Travelling at the pointy end in 2024 is about much more than gold-plated taps and doormen in top hats. Here\u2019s what the big bucks get you now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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I walk out of passport control in Bali\u2019s Denpasar International Airport and raise my eyes towards the electronic boards that list the luggage carousels to find out where to collect my suitcase. But before I can focus, a voice says my name. \u201cMs Carlton? Welcome to Bali.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Raja, the concierge arranged by Raffles Bali<\/a> who is there to greet me, even before I clear customs. With brisk efficiency he fills in my electronic customs form, collects my luggage and whisks me past every other passenger to my private transport, which is equipped with wi-fi, a vibrant herbal tonic and even an iPad, on which I can choose the music for my journey to the resort. Carousel to car in 10 minutes flat.<\/p>\n Once upon a time, luxury travel was all about opulent marble bathrooms, magnums of chilled Champagne and hermetically sealed limousines. It can still be all those things, but today\u2019s luxury-seekers value less-tangible jewels \u2013 things like effortlessness, space, privacy and time. \u201cFor me, luxury is about ease,\u201d Katya Herting, Raffles Bali\u2019s general manager, tells me later. \u201cLife can be so complicated. For our guests, everything is taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The basic touchpoints have not changed. A high-end hotel or cruise will have top-quality sheets, exquisitely comfortable beds, showstopping food (with ingredients like caviar and foie gras almost always somewhere on the menu) and plush amenities. But big-picture details are just as important.<\/p>\n At Como The Treasury<\/a> in Perth, for example, the impersonal check-in desk queue is replaced with a welcome salon that feels like a friend\u2019s beautifully designed living room where guests sink into plush lounges with a cocktail as they complete the arrivals process. A top-level cruise ship will have a high staff-to-guest ratio so that every traveller\u2019s needs are instantly accommodated. And then there is the luxury of access.<\/p>\n True luxury is about money-can\u2019t-buy experiences such as a customised fragrance for your suite, an art gallery opened at night for a one-on-one-tour, or a personalised drawing of your likeness.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n COMO The Treasury Perth Western Australia<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Certainly luxury should mean that you need to worry less; a true luxury experience means that someone else is taking care of the details. All-inclusive products may look pricey at first look, but you\u2019re paying for everything to be completely carefree.<\/p>\n \u201cWe find \u2018all-inclusive\u2019 to be luxurious as it takes the pressure and pain away from having to make decisions,\u201d says Anthony Laver, general manager sales and marketing Australasia of Scenic Group<\/a>, whose river and ocean cruises are all-inclusive, all the time. \u201cThe only decision you have to make is what cocktail to have before dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n But all-inclusive can also mean you pay less in the end, as you\u2019re not adding on \u2013 and perhaps losing track of \u2013 expenses on the go.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Luxury discovery yacht Scenic Eclipse.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the good news. Increasingly, little bits of luxury are finding their way into the travel landscape at all price points.<\/p>\n At the Quincy Hotel<\/a> in Melbourne, where rooms start at a moderate $223 a night, guests can order their own fragrance service, where a concierge will arrive with a spritz of Bulgari, Jean Paul Gaultier, Balenciaga or Valentino to make a night out that little bit more special, while the Swell Hotel<\/a> in Byron Bay has its own high-end ice bath and sauna worthy of a top-level hotel spa.<\/p>\n Overseas, an upgrade to plush Gran Class on a Japanese shinkansen (bullet train) could be worth the splurge of an extra $100 or so, especially if it\u2019s a route where beautiful bento boxes are included.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Swell Hotel Byron Bay.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Top-tier dining is about much more than just food. It\u2019s a multisensory hospitality experience. Attentive service is a given; someone will take your coat, bring a stool for your handbag and explain every dish in detail.<\/p>\n But there\u2019ll also be drama and theatre, such as when New York\u2019s Eleven Madison Park<\/a> recreated a tropical island in the private dining room for a couple whose vacation had been cancelled.<\/p>\n At Melbourne\u2019s Vue de Monde<\/a>, guests participate in making their own luxe jam doughnuts, while at the three-hatted Amisfield<\/a> near Queenstown in New Zealand, guests are led into a beautiful greenhouse full of ferns and rich forest scents to eat dessert.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What to Expect: Chances are you know the basics of luxury hotels: the never-want-to-get-up beds, the \u201csirs\u201d and \u201cma\u2019ams\u201d. But it\u2019s actually the thoughtful touches and unmatched experiences that get that final star over the line.<\/p>\n At the Four Seasons in Bangkok<\/a>, for example, you\u2019ll find a charming digital likeness of your face on the welcome dessert plate in your suite on arrival. The Hotel Belles Rives<\/a> in the South of France has a waterskiing butler who will teach you how to look like a 1960s film star in a striped swimsuit, flying across the Mediterranean. While at the Six Senses in Rome<\/a> you can arrange a private peek at a priceless artwork inside the church next door, one that\u2019s otherwise entirely hidden from the public. But luxury is also about having space to breathe and reflect. Most of the 23ha of the Raffles Bali<\/a> is lush jungle, so guests have extraordinary views from every angle, while the new Soneva Secret<\/a> in the Maldives has only 14 entirely secluded multi-space bungalows on a completely private island.