The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Household income: £150,000–£300,000
With a healthy budget, high-end travellers can embrace some of the mainstream’s most indulgent trends. First up is “set-jetting”: checking in to hotels or destinations made famous by TV or film appearances.
An onscreen cameo is “more influential than social media”, according to Ariane Gorin, president of Expedia for Business. “With several releases in the pipeline, we believe popular destinations for 2024 will include Thailand, inspired by the upcoming new season of The White Lotus; Paris because of season four of Emily in Paris; and the Scottish Highlands, thanks to the remaining seasons of Outlander,” she says.
The standout star of series two of The White Lotus was San Domenico Palace, the Sicilian outpost of the Four Seasons chain which comes with movie-star worthy bedrooms, a photogenic infinity pool overlooking the Ionian Sea and a £940 per night price tag. Next season’s location is the brand’s Koh Samui hotel, where hilltop villas tumble towards a private, palmfringed beach and rooms are slightly cheaper, starting at £840 per night.
Meanwhile, with new hotel openings from the likes of Rosewood and Six Senses on the agenda, India is another of Maury’s recommendations for the coming year. Scott Dunn Private has a 10-night Limitless India itinerary from £12,798pp B&B, including flights from the UK (scottdunn.com).
WHAT TO BOOK
For couples: If set-jetting seems a little tame, consider a trip inspired by one of TV’s more adventurous programmes, Race Across the World. You’ll need a couple of months and a very solid relationship for Interrailing Packages’ 60-day trip by train, which follows the route of the most recent series, starting in Morocco and working its way across Europe to Tromso, Norway. From £4,775pp including train and bus travel and accommodation (interrailingpackages.com).
For families: Greaves India’s family itinerary to the Golden Triangle and northern hill stations has fun firmly on the agenda. As well as trips to the Taj Mahal and Jaipur’s Amber Fort, there’s time at a bear sanctuary and a village festival featuring henna painting. From £4,150pp (greavesindia.co.uk).
For solos: During a recent press conference, Emily in Paris star Lily Collins hinted that her character might be taking a trip to the Italian capital in season four of the series, which is due to start filming in early 2024. Take the opportunity to have your own Roman holiday at the slick five-star Hotel de Russie, which comes with the best “single rooms” in the city and exclusive experiences including the chance to see the only privately-owned Caravaggio in the world or take a tour of the Cinecittà film studios. A four-night break at the hotel costs from £3,660 (roccoforte.com).