Here’s a round-up of luxury travel stories that have caught the eye this week. To make sure you receive these new weekly alerts in your web browser, please click on the red bell icon in the bottom right hand corner of the page and click ‘subscribe’ (works on desktop only – for other ways to subscribe, please click here). This will also alert you to any other posts on the blog. Should you wish, you can unsubscribe at any time, by clicking on the icon again and selecting ‘unsubscribe’.
Aston Martin created an ultra luxurious helicopter with Airbus inspired by its sports cars
Aston Martin and Airbus have teamed up to create a specially designed ACH130 helicopter. The new ACH130 represents the first helicopter Aston Martin has ever created, according to the automaker. “[The ACH130 marries] ACH’s key values of excellence, quality and service with Aston Martin’s commitment to beauty, handcrafting and automotive art to bring a new level of aesthetics and rigorous attention to detail to the helicopter market,” Airbus wrote in a statement… [read more]
What it takes to build an overwater bungalow
The overwater bungalow concept originated in Tahiti in the mid-’60s, when a group of American expats bought and rebuilt a decrepit Raiatea hotel and creatively repositioned its lack of a beach as a boon, using traditional Tahitian fishing huts as a model to construct stilted bungalows over the calm waters of the reef. The overwater bungalow — of which there are now more than 7,000 worldwide—has since become a symbol of extreme luxury, with price tags to match… [read more]
Is 2020 the year of ‘affordable luxury’ travel?
Not so long ago, hostels were almost exclusively the accommodation option of choice for backpackers and other travellers on a shoestring budget. The economical lodgings were synonymous with bunk beds, shared dorms and often raucous nights of drinking with fellow impecunious holidaymakers. Over the past decade however, that has changed as some… [read more]
Can you own a private jet if you care about climate change?
For many people, private jets seem like an extravagance. But for busy executives and celebrities, the time savings, convenience, and extra security they offer make them more of a necessity. Lately, however, they’ve come with an added cost: eco-guilt. Younger generations are putting pressure on their wealthy parents and grandparents to consider their family’s contribution to global warming… [read more]
Henley Index: Japan tops 2020 list of world’s most powerful passports
What’s the travel document that opens more doors around the world than any other? It’s a Japanese passport. The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports, has released its first report of the new decade. Japan is now top of the leaderboard, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to an incredible 191 destinations around the world. Asia dominates the top of the list, with Singapore in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea tying with Germany in third place (with a score of 189)… [read more]
We really enjoy hearing from our readers and would love to hear your views on any of these stories! Please click on the comments below and share your thoughts. Thank you.
Have a story you’d like to share? Please contact us for details.
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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7 Comments
“Always read the small print,” my father told me.
His father was even stricter saying, “Read the small-print first.”
I couldn’t help reading the small print / footnotes at the end of the story on the international passports which read:
“Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.”
It would be very interesting to learn if any of the other indexes provided very different results. I just cannot see there being much change to those countries in the relegation zone at the foot of the table. Whatever criteria you employ.
I don’t get the picture of the small islands that goes with the story about private jets and climate change.
I’m sort of thinking that the idea is that those low-lying islands could be lost with global warming and rising sea-levels. But those islands seem to be in a straight-line and could be man-made anyway.
Anybody know where those islands are and whether they are artificial?
Led by Greta, the younger generations are certainly on an environmental charge. The article on using a private plane picks up on their tone. Although, I’m always on scheduled flights for business, I sense a real chill in the air when I tell my kids that I’m flying for a business trip. I don’t have a problem with this as they are simply looking to protect the world they hope to inherit. However, they need to appreciate that it’s my job and the flying which pays for their mobile phone contracts.
I remember Aston Martin did a motorbike a few years ago but I didn’t know they had plans for a helicopter. I had a quick look at that article and it’s not surprising to see how sleek it looks. Very plush with ‘ultra-suede’ interiors and the options can be customised. A bespoke Aston Martin chopper… That will cost an absolute fortune but I’m sure there are plenty of celebs with more money than sense. I hope it’s eco friendly!
As an “impecunious holidaymaker” myself, I like the sound of luxury travel becoming more purse friendly. I think it’s just easier these days to search for deals and find better bargains or discounts. Takes some doing, but it’s worth the effort if you need to watch your budget.
I saw the story about Japan as the most powerful passport. I’ve seen more stories about Brexit and the new blue British passport too. Guess we’ll be dropping down the food chain.
As most of us would struggle to name more than a couple of brands of helicopter I can see where the Aston Martin link up with Airbus is coming from. I didn’t even know that Airbus did helicopters.
The Aston Martin brand comes with such kudos and high-living associations that it should help Airbus to establish a very luxurious niche in the market for their machines. At the end of the day almost everyone knows what the Aston Martin brand represents.
Can’t say that I am a regular reader of the Architectural Digest but I really enjoyed the architect’s perspective on overwater bungalows. That’s the great thing about travel and especially these Travel News pieces. You look at issues from such a different variety of viewpoints.
