Luxuries While Traveling: The Details

These trips aren’t about excess—they’re about the value of time, experience, and comfort, where personalization + thoughtful details make every moment feel intuitive, seamless, and entirely your own.

As a luxury travel designer, I seek out and book accommodations that make you feel like you’ve fully checked out of your day-to-day and into a realm of elevated ease—where a butler, a pillow menu, and turn-down service are standard. I hold a high standard for every place I recommend, because I want my clients to have the best experience possible. But beyond luxury hotels, the true art of high-end travel lies in the seamless, thoughtful moments at every touchpoint.

From how you get there to what you carry, from the brands that define refinement to the services that ensure effortless ease— luxury is when everything feels considered before you even realize you need it.

A Note on Personalization

Luxury looks different for everyone. For some, it’s the ease of seamless service at every turn and the crème de la crème—where only the finest will do. For others, the greatest indulgence is simplicity. With so much noise in our daily lives, sometimes the most valuable thing is stepping away—having a thoughtfully planned itinerary that allows you to move through a destination effortlessly, without overcomplication.

For me, certain details are non-negotiable, while others depend on the trip, the mood, or the moment.

---

Transportation

The start of a trip sets the tone—or at least for me, it does—so I do everything I can to make sure it’s as seamless and comfortable as possible. Depending on your current tax bracket, you have a few options:

Flights

• Private Jet Travel – Eliminates airport chaos entirely (hi, Kimmy K). Arrive minutes before takeoff, no security lines, no waiting. Just you, the runway, and your destination.

• First-Class Suites – Airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines have turned first class into private rooms in the sky, with privacy doors, full beds, and Champagne service. Air France La Première takes it even further with personalized service, an exclusive lounge, and chauffeured airport transfers.

• Business Class (me on a good day) – The best business class experiences today rival first class from years ago. Delta One Suites, Qatar Airways Qsuite, and ANA The Room offer lie-flat seats, privacy doors, and direct aisle access—making long-haul flights actually enjoyable.

It’s not just about comfort—it’s about arriving refreshed, without the exhaustion of travel weighing you down.

*Note on maximizing points: If you're strategic, you can fly business class for a fraction of the cost using points. For a deeper dive, read Window Seat by my good friend Tori Simokov, who knows all the ins and outs of making points work for you.

VIP Airport Services

VIP airport services like PS at LAX, Doha’s Al Safwa First Lounge, and Heathrow VIP take the guesswork out of travel. No lines, no security stress, no figuring out where to go—just a smooth, effortless transition from car to plane.

Private Drivers

Few things make post-flight exhaustion disappear faster than stepping off the plane and seeing a driver holding a sign with your name on it, ready to take you straight to your hotel. No negotiating fares, no fumbling for cash, no pulling up an address and hoping they enter it correctly.

For my husband, navigating the chaos is part of the fun—he thrives on the challenge. For me, it’s the opposite. I want to land, step into a car, and know that every detail has already been handled.

---

Brands

Just like transportation, having the right tools while traveling is essential. Some stand out not just for their function, but for what they represent.

Luggage: The Case for Rimowa

Luggage is as much about reliability as it is about how you carry yourself while traveling. Rimowa isn’t just a suitcase—it’s an investment that tells a story.

People love to argue that for the price, it gets dings and scratches. Well—of course it does. Until Elon makes a suitcase out of space-grade carbon fiber, I don’t see a world where luggage remains unscathed—especially with the way airlines handle our bags with blatant disregard. But those dings are proof of places traveled, a patina that tells the story of where you’ve been—and a testament to the durability of the luggage you’ve invested in.

It’s not just about looks though. As GQ put it, "The Rimowa isn’t just a suitcase, it’s a companion, a status symbol, a walking travel history." Its durability, effortless maneuverability, and lifetime warranty make it a staple for frequent travelers who want a bag that lasts decades, not seasons.

For those debating between Rimowa and newer brands like Away, GQ made the comparison and sided with Rimowa for its craftsmanship and longevity. And if you need a second opinion-

Yolanda Edwards

, former Condé Nast Traveler creative director and founder of Yolo Journal, vouches for it.

And for those who prefer something lighter, the polycarbonate version offers the same prestige with an easier lift.

In-Flight Essentials

I’ve done a full "What’s in My Bag" post before (and I’ll be doing another soon since I’ve been flying more + refining my process), but when it comes to long-haul flights, investing in hydrating, quality skincare makes a difference.

A few standouts:

• La Mer’s The Mist – Hydrates and refreshes mid-flight

• Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream – Locks in moisture while you sleep

• Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Anti-Pollution Drops – Shields skin from cabin air dryness

• A silk eye mask – Blackout eye mask with soothing vibrations for better sleep

Hotels That Value Brands

There’s nothing more contradictory than staying at a beyond-luxury hotel and then pulling open a drawer to find an old Conair hairdryer. Not a crime, but it undercuts the experience (this happened to me last year and it just felt contradictory). If a hotel is going to position itself at the highest level, every detail should reflect that standard.

At The Connaught, for example, every room comes with a full set of Dyson tools, reinforcing their commitment to seamless, luxury-focused service. It’s the kind of touch that separates a truly high-end hotel from one that just looks the part.

Another example is signature amenities. When hotels stock Le Labo, Diptyque, or Aesop instead of generic-label toiletries, it’s a subtle but powerful signal of quality. It’s the difference between an afterthought and a fully immersive luxury experience.

---

Elevated Services + Thoughtful Details

• Concierge Services: Dining & Experiences (exclusive reservations, personalized itinerary planning, last-minute changes)

• Private Drivers & Pre-Planned Transportation (chauffeured cars, seamless transfers, no waiting)

• Global Entry & TSA PreCheck (skip security lines, breeze through customs)

• Butler Service (luggage unpacked, clothes steamed, minibar stocked)

• Turn-Down Service (dimmed lighting, fresh linens, personalized touches)

• Pillow Menu (memory foam, down, hypoallergenic, fragrance-infused options)

• Room Customization (favorite drinks, snacks, and scents ready upon arrival)

• Shoe & Garment Care (polished shoes, pressed outfits before dinner)

• Personalized Welcome Gifts (handwritten notes, locally curated treats)

• Private Experiences (for special moments or high-profile clientele, think after-hours museum tours, or one-on-one chef-led dining experiences).

Airelles Château de Versailles- image by Robyn North

---

Final Thought

Luxury isn’t alllll about cost—it’s about the value it brings to your experience.

It’s the thoughtful details, the seamless planning, and the sense of ease that allows you to move through the trip effortlessly, knowing every moment has been considered with you in mind.