<\/p>\n What to expect: A luxury river cruise somewhere such as France, Germany or Portugal should be a seamless blend of on-board comfort and immersive shore experiences. Plenty of vessels will punt you from port to port but a\u00a0Scenic<\/a> cruise goes significantly further on the luxe scale, with an all-suite offering and a maximum of 163 guests. But it\u2019s the exclusive Scenic Enrich shore program that takes your trip far beyond ordinary travel, with experiences such as the thrill of a Mozart concerto at the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna or after-hours access to the Fabrique des Lumi\u00e8res art centre in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n What to expect: A luxury cruise should feel effortless from the moment you board. Your minibar should be stocked with the requests you arranged pre-cruise, and your personal butler on hand for whatever you need (caviar delivery as soon as you put down your handbag? Certainly, ma\u2019am). Even the lowest-tier suite should have high-end amenities such as full-size baths and private balconies. On an expedition ship such as Silversea\u2019s Silver Origin<\/a>, which operates in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, part of the luxury is the expertise of the crew itself; if you travel to these places to learn about the landscape and wildlife, having the best-trained guides on board to point out hidden curiosities is priceless.<\/p>\n What to expect: Private yachts can be hired almost anywhere there\u2019s water, and if you\u2019re willing to pay for it the crew should move mountains to get you whatever you want on board. A charter company like Cecil Wright<\/a> will find the vessel and arrange an itinerary that suits your needs (Greek islands but only the smaller, lesser-known ones? Can do) and then stock it with any food, drinks and entertainment you desire. But expect to pay for it. The cheapest motor yacht in their fleet starts at around $470,000 for a week\u2019s charter.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Qantas International First Class Lounge in Sydney.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What to expect: Flying business class is already pretty perk-heavy: dedicated lounges, priority boarding, drink service upon boarding and of course the holy grail, the flat bed, which is available on most airlines and routes. But first class takes things to a whole new level. Qantas<\/a>\u2019s first-class lounge at Sydney Airport is like all your favourite restaurants in one: Korean fried chicken, Neil Perry\u2019s famous salt and pepper squid and pavlova, and limitless Champagne. On board, you\u2019re not in a seat but a suite, one that includes a table for two so you can dine with your companion, as well as a roomy bed fitted with Sheridan sheets.<\/p>\n What to expect: Airport queues and lost luggage? Forget it. The most luxurious aspect of a private jet tour is that it whisks you in or out of a destination in the time it takes most people to haul their luggage on to the conveyor belt. Most private jet companies have dedicated hangars or even whole airports so you arrive and step straight on board, with no waiting in line. Prices for private jet tours can be virtually unlimited depending on the route and comfort levels. APT<\/a> runs air tours that aren\u2019t cheap but considering the inclusions, are incredible value for money. Their 16-day Icons of Australia Air Tour touches down in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Cairns, Margaret River, Uluru, Darwin, the Great Barrier Reef and more, with signature experiences at every destination, starting from under $25,000. An investment in the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n What to expect: Depending on your priorities, upgrading on a train trip might be one of those semi-affordable luxuries worth the splurge. If you\u2019re travelling overnight on one of Trenitalia<\/a>\u2019s Intercity Notte trains in Italy, upgrading to a sleeper berth rather than sitting upright is a solid investment for your back if nothing else, and will still generally cost under 100 euros ($165), depending on the route. Canada\u2019s Via Rail<\/a> upgrades aren\u2019t quite so economical \u2013 an upgrade from Vancouver to Toronto might cost $C2000 ($2265) rather than $C600 for economy but the private beds and meal service turn a simple mode of transportation into an experience.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Eastern & Oriental Express train.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What to expect: Romance and heady adventure are the spirit of a luxury rail journey. On the Eastern & Oriental Express<\/a> in Southeast Asia, the decor of each suite is rich and jewel-toned, reflecting a sumptuous bygone era. Food at the two restaurants is curated by a Michelin-starred chef, and you can even customise your sleeping quarters with a choice of fragrances and playlists.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 10 luxury hotels that belong on your bucket list<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The \u2018wildest\u2019 luxury hotel we\u2019ve ever seen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 6 cheap luxury experiences around the world<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This article may contain links from Escape\u2019s affiliate and advertising partners. When you click on them, or share this content, Escape may earn a commission. Learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Luxury travel has changed, man. Here\u2019s what to expect in 2024<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What does luxury look like in 2024?<\/h2>\n
Does luxe mean less?<\/h2>\n
Is affordable luxury a thing?<\/h2>\n
Luxury dining<\/h2>\n
Best luxury travel experiences of 2024<\/h2>\n
Five-star hotels and resorts $$$$-$$$$$<\/h3>\n
River cruises $$$<\/h3>\n
Ocean cruises $$$$<\/h3>\n
Private yacht $$$$$<\/h3>\n
Business and first class flights $$$-$$$$$<\/h3>\n
Private jet $$$$<\/h3>\n
Rail class upgrades $$<\/h3>\n
Luxury rail journeys $$$$<\/h3>\n
Read More:<\/strong><\/h3>\n