You Need to Put the Luxury Back Into Your Lifestyle Vacations
I don’t know about you, but when I travel I like to create lifestyle vacations based on whatever my destination has to offer.
What does that mean?
To me, lifestyle vacations are simply going beyond seeing the standard sights and sounds of a locale, and really experiencing what the locals have to offer.
Over the past few years my wife and I have tried to make a point of upping the ante and adding some luxury into our travel.
This doesn’t mean we’re going out of our way to blow our budget on anything frivolous. Rather, we’re taking the time to make better decisions about what our “can’t miss” activities are.
We hear all the time “how can you afford that” or “how did you know about that” … well, to be honest, if you know where to look these luxuries are everywhere and they don’t need to break the bank.
Take the Scenic Route
Not all routes are created equally!
I’m sure we’re all familiar with those signs at the side of the road marking where to turn off from a major highway to enjoy a more scenic drive.
Did you know the same thing happens with train rides?
While researching our recent trip to Switzerland we needed to get from Geneva (where our flight landed) to Lauterbrunnen (our hotel). We had our EuRail passes and were ready for an amazing trip!
What we found was that there were 2 routes we could take to get to our destination. The first took us along the main rail-lines via Lausanne and Bern, arriving at our destination in about 2.5 hours.
Then there was the Golden Pass Scenic Train. This route started along the same line, but continued along Lake Geneva to Montreux, a beautiful lakeside town complete with island castle. From Montreux you road directly through the beautiful Swiss Alps to Interlaken, complete with panoramic windows to take it all in. This trip took about 3 hours to reach Lauterbrunnen.
We definitely preferred to take the Golden Pass route, but what would that cost?
Can you believe this amazing luxury experience was already included in our EuRail Pass! Had we not checked, we’d have missed out on one of the most amazing experience of our entire trip.
Have an Amazing Meal
We have a rule when we travel: at least one meal must be a culinary masterpiece!
You know … those meals where the bill comes and you don’t even care what it says because the food and experience were that good. We’ve actually done that on more than one occasion.
Often we try to choose a place that will provide an amazing food experience that caters to local taste. We have a bit more of a challenge now that we require vegan-friendly fare, but it can still be done.
There’s just something about mixing food with travel that can make a great experience into something epic.
Here are a few of our favourites … that we’re still talking about. I highly recommend them the next time you’re in any of these locations:
Tender Steak & Seafood – Located at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA
Mesa Grill – Located at Cesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, USA
Tanner Smith’s – Located in New York City, USA
The River Cafe – Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Ristorante Da Vinci – Located in Bern, Switzerland
Restaurant Shiva – Located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Pai – Located in Toronto, Canada – who says you can’t travel at home?
Use Your Perks
Are you taking advantage of your travel perks? There are some really amazing activities that appear to be luxury, but can be added to your lifestyle vacations more easily than you might expect. Some of these are big bucket list items for a lot of us, so there’s no reason not to start checking them off!
Sure you can use airline points for discounted flights or upgraded hotel stays, but there are many more out there just waiting for you to claim them.
Here are a couple examples, along with how we added them to our travels (often at a big discount):
Hot Air Balloon Ride – I recently wrote a blog post about our first experience in a hot air balloon that you can read here. Since then we returned for a second ride that was equally thrilling.
Looking at the regular price of these rides, there’s no way we’d do it a second time, no matter how amazing it was the first time. And we definitely wouldn’t have treated our friends to come along with us!
Our secret? Groupon! At 50% off this is by far the best way to add a hot air balloon ride to your Las Vegas itinerary. Always check sites like this before you arrive at your destination. They’re perfect for discounts on activities, lodging and food.
Viking River Cruise – As part of our honeymoon my wife and I included a week-long cruise along the Rhine River aboard an amazing Viking ship. The whole experience was top-notch!
Though we wanted to add this to our 3-week honeymoon tour of Central Europe, having just paid for our wedding this didn’t seem likely.
How’d we do it? We used a concierge from one of our travel clubs! Not only did we get the exact dates we wanted, but we received 2 tickets for less than half the regular price of 1 passenger. I highly recommend looking into the perks offered by your travel club to make sure you’re squeezing out every benefit.
Not part of a club yet? Get in touch here and I’ll share what I’ve learned with you.
VIP Treatment – In the past, attending a “VIP Party” was hit or miss. You know the ones … there’s some guy on a street corner trying to convince you to go to some random club. Have they ever turned out to be what VIP means to you? Not me!
These days things have changed and we totally get the VIP treatment already included in our travel packages.
Rooftop parties overlooking Central Park or the Las Vegas Strip, or exclusive launch parties for new ideas in the travel industry are no longer out-of-reach. Once you start experience the “Rockstar Treatment” it’s tough to go back!
Ask for Recommendations
Thanks to crowd-sourcing we now have recommendations for anything at our fingertips. Sure some are more reliable that others, but the information is definitely out there. Test a few out and find one that really suits your travel style and taste.
Some of the best lifestyle vacations we’ve had were the result of getting recommendations from people we trust.
I remember when we were planning our trip to Switzerland we had planned to spend a few days in Interlaken. Mentioning this to a friend who had recently returned from the region, he highly recommended we look into staying in Lauterbrunnen instead. We took his advice, and were completely blown away by how amazing it was. Sure we would have had a great experience in Interlaken, but this small change turned out to be epic!
So get out there and ask around. Those travel luxuries won’t add themselves to your itinerary!
Now how do you make all of this work for you? Decide what you want, then figure out how to make it a reality!
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there’s always a way to put a little luxury back into your lifestyle vacations.
Was this helpful for you? If so, please share it with a friend who you think would get value!
