Lita Luuse

Lita Luuse

58 posts

About Lita

My earliest travel memory is standing in front of Sagrada Família at the age of eight, entirely overwhelmed. I’ve been chasing that feeling of overwhelm ever since – the good kind, the kind a truly exceptional hotel or destination can produce in the first sixty seconds of arrival.

I’ve been writing about travel for over eight years, and in that time I’ve developed a particular eye for the properties that earn their stars rather than simply displaying them. My coverage at PrivateUpgrades spans luxury hotels in Central European cities – Prague, Vienna, Budapest – through to beach resorts in Portugal, and destination hotels in South Africa and the Americas.

Family travel is an area I approach with specific care. Finding a resort that works for parents who want genuine relaxation while also keeping children properly entertained (not just parked) is harder than it sounds. I’ve vetted properties in Miami, Greece and the Caribbean with this question at the forefront, and I never recommend a family stay I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking myself.

I’m drawn to hotels with a sense of place – properties where the architecture, the menu, and the spa treatments all tell you unambiguously where you are. The Four Seasons Prague, housed in a cluster of baroque and Renaissance buildings, does this beautifully. So does the Mandarin Oriental in the same city. I write about hotels like these not because they’re famous but because they’ve earned the visit.

Beyond hotels, I’m interested in the destination itself: the food markets, the neighbourhoods worth walking, the cultural context that makes a city worth returning to. My articles try to give readers a full picture rather than just a room recommendation.

I believe that transparency is the foundation of useful travel writing. If something didn’t work during a stay, I say so. If a property is undergoing renovation, I include that. The readers of PrivateUpgrades are sophisticated travellers making real booking decisions, and they deserve accurate information rather than marketing copy.

LLuxury Hotels

Egypt Luxury Travel Guide: Cairo, The Nile, Aswan And Hotel Planning

byLita Luuse
July 24, 2022
1.5K views

A luxury Egypt travel guide covering Cairo, the Nile, Aswan, museum access, river views and how to choose hotels with PrivateUpgrades benefits.

DDestinations

Winter Luxury Holiday Ideas: Sun, Ski, Wellness And Quiet-Season Escapes

byLita Luuse
July 15, 2022
988 views

A luxury winter holiday guide comparing Caribbean sun, European ski resorts, Brazil, Thailand and Mexico with practical booking advice.

DDestinations

Israel Luxury Travel Guide: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Desert And Dead Sea Planning

byLita Luuse
July 3, 2022
1.1K views

A luxury Israel travel guide for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, desert stays and wellness-focused itineraries, with practical hotel and timing advice.

LLuxury Hotels

Luxury Hotels For Mature Travelers: Calm, Comfort And Service-Led Stays

byLita Luuse
June 29, 2022
1.2K views

A guide to luxury hotels for mature travelers, focusing on comfort, service, access, wellness, slower itineraries and PrivateUpgrades benefits.

DDestinations

Turkey Luxury Travel Guide: Istanbul, Bodrum And Cappadocia

byLita Luuse
June 22, 2022
888 views

A luxury Turkey travel guide covering Istanbul, Bodrum, the Riviera and Cappadocia, with current-entry-rule caution and PrivateUpgrades hotel planning advice.

LLuxury Hotels

Spain Golf Resorts: Where Luxury Travelers Should Play And Stay

byLita Luuse
June 14, 2022
1.3K views

A Spain golf resort guide for luxury travelers, comparing Costa del Sol, Marbella, Tenerife and how to book golf-focused hotel stays with benefits.

Los Angeles luxury hotel bar and skyline

LLuxury Hotels

Los Angeles Hotel Bars: Where Luxury Travelers Should Drink, Dine And Stay

byLita Luuse
May 22, 2022
1.4K views

A Los Angeles hotel bar guide for luxury travelers, comparing West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey and design-led hotel stays with PrivateUpgrades links.