Ever looked at someone else’s holiday snaps and wondered how they always manage to travel in style? The hotel looks gorgeous, the transport seamless, and every moment seems to drip with low-key luxury. The secret? It’s not all first-class flights and designer luggage. You don’t need to remortgage your home to travel like a VIP. You just need to know where to add those touches that make all the difference.
Here’s how to give your next trip a serious upgrade – without going all out on cost.
1. Book an airport lounge – start your trip like a VIP
One of the easiest and most underrated upgrades you can make to your holiday is to begin it in an airport lounge. Skip the noisy crowds, overpriced sandwiches, and endless searches for a spare seat near a plug socket. Instead, swap that chaos for comfy chairs, complimentary drinks, and a moment of calm before your flight.
And if you’re flying from the capital, booking into a VIP lounge London City Airport is highly recommended. It’s quieter than bigger airports, but the lounge still delivers on quality, service, and that first taste of holiday relaxation.
You don’t need to be flying business class, either. Most lounges offer entry for a small fee, and once you factor in the food and drink you’d otherwise buy at the terminal, it often works out the same, if not cheaper.
2. Skip the taxi queue – sort your transfers in advance
Landing in a new place and then trying to organise transport can be frustrating, especially when you’re tired. Pre-booking a transfer is one of those small luxuries that saves a huge amount of stress. You’ll often get greeted by a driver, taken straight to your hotel, and skip the negotiation or confusion around local prices or routes.
It also makes the whole journey feel more considered and relaxed. You’re not scrambling around in arrivals, you’re gliding straight into holiday mode.
3. Choose one ‘wow’ night, and upgrade your hotel for it
You don’t need to book five nights in a five-star resort to feel like you’re living the luxury dream. Pick one night of your trip and splash out on an upgraded room, a boutique hotel, or a place with a jaw-dropping view.
Many people save this for the final night so that they can go home on a high. Others use it at the start to set the tone. Either way, just one night in a standout spot can elevate the entire trip.
And often, when you book just for one night, it’s far more affordable than you’d expect.
4. Book experiences with a personal touch
Group tours can be great, but if you want something that feels a bit more exclusive, look for private experiences. It could be a local guide taking you around a hidden neighbourhood, a chef giving you a hands-on cooking lesson, or a sunset boat trip that’s just for your group.
These don’t have to be wildly expensive. In many destinations, the price difference between a group tour and a private one is surprisingly small, but the experience is on a completely different level.
When you’re not following the flag in a crowd, and instead getting insider stories from someone local, it instantly feels more special.
5. Travel light – and smarter
There’s something oddly luxurious about breezing through the airport without checking in a giant suitcase. Travelling with hand luggage only (where possible) makes the entire experience feel sleeker.
You skip the baggage carousel, avoid those extra charges, and you’re straight out the door when you land.
If you’re worried about space, packing cubes are a game-changer. Plan outfits ahead of time, ditch the just-in-case extras, and focus on pieces you’ll wear more than once. When you carry less, the trip somehow feels lighter too.
6. Dine with a view – at least once
Even if you’re watching your budget, set aside one evening for a meal somewhere scenic. That might be a beachside restaurant, a rooftop with skyline views, or even a tucked-away terrace with a view of the local square.
You’re not just paying for the food, you’re paying for the atmosphere, the memory, and the chance to pause and soak up your surroundings.
It doesn’t have to be the most expensive restaurant in town. Plenty of smaller places serve great food with incredible views – you just need to scout them out (or ask a local).
7. Build in time to do nothing
One of the most underrated luxuries of all? Space in your schedule. So often, trips get jam-packed with must-sees, early mornings, and back-to-back plans. That can be fun, but it can also leave you needing another holiday by the end of it.
Build in a day or two where there’s no fixed agenda. Have a slow morning. Wander aimlessly. Read a book by the pool. Do whatever feels good in the moment. That kind of freedom feels indulgent in all the right ways.
When your time feels like your own, the whole trip feels more luxurious.
Ready to elevate your next getaway?
Luxury isn’t always about five-star hotels and private jets. Sometimes, it’s the thoughtful little upgrades – a smooth start at the airport, a scenic dinner spot, or the decision to slow things down. The key is picking a few moments where you trade standard for special.
Even just one or two of these changes can shift the entire mood of your holiday. Try it once, and you’ll start to wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
