You might be a travel veteran, but it doesn’t mean you find trends completely useless, especially if it feels like you’ve done it all. Per Mckinsey, only 17 per cent of respondents out of 5,000 surveyed said they use a travel agent. Others rely on family and friends, search engines and social media to plan their trips, which means you’re more likely to follow trends even when it is done unconsciously.

Now, whether or not you care about what’s hot on the travel scene or not, here are some interesting suggestions from vacationers worldwide that appear to have provided real value for their money and time. Maybe you’ll find them useful, maybe not. But ultimately, they are worth checking out for the kind of excitement they promise to bring to your trip, whether you are going solo or in a group.

Exploring the stars at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Hawaii might not top the list of the best luxury travel destinations, but, like everywhere in the world, it offers some unique, unforgettable experiences. Like the Four Seasons Resort Maui Unforgettable Experiences.

The resort promises a range of activities, from exploring a local town and its sights to going on a coffee-tasting date. The Wayfinder Journey, however, is perhaps its most unique package, because it takes you on an educational exploration of the Southern Cross, a constellation that can only be spotted in Hawaii. You would be taught everything from its cultural significance to the local community, to learning how to use it as a navigation tool when you’re out on the waters. And because celestial navigation is quite the work, you would end your course with a multi-course meal by Four Seasons Maui Chef Samual Taganeca onboard the catamaran.

Activate your five senses with Ker & Downey Africa’s Five Senses Experience

It is very easy to think Africa = Safari, but, just like Ker & Downey is out to prove, there is so much more to this continent that is extremely rich in culture and tradition, than rare and exciting animals.

For its newest travel itinerary in South Africa, the safari company has put together a range of activities that will engage each sense — sight, taste, smell, sound, and touch — through bespoke and highly exclusive experiences that can be tailored to meet the needs of each guest.

For 12-14 days, guests will move through South Africa and Madagascar, stopping at carefully selected destinations like the Ellerman House whose in-house gallery would engage their sense of sight via a unique art experience; La Colombe, a globally-recognised contemporary restaurant whose French and Asian dishes would activate visitors’ taste buds like never before; Babylonstoren, a historic Cape Dutch farm bursting with vegetables and fruits of such rich aromas that would be hard for any nose to miss; the Singita Ebony Lodge where the sounds of the animals and wilderness provide a lovely backdrop to an unbeatable safari experience, and, the Miavana Island Nosy Ankoa, Madagascar where guests can let go on the soft pillow of beautiful white sands with the gentle breeze from the ocean caressing every nook and crevice of their skins under the gentle warmth of the sun.

Going on a wellness-infused tour of Asia via the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train

If you’ve never tried a luxury train vacation before, perhaps it is time to, especially with the launch of the Dior Spa on the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Having a luxury spa experience onboard a train is not something you’d normally expect, so this is definitely one to try out. A range of rejuvenating and relaxing spa treatments abound, like the Asian-inspired D-Jungle signature treatment, the Constellation tension-releasing massage, and the luxurious Kobi-Dior facial treatment. Dior would also have its Prestige skincare range available for purchase so that you can keep up a luxury care routine long after the journey has ended.

Learning to cook like the experts at the Royal Mansour Marrakech

Not only is the Royal Mansour one of the top luxury hotels in Morocco, it is now angling to have one of the best culinary workshops in the Kingdom of Light.

When you’re done exploring the bustling beauty of Marrakech, come home to the Royal Mansour and learn how to cook under the expert guidance of the hotel’s Michelin-star culinary team. And, when you’re done with the cooking workshop, you can move on to the patisserie and mixology workshops for a complete crash course on making the perfect 3-course meal.

Enjoy a deluxe spa experience at the One&Only Resorts in Rwanda

Guests will still get to engage in the different activities available in the One&Only Rwanda OneEscape programme, but now, they can go home to relaxing spa treatments using traditional healing practices and local products.

At Nyungwe House, new signature spa treatments draw inspiration from the therapeutic properties of tea while spa treatments at Gorilla’s Nest are based on eucalyptus and chocolate which pay tribute to the forest the lodge is immersed in. Yoga and meditation sessions, as well as, fitness facilities complete this wellness package that is enhanced by the surrounding forest and hills.

