Latest news with #luxuryTravel
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
How to holiday like the one per cent: This year the super-rich are wearing one-piece swimsuits, everything monochrome - and flip flops with kitten heels. Here's how to get the look if you're one of the 99 per cent
What do the One Per Cent take on their holiday? This isn't just a question for those of us who like to spy on the lifestyles of the very rich; it's useful information for any civilian thinking about packing for a week away.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Forbes
5 Things We Love About Wequassett Resort And Golf Club
The Cape Cod getaway celebrates 100 years with a new look and enduring luxuries. Le CollectiveM Just in time to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod has completed a multimillion-dollar refresh. Boston design firm Reider & Co.'s soothing coastal colors and textures effortlessly pair with the beloved resort's seaside location, giving spaces an airy and light feel. There is a lot to love about this grand resort on Pleasant Bay, but here are five of our favorite features. Refreshed rooms pair New England tradition with upscale comfort. Le CollectiveM While all 113 refreshed guest rooms, villas and cottages at Wequassett are elegant, we are partial to the suites, especially those with water views and extra luxurious touches. For something unique, book the Round Cove Suite. It features a complimentary private bar, an indoor gas fireplace and a marble bath with a sumptuous soaking tub. The suite also can be configured as a one-, two- or three-bedroom accommodation. The Junior suites are quite special, too, with separate parlors, water-view patios and private fire pits. Staying in one of these units feels more like having your own Cape Cod sanctuary, rather than checking into a hotel. Have a memorable feast from the sea right along the water. Le CollectiveM As the Cape's only Five-Star restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic delivers stellar meals and service every time. When we visit the resort's signature dining venue, we love putting ourselves in the capable hands of talented executive chef James Hackney, leaving us more time to enjoy the stunning ocean vistas and a glass of sauvignon blanc from the excellent wine list. Diners can opt for a two- or four-course prix fixe menu, or if they're feeling indulgent, the seven-course tasting menu — this epicurean experience includes an amuse bouche, an oyster course, bread, an array of starters, a palate cleanser, a selection of main courses and petit fours — is always an option. The Cape Cod Jazz Festival fills the property with terrific tunes every summer. Le CollectiveM Enjoying Jazz In its 21st year, the spirited Cape Cod Jazz Festival offers visitors (hotel guests and the public) the chance to enjoy live music and try great food and drinks on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in July and August. Acts are always top notch, with a variety of performers popping in for a night. This summer, catch G. Love on July 16, Bruce Hornsby on July 30 and a host of other regional and national acts on other dates. Come early for dinner on the Garden Terrace, which may include dishes like lobster mac and cheese and citrus-poached shrimp, or just settle back with a glass of bubbly and listen to the tunes over the tranquil bay. Playing a Round Guests of Wequassett are lucky enough to have playing privileges to the prestigious Cape Cod National Golf Club, which is otherwise only available exclusively to members. The Brian Silva-designed course is known for its fast fairways, varied tee shots and, best of all, gorgeous coastal views. It also sports a practice facility with a full driving range, two practice greens, a greenside bunker and a short-game area for 50- to 70-yard shots. Take a BMW around town for a day or your entire stay. iStock-Ken Wiedemann5 Borrowing a BMW The Cape Cod hotel partners with BMW, so guests can ride in one of three premier models from the German brand: an XM, an X7 M60i and a 740xi Series sedan. Complimentary chauffeured service is available to guests within a 10-mile radius of the resort, so a jaunt to Main Street in Chatham for shopping or dinner out is a breeze. And for those who want to get behind the wheel, that's an option, too. Not only can you reserve one of the BMWs to explore on your own, but if you purchase the BMW Stay Package, you have access to a vehicle for the entire stay and you're gifted a signature BMW travel amenity as a souvenir. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Forbes Travel Guide's Best Hotel Bars For 2025 By Jennifer Kester Forbes 6 Breathtaking New York City Rooftop Bars By Spencer Whaley Forbes 18 Undiscovered Beach Getaways By Forbes Travel Guide Forbes From Anguilla To Australia, Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Star Award Winners By Jennifer Kester
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airport Lounges Are Sexy Again—If You Can Get In
Alex Green This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip. Let's be honest: A crowded airport lounge without a seat in sight is usually less appealing than an empty gate area. Over the past decade, an influx of travelers with club access has led to overcrowding, long waitlists, and a diminished (read: not luxurious) experience. However, a version of commercial air travel—often hidden from public view and inaccessible to even premium credit cardholders—has emerged. This more private, pre-flight experience is essential for the affluent business traveler, says Rob Karp, founder and CEO of travel consultancy firm MilesAhead. 