Most luxury travelers choose the most exclusive cabin class and the most luxurious hotels when they travel; you might think retired adults dominate this industry but also young professionals are looking for luxurious, private and out-of-the-ordinary experiences when they travel. Away from mass tourism and regular hotels this industry is growing very rapidly.
So, what is a luxury traveler?
The perceptions of what is luxury are different according to the culture, society and socioeconomic situation from which the traveler comes from. Having clients from all over the world, I see the differences a lot!
What for some is normal, for others it can be considered luxury. However, luxury travel is related to traveling without stress, without haste or routines. Be taken care of, enjoying unique and enriching experiences that exceed the expectations created. I consider luxury travel to be a synonym of comfort and quality, the journey must be prepared with all details so that no inconveniences appear, and travel with the best partners that will take great care and spoil the travelers; this also means that luxury travel is a synonym of having a very high level of services.
Another very important part of a luxury experience, is making the journey exclusive and unique. Making the difference and sure that the luxury traveler will feel at ease, and enjoy every moment of his own luxurious and private experience, differentiating from any other one.
Moreover, a luxury traveler will look for a personalization in his interests and the quality of hotels. Perhaps they like classic luxury hotels and opulence, or simple and comfortable luxury, modern hotels, wellness experiences, gastronomic experiences, exceptional locations…. A luxury traveler looks for a personalized experience in all senses.
I would say most luxury travel designers and consultants would consider a real luxury journey should have an approximate budget of 1000 EUR per person, per day minimum, but there is really not a defined budget for any luxury trip- really depends on what the client looks for and this can vary a lot depending on the destination they want to visit.
The concept of luxury has evolved a lot over the last decades and is no longer considered to be related to opulence, or palatial/classic experiences, or even very expensive decor. Luxury is also associated to discretion, privacy protection, providing an added value, contacts with the best suppliers, and, personalized experiences tailored to the clients needs.
A luxury traveler will not only travel in public holidays, they will also travel throughout the year.
Who is a luxury traveler?
I am going to divide this in various categories- although anybody can plan a luxury journey at any point during their life if they have the time, and the money to do so.
Those looking for comfort- comfort and ease comes first for many travelers looking for unique experiences
Fighters- for many who have fought during their lives, traveling in luxury is evidence of success
Trendsetters, these type of luxury travelers, tend to look at differentiating from the regular travel experience
Those looking for aesthetics and quality, very important for them since they look a lot at design and a high level of service
What do all luxury travelers have in common?
Authenticity, they look for an authentic experience appropriate to the culture/ country they are visiting
Elegance and class, luxury travelers want to experience an elegant environment
Activities that show local identity, they must feel that they are part of the culture they visit
24/7 service, a high-demand traveler must have full-serviced assistance
Exclusive access to resources closed to the public; differentiation and exclusivity is highly important
Normality – be themselves; make them feel in their comfort zone
Nature, environment and urban landscape – destinations that blend with the environment
Harmony and balance- they would not like an intense itinerary as they would like some time for themselves
Efficiency in the service; fast response and efficiency is very important in case any issues or unexpected changes arise
Excellent gastronomy. Food is becoming more and more important every day and high-end culinary experiences are to be included in the list of services a luxury traveler expects
Transformative experiences (that contribute experiences that help them to know better the world that surrounds them)- make sure they always learn something new and useful
Total disconnection from your routine and concerns. Make sure they rest and disconnect from their daily routine
Integrate in the local- as mentioned previously, they must feel like part of the culture and integrated in their lives
A special atmosphere, take them to places where they feel special
Wellbeing – which includes health, comfort and happiness… a spa is always a good idea!
Shopping – renowned brands and exclusive or very unique local brands; guiding them to the best and most unique shopping experiences
Feeling unique, but at the same time linked to the destination
Finally, please note that luxury is also linked sometimes and does not interfere with environmental and social commitment. Premium tourists are increasingly looking for more destinations and suppliers (hotels and agencies) that focus on sustainability.
