Closer to Home: 4 Sensitive Luxury Stays

Zannier Bãi San Hô

Europe is still firmly on the travel radar, but closer-to-home destinations are increasingly being considered as Australians plan their mid-year escapes. For Slojourn Studio, which represents a collection of high-end resorts worldwide, that shift is coming through in conversations with travel advisors and clients.

“Europe still comes up constantly, but what we’re hearing more and more is people asking for alternatives,” says Fiona Cogar, Director of Sales at Slojourn Studio. “Not because they’ve lost interest in Europe, but because they’re looking for something that feels easier to get to, easier to plan, and still delivers that sense of escape. Broader geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing cost pressures are also part of that equation – closer to home simply feels more attainable right now.”

She adds: “Travellers are also responding to places that feel immersive and complete in themselves, where the experience of the destination and the property are essentially one and the same.”

That preference is reflected across Slojourn Studio’s portfolio in Southeast Asia and Australia, where landscape, design, service and experience are closely interwoven.

Elements of Byron

Byron Bay, Australia

On the shores of Belongil Beach in Byron Bay, Elements of Byron offers a full-scale resort experience within Australia, set across dunes and coastal bushland.

The property is 30 minutes from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and around two hours from Brisbane, with freestanding villas, lagoon pools, beachfront access and on-site dining creating a contained resort environment.

“Elements of Byron fills a very clear need and a specific gap in the Australian market – it delivers the feeling of a true resort stay without leaving the country. It’s particularly strong for travellers who want that sense of ease and space but prefer to stay closer to home.”

Best suited to couples, families and groups seeking a resort-style escape within Australia.

Gili Lankanfushi

The Maldives

Just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport, Gili Lankanfushi remains one of the Maldives’ most accessible private-island style escapes.

The resort is entirely overwater, with villas designed using natural materials and open layouts that emphasise space, privacy and direct connection to the lagoon. Its long-standing “no news, no shoes” philosophy shapes the tone of the stay, creating a sense of ease from arrival.

Increasingly, its appeal is also tied to its environmental approach, with sustainability and marine conservation embedded into daily operations and the guest experience, rather than positioned as an add-on.

“Gili Lankanfushi continues to resonate because it delivers immediate ease, but also a sense of reassurance in how it operates. Guests are increasingly looking at how a stay makes them feel in every sense – including the impact of their travel choices,” explains Fiona.

Best suited to travellers seeking a seamless Maldivian escape with a strong sustainability ethos.

Zannier Bãi San Hô

Vietnam

On Vietnam’s central coast, about an hour from Quy Nhon’s Phu Cat Airport, Zannier Bãi San Hô is set across a private bay whose name translates to “bay of corals,” referencing the reef-rich waters and coastal landscape that define the setting.

The resort is one of the region’s most considered design-led stays, conceived as a series of low-impact village enclaves rather than a single architectural form. Villas are inspired by traditional Vietnamese building styles and distributed across rice fields, forested hills and a protected beachfront.

According to Fiona: “Zannier Bãi San Hô is a strong example of how design is shaping travel decisions right now. It’s not about visual impact alone, but about how architecture is placed within landscape and culture in a way that feels intentional and restrained.”

Best suited to travellers looking for a design-focused coastal escape with a strong sense of place.

Song Saa Private Island

Cambodia

Set in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago, Song Saa Private Island is reached by speedboat from Sihanoukville after a short domestic flight from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. The resort spans two small jungle islands connected by a wooden footbridge, surrounded by a protected marine reserve.

At its heart is Saraan Sanctuaries, a dedicated wellness space offering treatments, meditation and restorative rituals grounded in nature, and bolstered by an in-house botanist and an expansive range of wellbeing experiences. Alongside this, the island offers a strong sense of exploration and connection with nature, from mangrove kayaking and jungle trekking to fishing village visits, reef snorkelling and guided fishing expeditions.

“Song Saa sits in a very distinct space now – it has become one of the clearest expressions of both wellness and soft adventure in Southeast Asia. It’s rare to find a place where those two elements feel so naturally integrated within a private island setting,” says Fiona.

Best suited to travellers seeking both restoration and exploration within a single, self-contained environment.