Luxury Travel is a term used to describe travel that is of the highest quality, and includes everything from accommodation and meals to experiences. It can be an escape from everyday life, or a way to experience the world with the comfort and care that you deserve.
The definition of luxury travel is personal, and will vary from person to person. For some, it will be white-glove service and a private butler, while for others it may be a bed overlooking a beach, or an escape to a remote location.
Today, there is a new kind of luxury traveler: one that is seeking to make connections with destinations and with people. They want to build trips that align with their unique interests, needs and values, and that help them to establish a cache.
They are also seeking to experience bucket-list adventures, and they have an insatiable appetite for trying new things. That means they are interested in activities like blending their own wine, a guided walking safari or cooking classes.
Kristi Jones of Virtuoso agrees with this, citing a recent survey that says luxury travellers are demanding more authentic experiences that connect them to local culture. That might mean a market tour and cookery class or arranging a private dinner with a cultural influencer.
A number of trends are fanning the experiential fire for affluent travelers, from luxury rail (such as Vietnam’s Vietage train) to new ways to stay in a place, and new products that offer a higher level of comfort and service than ever before. And the relationships that luxury travel agents have with their clients are more important than ever, Kristi Jones says.