You are probably aware of the typical earmarks of a luxury holiday: rooms the size of a house, massive comfortable beds, luxurious fittings and fixtures, etc. However, there’s still a lot more to luxury holidays than meets the eye. To ensure that you get the maximum value out of your luxury holiday, here are five important considerations to help you make the right decision.
It is first important to acknowledge the fact that luxury hotels are actually used interchangeably with the concept of a luxury holiday. Hotels usually offer just accommodation, but a complete holiday goes much further – it also includes all the finer details such as the experiences, the tour guides, the flights, the transfers, and even the hotels.
Personalised Service
It is important to check reviews to find out how staff are trained to treat guests. Staff at a high-end establishment should quickly identify who you are as well as what your interests are through tailored suggestions and informal questions.
For instance, if you are in a hotel and love some Gin and Tonic, staff should be capable of learning and remembering your preferences to ensure that there isn’t any hassle or confusion when it comes to ordering another.
Top-level personalised service should also include making alternative suggestions if clients are about to do something not likely to offer the best experience. For instance, some travellers may make a request to go scuba diving in Kota Kinabalu and the travel consultants can arrange this or suggest alternatives.
Attention To Detail
An amazing luxury holiday is synonymous with serious attention to detail as well as common sense. All activities should ideally run smoothly and in case of any unplanned hurdles, the holiday providers should ensure that the problem is rectified without delay. This is only possible if you use experienced ABTA bonded tour operators. The level of staff training provided by luxury hotels is what gives that extra level of value.
Thoughtful and Beautiful Design
The best luxury hotels spare no efforts when it comes to getting the design of their buildings right. The rooms in the Four Seasons Resorts follow an expertly drawn format to ensure that you will have an amazing experience regardless of the hotel you are staying in. The Aman group similarly ensures that all its hotels fit well in their surroundings whether in the lovely countryside or in the city. A true luxury hotel allows you to absorb the destination through the surroundings and actually enhances the local area as opposed to sticking out like a sore thumb.
Location
Luxury hotels are usually characterised by their setting. It could have been an important historical story such as the Amangalla in Sri Lanka, the Governor’s Residence in Siem Reap, or the Savoy in Yangon. Conversely, it could simply have been a spectacular rural location, such as Cambodia’s Song Saa Private Island or Vietnam’s Amanoi. After all, property often comes down to the location.
Travel Philosophy
A great luxury holiday is typically underpinned by the travel philosophy of the provider. It might sound like a marketing waffle but if you delve a bit deeper, you will come to realise that it provides a guiding principle for how holiday companies deliver performance.
Soneva luxury resorts try to be as environmentally friendly as possible and you are unlikely to find any plastic on their island accommodation in The Maldives. Rising sea levels are threatening the company and the organisation’s stand against this is an excellent example of how luxury and responsible travel can work together.
Belmond hotel group provides accommodation with character and history. You will be surrounded by stories about the building and its guests throughout your stay and experience so much more than simply a place to stay.
From getting insider tips of the best places to stay, to information on the best, safest street food stalls so that you can try the local delicacies, it is all about getting travellers truly under the surface of the destination in a way that your interests are best suited.