I am Dad to the amazing Said family: my wife and best friend Sheira and my 3 wonderful kids, Joshua an adult now at 19, Noah, 16 and Zoe, 8.
My life revolves around showing them the world through travel and blowing their mind with what it has to offer: its beauty, its hidden (and not so hidden) corners, its unique stories. This is the one area where my family let me loose like a kid in a candy store, in charge of every aspect of our holiday planning - so naturally our family albums take you around the planet...
When it comes to adventure and the path less traveled, my wife gives me a run for my money and we have both raised our kids to say - bring it on! We are a tight unit, however we are all individuals with our own passions, interests and favourite destinations...
Hi, I am Joshua Said and - at 19 - the latest adult in the family. I wouldn’t be a Said if I didn’t do something travel-related to mark the occasion so I am traveling on a 6-month adventure through Israel and Europe on my gap year. In fact I just turned 19 in Amsterdam (Mum is using Bill Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy”).
Our house has always been full of action and people - from my Grandmother, Jackie to all our friends who we invite over every day. It’s the party house on the harbour (our family has always had a pull to the ocean). And I love that 90% of the time when you arrive home you’ll always get a greeting from someone. But just like my whole family, travel is one of my passions and something I have been fortunate to do my whole life - I am really grateful for it.
Our parents have shaped us as people by taking us around the world to partake in the experiences and places out there. From the Vatican in Rome to the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, our parents have always taught us to do the right thing and be smart and well mannered. These
experiences as a family, along with friends and schooling, have made me the person that I am today. It’s like having permanent frequent flyer points!
I think our family makes a great candidate for a website about travel because not only do we have a lot of experiences under our belt - both the good and the bad - but we love story telling and sharing our tips and secrets.
I think a sense of ‘luxury’ all comes down to your own actions and individual attitude. Having “the best” can be a suite in Paris, but it can also be making the perfect sandwich in your own home. It’s anything that brings out the best in what is on offer.
My Dad wants to create a detailed, easy to read guide to all his travel and lifestyle experiences to inspire others to pursue the good life. He’s a generous man - he wants to share his philosophy and attitude with everybody. Our family can see through the fake or the real when it comes to hotels and cities; we have all - even little Zoe - developed an eye for the captivating and unique. Mum and Dad know how to find the best in style and luxury.
I am weaving my way through Israel, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Belgium and more! I am traveling with many friends and we are stockpiling a whole year’s worth of travel tips for anyone my age (or similarly young at heart) to enjoy. I will reveal all when I get back as right now I am too busy living it. In the meantime, happy travels and I hope you learn as much about traveling from my Mum and Dad as I have…
No-one knows you quite like the people who see you everyday at home and love you the most - your family. I figure the best way for you to meet the Saids is to get a first-hand account from all of us about each other. The whole truth and nothing but the truth !
JONATHAN said…
…JOSH IS A LOVER OF LIFE. Here is a happy, 100% genuine, approachable guy. He loves people and they love him right back. He’s great company. He is also a terrific cook who is crazy about trying new foods and creating his own recipes. One of the huge downsides to him being on his “young man’s grand tour” is that we miss his pottering in the kitchen. That,… and the laughter he brings to the house.
I had the pleasure of spending 3 weeks in Europe this summer with Josh, and he is so grown up and well traveled. He meets people from all walks and finds a common ground to engage with them. After backpacking for 3 months, Josh was blown away by the cost of restaurants we were eating in. We spent more on a meal than his daily budget 3 times over ! He is now back to the hostels and one meal away budget…AND LOVING IT.
SHEIRA said…
…JOSH IS OPEN. What you see is what you get. He has a killer smile that lights him right up – and he uses it often! He is warm and engaging, which will serve him well as he wants to embark on a career in hospitality and hotel management. Josh has many friends, and people that meet him cannot help but be drawn to his kind, open and infectious personality. I know these 6 months away will have matured him and opened his eyes to a world that has beauty as well as pain. He is a great family person and adores his sister Zoe and his grandparents.
ZOE said…
… JOSH IS CARING. He is a very loving big brother. I miss him lots. I love that he always makes time for me and wants to drive me to my friends. Josh is the only person in the house that can fix my toys. Noah and Dad are bad at fixing, Josh can do anything. I miss Josh not coming on our holidays anymore, but mum says Josh will travel with us again when he is at university and has no money.
NOAH said…
…JOSH IS THE BEST. Josh’s nice nature makes him great to spend time with and talk to. I feel like we get closer as I catch up in age. His unique qualities make him very popular and I’m proud of him.
We have grown up from spending all day in the NBA store in N.Y. to now spending all night in a nightclub in Phuket !
We like traveling to similar places, except I still like the snow and spending all day on the slopes where as I Think Josh would rather be on the beach.
