How to Relax in Style - Your One-Stop Guide to Luxury Travel
Luxury is in Reach
First-class travel experiences really can be for everyone. Luxury is about far more than staying in exclusive hotels with helipads or chartering private jets to take you around the world. You can absolutely indulge in a higher level of comfort and convenience without breaking the bank.
Yes, you usually have to pay a bit extra to enjoy the benefits of luxury travel, but the benefits often outweigh the costs. Even something as simple as paying a few dollars more for a skip-the-line private tour of a top attraction can elevate your experience to a richer, more personal memory than standing outside in the heat for hours, waiting.
Increasingly, I’m hearing of travellers willing to invest in an experience: according to the American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report, 61% of travellers say they plan to spend more than they normally would on a trip in 2021 and according to the US Business Traveller and Travel Policy Survey, around half of business travellers say they’re happy to pay out of their own pocket for certain upgrades, including on flights, in hotels, and for car rental.
The Face of Luxury Travel in 2021
Luxury travel looks rather different now than it did a few years ago. In 2021, luxury travel means:
Exploring remote destinations with space and privacy. Privacy has become the ultimate luxury, with 75% of respondents reporting that experiences offering complete privacy are becoming the key sought-after feature of luxury travel.
Personalized and unique experiences.
A chance to recharge and improve health and wellbeing.
Be greeted by your personal driver at the airport and shown to the private transfer that will whisk you off to your hotel.
With such personal requirements while on vacation, it’s no surprise that 81% of travellers are turning to travel agents for expert guidance for our rich destination knowledge and ability to recommend unique experiences to build amazing trips.
To upgrade or not: When is the extra cost worth it?
I recommend to only invest in upgrades that will make a meaningful impact on your experience. Here are some things to consider:
Flights
How long will you be in the air? Upgrading to first class or business class has greater benefits on a long-haul flight than a short hop. Also, not all higher-class cabins are created equal – I can let you know exactly what the airline provides, and what the differences are between first class and business class.
Roughly speaking, the price of a ticket for first class can be about double that of a business class seat. It’s the complete privacy and additional space that really sets the experience apart.
But you don’t have to go all-in to enjoy flight upgrades. The extra legroom with a premium economy seat can make a tremendous difference on a long flight. Paying to select your favourite window or aisle seat in advance is a real treat, and some people just like sitting nearer to the front of the plane where turbulence is gentler, and the trolley arrives sooner.
Ground Transportation
How tired might you feel after your flight? And how easy is public transport at your destination? Stepping off a long-haul flight into a hot and unfamiliar country, then into the extra comfort and convenience of a private car that whisks you straight to your air-conditioned hotel can be priceless. Or instead of exploring a destination on foot, you could make each unique moment more luxurious—like a private boat along the waterways of Venice.
Accommodation
The reason some hotels and vacation rentals cost more than others isn’t always as straightforward as a fancier room or a bigger swimming pool. You might be paying for a more central location or for amenities, such as spas, restaurants, or even childcare. When you’re booking, decide if the price is worth the difference on your trip—if you aren’t planning to do any workouts, then that stunning gym means nothing to you.
Luxury doesn’t necessarily mean a five-star resort. Luxury could mean an ocean-view room or daily breakfast in bed, or I could reserve for you the best table in the house for a couple of meals.
Activities
Experience is such a big part of true luxury in travel. When a hotel room or flight is long forgotten, experiences stay with you for years to come. I can book you a cookery class with a local family, arrange a sunset meal on the beach with the waves lapping your ankles, plan a guided tour of favourite local spots, rent pretty bikes so you can cycle off on a day-long wine tasting, or learn to carve, paint, or sculpt with a local artist. Even something as simple as arranging a late checkout on the last day of your vacation can make all the difference to the memories you make.
Three Uber-Luxurious locations
Dubai
Known for its ultra-luxe hotels, including Burj Al Arab, reportedly the only 7-star hotel in the world. Famous, too, for designer shopping malls and unique adventures: think buggy rides over the sand dunes, world-class golf courses, and shipwreck dives.
Maldives
One-island resorts, private villas on the sea, and complete remoteness. Add stunning beaches, thrilling water sports, and the freshest seafood, and you’re in the Maldives.
Monaco
From its yacht-lined marina to designer boutiques and world-class art galleries, Monaco is a playground for the rich and famous. Think Michelin-star restaurants and glitzy casinos galore.
How to Enjoy Luxury on a Budget
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Stunningly beautiful landscapes off the beaten track–with prices to match. With its bluish-green lake, picture-postcard church, a medieval castle and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops. You’ll appreciate the over-the-top romantic setting and the hiking, biking, water-sports and canyoning opportunities.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Great deals in luxury bohemian riads and on accessible yet unique experiences, like glamping in the Sahara. Think lively souks with spices, mesmerizing snake charmers and belly dancers, towering minarets, and ornate architecture.
Lagos, Portugal
Seaside cliffs, picturesque beaches, and boutique hotels at a fraction of the cost of the rest of Europe. Lagos’ seaside location will lull you into a sense of relaxation and luxury.
Simple Pleasures: Luxury on Family Vacations
On a family trip, luxury might be a little time away from the kids for a romantic evening together. It might be taking the children to somewhere they’ve seen in a movie or read about in a book. It could be as simple as breaking up long flights with fun stopovers, so you don’t have to constantly distract tired, fractious little ones. I can give you the support you need in planning an itinerary that keeps everyone happy.
That could mean:
Prioritizing accommodation with activities for all age groups, such as kids’ clubs, private babysitting services, and family-friendly pools
Booking amazing experiences that delight both kids and adults, say Christmas in Lapland or a safari in Africa
Arranging private tours of top attractions that skip the queues, work around your family’s schedule, and free you to take breaks whenever you need
For the Ultimate Luxury, Speak to Me, Your Travel Consultant
Utilizing a travel agent is now one of the biggest luxury travel trends. That’s because luxury isn’t about paying more, but about having a better experience—and I can help with that. I combine insider travel knowledge with access to a vast supply of transport, accommodation, and activities, creating a seamless end-to-end experience with a level of comfort and convenience that’s hard to come by when planning and booking a trip yourself.
I use my experience and expertise to recommend destinations that fit your personal criteria and create an experience that is worth every penny—often for less than you might expect or eventually pay if you tried to organize it on your own.
Let me take all that hassle away so you can focus on relaxing in style. Schedule your complimentary consultation today.
