Brad A. Johnson
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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
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Travel: Spas

7 posts

Hotel Review: Cala de Mar, Ixtapa, Mexico

  • September 13, 2019
  • Brad A. Johnson
When Cala de Mar debuted in 2008, it bore a different name, Capella Ixtapa. But Capella pulled out last year and the resort changed its name to Cala de Mar. Same owner, but new name and management. I returned to see how things have changed, if at all.
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Photo of the Week: Sydney Opera House

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72 Hours at Grand Velas Los Cabos, 29 photos

  • March 17, 2017
  • Brad A. Johnson
The original Grand Velas revolutionized the all-inclusive resort sector in the Riviera Maya when it opened there more than 10 years ago. And now comes Grand Velas Los Cabos, which is guaranteed to be a game-changer for Mexico's Baja Peninsula...
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Hotel Review: Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, India

  • January 18, 2017
  • Brad A. Johnson
On the outskirts of modern, high-tech Hyderabad, on a hilltop in the heart of the Old City, one of India's finest historic palaces recently opened as a luxury hotel...
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Quick Look: Pangkor Laut, Malaysia

  • May 17, 2016
  • Brad A. Johnson
There is no airport on the island of Pangkor Laut. There is merely a helipad and a dock. Getting there is half the fun. Here's a quick look at this luxury private island resort off the coast of Malaysia. The resort's helicopter met me at the Kuala Lumpur airport. I returned to the mainland by the resort's private yacht.
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Is this the Best Hotel Ad Ever?

  • June 3, 2015
  • Brad A. Johnson
I love this new ad from Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. It's an amazing little short film. Coincidentally, I just stayed at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong last week, and saw this ad on TV on the airplane flying into the city, which made me look f...
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10 Spas of a Lifetime in Southeast Asia!

  • May 4, 2010
  • Brad A. Johnson
Bulgari Bali Bulgari BaliUluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaBulgari recruited Ritz-Carlton to manage the resort and tapped celebrated spa-design firm ESPA to run the property using Bulgari???s own product line. This team has melded modern Italian glam with anc...
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Cancún’s original grande dame changed its banner from The Ritz-Carlton to Kempinski during the pandemic, but little else has changed (except maybe some upgraded furniture in the rooms and a fresh coat of paint). Posh as ever. Lovely beach. Same staff. Same owner, whose classical art collection alone is worth a look if you've never seen it. You would wander the halls for days looking at art at this hotel. Old-money Cancún at its finest. ⁠ 44 3
Serenity. Checked into the new @waldorfastoriacancun on the outskirts of Cancún for a little pampering. It's lovely. A world away from the hectic hotel zone. I felt like I had the entire hotel to myself. ⁠ 68 2
Cochinita pibil with black-bean soup and wood-fired tortillas at @kinichizamal. Tasty detour. ⁠ 61 3
Nobody walks more than a block or two in Espita. Hardly anyone drives. Motorized trishaws are the preferred mode of transport. That last photo is the country road to Espita, which is located about halfway between Merida and Tulum in the Yucatán. ⁠ 54 0
Is this the prettiest avocado toast you've ever seen or what? That tiny spoonful of chile oil on the right side is more than enough. A perfect breakfast by @chef.jorgeildefonso and chef @_josehauvidal at @casonadeloscedros_restaurante in Espita, Yucatán. ⁠ 45 0
In the middle of seemingly nowhere in the Yucatán jungle you'll find the small, traditional pueblo of Espita, and that's where you'll find @casonadeloscedros_restaurante, an incredible little restaurant by @chef.jorgeildefonso (with chef @_josehauvidal on the pass), tucked inside an amazingly charming inn. This is essentially the only restaurant in town, and it is the very reason to make the journey. ⁠ 116 5
Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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