WELCOME TO OUR TRAVEL BLOG!

Welcome to Pretty Amazing Places, your one-stop shop for luxurious family travel experiences curated by a lawyer and a financial professional (that's us, in our late 40s!) and our adventurous 12-year-old daughter.

For the past decade, travel has been our family's passion. We embark on 3-4 trips a year, seeking out breathtaking destinations, impeccable 5-star hotels, and memories that last a lifetime. But we're also savvy travelers! Before every adventure, we invest hundreds of hours meticulously researching to ensure the best value. Because who says luxury has to come at a premium?

We understand the importance of travel reviews. TripAdvisor, Booking.com, YouTube – we've devoured them all while planning our own getaways. Inspired by this wealth of information, we decided to create Pretty Amazing Places: a channel dedicated to sharing our honest reviews of the incredible destinations we've experienced. We only feature places that truly blew us away (though, a "Pretty Awful Places" channel might be a hilarious future project!).

On our channel, you won't find us center stage. Instead, we focus on showcasing the stunning visuals and unforgettable experiences each location offers. Expect breathtaking photos and videos that capture the essence of every destination – because the true stars are the places themselves, not us.

So, join our family as we share our travel expertise, love for adventure, and talent for capturing the beauty of the world through photography.

what do we like and expect from our travels

We like white sand beaches and turquoise waters and lux hotels. But ...

Let's face it, "luxury" can be a loaded term. Visions of opulent lobbies, intrusive service, and eye-watering bills might dance in your head. While 5-star hotels can be incredible, they can also be a recipe for disappointment, especially if the experience you had there during your stay was not 5*.

We've all been there – lured by stunning photos and promises of grandeur, only to arrive at a 5* hotel that feels more like a gilded cage than a haven of relaxation. Stiff service, hidden fees, and mediocre amenities can leave you feeling ripped off and yearning for true value. We all quickly learned that not all luxury is created equal.

We've learned the hard way that skipping the research can land you in a luxurious hotel that sucks and costs a fortune. Marble floors and a Michelin-starred restaurant don't guarantee a good time, especially if the vibe is stuffy, the service impersonal, and the value proposition non-existent. Our definition of luxury revolves around exceptional service that strikes a perfect balance between friendliness and discretion, seamlessly understanding our needs ever being overly present or intrusive.

That's where our research obsession comes in... our pre-travel research is meticulous. We spend hours poring over booking.com, TripAdvisor, and other review platforms. We devour travel blogs, scrutinize online photos, and even utilize Google Maps aerial and street views to get a virtual feel for the location. This dedication ensures we find accommodations that align with our vision: luxurious amenities that elevate our experience without sacrificing comfort and a laid-back atmosphere.

And of course, even with meticulous research, even luxury travel isn't immune to the occasional hiccup. Weather can turn, flights can get delayed, and even the best hotels can experience human error. What truly separates an amazing 5-star experience from a forgettable one isn't the absence of imperfections, but how those imperfections are handled.That's why, beyond finding luxurious value through research, we prioritize hotels that excel in the art of recovery. We're not expecting everything to be 100% perfect – life happens, both for us and for the hotels we choose. What we value most is a genuine effort to address any issues with a smile, transparency, and a willingness to go the extra mile.

Even 90% perfect stay can become 100% perfect if the hotel acknowledges the hiccup, fixes it promptly, and does so with a smile and a genuine desire to make things right. It's the difference between feeling frustrated and feeling valued, between walking away with a negative memory and walking away with a story of exceptional service that transcends the initial bump in the road.

Price is important, but value reigns supreme. We're adept at seeking out deals and uncovering hidden gems that offer exceptional value for their price. This meticulous approach allows us to find lux accommodations with best value.
Finally, when we find the perfect fit, we book, secure our flights, and eagerly await the next school break. Our adventures are more than just vacations; they're meticulously crafted experiences that combine the thrill of exploration with the indulgence of relaxation.

So, if you're like us, seeking luxury that feels like a barefoot walk on the beach, not a walk on eggshells, follow along as we share our tips, tricks, and discoveries!

our gear

We use the following gear to capture our travel memories:

Drone DJI Mini 2: This compact and portable drone allows us to capture stunning aerial shots of our destinations.

Samsung Galaxy S22: This smartphone takes amazing photos and videos, and it's always with us on our travels.

GoPro Hero 11 Black: This action camera is perfect for capturing our adventures, from hiking and biking to snorkeling, running and surfing.

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