Author Archive for Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel 'Best Travel Influencer' Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted "one of the world's best travel blogs" and "best for luxury" by The Daily Telegraph.

3 tried and tested accessories from my latest trip

3 tried and tested accessories from my latest trip

By on Oct 11, 2016 in Accessories, Clothing, Europe, France, Gadgets, Regions, Travel Equipment, Western Europe

My latest trip was to the Paris Motor Show on behalf of Infiniti, driving the beautiful Q30 from London to Paris, before enjoying the show and a few Parisian highlights, including dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. If you’ve not seen the post from the trip, you’ll find it here. Also on that trip, I got […]

A luxury weekend in Paris with Infiniti

A luxury weekend in Paris with Infiniti

By on Oct 10, 2016 in Accommodation, Europe, Featured, Food and Drink, France, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Road Travel, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

What better way to visit the Paris Motor Show than to drive there. And to drive in the luxury of the Infiniti Q30 is about as comfortable as it gets. This is a car that offers comfort in abundance and is every bit as stylish as it looks. (Some of you may recall that I test […]

Short stay: Best Western Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland, UK

Short stay: Best Western Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland, UK

By on Oct 09, 2016 in Accommodation, Attractions, Europe, Family Travel, Featured, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

For a recent sailing weekend at Derwent Reservoir, we stayed at the Best Western Beaumont Hotel in the Northumberland market town of Hexham. We’d often passed Hexham travelling from Cumbria to the north-east along the A69, but rarely had much time to spend there. Previously awarded the title of ‘England’s favourite market town’ in Country […]

6 tried and tested accessories from my latest trip

6 tried and tested accessories from my latest trip

By on Oct 05, 2016 in Accessories, Clothing, Featured, Gadgets, Travel Equipment

Our last trip involved a couple of weeks in Spain during which our boys competed in a sailing event. We also got the opportunity to explore a little and particularly loved our time in San Sebastian. During the trip, we also tried out some new products and include details of these for you below. Waterproof […]

5 of the best pintxos bars in San Sebastian

5 of the best pintxos bars in San Sebastian

By on Oct 04, 2016 in Bars, Europe, Featured, Food and Drink, Going Out, Regions, Restaurants, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

One of the highlights of our latest trip to Spain was our time in San Sebastián and, more specifically, our pintxos tour with Iñigo Tames (highly recommended) from San Sebastián Food, a culinary enterprise based in the basement of the Hotel Maria Cristina where we stayed. Pintxos – if you’re not already familiar – is […]

The holiday home industry's answer to the Michelin Guide

The holiday home industry’s answer to the Michelin Guide

By on Oct 03, 2016 in Accommodation, Europe, Regions, United Kingdom, Vacation Rentals, Western Europe, Worldwide

We are all familiar with the Michelin Guide which recognises select establishments for their culinary prowess. What started as a general motorists’ guide to help sell more tyres actually evolved into something much grander. By focussing on only the very best restaurants, the Michelin Red Guide quickly became the authority on all things dining. Now […]

Win sleek, smart and collapsible luggage worth over $1,000!

Win sleek, smart and collapsible luggage worth over $1,000!

By on Oct 03, 2016 in Featured, Luggage, Travel Equipment

The Barracuda is the world’s first collapsible carry-on with an ergonomic handle system and USB charger. The collapsibility feature allows the bag to be conveniently stored under a bed or hung in a closet. Other features include location tracking and proximity sensing and a built-in tray with cup holders to place a laptop or other […]

Photograph of the week: The historical centre of Ghent, Belgium

Photograph of the week: The historical centre of Ghent, Belgium

By on Sep 28, 2016 in Attractions, Belgium, Europe, Going Out, Regions, Western Europe

Seen here is the historical centre of Ghent, with the famous Saint Nicholas’ Church and Belfry of Ghent in the distance. Ghent is one of the most beautiful destinations in Belgium and the city comes complete with stunning old architecture, fantastic and romantic restaurants, and plenty of historic places to visit. This particular view was […]

virtual private network VPN abroad

How to have secure, unrestricted internet access abroad

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Accessories, Travel Equipment, Travel Miscellany

Having spent time in China, I can tell you that being unprepared for intermittent internet access was rather frustrating. Although China is undoubtedly among the world’s most censored countries when it comes to internet access, there are a number of others where it is complicated also. Apart from restricted internet access, online security is a […]

5 of the UK's most unique 5-star properties

5 of the UK’s most unique 5-star properties

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Accommodation, Europe, Regions, United Kingdom, Vacation Rentals, Western Europe

Tired of the same old hotels and accommodation? Unbeknown to many, the UK is home to a huge selection of self-catering properties (or vacation rentals to those of you in the US or Down Under), many of which are in a league of their own when it comes down to quality. Cottage agency Sykes Cottages, […]

Photograph of the week: An incredible dive site in Tulum, Mexico

Photograph of the week: An incredible dive site in Tulum, Mexico

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Adventure Travel, Attractions, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Mexico, North America, Regions, Speciality Travel

A cenote is a pit or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of the limestone bedrock to expose the groundwater below. The Mayans believed the cenotes to be sacred entrances to the underworld. They provide access to the underwater caves and caverns that are the main diving attraction in the Yucatan Penisula, Mexico. One of the […]

How to automatically backup your phone every time you charge it

How to automatically backup your phone every time you charge it

By on Sep 19, 2016 in Accessories, Featured, Gadgets, Travel Equipment, Travel Miscellany, Videos

Backing up your phone can be a bit of a chore sometimes, especially as you travel. You have to fire up your laptop, connect your phone, launch the relevant software and wait. Imagine, though, if you could back up a phone – be it Android or iPhone – without the need for a laptop at […]

Short stay: Bette Davis Suite, Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, Spain

Short stay: Bette Davis Suite, Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, Spain

By on Sep 16, 2016 in Accommodation, Bars, Europe, Family Travel, Featured, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Spain, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Videos, Western Europe

The elegant Hotel Maria Cristina is a member of the Luxury Collection, has 136 rooms and was designed by Charles Mewès – a French architect who was also behind the Ritz hotels in both Paris and Madrid. Since its opening in 1912 it has been a firm favourite with celebrities and international high society and, […]

Photograph of the week: The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Photograph of the week: The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

By on Sep 14, 2016 in Attractions, Going Out, Jordan, Middle East, Regions

Petra is a city in Jordan that is cut into the very rock itself. This UNESCO area, founded as early as 312BC, is known as, “a rose-red city half as old as time”. A narrow gorge called The Siq leads you over 1 km through the rock until it opens up to this building called […]

Photograph of the week: Sunrise at Glacier Point, Yosemite

Photograph of the week: Sunrise at Glacier Point, Yosemite

By on Sep 07, 2016 in California, North America, Regions, USA

Before leaving Yosemite, Andrew Ling wanted to see the sunrise from Glacier Point one last time. For the first time during his three day stay, the valley was free from the nearby wildfire smoke. The sun had just risen above the mountains, shining between the cliff and Half Dome. He saw these people watching the […]

10 great reasons to visit Santona, Cantabria, Spain

10 great reasons to visit Santona, Cantabria, Spain

By on Aug 21, 2016 in Attractions, Europe, Featured, Food and Drink, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Nestled approximately midway between Santander and Bilbao in the province of Cantabria, the town of Santoña is a fishing port that has an interesting history but is perhaps best known today as a holiday destination in the Summer months and for its year-round fishing trade. Here are 10 great reasons why you should visit. 1. […]