Most fair people who love traveling will tell you that while having a strong budget is important for many experiences, you don’t have to spend over the odds to enjoy yourself or “do it right.” You’ve visited France no matter if you enjoyed camping in a rural area, or if you stayed in a five star hotel in Paris.
However, sometimes a little luxury can be a fantastic idea to make a specific trip more special. Now, that’s not to say more money equals more quality in all cases, but of course, in many areas it can improve your experience, or at least make it more convenient. For example, if you go to Vegas and claim some winnings, you might spend that evening in a swankier hotel and buy a bottle of gorgeous wine from a sommelier who knows their stuff.
Either way, if you’re hoping to make your upcoming trip just a little more special, even if you’re going solo, learning a few tips to make it stand out isn’t a bad idea. Here’s a few places to begin:
Book A Proper Limo Service For Airport Transfers
Airport shuttles and rideshares do get the job done, but they can leave you feeling a bit frazzled before your trip has really started. If you want to upgrade, stepping off a plane and seeing your driver holding a sign with your name on it, ready to whisk you away in comfort while you decompress from the flight can be romantic and lovely.
To experience that, use a good limo service that handles all the timing details so you can focus on settling into your destination. Your driver tracks your flight delays and arrivals, which means no standing around wondering where your ride is or scrambling to call someone at baggage claim. The vehicles are usually spacious and quiet, giving you a chance to make calls, catch up on messages,or just recover from your long flight.
Many services offer fixed rates too, so you know exactly what you’re paying upfront rather than watching a meter tick up in traffic. It’s a nice way to show a partner the effort you’ve put in.
Stay One Night Somewhere Truly Special
You might be tempted to book the same hotel chain for your entire stay because it’s predictable and the loyalty points do add up, but consider splurging on just one night somewhere that will give you stories to tell for years afterward. Some examples could include a historic boutique hotel with original hardwood floors and a rooftop bar, or perhaps a converted monastery where you can walk through centuries-old courtyards.
These places often have character that chain hotels can’t really provide, unless they’re situated in such a building. In such unique places, you also find the staff knows the building’s history and the neighborhood’s stories, and room service might come with local specialties instead of generic continental breakfast items. They’re great for honeymoons, too, and may have distinct suites.
Invest In One Memorable Dining Experience
Street food and casual restaurants are wonderful ways to experience local culture, but setting aside budget for one truly exceptional meal can become the centerpiece of your entire trip if you plan for it. We’d recommend you look for places where the chef has a reputation, where the ingredients come from local farms, or where the restaurant has been serving the same family recipes for generations.
Maybe it’s the wine, or maybe it’s the relaxed atmosphere, but people seem to open up more during these longer, more leisurely dining experiences. If you’re traveling with someone special, these dinners can help become a milestone in your entire relationship.
Book Professional Photography
Phone cameras are fantastic for everyday picture-taking, but hiring a local photographer for an hour or two can capture your trip and make it stand out in your memories. Many cities have photographers who specialize in visitor sessions, and they know exactly where to take you for the best light and the most stunning backgrounds.
Professional photographers will also understand how to work with natural lighting and city landscapes to create images that actually look like the place you visited, which is great if you post about your travel or run a blog. They will also know which angles make landmarks look most impressive and which times of day offer the most flattering light for portraits. The photos you get back often give you details and perspectives you would have missed entirely.
These images become the ones you frame and display, the ones you use for holiday cards, and the ones that do justice to how beautiful your destination was. Having professional photos also means you can both be in the pictures instead of one person always being behind the camera trying to get the perfect shot, so it’s a nice investment.
Plan One Activity That Requires Advance Reservations
Some experiences require planning ahead, and they’re usually worth the extra effort and expense. Some examples could include a private tour of a museum after hours, or dinner at a restaurant that books up months in advance, or tickets to a performance that only happens once during your visit.
These exclusive experiences often provide access to places and perspectives that casual tourists might not have access to on such short notice. Private museum tours might take you into storage areas or provide detailed explanations from curators who really know the collections, for instance, which is lovely if you’re going on a history-focused trip. More than that, acclaimed restaurants with long waiting lists usually have that reputation for good reason, and the meal becomes a story you’ll tell for years.
Don’t forget the anticipation adds to the experience too. Having something special marked on your calendar gives you something to look forward to throughout your trip, and it often becomes the anchor point around which you plan everything else. Luxury can just be exclusivity that makes you feel like an insider rather than just another tourist, and that feeling of having special access could just improve everything else about your journey.
With this advice, we believe you’ll enjoy the little luxuries that will make your trip stand out.
