Have you ever stayed in a hotel that presented you with personalized calling cards with your name printed on them?
This is one of the charming things The Lanesborough hotel in London does for its guests, and I was delighted and surprised by it. You also get a butler, great service, and other amenities. And of course, there are less expensive hotels in London, but are you looking for a great price or a great experience when you go on vacation?
Imagine arriving at the airport in Rome after a long flight from the U.S. to be greeted by a uniformed driver holding a sign with your name on it and ready take your bags and lead you to the private car that is taking you to your hotel, where the staff welcomes you with a beverage and personally shows you your room.
Contrast this with the typical budget vacation, where on arrival you are greeted by crowds at the airport and have to stand in line to wait for a taxi and hope the driver understands English and doesn't overcharge you for the drive to the airport. Upon arrival at the hotel, you are just a confirmation number and are handed room keys and sent to your room on your own with your luggage. Because you booked through one of those budget internet sites, no one contacted the hotel ahead of time to tell them of your room preferences and special requests. It's like the difference between flying first class vs. coach.
When clients ask why they should hire me to plan their vacations versus doing it themselves, I give them a long list of all the things I do for them, but one of the most important things i do for my clients is choose hotels, cruise lines, guides and tour operators around the world that are committed to delivering a first class experience to my travelers. I know these people personally, and I've personally traveled with many of them. So when I recommend something, it's because that hotel, guide or cruise line has earned my trust.
I understand that luxury travel means different things to different people - maybe you want tickets to a special event, a tour of the kitchen of a Michelin-starred restaurant, or just a really luxurious hotel suite with a view of Eiffel Tower. My job is to find you the experiences that will create a memorable trip for you. I'll steer you away from the tourist traps, big coach tours, and anything that's going to interfere with an authentic experience of the place you are visiting and deliver an amazing itinerary where every detail is taken care of and all you have to do is show up.
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