Sure, we could start with the usual spiel about the word ‘luxury’ meaning different things to different people, whether that’s a warm cup of cocoa next to a crackling fire, or a chorus of kumbaya around a, erm, crackling fire…
But today we’re here to talk about luxury as the gaudy gods intended…with all the bells, whistles, pomp and glamour that the term is traditionally associated with. After the 18 or so months we’ve all had, stuck indoors or staycation bound, might it be time to treat yourself to a luxury holiday abroad to herald what is, hopefully a brighter 2022? We certainly think so, and we’re going to spend the next 1000 or so words talking about it, hopefully providing inspiration for next year’s ritziest recesses.
With that in mind, here are 5 of the best luxury travel destinations for 2022.
YACHTS, JETS & SUPERCARS IN MONTE CARLO
Monte Carlo, in the heart of Monaco, is the unashamedly exclusive and ostentatious playground of the rich and famous. And much of the ‘play’ here revolves around transport, with the roads, skies and seas that define Le Rocher serving as the playground.
Perhaps the most luxurious way to travel to Monte Carlo is by the comfort of a private jet, available from nearby cities with both domestic and international airports, such as Nice and Marseilles, which can fly you to your resort or onto the deck of an awaiting superyacht. If you’re budgeting for such a splurge, research private jet charter costs well in advance, as prices can fluctuate wildly. This will allow you to assess one way or return flights and plan accordingly.
Or, why not explore the surrounding French Riviera’s winding roads, which reveal vista after vista of gorgeous scenery at every turn? The road from Monaco to Menton on the French border with Italy is just 10 km north along the coast, or to the south, Cannes is an hour’s drive away.
Of course, if your trip is all about glamour and luxury, you’re going to want to do the coastal drive in a car that’s fit for purpose. Unsurprisingly, Monte Carlo has several dedicated places where you can rent a supercar; Top Car Monaco will rent you a Ferrari 488 GTB for €1’300 a day while Monaco Luxury Car Rentals can sort you out with a Rolls Royce Drophead for €3’200.
Alternatively, you could just spectate on some seriously supercharged cars; after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix resumed in 2021, albeit operating at around a third of normal capacity to allow for social distancing. Next year’s event, running from Thursday 26th May to Monday 30th May, promises to be the biggest ever.
NATURAL WONDER IN THE MALDIVES
The archipelagic state of the Maldives, an hour and a half’s flight from India’s Malabar Coast, is as idyllic as it comes. Boasting ultra shallow, crystal clear waters , powdery white sand beaches, and of course, private island resorts with just the right level of seclusion, the Maldives is a refined, sophisticated location for a luxury holiday.
Perhaps the most exclusive of all the resorts is Soneva Jani, which sits on an otherwise uninhabited five-island cluster, surrounded by 5 km of lagoon. Many of the villas here boast slides from their top deck into the Indian Ocean below, and there’s even a private, previously 2 Michelin starred chef onsite and on call to cater to your every hunger pang. Yours for $12’000 a night.
To dive a little deeper than that slide allows, many visit the Maldives specifically for the scuba diving opportunities, with the waters offering incredible visibility and a wide variety of sea life; many luxury resorts with their own on-site diving instructors. From May through November, you’ll see manta rays, whale and hammerhead sharks, sea turtles and a whole host of other amazing sea creatures. Or, you could just stare into the seemingly bottomless bowl of a champagne glass in one of the Maldives’ famous underwater restaurants…
SOPHISTICATED SHOPPING IN SAINT TROPEZ
Our second offering on the famously luxurious French Riviera, Saint Tropez offers a slightly more laid back vibe than Monte Carlo. It is technically still a village, after all, and is a little cheaper than its ostentatious cousin some 133 km up the road.
The shopping options in one of the globe’s most glamorous villages are superb, with Saint Tropez’s tightly woven streets packed with boutique clothes shops and outlets from some of the fashion world’s heaviest hitters.
You won’t have to walk far to spend big here, make no mistake. In the pedestrianised Old Town is where the vast majority of the best shopping opportunities in St. Tropez are found, with the majority of the designer names located on Place des Lices, Rue Gambetta and Rue Allard. Here you’ll find traditional honey and terracotta hued houses hosting the likes of Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, and Rodini.
If you’re keen to pick up some artisan, luxury foods, then be sure to head to Place des Lices Market, which takes place every Tuesday and Saturday morning. In the market, you’ll find incredible pastries, cheeses, charcuterie and bread, ideal for a pit stop before more clothes shopping! Bring your credit card, prices are most definitely premium here.
FINE DINING IN MACAU
Speaking of luxury food, The Vegas of the East, as Macau is sometimes known, boasts one of the most revered restaurant scenes in the world, with all of its 17 Michelin starred restaurants within a five mile radius of each other. If you’re keen for a holiday that gives a concentrated, close-to-clinical dose of haute cuisine, then it’s here you should head.
That said, it isn’t all 18 course, several hundred dollar tasting menus; Macau boasts a rich and complex history with plenty of Portuguese influences, which has led to a fascinating cuisine which blends East and West adeptly.
This explains why perhaps Macau’s most famous edible delight of all is the world famous pastel de nata – those gorgeous, moreish custard tarts. Owing to mass Portuguese migration to Macau in the 1980s, much of the cuisine here is flecked with Iberian influences. Try one at Lord Stow’s Bakery in the Venetian Macao Resort. Delicious!
TAKE A CRUISE IN THE CARIBBEAN
As the motivational speaker Harmon Okinyo put it so eloquently, ‘’in today’s life, luxury is time and space’’. And accordingly, we won’t keep you for another minute.
When you do get the time and space though, check out these 10 IDEAL ports of call on your next Caribbean cruise; a luxury holiday if ever there was one.