4 Ways Millionaires Plan Vacations Differently Than the Middle Class
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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If you are a millionaire, you do things differently: from buying a house to planning your retirement, all of the broad strokes might resemble that of the working class, but the details are entirely different. Same goes for planning a vacation, as millionaires have access to locations, travel arrangements and accommodations that only the middle class could dream of. So how do they do it?
Here are four ways that millionaires plan vacations differently than the middle class.
Proactive Planning Versus Reactive Planning
According to Aaron Sutherland, founder of Jetsetter, a luxury travel company, a middle-class traveler typically plans around calendar events, namely spring break, a long weekend and the summer vacation.
“On the other hand, our much higher-end clients tend to plan years in advance with a clear vision,” Sutherland explained. “While value travelers look for the best deal, luxury travelers are looking for the best experience.”
Leveraging Money for Privacy and Space
The most valuable commodity is not money, it’s privacy, in Sutherland’s professional opinion.
“With a desire for full detachment from the ‘hustle/bustle’ and crowds-privacy is quintessential amongst these clients,” Sutherland explained, adding that this usually translates into flying private, booking out entire islands and more.
“While value travelers often deal with crowded hotel pools, airport lines and overbook experiences and restaurants,” Sutherland added.
Transformation Experiences Instead Of Transactional Experiences
“High-net-worth travelers care less about sightseeing and more about personal growth,” Sutherland said. “They often plan purpose-driven experiences. The rich plan these types of trips to enrich their lives where value travelers often attempt to escape from theirs.”
When it comes to activities, Andrew Satkowiak of The Luxury Travel Agency highlighted that millionaires tend to be more adventurous in terms of experiences.
“This is the fun part about the job, we get to be more creative in the options we can suggest,” Satkowiak said.
Partnership Over Online Agencies
Sutherland remarked on how middle-class travelers personally take on the work of actual travel planning themselves, often making it a personal project to compare pricing, read reviews and book the arrangements for their vacation.
“For the affluent, this process is outsourced to a trusted expert,” Sutherland explained. “A luxury travel advisor acts as a strategic partner, a single point of contact who understands their family’s preferences, health needs and even their travel history.
“This is important because this relationship allows for access to exclusive, off-market properties and experiences that usually can’t be found online and provides an invaluable safety net,” Sutherland added. “We have the human ability to handle all the unforeseen complications that should arise — having a dedicated expert who is personally invested in the success of their journey.”
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