Aussie company's wild $30k luxe Euro trip

News.com.au

27-05-2025

An Aussie travel company has just launched a 'once in a lifetime' experience set to shake up the industry.
When you think of travelling around the world in a private jet the first thing that comes to mind is the price tag, which understandably is a lot, costing upwards of about $100,000 for a few weeks, according to Luxury Escapes founder Adam Schwab.
But the man behind the online booking company known for its luxe holiday packages, has managed to compress the hefty price tag by teaming up with six different tour companies to charter a private plane around nine European countries for 25 days, in April 2026.
He's described the experience as a game-changing move in luxury travel.
'The private plane experience around the world is really for the top 1 per cent – it's so out of reach for Aussies,' Mr Schwab told news.com.au.
'[But] we were able to charter a plane for 25 days at a super wholesale rate which is inaccessible for the normal person.
'We have got six tour companies sharing one plane, with around 140 passengers.
'It's not as luxurious as eight people on a plane, but 90 per cent of the benefits are the same – you're getting almost all the perks but at a lot less cost.'
The price is $1200 per person, per day – over 25 days that's $30,000 and includes twin share, minimum 4 and 5 star accommodation and all the touring activities and most meals.
While Mr Schwab said it still may not be for everyone, when breaking down what's involved 'it's worth it'.
'This is not to say $30,000 isn't nothing, but it's targeted as a 'once in a lifetime' experience,' he explained.
'Many of the routes we will fly aren't offered as direct flights by commercial airlines so flying on [your] own exclusive plane between some of the most extraordinary places in Europe will allow [our] travellers to make the most of the amazing outings hosted by local experts in each destination.'
The A320-200 aircraft will travel between Prague, Bergen, San Sebastian, Porto,
Marrakesh, Champagne, Sicily, Dubrovnik, and Istanbul.
He said it takes the hassle out of spending hours at an airport, checking in baggage, going through customs and security, as this process involves a private, smaller airport, with bags also dropped off at each hotel you stay.
The private trip is limited to 140 people, with a fleet of small luxury coaches taking a maximum of 25 people at a time on their in-destination adventures.
Passengers will have options for Michelin-starred dining on top of the all-inclusive local culinary experiences.
Other experiences include a Flåm Railway journey through Norway's fjords, a Pintxo tour in San Sebastian to explore the city's famed bars and sample Basque tapas, Agafay Desert luxury camp in Morocco and beachfront hotel in Taormina, Sicily with a private beach surrounded by carved rock.
Mr Schwab said at a time where people are concerned about the cost of living, he's also noticed people are happy to spend a bit more on something that is of great value – 'paying less and getting more'.
Luxury Escapes created the private charter tour in direct response to the growing demand for 'unique, meaningful travel', with customer research showing more than 70 per cent of Australians are more likely to indulge in a luxury holiday if it goes 'beyond the ordinary'.
Mr Schwab said the new tour the most ambitious trip they've created, adding it's a seamless collection of once-in-a-lifetime European moments 'with some serious bougieness'.