All that jazz: Montreux meets Africa among the vines

Fancy combining a trip to South Africa's beautiful wine regions with a spot of jazz and some luxury accommodation?

How about Franschhoek for the debut of the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek from March 27-29 while staying at ultra-chic La Residence.

The Montreux Jazz Festival has been held on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland over six decades and this year its finds its rhythm in the Cape Winelands: Montreux meets Africa in a jazz-inspired cultural experience.

The town’s iconic Franschhoek Monument will be transformed into the Arches Stage, an intimate listening space for world-class performances from the likes of Mali maestro Salif Keita and Billy Monama’s Guitar Convergence.

And for accommodation? 

Located on a private 30-acre estate, The Royal Portfolio’s boutique hotel La Residence - a member of The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) - is the perfect base for those seeking luxury.

Think private arrivals, African themes, curated journeys and estate wines. Guests are encouraged to book early. 

The Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek heralds a vibrant year in the valley.

Franschhoek’s annual events continue to celebrate its French heritage, fine wines and creative spirit.

Think the Franschhoek Literary Festival (May), the exuberant Bastille Festival (July), chamber music concerts, the Classic Car Festival (October) and the Cap Classique & Champagne Festival (November).

All in one of the world’s most beautiful wine villages.

For more information see https://mjfsa.com/ and https://www.theroyalportfolio.com/la-residence/

Tokyo the top destination for Lunar New Year escapes

What is the most popular travel destination for a Lunar New Year escape? 

Digital travel platform Agoda says search and booking patterns from Asia reveal Japanese capital Tokyo retains top spot, followed by Bangkok (Thailand), and Taipei (Taiwan). 

The data, comparing searches in December 2025, showed Osaka (Japan), ranked at fourth place, and Seoul (South Korea) secured the fifth spot while Fukuoka (Japan) held sixth position.

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) debuted on the list at seventh, while Sapporo (Japan) slipped one spot to eighth. Singapore and Hong Kong also remained popular, rounding out the list of top 10n destinations.

This year marks the Year of the Horse, symbolising energy, movement, and adventure. 

"The Lunar New Year is all about adventure and discovery, especially in the Year of the Horse," says Andrew Smith, senior vice-president for supply at Agoda. 

"It's exciting to see travellers embracing both traditional favourites and new experiences during one of Asia's top travel moments." 

See agoda.com/deals.

Image: Tokyo, Meghan Page, Scop.io

Simply Red: new hotel for Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand's boom tourism destination, is to get another major international hotel. 

Radisson Hotel Group has signed the Radisson RED Hotel Queenstown, a new-built lifestyle hotel set to open in early 2028. 

This follows the brand's upcoming Radisson RED Auckland opening. 

Radisson RED Hotel Queenstown will feature 221 rooms, including four deluxe rooms and five suites.

The plans details an all-day dining restaurant and bar along with a rooftop bar with a large terrace and mountain views. 

There will also be two flexible meeting rooms and a gymnasium. 

The hotel will be situated a seven-minute walk from the centre of Queenstown, in an emerging precinct that is adding new retail outlets, a supermarket, and dining concepts. 

Guests will look out toward Coronet Peak, the surrounding ranges, and Lake Wakatipu. Coronet Peak's ski lift is a 15-minute drive from the site. 

Queenstown is New Zealand's four-season adventure capital, with skiing, lakefront trails and biking, along with easy access to Arrowtown and Central Otago wineries. 

The developer of the project is Redwood Group, which has been responsible for numerous projects across the Queenstown region. 

Tony Gapes, owner of Redwood, said, "We're delighted to be partnering with Radisson Hotel Group to bring Radisson RED to Queenstown. The brand's energy, design-led style, and understated luxury feel perfectly matched to the spirit of the region. 

"This is an exciting project for Queenstown, and we're proud to continue to deliver developments that add long-term value to the region."

Sporting life: NFL heading for Paris, and Melbourne

Calling all sports fans. 