Be sure to comment below and let me know what luxuries you’ll be adding to your next lifestyle vacations!
P.S. If you’d LOVE to start Your Own Blog with “Just 3 Clicks”, check THIS out!
Was this valuable for you? If so I’d really appreciate your comments below and shares on social media.
Resources
Here is a list of the resources mentioned in this post:
Groupon – Discounts at local retailers to help stretch your luxury budget
Luxury Travel – Learn how to add some luxury into your next travel experience
Blogger’s Jumpstart Guide – Download my FREE guide outlining how to successfully start your own blog
Wow, that train ride through Switzerland sounds amazing! If you’re gonna travel, you should definitely travel in luxury.. Great post Bruce! Thanks for sharing.
So true Demetri. If the options are there, why not see how you can make them happen
BOOM, you sound like you have travel down to a science. There is a whole big World out there waiting to be discovered, Thanks for sharing your travel stories.
Thanks Keith, definitely working on that! So glad you’re enjoying my posts
Now I want to ride through Switzerland on a train!
Dr. Lisa
You’d love it Dr. Lisa! It’s so peaceful and beautiful .. .makes you not want the ride to end
I’m a travel junkie! I love the idea of making one of the meals on the trips a “culinary masterpiece.” My one rule has just been never to eat at any chain joints unless they are local chains specific to that location. However, I think upping the ante and going a little more luxurious for at least one meal is a great idea that I’ll likely employ on our next trip! Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome Kari. So glad you’re already using meals to experience the culture of your destinations
What awesome tips. I love traveling. Havent in a while but i am starting to get that “itch” thanks for all the ideas
You’re very welcome Stacey; hope to see you on the road soon!
Bruce, thanks so much for inspiring me. I will defenitly use these tips on my next getaway
So glad to hear Maikel, thanks for dropping by
I prefer spending time in experiencing the place I travel to! Thank you for the tips! Switzerland is next! 🙂
That’s amazing, you’ll love Switzerland! Definitely one of my absolute favourite countries
I love these tips and it’s so true, taking the scenic route can make all the difference. Even when I just go into town, I drive along the port instead of driving through town. So much prettier.
That’s absolutely true. I too try to turn off the highways and take the scenic roads whenever possible
Hey bruce
Could you please delete my last name from the above comment.
Thanks
Happy to help, Marleen 🙂
Great tips, I could definitely have a more luxurious lifestyle holiday! We should treat ourselves to it. Ree love30
Yes, we’re worth it!
Great post and also great suggestions. Thanks for giving us little bit of inspiration xo
https://theninebyivana.blogspot.com/
So glad to hear this inspired you Ivana!
Thanks for all of the amazing advice and resources! We really try to save as much money as possible when traveling, but when you just stay in your room the whole time and watch Spanish TV it’s not really the best experience, let alone luxury! Great tips!
Absolutely true, and so often we can add a little luxury for very little (or even no) cost
Initially, when I read your title, I was a wee bit sceptical of “luxury” but when you described your meaning, I was like “aaah, yes!”. There are little luxuries that you can take that won’t break the bank for sure. My personal favourite is just grabbing tea and taking time out to just people watch in a café (especially in Italy!)
Una -minh recently posted…Kerala Blog Express Diaries: The smiles of India
Thank you for catching that! You’re absolutely right that “luxuries” don’t need to be big and expensive
Very good tips! It’s always nice to feel like you get something extra out of your trips. When I was younger, I didn’t really care so much, but now I really appreciate if I get a glass of bubbly or a nice moment to relax with a massage. Even just enjoying a great view with breakfast makes me happy. Many times you find great free things to enjoy just by listening to local’s recommendations.
Such great examples of slowing down and experiencing a little luxury .. .thanks for sharing!
I like to dine in a good restaurant when I have a chance to travel. It makes my trip more enjoyable. I am curious about the local cuisines too.
Yes, that’s one of our favourite things to do whenever we travel somewhere new!
That Golden Pass Scenic Train sure sounds like one great journey! And you are so right, information are out there, one should just put a bit of an effort into finding it, and – voilà! Nice tips, thanks. 🙂
It was truly amazing, and to find out it was included .. .we couldn’t afford not to take it, while others might have skipped it thinking it was an add-on!
I used to love backpacking then flash packing but now i love Luxury traveling. I agree with your points and I cannot wait for my next luxury travel. 😀
Glad to hear it Anna! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Having at least one amazing meal (usually more) is a must on every trip I take. I love trying the local flavor. Also, Your train ride sounds awesome. How cool that it was already included in the price of your pass.
Yes, the meals are definitely one (or often more!) of the easiest ways to experience the local culture with a bit of luxury
We are backpackers, mountaineers, and rock climbers. Most of the time, we sleep in tents or hostels and eat cheap local food, But it wouldn’t hurt us to experience a bit of luxury once in a while. Hehehe!
“To me, lifestyle vacations are simply going beyond seeing the standard sights and sounds of a locale, and really experiencing what the locals have to offer.” – Yes, we definitely agree with you on your points. That’s why we tend to stay away from touristy spots.
I love that even with your examples you are able to experience a little “luxury” no matter how remote or adventurous the trip!
I need to try that train ride through Switzerland! It sounds amazing. Great tips! I will definitely use some of them, for small luxuries make life and travels more beautiful!
That train ride was truly amazing. We were so tired from a long flight, but there was no way i could close my eyes until the ride was over!
We had the chance to take a train through Switzerland and we loved every minute of it. A gorgeous country. You know I actually worked at Luxor for a year and never went to Tender Steakhouse! I can’t believe I missed that GEM!. Really good post and advice.
Thanks so much Christina! I wonder if you were working at Luxor when we came to visit 🙂
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