Zack Cahill

The Layover:
Driving home for Christmas – or jetting off?

Travelling for Christmas can be stressful, hectic and downright disappointing – but a festive journey also holds the potential for lifelong memories. And some trips might even make you believe... not just in Santa.

Storfjord Hotel
Skodje, Norway

Nestled in the mountains of western Norway, Storfjord Hotel is an oasis of old-school alpine luxury and adventure....

The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

A longstanding go-to option for luxury travellers visiting The Big Easy, The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria...

The Layover:
Booze beyond borders

For his latest edition of The Layover, Zack Cahill (and his liver) revel in some of their favourite memories of boozing abroad – from Irish Pubs in America to ladies' nights in Australia.

Hotel Union Øye
Norangsfjorden, Norway

Some hotels are simply crash pads, serving purely as a base to jump off to more interesting locales....

The Layover:
Bored on board

'Raw-dogging', the practice of avoiding entertainment on long-haul flights, has become a major trend in 2024 – and, as Zack Cahill observes, it might not be such a bad idea.

Hotel Brosundet
Ålesund, Norway

Ålesund is a picture postcard town nestled at the mouth of a fjord in western Norway: relentlessly scenic...

Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury
Mauritius

With some places, all you have to do is look at a photo and be transported. Our visit...

Beyond words
Marrakech, Morocco

Firm friends through their overlapping adventures in publishing, a group of high-flying female writers and editors have masterminded...

Trusting your gut
Lake Wörthersee, Austria

Seeking a health tune-up and relief from anxiety, Zack Cahill takes on an esoteric treatment regime, stringent calorie...

Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas
Mauritius

First impressions count. Whether a warm welcome by a doorman in a bowler hat or a disinterested grunt...

The Layover:
Petty gripes from villa 5

Content with being discontent, Zack Cahill outlines some of the many things he doesn't enjoy about luxury hotels in the latest edition of The Layover – from iPad-controlled rooms to 'deconstructed' teas.

Six Senses Douro Valley
Samodães, Portugal

In our years of writing about hotels, Six Senses has been a bit of a white whale. The...

Artsy Cascais
Cascais, Portugal

A charming fishing town on the outskirts of Lisbon, Cascais is an essential stop for the in-the-know traveller....

The Layover:
Livin’ la vida Lohan

For the latest instalment of The Layover, Zack Cahill contemplates Netflix’s Irish Wish (and the Lohanaissance), while being...

The Layover:
Let’s not be friends

If every you've considered trying to befriend one of the world's last remaining uncontacted peoples, you might want to think twice.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal

Built in 1959, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon was the city’s first true luxury hotel. It offers...

The Layover:
Panic in aisle 13

Ever wondered what brings out your inner anxious flyer? So has Zack Cahill, who returns to The Layover,...

The Layover:
Love is in the air

Following up on his initial column for OutThere, Zack Cahill returns to The Layover, a new and not...

The Layover:
The Mile Cry Club

In his new column for The Experientialist – The Layover – Zack Cahill discusses just what makes the perfect in-flight movie... and why we should cherish these films in the day and age of streaming services.

Puente Romano Beach Resort
Marbella, Spain

With southern Spain’s famous Costa del Sol being somewhat of a hit-and-miss at times, it pays to do...

Nayara Gardens
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Between the world’s longest jungle zip-line and trips to local waterfalls, there’s an amazing amount of thrills to...

Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Young, fun and blessed with a postcard-worthy beach, this laidback luxury hotel in Santa Teresa is worth going...

Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Essentially established as the ultimate go-to option for thermal tourism in Costa Rica, Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa...

Reaching a settlement
Cape Town, South Africa

Majestic though Cape Town’s setting may be, it’s the townships that will most likely make a first impression...

The artist’s hand
Florence, Italy

Returning to Florence for a lesson in how many of the city’s (and therefore, the world’s) most revered...

Domaine des Etangs
Massignac, France

It’s not that you’ll need an excuse for a stay at Domaine des Etangs, the art-filled, fairytale Chateau...

Made with love
Massignac, France

Dreading a future in which artificial intelligence will overtake human ingenuity in the world of art, Zack Cahill...

Villa Cora
Florence, Italy

Historic yet forward-looking, the immaculately furnished Villa Cora in Florence is a solid choice for travellers looking to...

Inter city
Oakland, California, USA

No longer overshadowed by its storied neighbour across San Francisco Bay, Oakland has harnessed its proud traditions of...

Kimpton St Honoré Paris
Paris, France

The international hospitality standards and cosmopolitan vibe of the Kimpton St Honoré Paris offer a unique escape from...

Island time
Madeira, Portugal

In search of some winter sun, Zack Cahill ‘discovers’ the wild and somewhat quirky nature of the Portuguese...

Savoy Palace
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

If size counts, the super-luxe, super-sized contemporary gem that is the Savoy Palace Hotel pushes the boundaries of...

Quinta da Serra
Madeira, Portugal

Located 800 meters above sea level in the Camara de Lobos area of Madeira, the pink-hued resort and...

Socalco Nature Calheta
Madeira, Portugal

Reconnection is the theme at the characterful Madeira place to stay that is at one with nature in...

Leeu Estates
Franschhoek, South Africa

On the slopes of the Dassenberg mountains in Franschhoek, at the heart of the South African winelands, Leeu...

The Pavilions Bali
Bali, Indonesia

Far-flung resorts are – or at least should be – fundamentally about romance. The best of them are...

Lelewatu Resort
Sumba, Indonesia

If you’re looking for adventure with a large slice of luxury on the far flung island of Sumba,...

Brookdale Estate
Paarl, South Africa

They say that the pearl is a queen of gems and a gem of queens, a fitting way...

Avalon Hotel & Bungalows
Palm Springs, California, USA

The infamous Californian desert oasis and getaway has a long reputation for escapism, especially for the rich and...

Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

So if you’re planning to go big in Vegas, where do you stay? The glistening, gold, fun-centric MGM...

The Apurva Kempinski Bali
Bali, Indonesia

Bali has a long reputation for beachside luxury, but the opulent temple to escapism that is Apurva Kempinski...

A path to happiness
Laugavegur Trail, Iceland

Along Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail, the accommodation is sparse and basic and the tracks themselves are tough, but it’s...

The power of dreams
Sumba, Indonesia

On the lesser-visited Indonesian island of Sumba, Zack Cahill finds a perfect paradise at the Lelewatu Resort –...

The taste of success
Paarl and Franschhoek, South Africa

Wannabe wine-buff Zack Cahill embarks on a voyage of discovery through South Africa’s glorious winelands and finds that...

Treehouse London
London, United Kingdom

The Treehouse London is a contemporary hotel set among iconic, old buildings at the very heart of central...

It’s the climb
Railay, Thailand

Zack Cahill gets a dopamine hit with every lift, scaling the sacred walls of Railay. Stepping off the...

Schloss Elmau
Bavarian Alps, Germany

A short half-hour drive from Innsbruck, nestled at the foot of the majestic Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau sits...

David Ankli
Budapest, Hungary

David Ankli is a storyteller at heart, organising perhaps the most informative and exciting tours of Budapest travellers...

Viel the love
Bavaria, Germany

On a mission to put his fondness for alcoholidays behind him, Zack Cahill goes on a rock-star yoga...