All in all, luxury is a service that anticipates clients demands and is an authentic experience.The concept of luxury today, has changed quite a lot over the past 10 years. Today, luxury emphasizes more in service and a positive and exceptional experiences, rather that in gold chandeliers and silk wrapped walls. Moreover, luxury travel today will be a personalized service for every traveler depending on their interests and demands; it will be a “seamless experience”, fluid and with no inconveniences, in private and a good luxury travel consultant will enhance that luxurious experience for the traveler and bring added value to their journey.
Carmen Caballero is Founder of Exotik Traveler. Exotik Traveler is a luxury travel design and consultancy firm which creates unique experiences for luxury travelers, tailored to their needs.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Carmen Caballero is the founder and luxury travel consultant behind Exotik Traveler, a luxury travel design and consultancy firm which creates unique experiences for luxury travelers, tailored to their needs. Globally-based in Madrid, Spain, and about 7 years of hard work developing her company, Carmen has worldwide loyal clients and is grateful to have a growing clientele that proudly recommend her services and repeat. Carmen focuses on the design of luxury travel experiences around the world, maintaining high quality standards for demanding worldwide customers and servicing above their expectations. Carmen has traveled notably, and currently continues her way with over 315 luxury hotels and over 38 countries, and continues to follow her passion which is to travel, and curate luxury experiences for her clients. Moreover, with over 70.000 followers in Instagram, Carmen helps some businesses in the luxury travel industry enhance their social media exposure. Her personal experience has taught her how to grow clientele in social media, conscious of how important brand image and first impression are in social media channels. Carmen knows in depth the needs and demands of the luxury travel industry and of high-demand clients.
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10 Comments
Some interesting ideas on the definition of luxury travel. What is really interesting about luxury is the opportunity for entrepreneurs to continually redefine luxury and to reinvent it. Somewhere there will be an innovative travel person who will happily satisfy his market segment for far less than 1,000 Euros per day. If there’s any industry that is prone to revolutionaries shaking up the paradigm then it is travel.
Thank you for reading my article and glad you found my ideas interesting, luxury travel is always innovating :)
For me the exclusive access and exclusivity is very important. I’ve been very privileged to be able to meet people and experience things that other people haven’t been fortunate enough to do.
Attending some private views in galleries, prior to opening, sometimes guided by the artists themselves,has been an amazing experience. I also had a private tour of an Armagnac distillery in the South of France, where they designed a label, with my name on just for me. In both cases the ability to ask the questions that I wanted answering was very valuable to me.
It is great you have had the chance to experience art in private… that is a real luxury! Thank you for reading my article
In my experience the luxury traveller is very concerned with ensuring that his or her travel is very environmentally friendly. To be blunt the luxury traveller has the funds to pay a premium for environmentally correct travel. More problems are likely to occur in the budget market where corners are cut to keep prices down.
I do agree…. more and more I can see that my clients ask for environmentally friendly luxury hotels, just have to find the ones that really do respect the environment and have an ecological philosophy behind, thank you for reading my article,
Such a nice blog about luxury traveler…Really Interesting.
This is a really good post because I do think the concept of luxury can vary a lot between people but tends to have a few aspects that makes it distinctively different from regular travelling. The notion of travelling without stress and without haste is what appeals so much to me, and feeling more taken care of. A lot of extra bells and whistles I can probably do without to save some money, but comfort, convenience and low stress trips are priceless.
Another very important part of a luxury experience, is making the journey exclusive and unique. Making the difference and sure that the luxury traveler will feel at ease, and enjoy every moment of his own luxurious and private experience, differentiating from any other one.
Moreover, a luxury traveler will look for a personalization in his interests and the quality of hotels. Perhaps they like classic luxury hotels and opulence, or simple and comfortable luxury, modern hotels, wellness experiences, gastronomic experiences, exceptional locations…. A luxury traveler looks for a personalized experience in all senses.
I would say most luxury travel designers and consultants would consider a real luxury journey should have an approximate budget of 1000 EUR per person, per day minimum, but there is really not a defined budget for any luxury trip- really depends on what the client looks for and this can vary a lot depending on the destination they want to visit.
The concept of luxury has evolved a lot over the last decades and is no longer considered to be related to opulence, or palatial/classic experiences, or even very expensive decor. Luxury is also associated to discretion, privacy protection, providing an added value, contacts with the best suppliers, and, personalized experiences tailored to the clients needs.
