A guide to planning the perfect luxury vacation, including booking early, selecting locations, getting insurance, learning about the destination, and planning activities.
The whole nature of embarking on a luxury trip abroad is that you will be expecting to experience… well, the last word in luxury, throughout every aspect of your time away. And those are expectations that might not be easily matched by the reality.
This, in turn, underlines the importance of planning ahead. If, for instance, you are planning a luxury holiday (and not every luxury trip that someone makes over the course of their lifetime necessarily will be a holiday), you will want to be able to genuinely relax and have some much-needed time to feel like yourself again.
No matter what type of trip you decide to go on, or which accommodation you book – be it a luxury resort, tranquil spa, or a beautiful cabin close to the beach – you will need to think very carefully about your preparations.
Some people do enjoy relatively spontaneous globetrotting. However, if you create a plan a decent amount of time in advance, it will be easier to secure a stay in your dream accommodation and to see all of the sights that are on offer in your chosen destination(s).
Luxury group travel companies, such as Winged Boots, can help you get started with your plan. With that said, here are some tips that you will need to consider so that you can get away on the luxury trip of your dreams.
Give yourself time to plan properly
If you leave your planning process for your luxury trip abroad until the last second, you will almost certainly find it harder to book a hotel, resort or other accommodation option that will suit your needs nicely. Luxury hotels and popular locations can become unavailable quickly, especially during summer and any festivals or major holiday seasons.
So, if you have the option to do so, it could be a good idea to give yourself at least a few months, and maybe even a year, to put together your luxury trip. This way, the prices for advance bookings are likely to be attractive, and you will probably be able to access a broader range of interesting accommodation options.
Think seriously about exact locations
How many beautiful destinations around the world have you seen pop up on Instagram, Facebook, or other social media platforms? There are so many luxury holiday spots for you to consider, depending on what sort of trip you are interested in. Take a moment to think about what you actually want to see on your trip. Do you yearn to ski down some beautiful slopes, or would you prefer to relax on a beach of golden sand that you’re already fantasising about running your fingers through?
Pick out some main themes that you would like to experience and enjoy during your luxury break. Once you have done this, you can start to select specific areas and scope out the best high-end accommodation, events, and activities.
It might be a good idea to avoid areas of your chosen destination that are pretty well-known, as these can quickly become tourist traps. Instead, go through your selected holiday sites carefully. A special location will catch your attention if you are patient in considering your options.
Consider how long you want your time away to be
Of course, if your luxury trip won’t strictly be a “holiday” and will instead be for other purposes – for example, catching up with friends and family who are located on the other side of the world – it might have already been determined what the duration of your trip will be.
Alternatively, if your trip will be a holiday, you might have a lot more freedom to choose the exact trip duration. Although it may seem an overly obvious thing to say, it is nonetheless worth emphasising that some parts of the world will be further away from others, and some might be especially challenging to physically reach, which might impact on the overall length of your time away.
So, if you wish to go somewhere that is especially distant from where you live, you might decide to dedicate a few weeks to your holiday. However, if you just want a quick taste of luxury, perhaps at a hotel in a capital city or in a spa retreat, you might settle for a long weekend.
Don’t overlook the protection the right travel insurance can provide
A luxury trip can end up costing quite a bit, so you shouldn’t forget to arrange travel insurance as a way to protect yourself against potential damages. Insurance can cover stolen items, broken belongings, medical care, and disrupted flights. Depending on the specific insurer and policy, it might even protect against COVID-19 related disruption.
Your insurance can also be personalised based on the type of holiday you go on. So, for instance, if you decided to enjoy a cruise, there are insurance types that actually cover cruises. Or you could seek out an insurance policy with elements of coverage for skiing or snowboarding, if these are activities that you are expecting to get involved with during your break.
Plan the activities that you would like to experience
When you are planning your luxury trip abroad, you should also take the time to put together a list of activities that are available in your chosen destination.
Not everything is going to be in the hotel that you have selected, so you may want to book a guide to help you get around. You might also choose to go during a time when a major festival is taking place at your destination, to help make your experience even more memorable in all the finest ways.
Consider the local culture and language
Once you have decided on where you will be heading for your luxury trip abroad, you should take some time to understand a little more about the type of destination you are going to see.
This should help make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful, particularly if you are interested in discovering quieter, less “touristic” areas, where the English language might not be spoken so widely, and where there may be some other slightly less expected sights and sounds.
Safety, of course, is of the utmost importance, too. That’s one more reason to try and learn a bit more of the language of your destination, before you head out there (if you can).
Are you ready to enjoy your longed-for luxury trip?
There are very few things in life that are better than knowing that your holiday plan is ready and your dates are booked. Just do not forget that every location will need a different type of plan, depending on its environment, tourist sights, and the types of relaxing (or for that matter, enthralling) activities that are on offer.
The earlier you start planning your luxury trip, the more likely it is that you will be able to book a trip that will meet your expectations. If you are struggling to plan and book all the finer details of your time away, there are also all-inclusive packaged holidays that you can consider. This should take away some of the stress that might otherwise be caused by your travel planning, and will help you to relax.