As Australians look for mid-year escapes that feel easier to reach and plan, closer-to-home destinations are increasingly entering the conversation alongside Europe.
Fiona Cogar, Slojourn Studio Director of Sales, said the shift was coming through clearly in conversations with travel advisors and clients.
“Broader geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing cost pressures are also part of that equation — closer to home simply feels more attainable right now. 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,” Ms Cogar said.
Here are four properties from Slojourn Studio’s portfolio worth considering.
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Set in the Koh Rong Archipelago and reached by speedboat from Sihanoukville, Song Saa spans two jungle islands connected by a wooden footbridge within a protected marine reserve. Saraan Sanctuaries offers wellness treatments, meditation and restorative rituals, while the island’s natural setting invites mangrove kayaking, reef snorkelling and fishing village visits. Best suited to travellers seeking both restoration and soft adventure in a single self-contained environment.
Zannier Bãi San Hô, Vietnam
About an hour from Quy Nhon’s Phu Cat Airport on Vietnam’s central coast, this design-led resort is conceived as a series of low-impact village enclaves across rice fields, forested hills and a protected beachfront. Villas are inspired by traditional Vietnamese building styles and placed within the landscape with restraint and intention. Best suited to travellers seeking a design-focused coastal escape with a strong sense of place.
Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport, Gili Lankanfushi remains one of the Maldives’ most accessible private island escapes. Entirely overwater, with villas built from natural materials, the resort’s long-standing “no news, no shoes” philosophy and embedded sustainability approach create a sense of ease from arrival. Best suited to travellers seeking a seamless Maldivian escape with a strong sustainability ethos.
While the Maldives are hardly closer to home geographically, new direct flights are making the destination feel far more accessible to Australian travellers.
Elements of Byron, Australia
On the shores of Belongil Beach in Byron Bay, 30 minutes from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and two hours from Brisbane, Elements of Byron delivers the feeling of a full resort stay without leaving the country. Freestanding villas, lagoon pools, beachfront access and on-site dining create a contained resort environment across coastal bushland and dunes. Best suited to couples, families and groups seeking a resort escape within Australia.
