News, Would You Pay $70,000 for Your Vacation? Don't Laugh, Many Do. (vacations, plane)

[John1960]

Linda Landers and her husband, Jim, wanted to see the world but didn't have time to plan a complicated route hopping from one continent to another.

Then Linda learned about a $70,000 per person private jet trip that would allow the Arkansas couple to see nine countries in 23 days.

They booked immediately.

"It was such good value for what you got," Landers said, "even though it was a terribly expensive trip."

The Landers are members of an elite travel club that indulges in lavish vacations that go well beyond first class.

For those who can afford it, there are a growing number of options at the gilded top of the luxury travel market.

The Landers went on a trip, dubbed the Nine World Wonders, offered by tour company Abercrombie & Kent. It included stops at Easter Island, ruins in Cambodia, the lost city of Petra in Jordan and the pyramids of Egypt.

Linda works in home construction and interior design, and Jim is a doctor. She said that planning such a complicated trip would have taken a lot of time and research.


"We're both working so much. We didn't have time to fool with this," Landers said. We just wanted to get on the plane and relax."

Abercrombie & Kent took care of the couple's travel visas, hired guides, provided local currency at each stop and even arranged a private museum tour by the curator before the building opened to the general public.

"We didn't have to do a thing," Landers said. "It was like being the president of the United States for three and a half weeks."

ABC News: What Does a $70,000 Vacation Look Like?

[punyhumans]

That doesn't sound worth it - it doesn't even sound like a vacation to me!

[TXboomerang]

I'd rather hop on a plane to one really cool destination and stay for 2-3 weeks straight if I could afford it. Even if I had the money, that particular trip sounded rather dull, but to each their own I guess. The pyramids were definitely the highlight I would think.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by John1960

She said that planning such a complicated trip would have taken a lot of time and research.
"We're both working so much. We didn't have time to fool with this," Landers said. We just wanted to get on the plane and relax."

For me, one of those pathetic "little people" who actually plans my own vacation, the research is *definitely* an element of the trip--and very enjoyable.

"We didn't have to do a thing," Landers said. "It was like being the president of the United States for three and a half weeks."

This is yet more evidence that some people definitely have more money than taste.
I know, I know--different strokes for different folks and all that.
But this particular description of being in "the gilded top of the luxury travel market" does not sound like a relaxing vacation as much as a purchased commodity, with bragging rights.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by cil

For me, one of those pathetic "little people" who actually plans my own vacation, the research is *definitely* an element of the trip--and very enjoyable.



This is yet more evidence that some people definitely have more money than taste.
I know, I know--different strokes for different folks and all that.
But this particular description of being in "the gilded top of the luxury travel market" does not sound like a relaxing vacation as much as a purchased commodity, with bragging rights.

Cil, I think you hit the nail on the head with: "I know--Different strokes for different folks". And I'm with you; planning and research has always been a fun past of the trip for my wife and I. But I'm gonna play "devil's advocate" here... We know nothing about these folks other than they took THIS trip. How do we know they haven't extensively traveled before; i.e. backpacked around Europe as college students, served in the Peace Corps or military or traveled extensively for business before this trip? We have no idea about any of this. They may be jaded travelers who just wanted it easy, for a change. I have no idea, either. but it's just a thought...

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

Cil, I think you hit the nail on the head with: "I know--Different strokes for different folks". And I'm with you; planning and research has always been a fun past of the trip for my wife and I. But I'm gonna play "devil's advocate" here... We know nothing about these folks other than they took THIS trip. How do we know they haven't extensively traveled before; i.e. backpacked around Europe as college students, served in the Peace Corps or military or traveled extensively for business before this trip? We have no idea about any of this. They may be jaded travelers who just wanted it easy, for a change. I have no idea, either. but it's just a thought...

Point duly noted, Crew Chief, and I love when people are the devil's advocate.
You are so right, these folks might well have dug ditches for the Peace Corps or tossed and turned in noisy dorms at a hostel.
I'll go further and admit that I myself used to dream of flying on the Concorde, simply because it just looked like such a cool thing to do.
And I once chartered a yacht with my husband's family (their idea, not ours), and it was very indulgent, very beautiful--and very expensive.
Taking the easy way can be nice, especially when it is January and you are in a warm, scenic spot.
But I think it's kinda funny that in my previous post, I had partially quoted the last page of the article (a paragraph about space travel) without even having seen it:
"Part of travel is to include what is generally termed as bragging rights," he said. "You have to remember that only 400 people have been into space."

[Crew Chief]

Hi Cil!

If somebody told me that my wife and I could have any trip we wanted right now and cost was no object, I surely would consider that one! Considering our current schedules, trip planning would probably be mostly out of the question. And, maybe at my stage of the game, I've become somewhat jaded. FWIW, we learned long ago that sharing your travel exploits has limited value. Only those who have also traveled can truly apreciate what a gift it is... (Like, for example, many of you C-D-ers that so wonderfully share your travels with the rest of us)

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by cil

I'll go further and admit that I myself used to dream of flying on the Concorde, simply because it just looked like such a cool thing to do.

My father flew on the Concorde a few times (paid for by his company), and said it was quite uncomfortable... he's about 6' tall, and had to hunch (while standing) & squish his knees the whole flight. But considering how often he flew from CA to Europe, it was worth the discomfort for half the flying time. Plus they gave the passengers very cool gifts, some of which he gave me.

As for that couple and their trip, I obviously don't think we can judge them - just as I hope you don't judge my family for what I said above. To me it sounds like an amazing trip, and actually worth the cost for what they got. The private plane ride alone could be that or more, so I personally think it was a good deal! Possibly not my DREAM trip, but I wouldn't turn it down either.

[gizmo980]

Oh, but here's something I would shell out for if I had the moolah... ResidenSea is a floating "community", where you can lease luxury cabins for a year (or more), and sail around the world in them - all for a mere $1M-plus.

Welcome to ResidenSea - Official Website.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

My father flew on the Concorde a few times (paid for by his company), and said it was quite uncomfortable... he's about 6' tall, and had to hunch (while standing) & squish his knees the whole flight. But considering how often he flew from CA to Europe, it was worth the discomfort for half the flying time. Plus they gave the passengers very cool gifts, some of which he gave me.

As for that couple and their trip, I obviously don't think we can judge them - just as I hope you don't judge my family for what I said above. To me it sounds like an amazing trip, and actually worth the cost for what they got. The private plane ride alone could be that or more, so I personally think it was a good deal! Possibly not my DREAM trip, but I wouldn't turn it down either.

I ran into someone, I wish I could remember where, who is going to do that ResidenSea thing.

Yeah, I once sat in a mock-up of the Concorde and can certainly understand how it might be uncomfortable.

I don't think I'd want to take that $70,000 trip, though.
It just sort of seems like a Greatest Hits album, puddle-jumping from World Wonder to World Wonder. It's not like I've never flown from country to country, but their trip seems less about destination and journey, and more about exclusivity, creature comforts--and bragging rights.
There is not much context to it. If you take a RTW trip more the long way, it feels more like real movement, real world travel. We had friends who did that, and I loved their slide show. What an adventure they had.
But that's just me. I'm not real big on spas and other luxury type stuff, either.

Different strokes.