acidic asia:

unapologetically honest LUXE guides

founder grant thatcher

Q: Firstly, we at u+a would like to thank you - we've got several LUXE guides from different cities in Asia and have enjoyed your focussed and highly opinionated guides. Can you tell me a bit of your background - and how you came to be in Hong Kong producing the LUXE guides?

A: Born and raised in UK, studied in London, have lived in Asia for 10 years, twice in HK with a two year period in Bangkok.  Having travelled in Asia extensively I realised there was a glaring need for something chic, honest, opinionated and aimed at a solvent discerning crowd who are uninterested in the touristic angle of cities.

Q: How would you describe the guides to someone who has not seen them? And how do you differentiate between what you do and what other traditional travel guides do?

A: Everything about LUXE is different, from our format, (concertina, matt-lam) to the way the guides are assembled (resident city editor and minimum 25 resident contrbutors, I then personally fly to each new destination to oversee all the final entries), the guides are updated twice yearly, the brief and often brusque house style, people love the tart and often funny asides making the guides a pleasure to read rather than a neccessary chore, LUXE guides enable you to take your standard of living with you wherever you go, as LUXE guides are formulated form the recommendations of city residents you cannot help but live they life they do and see the city as they do, the only truly pocket sized guides (unless your pockets are the size of Kansas)

Q: Could you give me some tips which may not have been published in the guides - such as your preferences for travel between Asian cities, your favourite regional airline, train trip, drive, and any other "insider tips" and suggestions which fall out of the scope of LUXE Guides?

A: I loathe travelling, the quicker the better. The last train I was on was in India last year, in a optimistic moment I ventured to visit the toilet, I can honestly say it will stay with me forever, burnt into my retinas.  My travel tips are always travel light, always have a white suit, always take a spare bag or suitcase for purchases, travel in the manner that you can afford and never ask for an upgrade.

Q: What are some of elements of Asian travel which you feel are under-appreciated? What are the must-see/do things which are rarely seen or done?

A: We are so used to fantastic levels of service in Asia, once you travel on any US airlines you swiftly realise how damn lucky we are.  Elephant Polo in Sri Lanka and Chiang Rai is uniquely charming.

Q: How do the recent rapid changes within China make your job more difficult or interesting? I imagine the trends, tastes and fads in cities such as Shanghai and others can be fleeting. Can you give me some examples of particularly interesting developments?

A: Until recently Hong Kong was always the Belle of the Ball, Shanghai was the hussy with estate jewels and Beijing was stuck in traffic and never got to the party at all. While HK still retains her crown, the weird sisters of Beijing and Shanghai are relentlessly clawing their way up the style-pole.  This years star attraction will be Handel Lee's (Courtyard, Ice House, RBL) Legation Quarter overhaul in Beijing into a full-on dining and entertainment destination. Shanghai's new hotels are pushing the envelope + Guerlain Spa at Regent, Hong Kong's delicious Landmark Mandarin rooms and spa nail the current infatuation with lifestyle accommodation.

Q:  Useful + Agreeable broadband TV program "U+A Cities" features "The great cities of the world and the people who make them great". We will be visiting your home base Hong Kong in the near future. If you don't mind, we'd like to ask who you think makes Hong Kong great? I.E. Innovative and talented HK fashion designers, musicians, film-makers, restuaranteurs and hoteliers, among others?

A: Yenn Wong (JIA), Ranee K (fashion), Collette Koo (Drop, FINDS), Gilbert Yeung (Dragon-I).

Q:  I've noticed that you've chosen to cover Dubai in your first guide to a destination outside of Asia.  Why there?  Can you give me a brief sense of what Luxe loves and loathes about Dubai?

A: Dubai is a great fun-faux destination - it makes no bones about being the youngest major city on the planet, in only 50 years it's risen from a creekside settlement to a major R&R hot spot, with some world class restos, bars and spas. Think Las Vegas without the smut and gambling, add unending desert and beach, some astonishing architecture and a good dose of tongue in cheek, plus of course plenty of shopping and you've got a healthy dose of Pleasure. (Dubai spans all levels of the visitor market, so you do need to be somewhat selective as in any destination with where you choose to alight).