Specialty stores worth travelling for

Here we reveal our favourite specialty stores to spend time (not just money)…

Italy

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Via della Scala 16, Florence
One of the oldest pharmacies in the world, it opened in 1612 and to this day still produces cosmetics, soaps and eau de cologne made with recipes first developed by Franciscan monks in the 11th century.
smnovella.it

Fratelli Vigano
Via Marco Minghetti 8, Rome
This cappelleria dates back to 1870 and stocksall manner of hats, from Panamas to deer stalkers to berets in its charmingly jumbled historic store-front.

France

Merci
111 boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris
This temple of fashion and design is located in the buzzing Haut-Marais and is founded on the ethos of giving back: profits generated fund the Merci endowment fund, which finances human development projects in south-west Madagascar, especially in education.
merci-merci.com

Deyrolle
46 rue du Bac, Paris
A true curiosity shop, Deyrolle has specialised in taxidermy and museum-worthy collections of insects, birds and butterflies since 1831.
You’re probably not going to buy a stuffed tiger to take home with you, but this really is one of those stores you just have to experience.
www.deyrolle.com

Shakespeare & Co.
37 rue de la Bûcherie, Paris
Its original namesake was closed down during the German occupation in World War II, but its modern incarnation is still the benchmark for all other indie bookshops because of its passion for championing writers and the written word.
shakespeareandcompany.com

India

Gem Palace
M.I Road, Jaipur
This world-famous emporium, established in 1852, is a candy store of precious gems and jewellery, from antiques of the golden age of the maharajas to modern designs studded with lozenge-sized stones.
gempalace.com

USA

ABC Carpet & Home
888 and 881 Broadway, New York City
A New York institution, all the chicest people pop down to ABC to buy gorgeous things for their lofts and uptown apartments.
The stock is extensive with lots of sustainable and eco-conscious credentials.
abchome.com

C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries
414 Sixth Avenue, New York
Founded in 1838 (becoming C.O. Bigelow in 1880) as an apothecary dispensing all manner of remedies, prescriptions and beauty products, everyone from Eleanor Roosevelt to Calvin Klein has frequented the counter here, which has been in its current location since 1902.
bigelowchemist.com

American Girl
With stores across America (and two in Canada), this doll emporium is a kiddy and tween paradise of all-American dolls, accessories and books which are delightfully age-appropriate and aim to quietly inform and empower modern girls.
americangirl.com

ABC Store
It seems like there’s an ABC on every corner when you visit Hawaii (they also have outlets in Las Vegas, Guam and Saipan), filled to the brim with wonderfully kitsch souvenirs, groceries, and enough Hawaiian Host chocolates to satiate the most rampant craving.
abcstores.com

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England

James Smith & Sons
Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford Street, London
This family-owned store opened in 1830 and specialises in handcrafted umbrellas and walking sticks – just umbrellas and walking sticks!
The delightful shop itself is Grade II-listed and an attraction in its own right.
james-smith.co.uk

Liberty London
Regent Street, London
Established in 1875 and situated in its distinctive mock Tudor building since the 1920s, Liberty London has long been shorthand for aesthetics and quality – Oscar Wilde said “Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper".
We definitely want to be one of them!
liberty.co.uk

Japan

Katayama Bunzaburo
221 Hashibenkeicho Takoyakusidori Karasuma Nishiiru Nakagyoku Kyoto
This traditional shibori tie-dye business, started in Kyoto in 1915, celebrates the distinctive indigo dyed fabric technique passed down from generation to generation.
The third-generation proprietor is adapting the time-honoured technique for a modern audience.
bunzaburo.com

Loft Shibuya
21-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spread over seven floors, the chain store offers everything from furniture to cosmetics to stationery to household goods, all of which is typical top-notch Japanese design.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Italy

France

India

USA

England

Japan

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