A happy senior couple sitting on the deck of a sail boat on a calm blue sea
Love to travel and want to get the best value for your money without breaking the bank or going into debt?
Do you yearn to visit the trendiest hot spots for living the good life, or experience a once in a lifetime milestone journey?
Do you want to learn about unique high quality accommodations, experiences and activities that will meet all your luxury specifications?
A quality luxury vacation begins with careful planning, and can mean quite varied and different experiences for different individuals. Luxury may be all about the trendiest or exclusivity of a destination, the quality and reputation of accommodations, the uniqueness of a mode of transportation, the top-of-the-line amenities provided, the variety of dining experiences offered, the wow factor of activities offered, attention to detail, the high level of service received- or all of these combined. Luxury means different things to different people.
My job as a travel expert is to advise and match you with the unique experience you may be seeking.
Luxury destinations can be found many places around the world, but some especially focus on attracting those who are seeking extraordinary experiences by promoting exclusivity. For the Caribbean you may want to look at Antigua, Barbados, Aruba, St. Lucia, St. Bart’s, Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, or Grenada. Or maybe a private yacht charter is also an excellent choice for the Caribbean. For the South Pacific you may want to take in the stunning beauty of Tahiti/French Polynesia, Island hop to Fiji or sail to the Whitsunday island of Australia. For Asia cultural exploration trips to Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore come to mind, or you could visit a world UNESCO World Heritage site such as the Taj Mahal in India.
For Africa consider a luxury safari with daily game drives, a visit to Victoria Falls, sailing the Nile River in Egypt, or a trip to South Africa to experience the wineries and swimming with the Sharks. South America hot spots include exploring Machu Picchu in Peru, viewing Iguassu Falls, dancing a tango in Buenos Aires, watching the action on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, viewing the scenery of Patagonia, soaking in volcano heated spa in Costa Rica, or meeting the wild life up close in the Galapagos Islands. North America offers all-inclusive amenities throughout Mexico, while in the USA and Canada both offer plenty of five star hotels and guest ranch stays. Europe highlights can include being serenaded in gondola while in Venice, soaring in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia (Turkey) or visiting the famous palaces and museums in St. Petersburg, Paris or London. With the popularity of river cruising many of these countries could be visited with a luxury river cruise to Europe. 
There are many choices for unique modes of transportation. You can sail away on a luxury cruise, or private yacht, jet off in first- class, or a chartered jet, take a one of a kind rail journey, embark on a luxury guided tour where all you need to do is show up since all of the itinerary details are handled, or even rent a Harley Davidson motorcycle or luxury car to explore back country roads.
Unique dining experience could include trying the local cuisine in restaurants with famous chefs, attending food tastings and wine parings, having a romantic candlelight dinner for two on a beach, and trying dine-around options if offered. If having a variety of fine dining choices are important to you while on vacation, ask about your options such as how many a la carte choices you will have if staying at an all – inclusive resort, if room service is included or if a special meal may be set up.
For activities you could consider requesting a local treatment at a world class spa, golf on a championship golf course with a private instructor, hire a local guide/chauffeur for a private tour, or simply immersing yourself in the local culture. Its always wise to have your travel professional book adventures in advance especially those activities that are very important to you, and is a must do, and to avoid disappointment. One of a kind accommodations could include staying in a castle in Ireland, an over night in a wigwam in Arizona, residing with a local family in a Tibetan yurt, watching fish swim from your over water bungalow in Tahiti, or French Polynesia, living like a local in a thatched cottage in England, or enjoying your own private staff in a Caribbean villa.
Upgraded perks can often include having concierge and butler service, high linen-thread counts, sitting areas in junior suites, en-suits jacuzzi tubs, upgraded bath amenities and a host of other amenities.
Milestones birthday celebrations, bucket list trips and multi-generational family trips have become very popular. Be sure to allow a longer planning time for these types of trips so you have time to explore various options. Why not celebrate these special occasions in your life with a travel experience that you will never forget? Receiving exceptional service and attention to detail has become one of the most important aspects of luxury travel. Private butlers, 24 hour room service, and even remembering your name and preferences are important for feeling pampered. Always let your travel professional know if this level of service is important to you so they can focus on accommodations that offer this.
Here are five exceptional journeys to consider:
- A world cruise– is an excellent way to see the world without having to unpack more than once. Many luxury cruise lines offer world cruises with multiple destinations. You can sail just a segment or two to try it out, or you could do the whole cruise.
2. Seychelles– you could vacation like the royals. Here is where the prince and princess of Wales honeymooned. The Seychelles is an exclusive, picture-perfect island chain in the Indian Ocean which can also easily be combined with nearby destinations including Dubai or India.
3. Bhutan– This country in South Asia recently opened its doors for tourism but welcomes visitors with open arm. Be different but as always when visiting a foreign country be careful and do not take unnecessary risks.
4. New Zealand– This country offers visitors a friendly, familiar yet exotic choice as a destination. it has stunning natural scenery, has a native culture to learn more about, and offers value for the $.
5. Luxury Rail Journey– If you every wanted to experience a rail journey while being pampered in true style then consider riding Rovos Rail or the Blue Train in Africa, the Venice Simpion Orient-Express in Europe, or the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada.
What”s next! Ready to start planning your own luxury vacation? Our agency offers a complimentary strategy session where we can discuss possible destinations, dates and preferences, and go over what we can both expect from working with each other. There is no charge or obligation for this session, and it will give you some good ideas to move forward. You can request an appointment on our website, via email or phone call. We look forward to working with you to help you plan an exceptional lifetime journey that you will never forget. We work with businesses, group and individuals that want to experience unique and life changing experiences.
