Alex

Alex

187 posts

About Alex

I spent seven years working in airline operations before I started writing about travel, and that background shapes everything I do. When you’ve watched the industry from the inside – routing decisions, alliance partnerships, the economics of seat upgrades – you develop a healthy scepticism about the gap between what hospitality brands promise and what they actually deliver.

I grew up in Manchester and have been based in Singapore for the past five years, which puts me at one of the world’s great aviation crossroads. From here, a long weekend in Tokyo, Bali or the Maldives is a realistic proposition, and I’ve taken full advantage of that. Southeast Asia is the region I know best: I’ve worked through the major hotel corridors of Bangkok, explored Phuket beyond the main resort strips, and spent enough nights in Singapore’s own five-star properties to have genuine opinions about which ones age well and which ones are coasting on reputation.

Japan holds a particular place in my travel thinking. The precision and attentiveness of Japanese hospitality – what the Japanese call omotenashi – sets a standard that I now use as a reference point whenever I’m assessing a property anywhere in the world. I’ve stayed in traditional ryokans in the Japanese Alps, city hotels in Osaka’s Namba district, and the kind of hyper-modern Tokyo properties where the technology feels genuinely useful rather than performative.

For PrivateUpgrades I tend to write about the intersection of smart booking strategy and genuine luxury experience. I’m particularly interested in properties where the PrivateUpgrades Preferred Partner benefits – room upgrades, early check-in, hotel credits – make a material difference to the value equation, and I try to be specific about when and why that’s the case.

I’m also honest about properties that don’t meet the mark. Loyalty programmes and affiliate relationships can distort travel writing in ways that readers instinctively sense even when they can’t name them. My aim is to write the kind of review I would have wanted to read before booking.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express suite with views across the Tuscan countryside

DDestinations

Luxury Train Travel In Europe: A Grand Tour Through Exceptional Hotels

byAlex
August 25, 2026
22 views

Plan luxury train travel in Europe around exceptional hotels, comparing the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, La Dolce Vita and L'Orient Express.

Aerial view of a private island resort and coral reef in the Maldives

DDestinations

Where To Stay In The Maldives: The Luxury Atoll Guide

byAlex
August 22, 2026
31 views

Compare the best Maldives atolls for luxury travel, from North Male and Baa to South Ari, Dhaalu and Laamu, with transfers, reefs and hotel advice.

Private luxury villa with a pool overlooking the sea

LLuxury Hotels

Hotel Suite vs Villa vs Residence: Which Should You Book?

byAlex
August 19, 2026
20 views

Compare a hotel suite, private villa and hotel residence by space, privacy, service, cost and VIP benefits to choose the right luxury stay.

Swimming pool at Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como overlooking the lake

LLuxury Hotels

The 20 Best Hotel Pools In The World

byAlex
August 16, 2026
25 views

Discover 20 of the world's best hotel pools, from Amangiri and Lake Como to Singapore, Bali and the Caribbean, all bookable with VIP benefits.

Luxury hotel terrace breakfast illustrating how hotel credit works

LLuxury Hotels

What Is A Hotel Credit? Resort Credits And Luxury Hotel Benefits Explained

byAlex
August 12, 2026
50 views

Learn how hotel credit works, what resort, dining and spa credits cover, common exclusions, and how to use luxury hotel benefits without wasting value.

Luxury hotel Club Lounge with breakfast and skyline views

LLuxury Hotels

Hotel Club Lounges: Are They Worth It? The Top 15

byAlex
August 9, 2026
55 views

A hotel Club Lounge can add breakfast, drinks and private service. Compare 15 luxury lounges, brand benefits, typical premiums and when access is worth it.