Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Everyone wants a little luxury in their life. From food to clothes to travel, there’s room for luxury in everyone’s life, but what you spend on luxury is what dictates your ‘luxury status’. I live by a “simple luxury” motto: I set a realistic budget for what I want, and get the most out of what I have to spend. This is most important when it comes to travel.
I travel on average once every six to eight weeks and my destinations span the globe. But I’m a picky traveler – I’ve earned my wings and I enjoy a little hotel luxury, an upgrade to first class, and a spa treatment when I have time. I get asked on a regular basis, “How do you travel without breaking the bank?” The answer is simple: know what you want, and ask for it. Here a few of my simple luxury travel tips that any traveler can put into practice:
Set a realistic budget. Cheap flights and hotel deals are better than they’ve been in years. But, if you set your budget to reflect the prices from six months to one year ago (when travel deals were still lower than market) then you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what you can afford and it’s likely you’ll come in below your set budget.
Ask for what you want. Stay for four nights, pay for three. Book three nights, get a free spa treatment. Kids eat free! The hotel deals are endless right now so before you book, really ask yourself what you want in a hotel. Is a spa important? Do you need babysitting services? Are you interested in tours or excursions? Do you just want to save a few dollars on the overall bill? Find a hotel that fits your requirements and then ask for what you want. Be realistic, but chances are you’ll get what you wish.
Treat yourself. My top travel tip for any traveler is always: shop! Don’t leave any destination without something to remember it by. I’ve come home with everything from Italian silk scarves to Moroccan rugs to plastic snow globes. Whatever strikes your fancy, treat yourself to something memorable and because you’ve already saved so much on your travel deal, you’ll enjoy it even more.
Bon Voyage!
