11 Luxury Vacations to Book Now
It’s Not Hard to Find Luxury in These Destinations
From Dubai to Monaco, Singapore and New York City, there’s no shortage of luxury destinations. If you’re looking for a five-star vacation and want to travel in style, check out the locations we’ve selected for this article.
1. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Built atop billions of dollars’ worth of oil, Dubai is a city of wealth and opulence with its skyline marked by imposing skyscrapers that include some of the tallest on the planet. It’s made a name for itself when it comes to over-the-top luxury, especially in regard to hotels and resorts. If you’re looking for pampering, high-end amenities and international cuisine created by top chefs, this is a destination you won’t want to miss.
Check into some of Dubai’s world-class hotels and resorts and you just might catch a glimpse of the members of the many royal families that frequent them. The Burj Al Arab, located in one of the most exclusive areas of the city, tops just about every Dubai hotel list, with its design resembling a sailboat.
The suites are all two-story, but for the most luxurious, book the Royal Suite. Equipped with a marble and gold staircase, it would be hard to find anything more decadent than this. This is your opportunity to find out what it might be like to live as a royal, as nothing is overlooked. Marvel at the breathtaking Arabian Gulf views and take advantage of amenities like your own private cinema room and library, personal elevator, private dining, personal butler service, personalized bars, and two master baths that come complete with full-size Jacuzzi’s and separate rain showers.
As a guest of Burj Al Arab, you’ll also have access to four pools, a private beach, nine restaurants and bars, and the Wild Wadi Waterpark. Of course, the cuisine here is to die for, but to sample a variety of international fare, head to Old Dubai where you can dine on Arabic, Persian, Lebanese and Moroccan food.
2. Tokyo, Japan
The capital city of Japan and the largest metropolis in the world, Tokyo is a finance giant. A combination of old and new, it remains the seat of the Emperor and the location of the Imperial Palace, while boasting some of the world’s most modern venues.
However, as so many metropolises often run, Tokyo’s accommodations, elite nightclubs and five-star restaurants come with a heavy price tag. If you’re looking for the glitz, glamour and luxury of state-of-the-art facilities, look no further than this city.
There are even more Michelin-starred restaurants here than there are in Paris. As well, you’ll find a wealth of hotels to choose from that are sure to suit even those with the highest tastes, such as the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo that looms above the historical merchant district of Nihonbashi. This property offers unsurpassed city views as well as a modern and sophisticated oasis of calm. The lobby alone is practically guaranteed to take your breath away, with its sweeping view of Tokyo.
Expect extraordinary service, all the latest and greatest in tech features, and exceptional dining on site too, like the intimate Tapas Molecular Bar and the French-inspired Signature and Sense. When you’re in need of pampering, the hotel’s spa offers pools, a steam room and sauna, as well as unique rituals like Japanese kiatsu, which involves energy work and acupressure performed in rooms with even more impressive vistas.
3. New York City, USA
New York City is renowned for offering some of the world’s most exclusive getaways. Boasting world-class shopping, dining and hotels, the Big Apple is the most expensive and luxurious destination in all of North America. If you’re seeking the best of the best, Manhattan is always a fantastic place to start.
Start off your visit by taking in the city from above. By taking a helicopter tour of New York you’ll see all the sites you can later explore on foot. It’s a perspective few other people will have the privilege of seeing.
At the elegant Gramercy Park Hotel, only guests can enjoy the 18th-floor Roof Club and Garden that features amazing panoramas of the city skyline, including the Chrysler Building in all of its glory. As the name belies, this lavish property not only boasts an enviable Gramercy Park location, but upscale amenities and outstanding dining options, like the traditional Italian Roman-style Trattoria, Maialino, the Jade Bar, Rose Bar and Gramercy Terrace.
In this shopping mecca, Fifth Avenue is renowned worldwide as a haven for buying high-end goods. Set in the center of Manhattan, the best Fifth Avenue shopping can be found between 39th and 60th Street at the city’s flagship stores with everything from Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany to Gucci and Louis Vuitton. After a day here, you’ll understand how true the saying, “If you can’t find it on Fifth Avenue, it probably isn’t worth finding,” really is.
After dark, Broadway is where it’s at, particularly for those who have money to spend on pricey seats for top shows like “The Book of Mormon,” “Hamilton” and “Wicked.” Nine months into the most hyped Broadway show of all time, the average ticket prices for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” was $1,200 USD. Of course, as the home of the American theater industry, there’s truly something for everyone here on any given night.
