Luxury Destinations

But we are in the middle of a recession you cry! Well sorry but luxury travel is actually pretty inflation proof. Americans are maybe hurting a bit and planning their stay-at-home staycations but plenty of others are pushing the luxury travel market to new heights. Australians are doing well on the back of the China resource boom. The Middle East of course is where the real super-rich hang out. Demand appears to be soaring for the super-luxurious destinations, with new luxury lodges, luxury hotels and luxury travel options being unveiled constantly.

So you say you can't afford a luxury vacation? Think outside the square. After all a luxury hotel may cost $1000 /night - but why not stay close to home? Check into the local luxury hotel: and save the travel costs! Just remember to leave the cell phone at home and tell all your friends you are out of town! Don't want the riff-raff trying to get a look at the exclusive spa or private lounge at your 5 star retreat!

Luxury Hotels

Well the classic luxury vacation is focused on the classic luxury hotel: usually in a big hold hotel. Lets face it if you are trying to save on travel costs for your next vacation or you are worried about saving the planet and the so-called damage of jets to the ozone layer then checking into your local 5 star luxury hotel isn't such a bad idea. Leave the cellphone at home:tell everyone you are off to are residential therapy course for a week and enjoy living the high life complete with excellent dinning options, and in house spa and maybe a gold course or large pool.

Luxury Countries.

Some countries just pitch themselves to the luxury end of the market: not really interested in the hoipolloi. Bhutan is one such country which has always charged visitors a high daily charge, to avoid the hoards of backpackers in nearby countries such as Nepal and India. Bhutan has always been expensive,but now has its first 5 star hotel in Thimphu, the capital.

Africa has long bean associated with the luxury camping safari and lodges associated with the big game parks. Australia is a later entrant into this market: but quite frankly I would rather camp in a country whose largest animals are not elephants or lions! Crocodiles and mosquitoes are quite bad enough! Australia now has a number of top notch lodges and eco-resorts which combines comfort, the finest wine and food, with a close to nature experience.

Luxury Travel.

When Qantas flew the "Kangaroo Route" from Sydney to London it was an entirely first class service: the middle class travelled by ship. Now its all turned around. Those of us on normal salaries fly, and sometimes even spring for business class, while the super-rich take Cunard's luxury liners such as the Queen Victoria. Luxury train travel is also on the comeback trail with the Ghan train which runs from Darwin to Adelaide, through Australia'a Red Centre, recently added a premium Platinum Class.

So what's your dream luxury destination or luxury hotel: drop me a line to tell me where you've always wanted to stay. I'd quite like to stay at Raffles, Singapore one of the old-style luxury Raj hotels that the British scattered all over the world.