The post Discover Some Top Unique Luxury Experiences to Explore on Your Next Vacation first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Discover Some Top Unique Luxury Experiences to Explore on Your Next Vacation appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

But because there is only so much you can do while on it, going on a second or third safari trip might not be very appealing. This is why some companies are switching things up to get old visitors back while drawing in new ones.

So, if you are wondering whether another safari is a good idea, or you’re trying to decide if you should add it to your travel experience, here are some new packages and properties telling you to say yes to one.

Molori Mashuma, Zimbabwe

Situated in Northern Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, Molori Mashuma, a new property from South African company Molori Safari, has just six tents, making it the perfect choice for a quiet, tranquil getaway.

Its strategic location in the park offers visitors unobstructed views of the surroundings. “It is a game and wilderness experience unlike anything else because you are not chasing the wildlife to tick off a list, you are immersed and present in the moment, with the open landscapes, fauna and flora, and the wildlife that roam,”  explains Eric Ichikowitz, co-owner of Molori Mashuma.

While some safaris choose to submerge their guests in the full bush lifestyle by eliminating modern comforts, the tents in Molori Mashuma are fully air-conditioned with perks like private decks for game viewing and relaxation, as well as amenities such as soaking bathtubs and outdoor showers. The two-bedroom family tents in the camp are even equipped with private plunge pools for a more robust experience.

But sitting all day can be rather boring, which is why guests have the option to go on guided walking safaris where they can observe and photograph wildlife at any of the three available locations for game viewing. Per Ichikowitz, “Walking through the fever tree forests and watching elephants in their droves; moving through the forest and interacting with big herds of eland and zebras frolicking and playing around while the monkeys jump from the trees, is one of my ultimate wilderness experiences.”

Unfortunately, the tent is not open all year: interested guests can only visit from the beginning of April to the end of October. Nightly rates start from $1,725.

Shekinah Lion and Game Lodge, South Africa

Like Molori Mashuma, South Africa’s new safari property is rather private: the Shekinah Lion and Game Lodge located in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve in Limpopo has just four suites for two guests each. If you’re planning a romantic escape with your significant other, or want to experience the wild with someone special, you may want to consider the Shekinah Lodge for the privacy and intimacy it promises.

Also, like its Zimbabwean counterpart, the suites have been designed to bring the outdoor experience inside seamlessly. Through reinforced glass, guests can see lions or tigers roaming freely around the property, or wake up to a beautiful sunrise illuminating the bushveld without having to sacrifice any of the luxuries they have grown accustomed to like private plunge pools and outdoor showers.

More amenities can be found outside the suites, including a spa, gym and conference room. Visitors can also go on bush walks or game drives, with the latter being a complimentary service for all guests.

The Shekinah Lion and Game Lodge is set to open in the first week of November with nightly rates starting at USD $1605.

The One&Only Rwandan OneEscape Experience

One&Only might not have a new safari resort on the horizon, but they have a new kind of curated experience for adventurous travellers looking for an action-filled holiday.

The OneEscape Rwandan experience is a custom six-night itinerary that will start at the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and culminate in a 3-night stay at the One&Only Nyungwe House.

Activities at the resort’s Gorilla’s Nest include a trek in search of the endangered mountain gorillas with no guarantee of a successful sighting; a bean-to-barista master class on the art of making coffee, and, a traditional barbecue hosted at the cottage of legendary conservationist, Jack Hanna.

Switching to the One&Only Nyungwe House would involve a five-hour drive by a 4×4 through a rather hilly countryside or a 35-minute flight that costs $5,775 for just one way. Guests who would be indulging in this experience between October 1 and December 14, 2023, would enjoy a complimentary helicopter transfer thanks to a partnership between the resort and Akagera Aviation.

Once at the Nyungwe House, visitors will immediately get to work at a master class on tea, one of the country’s main exports, or at a crash course in archery. They can also choose to indulge in spear-throwing lessons and a nocturnal hike or stargazing.

At $6500 per night for a stay at the Gorilla’s Nest and $3,250 per night for the Nyungwe House, the OneEscape experience does not come cheap. However, it is one experience visitors will treasure, long after they are back in their home countries.

The post Going on A Safari? Here are Some New Experiences to Check Out This Season first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Going on A Safari? Here are Some New Experiences to Check Out This Season appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.