A luxury traveler will not only travel in public holidays, they will also travel throughout the year.
Another very important part of a luxury experience, is making the journey exclusive and unique. Making the difference and sure that the luxury traveler will feel at ease, and enjoy every moment of his own luxurious and private experience, differentiating from any other one.
Moreover, a luxury traveler will look for a personalization in his interests and the quality of hotels. Perhaps they like classic luxury hotels and opulence, or simple and comfortable luxury, modern hotels, wellness experiences, gastronomic experiences, exceptional locations…. A luxury traveler looks for a personalized experience in all senses.
I would say most luxury travel designers and consultants would consider a real luxury journey should have an approximate budget of 1000 EUR per person, per day minimum, but there is really not a defined budget for any luxury trip- really depends on what the client looks for and this can vary a lot depending on the destination they want to visit.
The concept of luxury has evolved a lot over the last decades and is no longer considered to be related to opulence, or palatial/classic experiences, or even very expensive decor. Luxury is also associated to discretion, privacy protection, providing an added value, contacts with the best suppliers, and, personalized experiences tailored to the clients needs.
A luxury traveler will not only travel in public holidays, they will also travel throughout the year.
Who is a luxury traveler?
I am going to divide this in various categories- although anybody can plan a luxury journey at any point during their life if they have the time, and the money to do so.
What do all luxury travelers have in common?
Finally, please note that luxury is also linked sometimes and does not interfere with environmental and social commitment. Premium tourists are increasingly looking for more destinations and suppliers (hotels and agencies) that focus on sustainability.
All in all, luxury is a service that anticipates clients demands and is an authentic experience.The concept of luxury today, has changed quite a lot over the past 10 years. Today, luxury emphasizes more in service and a positive and exceptional experiences, rather that in gold chandeliers and silk wrapped walls. Moreover, luxury travel today will be a personalized service for every traveler depending on their interests and demands; it will be a “seamless experience”, fluid and with no inconveniences, in private and a good luxury travel consultant will enhance that luxurious experience for the traveler and bring added value to their journey.
Carmen Caballero is Founder of Exotik Traveler. Exotik Traveler is a luxury travel design and consultancy firm which creates unique experiences for luxury travelers, tailored to their needs.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Some interesting ideas on the definition of luxury travel. What is really interesting about luxury is the opportunity for entrepreneurs to continually redefine luxury and to reinvent it. Somewhere there will be an innovative travel person who will happily satisfy his market segment for far less than 1,000 Euros per day. If there’s any industry that is prone to revolutionaries shaking up the paradigm then it is travel.
Thank you for reading my article and glad you found my ideas interesting, luxury travel is always innovating :)
For me the exclusive access and exclusivity is very important. I’ve been very privileged to be able to meet people and experience things that other people haven’t been fortunate enough to do.
Attending some private views in galleries, prior to opening, sometimes guided by the artists themselves,has been an amazing experience. I also had a private tour of an Armagnac distillery in the South of France, where they designed a label, with my name on just for me. In both cases the ability to ask the questions that I wanted answering was very valuable to me.
It is great you have had the chance to experience art in private… that is a real luxury! Thank you for reading my article
In my experience the luxury traveller is very concerned with ensuring that his or her travel is very environmentally friendly. To be blunt the luxury traveller has the funds to pay a premium for environmentally correct travel. More problems are likely to occur in the budget market where corners are cut to keep prices down.
I do agree…. more and more I can see that my clients ask for environmentally friendly luxury hotels, just have to find the ones that really do respect the environment and have an ecological philosophy behind, thank you for reading my article,
Such a nice blog about luxury traveler…Really Interesting.
Thank you Rajesh, glad you liked it
This is a really good post because I do think the concept of luxury can vary a lot between people but tends to have a few aspects that makes it distinctively different from regular travelling. The notion of travelling without stress and without haste is what appeals so much to me, and feeling more taken care of. A lot of extra bells and whistles I can probably do without to save some money, but comfort, convenience and low stress trips are priceless.
Thank you Wendy! I totally agree, sometimes the trip changes so much and traveling comfortable and been taken care of the greatest luxury!