The spectacle that is the National Football League is heading for Melbourne, and Paris, 

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play the first game in Australia, the NFL confirmed this week. 

The NFC West rivals will play next season at Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

The date, kick-off time and ticket information will be released at a later date but if you get an inkling then it might pay to book flights and hotel rooms as early as possible. 

The news followed announcement that the New Orleans Saints will be one of the teams playing in the first game in France next season. 

The Melbourne and Paris games will be part of an NFL-record nine international games in 2026. 

The NFL also will have three games in London - a regular venue in recent years - and one each in Madrid, Spain; Munich, Germany; Mexico City, Mexico; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“This is a terrific opportunity to continue to support the league in its mission to grow the game of football,” 49ers CEO Al Guido told the New York Times. 

“We look forward to working with the NFL to benefit local Australian communities through sport."

The Rams are equally enthused.  

“Since we first secured marketing rights to the country in 2021 and more recently since the announcement of this game last year, we have seen tremendous excitement for our team from fans both in Australia and also across the world,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said. 

“We look forward to spending this offseason continuing to deepen our connection with the Melbourne community leading up to the game this fall.”

The Paris game will be played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. north of Paris, the home of France’s soccer and rugby union national teams.

Image: Los Angeles Rams

A wine weekend when it pays to go for Broke

It is always a pleasure to visit the Hunter Valley, but Saturday, March 14, is a date for the diary with one of the region's most popular festivals shining a spotlight on a less-visited sub-region.  

A Little Bit of Broke, the roaming wine and food celebration, returns across the Broke Fordwich wine region, just a little bit off the beaten track. 

Think a day in the vines moving between between 15 cellar doors, farms and dining spots, enjoying small-batch wines, local food and live music.

The event is designed for easy wandering - no set program, no central hub. 

Visitors can experience boutique wine tastings, cocktails at the region’s own distillery, farm-gate-style food, entertainment and a country vibe. 

Foods on offer will range form from Mediterranean-style shared dining to dumplings or seafood lunches, grazing platters and charcuterie. 

Karin Adcock, president of Broke Fordwich Wine and Tourism Association, says the event captures what visitors love most about the region.

“A Little Bit of Broke is exactly how we like to welcome people," she says. "It’s a chance to meet the 
winemakers and producers, listen to some live music, and really get a feel for Broke Fordwich as a place. You can take your time, follow your curiosity and shape the day however you like.”

Jennie Curran, CEO of Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, says the event showcases one of the Hunter’s most distinctive sub-regions.

“Broke Fordwich has its own rhythm and personality, and A Little Bit of Broke gives visitors a really authentic way to experience it,” she says. 

“It’s ideal for a day trip from Sydney or Newcastle, but we encourage visitors to book a stay in Broke Fordwich as part of a weekend away in the Hunter Valley”.

Tickets include access to all participating venues and live music across the region. 

Pre-sale tickets are now available for $35 including an event wine glass, 4 x 60ml wine tasting 
vouchers and event program.

See www.winecountry.com.au/a-little-bit-of-broke

Image: Destination NSW

You'll have to pay to enjoy your Trevi Fountain coin toss

 

If you like being pushed and jostled, and possibly being pickpocketed as well, then Rome's Trevi Fountain will be right up your alley. 

And now you can pay for the pleasure as well. 

A visitor fee was this week implemented at fountain with a €2 fee ($3.30 in Australian dollars) coming into effect designed to better manage crowd control at the iconic site. 

The 18th century fountain is among Italy's most popular attractions. On peak days, it attracts as many as 30,000 visitors a day wanting to toss a coin into its supposedly lucky waters.

International and domestic visitors now have to pay the fee between the hours of 9am-10pm and on Mondays and Fridays from 11.30am.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the fee creates ‘a more orderly experience, and overall an improvement in the quality of the visit to one of Rome’s most important monuments.’

And, of course, the fee can be paid in advance online.

City officials forecast the fee will generate about €8.5 million a year, new hub Travel Mole reported. 

Image: Turismo Roma