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Secret Travel Tips—For The Pampered Traveler

on January 1 | in Travel & Leisure | by | with No Comments

 

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A quality vacation experience begins with… careful planning upfront.  This can mean quite varied and different expectations for what you want.  Quality may be all about the trendiness or exclusivity of a destination, the quality and reputation of accommodations, the uniqueness of a mode of transportation, the top-of-the line amenities provided, the variety of dining experiences offered, the “wow” factor of activities offered, the attention to detail, the high level of service received—or all of these combined.  Making your vacation special and meeting those expectations will make the difference; the list below can give you some great ideas.  Enjoy!

 

Victoria Falls-Travel

Victoria Falls

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Let’s begin with the destination…  Vacation destinations can be found many places in the world, but some especially focus on attracting the well-heeled by promoting exclusivity.  For the Caribbean, you may want to take a look at Barbados, Aruba, St. Lucia, Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, or St. Bart’s.  For the South Pacific, you may want to take in the stunning beauty of Tahiti/French Polynesia, island-hop in Fiji, or sail the Whitsunday Islands in Australia.  For Africa, consider a luxury safari with daily game drives, a visit to Victoria Falls, sailing the Nile River in Egypt, or a trip to South Africa to experience the wineries and swimming with sharks.  South America hot spots include exploring Machu Picchu in Peru, viewing Iguassu Falls, dancing a tango in Buenos Aires, watching the action on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, viewing the scenery of Patagonia, soaking in volcano-heated spa waters in Costa Rica, or meeting the wildlife up close in the Galapagos Islands.  North America offers all-inclusive resorts throughout Mexico, while the USA and Canada both offer plenty of 5-star hotels and guest ranch stays.  Europe highlights can include being serenaded in a gondola while in Venice, soaring in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey, or visiting the famous palaces and museums in St. Petersburg, Paris, or London.  For the adventurous, cruising to the Antarctic or viewing the northern lights in Iceland or Scandinavia is a must-do.

 

yacht-travelYou have many choices for unique modes of transportation… You can sail away on a luxury cruise or private yacht, jet off in first-class aboard a commercial airliner or chartered jet, take a one-of-a-kind rail journey, embark on a guided tour where all you need to do is show up since all the itinerary details are handled, or even rent a Harley Davidson motorcycle or luxury car to explore the back-country roads.

 

 

dinner on the beach-travelUnique dining experiences could include… trying the local cuisine in restaurants with famous chefs, attending food tasting and wine pairings, having a romantic candlelight dinner for two on a beach, and trying dine-around options if offered.  If having a variety of fine dining choices are important to you while on vacation, ask about your options such as how many à la carte choices you’ll have if staying at an all-inclusive resort, if room service is included, or if a special meal may be set up.

For activities on vacation, consider requesting a… local treatment at a world-class spa, private tango lessons, golf on a championship golf course with a private instructor, hire a local guide/chauffeur for a private tour, or simply have an adventure doing whatever the local culture offers—elephant trekking, horseback or camel riding, zip lining, parasailing, river rafting, Jeep rides, Bedouin desert tours…the list goes on.  Be sure to ask your travel specialist to book activities in advance that are very important to you in order to secure the time/date slot you want and to avoid disappointment of something being sold out or not even offered at that time.

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One-of-a-kind accommodations… These experiences could include staying in a castle in Ireland, residing with a local family in a Tibetan yurt, watching the fish swim from your over-water bungalow in Tahiti/French Polynesia, living like a local in a thatched cottage in England, or enjoying your own private staff in a Caribbean villa.

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Always ask about the possibility of receiving value-added options such as complimentary upgrades, free breakfast, included Wi-Fi, or other perks.  Sometimes, if you stay 5 or 7 nights at a resort, you may receive a free night or other benefits.  Be sure to state if the reason for travel is a special occasion, such as a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary, as you may receive a special amenity.

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Consider traveling not in the peak season time… Now, you might want to experience the best weather and longest opening hours of attractions and tours but shoulder and off-season traveling can save you money.  In Scottsdale, for example, resort stays during the hot summer months are at a fraction of what they cost during the winter or peak-season months.  Fall and spring travel dates are often shoulder season, and can offer a compromise between high prices of peak season, and the poor weather/short hours of the off-season.

There are many ways to be… pampered during your vacation to make it the perfect destination.  Even if you just do one of the strategies that I have suggested, this could make a great difference.  Of course, the other way would be is to call your travel specialist and let her know the level of service or types of pampering you want on your vacation and let her do all the work.

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