Pet swimming pools, emergency helipads ... and no paparazzi

founder of the Golden Ticket property and concierge service. “We can save them hours of searching for perfect private accommodation with a portfolio of tried and tested properties.”

To meet demand, the company has expanded from a dining-room table at home to offices in London, Los Angeles and Barcelona. Its real estate arm launches this month.

Travel concierges are more than just a service; they become friends, confidants, advisers and ambassadors. “We look after clients from the second they touch down to the minute they take off again,” says Zara. “Our ethos is to provide the most personal, discreet service possible.”

Such discretion is essential when security services are part of the brief. “One high-profile client was desperate for a loft apartment in Shoreditch and wanted the security team to have direct sight of them 24/7,” Zara recalls. “In true east London style, we set up our own ‘pop-up art gallery’ as a vantage point and borrowed some prime urban art including a few Banksys. However, our ‘gallery’ quickly received a number of customers who thought a 24-hour art gallery was very cool, and pieces were being offered on left, right and centre.”

Expect the unexpected; that is the key to success as a concierge. Here we profile the different “tribes” who seek out their services, each matched to a specialist who can fulfil their needs: The tribe They’re rarely off a plane, taking 12 holidays-plus a year. Aspen twice. Mykonos thrice. Never far from a superyacht. The concierge Luke McCormick, Edge Retreats Specialism Luxury villa company with 5,000 properties worldwide. Fans include F1 drivers, Russian ballerinas, famous authors, socialites and heads ds of industry, all willing g to pay up to £200,000 for a week’s stay. From St Barts to Santorini,ni, it’s life on a big scale with a glittering portfolioo including The Brando ndo (Pippa Middleton and James mes Matthews’ honeymoon destination),nation), Musha Cay (which hosted Penélope nélope Cruz and Javier Bardem’s wedding) edding) and the former home of Brigitte rigitte Bardot – Bastide Provençal, on the Côte d’Azur.

But it’s not just about bricks and mortar. The devil is in the detail, from the sublime (organising nising 25 paddle boards for a yoga retreat in Bali) to the ridiculous (counting ng the number of bees surrounding a French chateau – the client wouldn’t t arrive until he knew how many).

Then there were e the three helicopters that left ft late and were unable to land at their heir destination. In a matter of hours, Luke found his clients another villala on a neighbouring island – with a helipad ipad and a place to guard the helicopters ters overnight. Travel tip “Book an experience you won’t forget. It’s a given that there are the most incredible e properties on the planet, but it’s the memories created against that backdrop rop that stand the test of time. So, take ke a helicopter for a picnic on the side e of a mountain, hire a famous DJ for a house party or take a yacht to a secluded ed slice of sand for a romantic lunch.” Ultimate recommendationmendation Villa Alang Alang, Cannes, nes, which has a mounted tyrannosaurus saurus rex skull on the staircase; Ibiza’sa’s Can Zama – an amazing property for its seclusion, surroundings and design; and Villa Triton in Turks and d Caicos Islands for absolute beachfrontnt perfection. Contact: edgeretreats.com eats.com