4. London, England
Home to more millionaires than any other city on the planet, London is booming when it comes to the arts, business and culture. Luxuriate in some of Europe’s most expensive hotels before hitting up Harrods for a personalized (and pricey) shopping experience.
This is a city built for style, class and luxury. When WorldAtlas.com estimated the total cost of a day and night in London, it came to nearly $520 USD — even a little higher than expensive destinations like New York and Paris.
The attractions in London are expensive too. Sites like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Madame Tussauds cost significantly more than similar attractions in other capitals.
The food and accommodation in London is some of the priciest you’ll find anywhere, certainly making for an expensive vacation, though also bringing the opportunity to get the true “royal treatment,” in addition to boasting its own famous royal family and all the pomp and circumstance that come with it.
The Corinthia Hotel, housed in a magnificent Victorian-era building, is known for its unrivaled luxury and the largest room sizes in the city. Rooms offer sweeping London vistas, though the penthouse suite provides the very best, looking out to the London Eye and the River Thames.
5. Paris, France
No longer just the city of love, Paris is also a city of luxury. One need only stroll down the Champs Elysees for a taste of the high life, but the city boasts world-class restaurants and famous sites practically everywhere you go.
Of course, enjoying the luxuries of this city means staying in a high-end hotel. It would be hard to find better than the Plaza Athenee, which lies on prestigious Avenue Montaigne, home of Parisian Haute Couture. Only steps from the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine, the Classic Eiffel Suites are typical of 19th-century Paris with their exceptional views of the city’s most iconic landmark. Suite 750, a duplex apartment, is the one to book for the most unrivaled views that include the majestic Iron Lady and a fabulous terrace. The property also offers five onsite eateries and a bar, each with its own distinct atmosphere, and a spa service offering an extensive menu of indulgent treatments.
6. Hawaii, USA
The Hawaiian Islands are well-known as an especially luxurious vacation destination, particularly popular with honeymooners — though anyone looking for pampering can find it here, provided they have the cash. Food and lodging alone is triple the national average per night and more than double of what it runs in New York. While costs vary significantly depending on the specific island, on average it ranges from nearly $800 USD to thousands per day if you hope to rent a private villa or even your own private island.
For those seeking luxury and a holiday surrounded by white, sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Hawaii may just be the destination. While there is an almost endless list of luxurious properties, Kauai offers it all. The Garden Isle, as it’s often referred to, is arguably the most picturesque, and it’s here you’ll find the St. Regis Princeville, which overlooks Hanalei Bay. Look forward to butler service, outstanding golf, top-notch cuisine and many planned activities on offer, like horseback riding and ziplining.
Be aware that much of Kauai is inaccessible by car. Instead, take a Kauai helicopter tour to fly over its most spectacular sights and even landing at some of its most remote reaches.
Have you ever wondered what luxury vacation rentals are like? You can learn more about them here, including all the best rental places.
7. Monaco, France
The principality of Monaco has the most expensive home prices of any nation in the world, so it’s not all that surprising that a Monaco escape is a pricey endeavor. It also happens to be home to more millionaires per capita than any other destination. As it aims to please those high rollers, if you’re seeking a taste of the high life, exclusive night clubs, yachts, casinos and five-star luxury hotels, Monaco may be the ideal pick.
The ultimate recreation center with a wide range of active outdoor pursuits along with idyllic weather, it also offers some of the tastiest French cuisine, beautiful ports, stunning ocean views and a long list of world-class amenities along with gambling.
While Baden-Baden was often the spot of choice for 19th-century aristocrats, today’s rich and famous — including Hollywood celebrities, CEOs and other members of the ultra-wealthy crowd — head to Monte Carlo. Featured in a long list of films, most prominently in multiple James Bond movies, it oozes charm and class while offering an extensive array of games, including standards like blackjack and poker, as well as Chemin de Fer.
For the best of the best when it comes to accommodation, stay in either the Hotel Hermitage or Hotel De Paris, the latter of which offers very high-end suites like the Winston Churchill Diamond and the Charles Garnier, priced from $10,000 to over $15,000 USD per night. The Garnier suite not only showcases an awe-inspiring view of Place du Casino, it’s remarkably spacious, with a large dining and lounge area. The Winston includes all the presidential luxuries one would expect having housed some of the most powerful presidents and other politicians in the world.
