The term ‘travel agency’ evokes another time. A time perhaps when people still smoked on airplanes. A time when, for better or worse, we didn’t have to rely on the TikTok crowd to inform us about every ‘must-visit’ spot in our various holiday destinations.
But the travel expert industry has seen a resurgence in recent years. When travel requirements and restrictions changed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned to travel agents to help them navigating their new normal. Travelers are also turning to the experts to sift through all the social media noise to find the meals worth eating, the activities worth doing, and the experiences worth having. As adept as we are at scrolling, there are plenty of things that are best left to the professionals, especially when it comes to those big, potentially one-off trips.
So whether you’re planning a dream vacation, or just dreaming about it, you might want to bookmark the following splurges that travel experts swear by:
Childcare
For people with families, this is a major expense that they feel is worth it Henley VazquezCEO of Forumsthat bills itself as ‘the modern travel agency’.
“People back out of staying at an expensive hotel and end up spending a lot of money on a kids’ club,” she told HuffPost. “Many hotels with kids’ clubs have childcare for all ages, so your children can have fun all day for free while you stay there. It entails additional costs, but in the end you can work it out for families.”
Get off the grid
For some, the best splurge is choosing the destination itself. Mary Cropper, travel expert at Black Tomatocalls remote holidays ‘really worth it’.
“A cruise through the Arctic, a chartered boat in Indonesian Borneo, or a private jet to Pamalican Island for a stay in Amanjiwo – all these experiences are expensive, but they provide unparalleled, unforgettable vacations,” she told HuffPost. “The journey to these remote destinations can be expensive, and once you get there, it’s worth staying for a longer period of time to fully appreciate and enjoy the experience. Investing in these unique adventures ensures a trip that stands out and creates lasting memories.”
Cropper called her time in Cambodia her own personal, most decadent travel experience. “From ziplining to falling asleep to the soothing sounds of a waterfall right outside my tent, every moment was exceptional,” she recalls.
On the other hand, Cropper said that when it comes to traveling to big cities, she actually recommends saving on accommodations. “You have the opportunity to explore unique boutique properties that offer distinctive experiences without spending a lot of money,” she said.
First class international flights
Lindsay Silverman know how to travel. She has made a career of it, including launching her candle company Hotel lobby candleinspired by luxury hotels around the world.
While she doesn’t spend it all (for example, she recommends skipping room service meals), she does have at least one non-negotiable thing: “Flying business or first class on flights over four hours,” she said. “I almost always try to do this with points and miles, and rarely pay cash rates.”
Early check-in
Recently, travel expert Samantha Brown posted a TikTok about a hack she uses when she travels internationally. She books her hotel for the night before her arrival so she can check into her room right away instead of waiting for the room to be ready, which is usually later in the afternoon. She called the practice ‘first class economical’.
Vazquez believes that tip is worth the extra night at the hotel, but told HuffPost that it’s worth looking at hotels where you can enjoy those benefits (and more) without having to pay for a whole extra night pay.
“Some hotels guarantee an early check-in,” she says. “Not only that, they also offer expedited airport service. You land, they pick you up, take you through immigration and customs, put you in a luxury car and take you to the hotel so you can check in straight away and take a nap. It’s a great splurge.”
All-inclusive resorts
The experts we spoke to are divided about the all-inclusive. Some are more inclined to try local cuisine outside the resort during their trip, but others, like Vazquez, say choosing a luxury all-inclusive trip can not only make it more cost-effective in the long run, but also a truly magical experience can offer. .
“It’s expensive, of course, but once you’re there, you don’t think about spending money or where to go,” Vazquez said.
Hotel hopping
Sometimes you want to visit a fancy hotel, but staying there is out of budget. That’s when Silberman implements a mini-splurge of sorts.
“If you want to stay in a fancy hotel but can’t afford the nightly rate, go to the lobby bar for a drink,” she said. “There is something very magical about sitting at the bar, ordering a martini and people watching. I often make a list of all the hotels I want to visit, and go to a different hotel every evening for an aperitif. I call it ‘hotel hopping.’”
Private tours (sometimes)
Private tours and group experiences aren’t for every traveler, Vazquez told HuffPost. But even for the most independent explorers, finding a quality trip tailored to your interests is well worth the cost.
“Even if you don’t take a trip full of guided experiences, finding something memorable is worth the splurge,” she said. “In London you can book an experience to go through the Churchill War Rooms with the museum’s curator, who is full of stories and gives you up close and personal access to the rooms themselves, you are in a part of history. It’s amazing.”
Even if you’re a more independent traveler, Vazquez encourages travelers to find one or two experiences like this to “bring a trip more alive than wandering alone. These are stories you will remember long after you get home,” she said.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some points to redeem.
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