Aston Martin created an ultra luxurious helicopter with Airbus inspired by its sports cars
Aston Martin and Airbus have teamed up to create a specially designed ACH130 helicopter. The new ACH130 represents the first helicopter Aston Martin has ever created, according to the automaker. “[The ACH130 marries] ACH’s key values of excellence, quality and service with Aston Martin’s commitment to beauty, handcrafting and automotive art to bring a new level of aesthetics and rigorous attention to detail to the helicopter market,” Airbus wrote in a statement… [read more]
Aston Martin created an ultra luxurious helicopter with Airbus inspired by its sports cars
Aston Martin and Airbus have teamed up to create a specially designed ACH130 helicopter. The new ACH130 represents the first helicopter Aston Martin has ever created, according to the automaker. “[The ACH130 marries] ACH’s key values of excellence, quality and service with Aston Martin’s commitment to beauty, handcrafting and automotive art to bring a new level of aesthetics and rigorous attention to detail to the helicopter market,” Airbus wrote in a statement… [read more]
What it takes to build an overwater bungalow
The overwater bungalow concept originated in Tahiti in the mid-’60s, when a group of American expats bought and rebuilt a decrepit Raiatea hotel and creatively repositioned its lack of a beach as a boon, using traditional Tahitian fishing huts as a model to construct stilted bungalows over the calm waters of the reef. The overwater bungalow — of which there are now more than 7,000 worldwide—has since become a symbol of extreme luxury, with price tags to match… [read more]
Is 2020 the year of ‘affordable luxury’ travel?
Not so long ago, hostels were almost exclusively the accommodation option of choice for backpackers and other travellers on a shoestring budget. The economical lodgings were synonymous with bunk beds, shared dorms and often raucous nights of drinking with fellow impecunious holidaymakers. Over the past decade however, that has changed as some… [read more]
Can you own a private jet if you care about climate change?
For many people, private jets seem like an extravagance. But for busy executives and celebrities, the time savings, convenience, and extra security they offer make them more of a necessity. Lately, however, they’ve come with an added cost: eco-guilt. Younger generations are putting pressure on their wealthy parents and grandparents to consider their family’s contribution to global warming… [read more]
Henley Index: Japan tops 2020 list of world’s most powerful passports
What’s the travel document that opens more doors around the world than any other? It’s a Japanese passport. The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports, has released its first report of the new decade. Japan is now top of the leaderboard, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to an incredible 191 destinations around the world. Asia dominates the top of the list, with Singapore in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea tying with Germany in third place (with a score of 189)… [read more]
We really enjoy hearing from our readers and would love to hear your views on any of these stories! Please click on the comments below and share your thoughts. Thank you.
Have a story you’d like to share? Please contact us for details.
“Always read the small print,” my father told me.
His father was even stricter saying, “Read the small-print first.”
I couldn’t help reading the small print / footnotes at the end of the story on the international passports which read:
“Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.”
It would be very interesting to learn if any of the other indexes provided very different results. I just cannot see there being much change to those countries in the relegation zone at the foot of the table. Whatever criteria you employ.
I don’t get the picture of the small islands that goes with the story about private jets and climate change.
I’m sort of thinking that the idea is that those low-lying islands could be lost with global warming and rising sea-levels. But those islands seem to be in a straight-line and could be man-made anyway.
Anybody know where those islands are and whether they are artificial?
Led by Greta, the younger generations are certainly on an environmental charge. The article on using a private plane picks up on their tone. Although, I’m always on scheduled flights for business, I sense a real chill in the air when I tell my kids that I’m flying for a business trip. I don’t have a problem with this as they are simply looking to protect the world they hope to inherit. However, they need to appreciate that it’s my job and the flying which pays for their mobile phone contracts.
I remember Aston Martin did a motorbike a few years ago but I didn’t know they had plans for a helicopter. I had a quick look at that article and it’s not surprising to see how sleek it looks. Very plush with ‘ultra-suede’ interiors and the options can be customised. A bespoke Aston Martin chopper… That will cost an absolute fortune but I’m sure there are plenty of celebs with more money than sense. I hope it’s eco friendly!
As an “impecunious holidaymaker” myself, I like the sound of luxury travel becoming more purse friendly. I think it’s just easier these days to search for deals and find better bargains or discounts. Takes some doing, but it’s worth the effort if you need to watch your budget.
I saw the story about Japan as the most powerful passport. I’ve seen more stories about Brexit and the new blue British passport too. Guess we’ll be dropping down the food chain.
As most of us would struggle to name more than a couple of brands of helicopter I can see where the Aston Martin link up with Airbus is coming from. I didn’t even know that Airbus did helicopters.
The Aston Martin brand comes with such kudos and high-living associations that it should help Airbus to establish a very luxurious niche in the market for their machines. At the end of the day almost everyone knows what the Aston Martin brand represents.
Can’t say that I am a regular reader of the Architectural Digest but I really enjoyed the architect’s perspective on overwater bungalows. That’s the great thing about travel and especially these Travel News pieces. You look at issues from such a different variety of viewpoints.