'What we're seeing now is a correction: tiered access, differentiated spaces, and new incentives to spend or commit more to a particular airline,' Karp notes. Business travelers are looking to optimize time and minimize stress—and they're willing to pay for it. That means sitting down for a proper meal, taking a call in a quiet, uninterrupted setting, or even squeezing in a quick spa treatment before boarding. In the US, newer lounges that require an international business-class ticket for access, like the network of Delta One Lounges or United Polaris Lounges, are delivering on that promise. Delta, for instance, offers an á la carte, bistro-like dining experience, soundproof phone booths, and even external monitors for focused work at each of its flagship business lounges. 'Each space is designed to balance comfort and luxury with practical efficiency,' says Claude Roussel, vice president of Delta Sky Club and lounge experience. For Aaron Kokoruz, a public relations executive who clocks nearly 100 flights per year, lounges like these are about crafting a moment of calm and comfort before boarding, regardless of whether you are hopping over to Omaha or flying halfway across the world. Kokoruz lists both the Qantas First Lounge at LAX (with a Neil Perry menu) and the Cathay Pacific First Lounge at London-Heathrow as personal favorites. 'My top priorities in a lounge are healthy and hearty food options, and a solid selection of cocktails and mocktails,' Kokoruz says. 'It's 2025—every great lounge should nail both.' 'The best spaces feel more like high-end hospitality than a pre-flight pit stop,' he adds. In order to cater to different tiers of travelers, both airlines and credit card companies have debuted new 'lounge-within-a-lounge' concepts—reservable, private spaces ideal for a power lunch or power nap. Last year, Air France introduced private suites within its already-exclusive La Première lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). These 500-square-foot sanctuaries are connected to the main first-class lounge and feature a spacious living area, a bedroom with a double bed, an outdoor patio, and a dedicated butler. Meanwhile, Chase's 'Reserve Suites,' private rooms with a personal attendant, include a welcome caviar service, á la carte dining, and an ensuite bathroom with Augustinus Bader amenities. The smallest suite, with a four-person capacity, costs $2,200. Beyond in-lounge amenities, easing airport stress for business travelers is about eliminating points of friction. Karp says that includes 'skipping the line to enter, accessing a private security checkpoint, or avoiding crowds altogether.' In 2023, Delta Air Lines opened an exclusive check-in area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Delta One customers. Tucked away on the arrivals level, the 4,200-square-foot space not only offers white-glove assistance (hot towel, anyone?) but also a special TSA lane and direct access to the lounge upstairs. Several US airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines, allow customers to book a VIP concierge (on a pay-per-use basis) who can meet you curbside, check your bags, secure lounge access, and even escort you to the gate. However, it's limited to certain hubs and is targeted to specific corporate customers. Then, there are the airport terminals that function more like private FBOs. Here, travelers can pay to bypass the entire commercial terminal, with perks like dedicated security, customs clearance, and being driven directly to or from the plane. PS (formerly called Private Suites) offers these amenities at both LAX and Atlanta (ATL). Instead of the congested entryway for pickups and dropoffs, travelers arrive at a separate facility across the airfield. 'We sit in a space that, until now, didn't really exist—the white space between commercial and private air travel,' says Amina Belouizdad Porter, CEO of PS. New openings for PS are set for Miami (MIA) and Dallas (DFW) in 2026. Karp believes this model will continue to grow, especially on this side of the Atlantic. 'Europe is ahead of the US in many ways when it comes to offering bespoke airport experiences,' he notes. 'I think we'll see more here, especially for travelers who are used to the control and calm of flying private.' Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler The Latest Travel News and Advice Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips Stop Counting the Countries You Visit How Safe Is Flying Today? 5 Things Experts Want Travelers to Know The Best Places to See the Northern Lights Worldwide
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
5 International Destinations Where You Can Have a 5-Star Stay for Under $200
Staying at a five-star hotel can cost a pretty penny in the U.S., but you can find significantly more affordable rates when you're traveling abroad. According to a new report, international five-star hotels are 27% cheaper on average than their U.S. counterparts. Check Out: Read Next: The report also identified several international destinations where you can stay at a five-star hotel for less than $200 a night. Here's where to go if you want to experience luxury accommodations without blowing your travel budget. Average 5-star hotel rate: $156 a night Explore More: Average 5-star hotel rate: $157 a night Average 5-star hotel rate: $163 a night Average 5-star hotel rate: $186 a night Average 5-star hotel rate: $192 a night More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 This article originally appeared on 5 International Destinations Where You Can Have a 5-Star Stay for Under $200
WIRED
02-07-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Business Class Ain't What It Used to Be. Don't Tell First Class
