Luxury travel is more than designer resorts. It’s hedonistic vacations that cater to every single one of your fantasies. Champagne-popping private yachts, reclining beside an ocean-view infinity pool in a villa, wine estate tours and fine dining in medieval castles, are just some of the indulgences for the most adventurous travelers on earth. If you’ll fly to heaven to the breathtaking, keep reading for the 10 most indulgent escapes that promise off-the-charts action and sheer decadence.
1. French Countryside, France
Breathe in the scent of lavender in the morning, walk through vineyards, and eat candlelit dinners in a centuries-old chateau. The French countryside is one of the world’s oldest, most romantic luxury escapes. Provence or Loire Valley, the options are limitless. One truly unforgettable experience is staying in an amazing French chateau for rent, where history, comfort, and style come together to create the perfect getaway. These incredible homes feature private gardens, gourmet kitchens, and even personal chefs or sommeliers for the ultimate customized experience.
2. St. Barts, Caribbean
St. Barts is celeb Central of the Caribbean. Blindingly white beaches lined with designer stores, gourmet eateries, and stunning villas perched above cobalt seas make up this French island-state. Celebrity cult following and intimacy characterize St. Barts, the perfect place for luxury jet-set beach vacations—yacht charter, beach massage, and à la carte service are a given.
3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
A honeymooner’s and celebrity’s final retreat, Bora Bora is tropical luxury at its best. Ocean villas’ glass floors put you in the spotlight for decadent sea life under your feet, against the backdrop of Mount Otemanu’s majesty. Island resorts offer secluded pursuits like beach dinner on a secluded beach, shark-feeding excursions, and hedonistic spa treatments that set the standard on hedonism.
4. Kyoto, Japan
For a serene, more refined taste of luxury, Kyoto is a heaven of elegance and tradition. Stay in a luxury ryokan where futons are slept upon, private onsen bathing, and being served elegant kaiseki meals by kimono-dressed servants. With its Zen gardens, ancient temples, and spring flowering cherry blossoms surrounding it, Kyoto is perfect for travelers who like to relax at its best.
5. Amalfi Coast, Italy
Its cliff-hanging theater, painted towns, and designer cliff-hanging landscape make Amalfi Coast Southern Italy’s crown jewel. Glittering Positano and Ravello are not to be missed for their appearance and culinary pleasure. Cruise the winding coast roads in a vintage convertible, or rent a private yacht to sail into secluded coves and islands. Amalfi Coast has old-fashioned virtues and five-star facilities in equal proportions.
6. Dubai, UA
Dubai’s luxury vision is future-gazing, high-stakes, and plain over-the-top. Having the world’s tallest building, man-made islands, and seven-star hotels such as Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai is an over-the-top paradise for travelers. From souk shopping in gold souk, sunbathing in beach clubs, to indoor skiing, Dubai provides the kind of over-the-top experience you simply cannot find elsewhere.
7. Maldives
Maldives redefine luxury as privacy and intimacy. Its Indian Ocean-splayed islands are privately held islands, luxury resorts to be specific where discretion is the only rule. Imagine overwater villas with your own personal butlers, a coral reef waiting at your bedroom door, and gourmet dining under starry skies. Some even have personalized wellness retreats, romance packages specially designed, and underwater restaurants.
8. Aspen, Colorado, USA
Aspen is mountain luxury defined. This Colorado ski resort town is a winter wonderland and skier’s dream of remote cabins, high-end après-ski bars, and boutique shopping. But even in summer, Aspen is golden—gourmet food festivals, hiking, and luxury resorts. It’s as earthy as it’s cosmopolitan.
9. Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s breathtaking beauty makes it one of the world’s most romantic and luxurious destinations. The caldera views from Oia are iconic, and luxury accommodations here offer private plunge pools, cliffside terraces, and candlelit dining overlooking the sea. Add in award-winning Greek wines, catamaran cruises, and sunset tours, and you’ve got a dreamy Mediterranean escape.
10. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town combines natural beauty with international hospitality: a thrilling city in which to ascend Table Mountain, tour famous vineyards in nearby Stellenbosch, and unwind in boutique-hotel comfort with sea and mountain vistas. And if you venture further afield, it’s the gateway to South Africa’s award-winning safaris, where you can see the Big Five from a five-star camp.
Conclusion
Whatever your wish, the seclusion and intimacy of the island retreat, the rhythm and style of the city, or the particularly seductive charm of a traditional European ghetto, these getaways have luxury around every corner. From private chefs and tailored itineraries to breathtaking vistas and unparalleled convenience, your next vacation should be nothing less than amazing.
Image: Unsplash, Omar Sotillo Franco
