Luxury Travel

Being a family doesn't mean luxury travel, elegant hotels and jet set living have to be put to one side. Although some of the top boutique hotels in the world do cater more to couples than kids, there are plenty of family friendly crash pads in both town and country that will make your holiday experience superbly lavish! After all, who deserves a little luxury more than a stressed out parent?

First of all, luxury hotels have an excellent reputation for personal service - and this can translate into family facilities, too. Many top hotels have a concierge who can arrange child minding or babysitting whilst the grownups enjoy a Michelin starred dinner, or an extra cot or bed to be added to the room to turn it into a family suite.

Moreover, the recreation and leisure activities available can be perfect for kids. What youngster doesn't love splashing around in the infinity pool or swimming in the hot tub on the balcony? The tennis courts, golf courses and beaches will also keep them happily entertained.

Best Destinations for Luxury Travel with Children

1. Although the long flights might be a trial with very young kids, luxury hotels in the Caribbean top the list because many offer a private villa instead of a room. With all the comforts of a five star hotel (and none of the inconveniences of the self-catering apartments usually ear-marked for families) but also the privacy and space you'd find at home, these kinds of set-ups are ideal for travelers with children. Shop around for the resorts with private pools and barbecue areas (which should come with a complimentary chef from the hotel, too) to keep your family in splendidly luxurious isolation.

2. Europe can be a daunting prospect as a family (what three year old wants to spend the afternoon at an art gallery?) but it's also a good place to find old-fashioned hotels that treat every guest like royalty - even those little monsters. Avoid the stuffy, minimalist places and plump for the city hotels with long reputations or self-contained resorts on the coast. Small, manageable and picturesque enough for all the family, Santorini and Malta are the best places to consider.

3. Whilst you're best to steer clear of trendy metropolitan joints in Canada and the USA, countryside retreats can be a great alternative - and they don't have to mean skimping on luxury, either. The kids can go wild in the great outdoors as parents pamper themselves at the spa, or perhaps enjoy a spot of wine tasting in the Napa Valley. Don't just think about summer vacations, too - a snowy winter holiday filled with sledging and snowball fights (and brandy by the fire of course) certainly offer family-style fun.

Tom Ingrams is a travel writer who specializes in the higher end of the market, with plenty of experience of what luxury travel has to offer around the world.

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In preparation for next year's business arena, many industry professionals have begun forecasting trends with regard to the luxury travel market. A recent survey of seasoned travelers, as well as discerning travel professionals listed that we can expect everything from niche luxury cruises to customized adventure travel to exotic, albeit remote destinations. Having studied these luxury travel trend predictions, relevant survey results and many travel professionals' insights, this is the current outlook for 2010.

Mirroring the current economic atmosphere and more specifically the existing credit crunch, consumers are on the lookout for a bargain. It stands to reason then, that value for money will be at the top of the list for potential travelers, with concept and branding taking a backseat in the coming years. Both luxury hotel and tour operators have the ability to thrive if they can demonstrate the worth of paying a little extra in order to gain an outstanding experience.

Now more than ever perspective travelers are looking for an unsurpassed price/quality ratio when selecting their luxury vacation. Reflecting the highly competitive travel market, consumers will seek out top of the line locations, amenities and services at a price they feel offers them the best value for their dollar. Successful travel advisors will be proficient in providing the optimal available products for their clients at the right price.

Travel industry professionals have recently become aware of a growing market trend, in that luxury travelers are actively seeking out a customized, uniquely exotic travel experience. Simply put, travelers are looking for exciting new destinations, the ultimate in adventure and thrilling, new experiences. Luxury adventure travel is on the rise and consumers can enjoy a vast selection of luxury options. Some of these options include, but are not limited to luxury safaris, heli-ski trips, niche boat cruises, and even high-speed car tours in top vacation destinations like Cape Town, Provence, Tuscany and New York. Those looking for a slightly slower pace with a little relaxation thrown in may opt for personalized art tours and tailor-made culinary courses.

Green travel is not a newcomer to the luxury travel market, but with environmental issues at the forefront of many people's minds, eco-travel is enjoying not only resurgence, but a definite growth spurt as well. It is predicted that 2010 will see the development of eco-friendly destinations; a direct result of a continued growth pattern of intimate, sustainable villa resorts. More than likely the upcoming year will bring a further increase in the number of operators offering greener travel options.

Certainly these trends will not necessarily occur verbatim or even overnight. Since change takes time, the process will be gradual, but the luxury travel industry is evolving and as a result, I do believe we will see some exciting options in the not so distant future.

This article has been contributed by Louise Revelas-Canham, owner/operator of the popular website A1 Luxury Hotels which epitomizes the grand hotel experience. Here you will be presented with the finest hotels, best service and the most amenities. A1 Luxury Hotels, "When Only The Very Best Will Do".

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Labels: luxury travel trends 2010

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