Jul 2, 2025 9:00 AM Once a slightly fancy middle ground between first class and coach, business-class seats are getting serious upgrades. Caviar, anyone? Five years ago, Covid-19 largely brought business travel to a halt. Now companies are getting their employees back in the air, and carriers are reinventing themselves to appeal to post-pandemic fliers willing to pay more. Airlines worldwide are reconfiguring the real estate on their planes by segmenting their cabins into higher-margin business-class seating. They're beefing up their traditional business cabins to snag higher fares while providing more luxurious premium economy seating for travelers with smaller budgets. In May, United Airlines revealed new United Polaris Studio business class suites that come with Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, privacy doors, and 27-inch seat-back screens—the largest among US carriers. The upgraded accommodations are 25 percent larger than United's traditional business-class seats and feature living room–style touches, including quartzite tables and seat-belted ottomans for companions. Business class has historically served as the middle ground between economy and first class, with more legroom and better meals minus the hefty cost. In the late 1990s, British Airways set the standard for long-haul business travel with the introduction of lie-flat seats, spurring rivals to ratchet up their own luxury offerings. Now, several years out from the Covid-19 pandemic, airlines are ready to reveal their reimagined cabins and deliver a pinnacle experience to business travelers willing to splurge. The competition has escalated in an industry-wide rollout of privacy pods and sliding-door suites like those found in Qatar Airways' QSuites, JetBlue's Mint cabin, and Cathay Pacific's Aria Suites. When the latter launched on Cathay's Vancouver-Hong Kong route earlier this year, they featured 24-inch 4K ultra high-definition screens and fully enclosed private spaces, as well as touchless flush toilets with foot-activated waste bins and infrared-activated faucets. Those airlines aren't the only ones overhauling their in-flight experience. Carriers worldwide are investing heavily in their most profitable cabins as they redefine premium travel on the long-haul routes dominated by business travelers with memory foam mattresses and double beds for couples. But even as they bolster their business-class seating, airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, FinnAir, and Air France are revamping their premium economy cabins, too. The perks cater to a wider array of business travel budgets with larger, 4K seat-back screens, high-speed Wi-Fi, and other upmarket experiences. 'We want to win on sleep,' says Nikhil Ravishankar, chief digital officer at Air New Zealand, which is in the process of launching new Business Premier and Premium Economy cabins. 'If you can win on sleep, you're forced to win on everything else.' Air New Zealand's long-haul Business Premier fare features a lie-flat bed complete with a mattress, pillows, and duvet. Next year the airline plans to launch an industry-first for economy and premium economy passengers: 'Skynest' bunk beds bookable in four-hour slots. They'll be competing with Delta Air Lines, the largest US carrier by revenue, which provides some of the industry's plushest business-class seating. Its Delta One suites come with a Missoni-branded duvet and slippers, a mattress pad that doubles as a lumbar pillow, and a memory foam cuddle pillow. Delta One passengers also have access to the airline's ultra-exclusive, marble-clad Delta One lounges in New York and Los Angeles airports. With shower suites befitting a luxury hotel, spa treatments and massages, and full-service bistro dining, the lounge's amenities are designed especially to appeal to same-day round-trip business travelers seeking five-star comfort as they fly cross-country to attend a client dinner in Beverly Hills or sporting events like last year's World Series at Dodger Stadium. Delta is growing its footprint with Delta One lounges in Boston and Seattle. While Delta has long courted affluent customers, American Airlines and United have typically competed on price. But all three are beginning to home in on the same lucrative fare class. In June, American Airlines debuted its swanky, sliding-door Flagship Suite aboard the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The Flagship Suite includes 51 seats with privacy doors, a dual-sided pillow that uses cool touch fabric and a chaise lounge. American expects to grow its lie-flat and premium economy seating by 50 percent by the end of the decade. United will enter the fray early next year when the Polaris Studio suites debut on certain international routes from San Francisco, with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and a double-bed configuration. Altogether, United's new Boeing 787-9s will feature 99 premium seats—the highest percentage among US carriers. Airlines are also spending millions of dollars to revamp their culinary offerings through partnerships with celebrity chefs, bars stocked with top-shelf liquor, restaurant-quality meals, or inventive cultural dishes. United has invested more than $150 million in food and beverage improvements this year, including Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé for Polaris Studio customers. Turkish Airlines looked beyond the typical playbook by teaming up with Chef Ömür Akkor, a culinary archaeologist with a Michelin-starred restaurant in Istanbul, to revive a 12,000-year-old bread recipe. The joint excavation traced the world's first domesticated grain of wheat to Tas Tepeler, a settlement in southeastern Turkey. Akkor used the findings to reconstruct the first recipe for the early bread, which he described as an 'earthy flavor profile that provides a glimpse into the birthplace of civilization.' The bread, served hot with butter and olive oil in a commemorative muslin bag, is a perk exclusive to Turkish Airlines business-class passengers traveling certain international routes. Even with the pricey perks, airlines expect to reap significant profits, and business travelers are happy to pay. The element of 'surprise and delight' has raised the bar for getting from points A to B. Whether munching on Turkish Airlines' centuries-old bread, enjoying a full night's sleep over the ocean on Cathay Pacific's lie-flat beds, or grabbing a massage and a three-course dinner from the Danny Meyer-inspired Brasserie at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Delta One lounge, flying's gotten an upgrade.
