It all depends on how long I plan to stay in a particular country. If it is longer, a cheap local SIM card with a data package is easier. But if I’m just somewhere for a weekend, looking for free Wi-Fi is cheaper. If you are a smart traveler and have the best luxury travel tips, send us a message.
For example, I usually prioritize hotels in the loyalty programs that are important to me. And I try to stay in hotels that offer in-room workspace for two guests. I’m also starting to prioritize more location when selecting hotels. Of course, it’s essential to understand that traveling on a budget looks different for each person. In addition, every traveler has a different vision of what a luxury holiday entails.
One of the best tricks to follow if you want to have a budget luxury vacation is to travel out of season. Travel outside the high season is relatively cheaper for flights, restaurants and places to stay than during the high season, when prices fluctuate significantly as more and more people are on holiday. Also during the high season you get plenty of relaxation time, because there are usually fewer crowds and queues at popular tourist attractions. Joining a hotel loyalty program like IHG One Rewards is a great way to book a trip of a lifetime and realize big savings.
Airlines often offer sales that you can find by simply subscribing to TPG’s offer feed (@tpg_alerts) or by signing up for one of the many flight deal mailing lists. If you want to go on vacation on set dates, use Google Flights’ browsing feature to find a budget destination. (Photo: Emily McNutt /The Points Guy) Deals and sales have allowed me to take many luxury vacations on a budget.
Still, I often contact the hotel directly to see if they have a better rate or are willing to offer an upgrade for the rate I have. Smaller hotels with fewer amenities than chain hotels with restaurants, bars and pools can offer more luxury for less money. There’s no international standard for the hotel’s star system, so you can’t really count on it to tell you how luxurious a hotel is. A hotel with a pool but frayed at the corners can have a higher rank than an immaculate boutique hotel without a pool. On a trip of more than a week I always plan a budget accommodation, some mid-range and some luxury.
There are websites, such as Fly Luxury for Less, where you can search for cheap flights in Business Class, or you can use air miles from your airline’s loyalty program to upgrade. My favorite trick is to sign up late and then ask for an update, giving me last-minute updates for much less money than if I had booked it early. Readers of my blog get free VIP benefits by booking Virtuoso rates at luxury hotels through Classic Travel. These benefits can include upgrade, daily breakfast, spa treatment, resort credit, early check-in and late check-out. Click here to book your hotel online on the Classic Travel website. Hotels like the Fairmont have free clubs where you can sign up for free WiFi, a benefit you get for free in a hostel but, interestingly, not at all in luxury hotels.
Here are our quick luxury travel tips designed to make your travel easier, more affordable and more stylish. The advantage of booking through Virtuoso is especially evident when staying in an accommodation owned by Aman, the world’s leading hotel chain. In line with Aman’s hyper-exclusive and ultra-luxurious reputation, you’ll never find a lower rate than the one posted on Aman’s official website. But booking through a Virtuoso travel agency instead of on the Aman website itself gives you some free extra benefits. So if you’re addicted to Aman, like me, then Virtuous is the way to go. If the hotel offers free virtuous benefits, I calculate how much you would save by booking through Virtuoso compared to Hotels.com or the hotel’s official website.
Luxury travel isn’t just about accommodation — maybe staying in a private room at a hostel, saving on your stay, and booking other luxury experiences like spa days and gourmet meals. You may not have enough miles for a Business Class flight, but if you book in the class below your preferred seat, you may be able to upgrade your ticket with your miles or flight points. British individuele rondreis peru Airways is one of the airlines with the best frequent flyer program when it comes to using your miles for an upgrade. Using British Airways miles, called Avios, to upgrade a class is one of the best ways to spend them. It usually requires around 25,000 Avios to upgrade a cash booking to the next cabin on a long-haul flight (when there’s availability, of course).