in 2017, there's a quiet strength in the community's welcoming spirit, ranging from the locals and Indigenous people to a passionate expat community drawn to Dominica's natural beauty. Among them was Simon Walsh, owner of Nature Island Dive, who opened his shop more than three decades ago and is now pioneering new ways of rehabilitating coral infected by waterborne diseases. 'We've got corals out there with five or six scars from where we treated it … and you can see the rest of the coral is healthy and they're spawning, creating the next generation of corals,' he told Travel + Leisure . He's also launched a coral bank to preserve dozens of endemic species. Over at Paradise Valley Garden Nursery, Dominica native Dian Douglas spent years in New Jersey learning the art of landscaping, when he obtained this dream piece of land that was part forest, part farm. 'From the moment I purchased this place, I couldn't sit still in New Jersey,' he said. 'I had to come home and do something with it. I couldn't sleep because of the beauty I saw—it was an open slate to be creative with plants.' Now he's turned it into exactly that: a tropical oasis of botanic artistry, decorated with found items from gigantic wheels and oversized pots to dragon statues and ringable bells. Douglas has a story—and boundless passion—for every item and every leaf, recounting how he transformed his vision into a nearly 60-acre slice of, well, paradise. That same kind of love for the island was shared by everyone I met. From the members of the Indigenous Kalingo community, who showcased their culture with a recreation of a traditional village at Kalinago Barana Auté, to a Brooklyn couple who moved their young family to Dominica and now run a homestay while crafting small-batch gin with local botanicals through Sea Cliff Botanical Gin. The island's energy culminated with a stay at Secret Bay—a longtime T+L favorite that has graced the magazine's cover multiple times. The treetop villas offer such sprawling views of Dominica's oceans and cliffs that it feels like you've got your own private corner of the island. Add to that a botanic garden dining experience with the chef cooking al fresco right in front of us, pulling herbs and ingredients just steps away. With a quirky obsession for funiculars, I was instantly taken by the self-operated one on site, mesmerized by the shifting views as it glided uphill toward my villa. As Dominica-born Gregor Nassief, who owns Secret Bay, summed up best over dinner: 'In Dominica, it's the depth, authenticity, and the people element of the experiences that make it so unique in the Caribbean.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
These Countries Were Called the Rudest by Travelers — and One Was Mentioned Again and Again
Not every trip comes with warm smiles. Here are the countries visitors ranked as the most unfriendly. Traveling the world can be full of amazing moments, but not every destination leaves visitors feeling warm and fuzzy. In a recent social media thread, people shared which countries struck them as the most unfriendly. Some answers were lighthearted, others were downright shocking, and one country definitely stole the spotlight. Here's what people had to say: 10. Estonia One traveler didn't even hesitate: 'Estonia. I didn't even need to think.' They explained that nearly every encounter felt cold or unwelcoming. Yet, just across the water in Finland, they met some of the nicest people of their lives. Talk about a sharp contrast. 9. Italy (But Mostly the North) Italy got mixed reviews. Several travelers said folks in Rome and northern regions came across as rude or impatient, while the south was much friendlier. One person even gave Italians 'the lemon trophy' for being the unfriendliest, though they admitted friendliness exists everywhere if you look for it. 8. Spain Madrid, in particular, came up a few times. One traveler mentioned feeling brushed off, while another joked that Spanish men might be unfriendly, but still hot enough to distract from it. 7. England London, specifically, got called out for grumpy attitudes. One commenter described locals as 'cranky babies needing a nap,' while another said England took their personal 'Lemon Award' after some truly hostile encounters. On the flip side, a different traveler found Paris friendlier than London, so this one may come down to timing and luck. 6. The United States Yes, Americans even nominated their own country. Visitors pointed to customs agents in New York City, a chilly vibe in northern states compared to the south, and the awkward reality of being treated differently depending on where you land. One person simply said, 'America. And I was born here.' 5. Turkey Turkey split people love it, others not so much. One traveler recalled ordering tea during a layover in Istanbul and being met with silent hostility, saying they felt 'hatred without a word being said.' Another noted Turkey always pops up in these kinds of discussions, suggesting it has a reputation for mixed hospitality. 4. China China, especially Beijing, was mentioned for locals seeming grumpy or impatient with tourists. One person admitted they actually found it funny, but for others, it was a culture shock they didn't enjoy. 3. Russia Russia came up again and again in the thread, with people calling it cold, unwelcoming, and intimidating. Stories ranged from strangers never smiling to travelers being told not to grin in public because it would make them look suspicious. Others recalled scary run-ins, like bottles being thrown during a performance in Moscow. But here's the thing: not everyone who chimed in had actually visited were going off perception. And from my own experience living there, I found the reality a lot warmer. It's true that Russians don't smile at strangers on the street the way Americans or Canadians might, but once you start talking to people, they're often incredibly kind and generous. (In fact, that was one of the biggest culture shocks I wrote about in this article.) 2. Morocco Morocco left some travelers shaken. One person was groped on the street by a child while adults laughed, another recalled kids throwing rocks at their bus, and others described being harassed by overly aggressive sellers. For many, the experiences were uncomfortable enough that they said they wouldn't return. 1. France By far, France dominated the thread. From rude waiters to unhelpful locals, the stories piled up fast. Some travelers said Parisians ignored them when they spoke English, or corrected their French pronunciation without actually offering directions. One person even had a service worker scream at them in frustration. But here's the catch: not everyone agreed. A few travelers defended France, saying experiences outside Paris were far warmer, and some found Parisians delightful when they attempted even a little French. As one local pointed out: 'Paris is not France.' It's clear France and Russia came up the most, but it's worth remembering that every destination is nuanced. Attitudes can shift between cities, regions, or even just depending on how you approach people. One traveler summed it up perfectly: 'I've found no matter where I go, my reception matches the attitude I present.' And if you're curious about other destinations with a reputation for rudeness, you might want to check out which U.S. cities residents themselves say are the rudest, or take a look at the most dangerous travel destinations for 2025 before planning your next trip. Solve the daily Crossword
