Aussies Eye Closer-to-Home Travel Alternatives

As Australians increasingly seek rewarding travel experiences closer to home, we’re spotlighting a collection of standout destinations and travel brands across the GTI client portfolio that offer world class experiences without the stress and uncertainty of a long‑haul journey.

With a portfolio of distinctive luxury properties set across Malaysia’s most captivating locations, YTL Hotels offers Australians an effortlessly accessible escape that blends cultural heritage, natural beauty and an authentic connection to nature, creating a stay that feels both refreshingly accessible and deeply enriching.

Malaysia is becoming more accessible for Australians through competitive air connectivity. Several airlines offer direct and connecting flights from Australia to Malaysia, with Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Emirates, AirAsia X, Batik Air, and Scoot being the primary carriers.

Below are three standout YTL Hotels properties, ideal for Australians seeking meaningful holidays closer to home.

Set within a restored 1930s landmark, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur blends colonial elegance with contemporary luxury, offering a refined base from which to explore Malaysia’s vibrant capital. Guests can immerse themselves in the city’s cultural tapestry, exploring historic neighbourhoods, renowned street food and world-class shopping, before retreating to tranquil gardens, an award-winning spa and grand suites steeped in history.

Accessible by boat from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Pangkor Laut Resort (ranked among the Top 15 Resorts in Asia in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards) is a secluded island retreat surrounded by emerald sea and ancient rainforest. Villas are tucked into jungle hillsides or poised over water, while experiences range from guided rainforest walks, holistic spa rituals, and private dining on the sands. Ideal for couples and wellness-focused travellers, the resort offers luxury with a deep connection to nature.

Conservation is a longstanding commitment woven into the daily operations at Pangkor Laut Resort, allowing guests to witness, support, and participate in meaningful environmental protection during their stay. The Resorts Nature Conservation Centre blends indulgence with ecological stewardship, allowing guests to participate in turtle monitoring and coral planting, offering a powerful reminder that travel can be both transformative and regenerative, for guests and for the planet.

Perched high in Malaysia’s cool Cameron Highlands, Cameron Highlands Resort reimagines alpine charm through a modern, design-forward lens. Surrounded by tea plantations, misty forests and walking trails, the property offers a restorative retreat focused on nature, architecture and quiet luxury, perfect for travellers looking to experience a different side of Southeast Asia.

Palau: Nestled in the western Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Island Nation of Palau is a pristine paradise made up of over 300 islands and home to the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Listed Rock Islands. Qantas currently operates a non-stop service from Brisbane to Koror. The ‘Palau Paradise Express’ service departs Brisbane on Saturdays, flying directly to Palau in just six hours – with a weekly return flight on Sundays.

A destination leading in sustainable tourism, all travellers are required to sign the Palau Pledge upon arrival, where they vow to respect Palau’s biosphere and local culture. Palau is a world-renowned premier diving destination with more than 50 named dive sites and an abundant marine life and is one of the only remaining matriarchal societies in the world.

Must-do experiences include:

Immerse yourself in Palauan culture, see a traditional meeting house, known as the ‘Bai’ and take a cultural tour arranged by Palau Visitors Authority, such as the Airai Cultural Tour or Kingdom of the Northern Sky

Accommodations:

Stay in one of Palau’s only over the water bungalows and enjoy the resort’s private beach. Palau Pacific Resort is a renowned luxury beachfront resort set on 64 acres of lush tropical gardens overlooking a pristine private beach in Koror, Palau. Offering elegant rooms, suites, and bungalows with ocean or garden views, the resort is known for its serene atmosphere and direct access to world-class diving and snorkelling.

Palau Carolines Resort is a charming ecofriendly boutique resort perched on a hillside overlooking the lagoons of Koror, Palau. Inspired by traditional Micronesian architecture, the resort features individual bungalows built with natural materials, offering privacy, ocean views and cooling sea breezes.

