Because you want the best.
Archive for May, 2010
Share a tip
May 14th
Just wanted to say thanks to my former colleagues Doug & Mary, who’ve been on similar travels to me and have provided me with some great tips I’m currently working up into blog posts. If you have anything you think would fit on BlackCardLiving,com please send it in and we’ll share with our readers.
A Little Word On Luggage
May 13th
Early on when planning my trip I decided I didn’t want to be lugging around a huge two week suitcase or toppling all over trying to keep a rucksack under control. I was going to travel light, keep no more than a week’s clothes, and look for places to do laundry or buy cheap replacements as I went. Formal wear, if needed, could be hired, and if I needed an expensive outfit I’d buy it and add it to my semi-permanent roster.
I found exactly what I was after when searching for leather bags: Thomas Lyte’s range was well made enough to last a round the world trip, looked good to me, and best of all I could get one in bright yellow. No more squinting at the luggage carousel!
I ended up getting a leather weekender bag and a leather despatch bag, the latter being one of the best purchases I made when planning the trip. The despatch bag takes my laptop, a paperback and a packed lunch perfectly, and has been with me almost every step of the way.
The weekender bag, while lovely, didn’t turn out to be quite so successful. While it fits more than a weekend’s worth of clothes it turned out doing laundry or clothes shopping each week was more than I could stand. A more capacious replacement came in within a few weeks, almost as well made, but unfortunately nowhere near as easy to spot after deboarding.
Is The Black Card Worth It?
May 13th
I suppose the title of this blog demands that I do at least a mini-review of the American Express Centurion Card, and the benefits that come with it. A few people have asked me if it’s worth it – meaning maintaining your account activity more than the annual fee – and I’ve got to say it’s a resounding yes from me.
As someone who spent a whole year traveling, usually staying in one place for no longer than a week, the Black Card was invaluable in smoothing the way. Just about every city I visited had hotels, car rental firms, restaurants and more attached to the program, and I often ended up saving on top rates while getting absolutely immaculate service.
It may well be different for someone who doesn’t travel as much as I did – or who perhaps leads a more restrained lifestyle! – but if you’re on the move a lot and don’t have a bolthole of your own in every city the Black Card is definitely recommended.
The Best Dessert In Paris?
May 13th
OK, this will be my last “Best X in Paris” post! I’ll follow up with a full review of Pierre Gagnaire‘s amazing restaurant later, but suffice to say after my experience at De Ser I wasn’t too keen on paying €300 for a dessert. You can take the boy out of Glasgow but not Glasgow out of the boy.
But I’d decided to treat myself at Gagnaire’s, and I’m glad I did if only for the dessert.
Believe it or not it tasted even better than it looked.
Once again I had no camera, so thanks to Veroyama for the photo!
The Best View In Paris?
May 12th
The very first night of my year-long holiday was spent in Paris, at L’Hotel De Sers, just off the Champs Elysées, It’s a gorgeous hotel in a perfect location, and it took real effort to tear myself away to explore Paris for the evening. A fine meal and a one walk later I returned to De Sers, to experience the only black mark I could give them for my visit. €70 for a double whiskey! And we’re not talking a 40 year old single malt here, this was the house whiskey. Truly ridiculous and that kind of thing can leave a really bad taste in the mouth.
All was forgiven in the morning, however. How could you hate anywhere where you wake up to this:
It started, as many things do…
May 5th
…with a journey. Shortly after my 29th birthday an idea I’d had ten years previously came to fruition, and through a combination of hard work and a lot of good luck I found myself set, as they say, for life. I immediately began planning a round-the-world journey, and that’s where the idea for this blog was born.
At the time I wanted to post an ongoing travelogue of what was to be my year off, but quickly gave up on that: some people may be able to keep a journal when they’re on the holiday of a lifetime, but I’m not one of them. However, when I returned from my travels I found many of my former colleagues (who also had life-changing windfalls when we sold our company) were sick of being described as “high net worth individuals” and appreciated the personal and honest opinion of a review of such and such hotel or exec lounge from a friend who’d actually been there.
From that idea this blog was born: a place for reviews of products, services and anything else of interest to those who are lucky enough to be able to afford the best.