8. Singapore, Republic of Singapore
One of the world’s largest hubs for commerce and finance, Singapore is a booming center for business and trade. Ethnically diverse, with top rankings in education, health care and standard of living, this country is a fabulous luxury vacation destination for those seeking all the comforts and technological advances of home.
It’s become a prominent destination for medical tourism due its health care standards and incredible surroundings. But whatever your reason for being in Singapore, you’ll want to tack on some extra time to experience it freely.
This global financial mecca with a flavorful mix of cultures hosts one of the only street food stalls to ever be awarded a Michelin star. It also takes honors for the largest rooftop infinity pool on Earth, which many of the country’s high-brow visitors come to experience, taking in an incredible skyline view from 57 floors above street level at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Many also come to play and stay at one of the most expensive properties ever built, with a price tag of almost $5 billion. The Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island lies off the nation’s southern coast and not only includes a casino and six hotels, but a Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Water Park and a Marine Life Park that’s home to the largest oceanarium in the world. Its casino has over 2,400 slots and electronic table game machines, as well as more than 500 table games, such as blackjack, poker and baccarat. Each hotel offers a unique theme, totaling over 1,500 luxurious rooms, like beach villas with stunning water views and personal butlers.
9. Zurich, Switzerland
The largest city in Switzerland serves as the financial center of Europe, and it also happens to be the wealthiest city on the continent. Expect some of the finest when it comes to dining, world-class attractions, nightlife and accommodation. The average cost per day for a traveler has been estimated to be over $500 USD, and that’s based on staying at a three-star hotel.
A meal for two runs an average of about $100 USD — coffee about $6, and a cocktail nearly $18. Experiencing top attractions like the Zurich Opera House and Kunsthaus Zurich come with a high price tag too. Then again, that’s just a drop in the bucket for much of the Alps crowd anyway.
Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich provides welcome drinks to guests at reception upon arrival, along with fresh flowers and fruit that await in the rooms. There are plenty of high-tech features, twice-weekly cocktail nights, butler delivery of chocolates (Swiss of course), and you can even arrange for the porter to meet you at the train station and escort you to the property free of charge.
While you’re here, indulge your penchant for shopping by strolling down Bahnofstrasse, which is lined with big-name brands and luxury stores including Burberry, Chanel and Gucci, with a number of delectable dessert shops tucked in between for indulging your sweet tooth.
People tend to make a big deal out of skiing in Switzerland, and for good reason. But if hitting the slopes isn’t your thing and you’re visiting in the winter, there are plenty of other things to do in Switzerland that you can enjoy.
10. Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Guana is a private, 850-acre resort island in the British Virgin Islands. Famous as a playground for wealthy British, there is no public access, which means that getting there requires flying into neighboring Beef Island followed by a boat ride, but it’s worth the effort for the opportunity to enjoy one of the most peaceful retreats you’ll ever experience.
Spend your days lounging in a hammock, taking advantage of the seven gorgeous white-sand beaches that can be enjoyed practically all to yourself, sipping exotic drinks or enjoying more active pursuits. Snorkel the crystal-clear, warm, azure waters that are filled with colorful marine life, hike, practice yoga or play a game of tennis.
The island’s all-inclusive experience includes a sea-view cottage and three meals every day, including delectable gourmet offerings at an onsite restaurant, as well as snacks, wine and use of all facilities.
11. Pebble Beach and the Monterey Peninsula, USA
Avid golfers may want to tee off on one of the world’s very best golf courses, which happens to be located in one of the most scenic and priciest places on the planet: Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula of California. Pebble Beach Golf Links is legendary for its views, clifftop fairways and sloping greens. Of course, it will run you a pretty penny — $500+ per round — but for those looking for luxury and golf, this area truly can’t be beat.
For the ultimate golfing holiday, after a day out on the course, hop in a convertible for a drive on Highway 1, legendary as one of the most scenic drives in the world. Keep venturing south to Big Sur on this Mediterranean-like coastline and you’ll find a number of incredibly luxurious places to stay, like the Post Ranch Inn, with infinity pools that overlook the Pacific.
This adults-only property is tucked into the cliffs, high atop a ridge, which means the sparkling expanse of the ocean can be seen from anywhere in your room. Even the especially lavish bath, big enough for two, features an impressive vista. Open the floor-to-ceiling windows and you’ll enjoy the pleasant aroma of the salty sea air and a gentle breeze while toasting to the good life.