Palau Sunrise is a relaxed, ocean view resort offering a peaceful stay in Melekeok, Palau. Known for its panoramic sunrise views over the lagoon, the resort provides comfortable accommodation in a calm, laid‑back setting with easy access to Palau’s famous diving, snorkelling, and island experiences.

Four Seasons Explorer Palau is a luxury yacht offering an all-inclusive, immersive way to explore Palau’s world‑class marine environments. Combining the refined service of Four Seasons with the adventure of a private cruising experience, the floating resort provides elegant suites, gourmet dining, guided diving, snorkelling and island excursions. Ideal for ocean enthusiasts and adventurous travellers, it delivers unparalleled access to remote reefs, lagoons, and pristine dive sites.

Vanuatu: Recognised as one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 countries to visit in 2025, Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, offering a mix of relaxation, adventure and cultural immersion to travellers. 

Just a 2.5-hour flight from Brisbane and 3 hours from Sydney, it’s easy to escape the winter blues in Efate for a long weekend. Qantas and Virgin Australia both fly from Brisbane to Port Vila and Jetstar flies to Port Vila from Sydney. Here, you can explore the surrounding islands on a Sailing Vanuatu Tour and snorkel at various sites. If you’re lucky, a dugong could join you on a snorkel.

Where to stay in Efate:

Or for some more time in the sun, visit Vanuatu’s largest island, Espiritu Santo, with Solomon Airlines’ weekly direct service from Brisbane. Go beach hopping and don’t miss Champagne Beach and Port Olry. You might catch the Ladies of Leweton performing their traditional water music here!

Santo accommodations:

Pearl Expeditions: Sailing aboard Paspaley Pearl, a boutique expedition vessel carrying a maximum of 30 guests, these voyages offer rare access to some of the world’s great wilderness frontiers. From Australia’s own spectacular northern frontiers including the Kimberley, Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef, to nearby neighbours Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Raja Ampat, and Borneo, Pearl Expeditions delivers extraordinary exploration right on our doorstep.

Papua New Guinea (October-November 2026 & 2027): Guests will visit one of the world’s most culturally rich regions with Pearl Expeditions, visiting ancient village communities and learning from the traditional cultures of its people. Guests can take part in the renowned Tufi canoe experience before venturing further afield to discover hidden sea caves by zodiac, blue holes and pristine waterfalls – places accessible only through small-group expedition travel.

Upcoming sailing

Papua New Guinea’s Hidden Secrets 
Cairns to Madang | 11 Days | Paspaley Pearl
Upcoming sailing departing 19 October 2026
From AU $20,495 / (Ocean Double/Single Stateroom)

East Indonesia & Raja Ampat (January-April and December-February): Known as the global epicentre of marine biodiversity, guests will discover ecosystems where 75% of all known coral species thrive alongside 1,800 reef fish species in crystal-clear waters. Featuring itineraries starting from January to April 2026, followed by December 2026 to February 2027 & throughout December 2027, the itineraries offer a diverse range of experiences, from exploring the remnants of colonial spice trade history in Raja Ampat to swimming alongside whale sharks in Saleh Bay and witnessing Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.

Upcoming sailing

Where Dragons, Whale Sharks & Weavers Endure
Bali to Kupang| 11 Days | Paspaley Pearl
From AU $17,495 / (Ocean Double/Single Stateroom)

Borneo (January 2026-January 2027): Where ancient volcanic landscapes meet cultural treasures, Pearl Expeditions’ Borneo, Komodo and Beyond itineraries offer an intimate experience that reveals Indonesia’s cultural diversity. Journey by traditional klotok boats through pristine rivers to witness endangered orangutans at Camp Leakey, walk across Mount Bromo’s otherworldly “sea of sand” and join village celebrations with ancient traditions.

Upcoming sailing

In Search of Orangutans, Dragons & Whale Sharks
Kumai Bay (Bali) | 12 Days | Paspaley Pearl
Departs 12 January 2027
From AU $20,995 / (Ocean Double/Single Stateroom)