People have different ideas as to what constitutes luxury. For some, luxury may be sleeping in a king-size bed, while for others luxury may be Michelin-star meals. It could mean a hotel within walking distance of Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy, versus having to take a vaporetto from your hotel into Venice proper. Or, it could mean being transported to and from airports or train stations in Mercedes Benzes. When it comes to luxury, it is essential for travelers to consider what it is that they consider luxurious and use that to guide them in their vacation planning.
Personalization
One thing that distinguishes luxury travel is the fact that it is personalized for the interests and personalities of the travelers. When my husband and I visited Quebec City and Montreal to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, we worked with Fresh Tracks Canada to plan a trip that was tailored to our likes, such as smaller hotels in quiet neighborhoods and historic walking tours. We were met at airports and train stations by classy-looking gentlemen in suits who drove us to our hotels, and our walking tours of the historic districts were private, just the two of us and a guide. We didn’t have to say things like, “Can you hear what the guide is saying?” or worry about being lost in the shuffle. It was a memorable and luxurious trip because we got to plan exactly what we wanted to see and do.
Less Hassle
While Emily Smith, owner of Vacations by Em, notes that there isn’t a specific industry standard as to what constitutes luxury, for many travelers luxury comes in the form of less hassle. “What they look for is all the details being taken care of,” she says. Many older travelers have already had experiences where they stand in long lines with large groups of people, waiting for tours. Emily compares two options for visiting the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Italy: “You can visit the Sistine Chapel today, pay around $30, stand in a long line, and go through it. Or you can have an after-hours private tour with an employee there [at a cost of around $400 per person].” Clients who want luxury are willing to pay for less hassle and headache, she continues. “They like where they don’t have to stand in a crowd, they don’t have to wait in line. They are going to pay more for it, but look what they’re getting,” she says.
Beth Smith and her husband did a bicycling trip with the active travel company Backroads through Willamette Wine Valley in Oregon. There, luxury came in the form of not having to do any of the preparations for each day’s cycling excursion. “It’s very relaxing when you don’t have to worry about the details,” Beth says. “We just had to walk out there [to the bikes].” The travel operator had the e-bikes ready for guests, with helmets already on top of the seats. Day packs with drinks and snacks were already packed. If someone got a flat tire, the travel company dealt with fixing it. For many adults, this brings a welcome change from decades spent being thrifty and responsible for packing and preparing everything for their families.
Style
For some people, luxury travel involves being immersed in beautiful lodgings. Think Eugene Levy in the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler staying at the Hotel Alfonso XIII, a stunning hotel in Spain where a “basic” room runs between 500-600 Euros per night. In addition to intricate details and architecture that will blow your mind, luxury hotels also offer those small touches that are not the norm for most people. A luxury hotel room might have an espresso maker, for example.
Location
Another factor impacting the luxuriousness of a holiday is the location. Some places are just harder to get to because of their remoteness, which means the cost of visiting them is going to be more. The flights will be longer and pricier. The food may be expensive due to the cost of importing much of it. But, it could be worth the price to experience destinations like Polynesian islands such as Tahiti and Bora-Bora, or the Maldives in the Arabian Sea.
Service
Stephanie David has traveled to Kenya twice with the help of Safaris Unlimited, which provides privately guided horse riding tours. Due to the length of the flights (almost 10 hours from Chicago to Qatar and another eight hours to Nairobi), Stephanie’s travel group upgraded to first class so that they wouldn’t be exhausted before they arrived. While they slept in tents as they moved from place to place in Kenya, these tents had sinks and beds with mattresses in them. Travelers’ laundry was collected and washed nearly every day, and she says the food was five-star with offerings like surf-and-turf and filet mignon. Stephanie and her travel companions were also able to sleep in beautiful lodges at various points, such as Lengishu in the Borana Conservancy.
Most importantly, the service was exceptional. “Safaris Unlimited was accommodating to everyone,” Stephanie says, including an 85-year-old on the holiday. This is a very important consideration, especially if you’re a traveler in your 70s, 80s, or 90s. (My own parents, in their mid-80s, have been unable to participate in lagoon snorkeling while on non-luxury cruises simply because they are over age 80, even though they are pretty spry and could easily handle themselves in a wade-in environment.)
Emily suggests that people interested in luxury travel consult with a travel agent so they can see the full scope of what is available. For example, even though many people have heard of Viking cruises, which are known for their great service and included amenities, there are many other cruise lines that are comparable to Viking in terms of cost or even more luxury, such as Tauck and Uniworld River Cruises.
Whatever “high-end” means to you, there is a whole world of luxury travel to discover.
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. You may also enjoy Find Your Way To The Castle.
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