Olivia Condous

Most island resorts are built on the idea of getting away from it all. Gaya Island Resort, nestled within Malohom Bay in Sabah’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, takes that idea seriously. The island is vehicle-free by design. Ancient rainforest covers its interior. A 100-year-old mangrove forest lines the shore. Just 10 minutes by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu, you’re inside one of Malaysia’s most important marine conservation areas.

A disco ball above every bathtub, a glass overwater dancefloor and a private house reef steps from each villa. This sleek resort is not your average Maldives escape. 4 min read The Standard made its name with irreverent boutique city hotels across New York, London and Bangkok before landing in the Maldives in 2019. Huruvalhi Island in Raa Atoll was an unexpected choice, but The Standard Maldives doesn’t behave like most islands in the archipelago.

A short flight from Australia’s east coast, Fiji is one of the Pacific's easiest escapes – but the travellers who get the most out of it are the ones who plan ahead. 9 min read Fraser Clements / Tourism Fiji Fraser Clements / Tourism Fiji Fraser Clements / Tourism Fiji Veteran visitors to Fiji understand not only how easy it is to get there from Australia, but also how to get the most out of their trip – while many barely even scratch the surface beyond Nadi.