Inspiring Travel Writing from Brian Johnston
Brian Johnston is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland. After obtaining a Masters degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, he spent three years teaching English at the University of Sichuan in China before working as a writer, researcher and copy-editor for several environmental organisations in Switzerland.
Brian is now a full-time author and travel writer based in Sydney. His first travel book Boxing with Shadows about his experiences in China achieved critical success in 1996 and was followed by Into the Never-Never: Travels in Australia. His most recent travelogue, published in 2005, is Sicilian Summer. In 2006 he was also a contributing author to the anthology Best Foot Forward: 30 Years of Australian Travel Writing.
Brian contributes travel stories and photography to newspapers in Australia and New Zealand and to travel, general interest and in-flight magazines around the world. His travel stories are syndicated online and appear on notable travel websites such as Holidays with Kids and Out & About. Brian is an assistant editor for Vacations & Travel magazine in Australia. He also travels extensively in the Asia Pacific region conducting hotel reviews for Expedia, the worlds largest online travle agency.
Brian is a full professional member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and in 2004, and again in 2006, won their prestigious Australian Travel Writer of the Year award.
Brian is now a full-time author and travel writer based in Sydney. His first travel book Boxing with Shadows about his experiences in China achieved critical success in 1996 and was followed by Into the Never-Never: Travels in Australia. His most recent travelogue, published in 2005, is Sicilian Summer. In 2006 he was also a contributing author to the anthology Best Foot Forward: 30 Years of Australian Travel Writing.
Brian contributes travel stories and photography to newspapers in Australia and New Zealand and to travel, general interest and in-flight magazines around the world. His travel stories are syndicated online and appear on notable travel websites such as Holidays with Kids and Out & About. Brian is an assistant editor for Vacations & Travel magazine in Australia. He also travels extensively in the Asia Pacific region conducting hotel reviews for Expedia, the worlds largest online travle agency.
Brian is a full professional member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and in 2004, and again in 2006, won their prestigious Australian Travel Writer of the Year award.
Articles by Brian Johnston
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Buenos Aires: Aires and Graces
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Brian Johnston
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Argentina
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Buenos Aires and the Pampas
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Buenos Aires
A century ago Buenos Aires was the wealthiest city in the world, a place of fine boulevards, ornate architecture, dazzling theatres and snobbish gentlemen’s clubs. Residents absorbed European styles, laying out French parks and Spanish...
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An African Villa
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Brian Johnston
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South Africa
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Cape Town and around
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Cape Town
An African Villa should have been on a TV home renovation show, because its owners have turned three rundown student townhouses into a stylish and very attractive boutique hotel in quite an inventive way. We think the style should be termed Afro-Zen...
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Prime Hotel
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Brian Johnston
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China
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Beijing Region
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Beijing
Go for middle-ranking, local hotels in China and they usually satisfy; the Prime Hotel is a great introduction to the genre. You get a good feeling just walking into the lobby: the chrome and marble gleams like a concubine’s hair, staff smile and an...
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The Village Lodge
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Brian Johnston
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South Africa
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Cape Town and around
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Cape Town
Full marks for location: the city centre is ten minutes one way, the V...
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Shangri-La China World
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Brian Johnston
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China
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Beijing Region
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Beijing
It has to be said that the approach to the China World is unexciting, unless speed humps and parked cars are your thing, and the door staff can sometimes be Basil Fawlty in their methods. Persevere, though: once through the revolving doors, the...
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Hotel Waldstatterhof
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Brian Johnston
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Switzerland
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Eastern Alps
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Lucerne
The Hotel Waldstätterhof could scarcely be better located: it's right across the street from the train station and just a short walk across the bridge to Lucerne's old town. (Though on a busy street, the traffic dies down at night, and electric...
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Nile Smile
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Brian Johnston
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Egypt
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Nile
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Luxor
The journey starts with a slight rumble of engines under your feet, then a shudder, and finally a hearty toot of the ship’s horn. You stand up on deck, shading your eyes, and watch a swirl of rowboats, feluccas and busy ferries scurry out off the...
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Beijing: Olympian Dreams
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Brian Johnston
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China
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Beijing Region
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Beijing
The first time I flew into Beijing, fifteen years ago, its airport was a cavernous hall, poorly lit as the set for some disaster movie. Customs officers sat in little wooden boxes with counters so low I had to stoop awkwardly for a glimpse of a...
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Malaga: City of Seduction
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Brian Johnston
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Spain
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Costa del Sol
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Malaga
Let's be honest: Malaga's main attraction is its airport. Get in your rental car like everyone else and off you go – it's a right-hand turn to the playgrounds of the Costa del Sol. Turn left and you're sucked into the tangled freeways that lead...
Reviews by Brian Johnston
Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhone | Brian JohnstonIn a city that values tradition, this luxury hotel has gone for a refreshingly modern look with a décor of modern brown and purple enlivened by leather cushions and elegant lamps. A tinkling piano at the bar relaxes visitors as they gaze out the...