Dr. Paul Johnson is the man behind the extremely popular blog, A Luxury Travel Blog. The blog serves as a gateway for the discerning travellers and provides tips and information on exotic destinations, luxury hotels and resorts, and fine dining restaurants apart from luxury travel news . Paul has been associated with the travel industry for over 25 years. He is from Kendal, Cumbria (UK) and has travelled extensively across the world. His blog is one of the leading travel blogs in the world and has more than 250,000 unique visitors per month.
Paul Johnson has been featured in several magazines and newspapers, including Conde Nast Traveller, The Daily Mail, and Luxe Travel. His blog has been voted "One of the World's Best Travel Blogs" by the Daily Telegraph. He is also a Director of The Dedicated Partnership Ltd., an online tourism marketing company with a client base that includes some of the world's most luxurious hotels.
We were lucky enough to catch Paul for this interview.
How did you come up with the idea of writing exclusively on luxury travel? And, what is 'luxury' for you?
It was in the very early days of travel blogging that I started and the few blogs that were out there seemed to focus exclusively on backpacking and budget travel. I felt the luxury market wasn't being catered for, and was at a time in my life when my student and backpacking days were largely behind me! To me, luxury all is about service and attention to detail.
What have been the highlights of 2015 so far?
We had an amazing time in the Summer, staying at JA Manafaru on the northernmost atoll in the
Maldives . It's a beautiful resort with exceptional service and one I would highly recommend. I also had a fantastic time in Tokyo - I'd never been to Japan before so that was another highlight.
You have travelled a lot with your family. Please share with us some of the most important things to consider while planning a family holiday.
For us, the key thing is to go somewhere and do things that the children will enjoy - if they're happy, we're happy!
How much did you enjoy being a part of the Land Rover's 'Silk Trail 2013?
That was an amazing experience - I was on the leg from Kathmandu to New Delhi so we had 10 days travelling right the way across Nepal amongst amazing scenery and meeting such lovely people along the way.
Which are three of the most luxurious activities/experiences you would recommend to travellers going to India?
I have only been to India for a couple of days (at the end of my Land Rover trip) so am probably not the best qualifed to answer this one - hopefully I will get to visit again soon.
You made a strong case for the Maldives as a great family holiday spot. Which other traditional honeymoon destinations could be terrific family destinations?
We have enjoyed many a holiday in the Greek islands and, if you pick the right location, I think they serve as both a great honeymoon destination and a perfect family getaway. For our own honeymoon, we went on safari in Tanzania, followed by a stay on a private island off Zanzibar. We have since been on safari with our children in South Africa and of course they loved that experience, too.
You keep posting recipes for your readers. It seems you are a big food lover. Tell us about some of the most delicious cuisines you have enjoyed during your travel across the globe?
I have been lucky to enjoy many amazing dining experiences - memorable meals this year include dinner at the new Aman Hotel in Tokyo, as well as at the intimate sushi dining venue at the Mandarin Oriental also in the city. I had some fabulous dishes at JA Manafaru in the Maldives this Summer, and have since been fortunate enough to dine at the newly-opened breeze by lebua restaurant in Frankfurt. Also just recently, I enjoyed some excellent cuisine at the two Michelin-starred Parkheuval Restaurant in Rotterdam.
Where do you plan on travelling to next?
Next week I am heading to Shropshire in the UK to do some work for a luxury holiday rental business there. At some point soon, it's looking like Mexico could be on the cards also.
This interview with Paul Johnson is a part of Travel Trolley's ongoing 'Best of the Travel Bloggers' series. We are interviewing and showcasing popular travel bloggers who encourage and inspire people to travel. Check out all the bloggers we have interviewed and showcased and learn about their interesting experiences, adventures, travel stories as well as useful holiday tips.
