Looking for unbiased, independent reviews before you travel? Is backpacking a thing from your past - you're now looking for a more relaxed, luxury way of travel? Would you like to read real reviews, from real travelers like you? Want to know which flights are best, and which lacks WOW factor?

Sunset, Greece 

Well, I've got a site for you. Bombastic Life shares the best in luxury travel - restaurants, airlines, resorts, and more. We talked with Chris Wilson, of Bombastic Life, about their site, how to best prepare for a journey, interacting with locals, and more. Here's what he had to say...

WE:  Please tell us about your site, Bombastic Life...

CW: Our site focuses on high-end, luxury travel.  We visit luxury and five-star hotels, resorts, restaurants and travel first or business class at our own expense to bring our readers independent and unbiased travel reviews.  We visit over 50 properties and double or triple that many restaurants each year; so you could say, we have the experience to be considered experts in high-end luxury travel.

Hotel Plaza Athenee - Pairs, France

Pool at Hotel Caruso - Ravello, Italy

WE: What was the genesis of your site?

CW: As we prepared for trips, we would scour the internet and various travel magazines trying to find real, honest and trusted information about hotels, resorts and restaurants in the city we were planning to visit, and we all too often just came up empty-handed.  The travel magazines all reported on the “good” things the properties offered, but finding the truth about flaws or the little things that set the properties apart was difficult to find. 

We said if we have trouble finding good information, I bet there are others that experience the same thing, so we decided, why not share our experiences?  It started as a hobby, but we quickly found there were a lot of people hungry for honest, unbiased travel review information. 

 Singita Sweni Lodge - South Africa

 Maldives

WE: What might readers be surprised to find on your site? 

CW: I think what readers will find most surprising is that we don’t hesitate to call out hotels, resorts, restaurants or airlines on flaws they have.  Unlike an travel magazine or newspaper, who is indebted to some degree for the “press trip”, we do not have to just paint a pretty picture.  If there are problems or areas for improvement, we mention it.  We have had some bad stays at some very good, reputable hotels and resorts, and our reviews reflect that.  Of course, when they are good, we don’t hesitate to tell our readers that as well. 

South Africa

WE:  How do you suggest travelers best prepare for their journeys?

CW: Of course, they need to check out Bombastic Life first!  After that, I would say, do your research…a lot of it.  When you work so hard to earn the money for a trip, you should work just as hard to make sure that whatever you are booking, whether it’s an $80 a night room or a $1500 a night suite, you should get your money's worth. 

 Napa Valley, California

WE: I love your section on People, as it is often interacting with locals that makes a trip truly unique. What advice do you have for travelers, to truly get a sense of the culture? 

CW: Get out of your hotel room, and find the “non-touristy” places.  Ask where the locals hangout.  And when you are out, don’t hesitate to talk to the locals and ask questions. 

Some of my most memorable experience were visiting the “off the beaten path” in Jakarta and Vietnam, as well has hanging out at some bars and taverns in Belgium, Portugal and Italy. 

Douro River Valley, Portugal

 Backwaters of Cochin, India

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us? 

CW: No matter where you are in the world, people are what make the difference.  Keep an open mind, and don’t jump to conclusions about a certain place, culture or group of people until you really have a good understanding of everything involved.

 Malaysia

WE: Thanks so very much, Chris. We love Bombastic Life and recommend it to our readers.

For more information, please see:

http://bombasticlife.com/