Independent · First-hand · 135 countries
This is
Luxury Travel
Hotels, villas, dive liveaboards, cruises, wellness retreats, business-class flights, festivals and sustainable resorts — reviewed in person by Julie
Explore by Topic
Nine Worlds of Luxury Travel
Every story on this site falls into one of these nine editorial worlds — and every review is grounded in first-hand experience.
Hotels & Villas
Independent reviews of the world's most exclusive resorts and private villa rentals.
Diving
Liveaboards, dive sites and underwater photography from Raja Ampat to the Maldives.
Cruises & Liveaboards
Polar expeditions, small-ship sailing and dive liveaboards across every ocean.
Tours & Activities
Day tours, road trips, kayaking, wine tours and one-day itineraries.
Wellness
Yoga teacher trainings, spa retreats and slow-travel wellbeing journeys.
Art & Music
Reviews of jazz festivals, biennales and music gatherings worth flying for.
Flights
Honest business-class flight reviews — Emirates, Etihad, Beond and more.
Sustainability
Conservation-led resorts, marine reserves and how to travel more responsibly.
Safaris
Big-game lodges, tented camps and wildlife safaris from Kenya to beyond.
Latest from the Magazine
Editor's Picks
Liveaboard · Indonesia
Emperor Harmoni Liveaboard Review: Raja Ampat Diving, Cabins, Food & Itinerary
New Hotel Openings
The Openings Worth Knowing About
New resorts, renovated icons and ambitious debuts — put in context, not just announced.
Hotels & Villas
Luxury Hotel & Villa Reviews
Resorts, jungle hideaways and private villa rentals — independently reviewed.
Diving
Diving Destinations & Liveaboards
A specialist authority on dive liveaboards and the world's greatest reefs.
Cruises & Liveaboards
Slow Passages, Extraordinary Waters
Polar expeditions, small-ship sailing and luxury yacht cruises.
Tours & Activities
Day Tours, Road Trips & Adventures
One-day itineraries, wine tours, kayaking and the activities worth booking.
Wellness
Yoga, Spa & Healing Retreats
Honest reporting from yoga teacher trainings, spa weeks and wellness retreats.
Art & Music
Festivals, Biennales & Culture
Reviews of jazz, electronic, world-music festivals and contemporary art events.
Flights
Business-Class Flight Reviews
In-depth reviews of business class with Beond, Etihad, Emirates and more.
Sustainability
Travel That Gives Back
Conservation-led resorts, marine reserves and responsible-travel guides.
About
Hi, I'm Julie
Travelling, yoga and scuba diving are what I do — 135 countries and more than 1,500 dives so far — and I share those experiences in depth here.
135 Countries Visited
Julie has personally traveled, dived and stayed in every place reviewed here.
First-Hand Reviews Only
We personally experience every property we review.
Specialist Dive Coverage
Deep, photo-led reporting on liveaboards from Raja Ampat to the Red Sea. Over 1500 dives accross all continents
Always on the road
Half the year on the road — covering Asia, Oceania and beyond — the rest writing it up.
Top Destinations
Our Top Destinations
An index of the regions and countries covered in the This is Luxury Travel archive.
Further Reading
From the Archive
Stories worth a second look
Flights
Air France Nashville & San Diego A350
Alaska Aurora Suites & Hawaiian Leihōkū Suites
Cruises & Diving
Antarctica Diving on the Douglas Mawson
Mitsui Ocean Sakura: Japan's New All-Suite Ship