Our guides answer the practical questions our specialists are asked most — how much does a luxury safari really cost, when is the best time to visit the Maldives, should you choose Kenya or Tanzania, is the Seychelles or Mauritius better for honeymoons. Every answer is grounded in first-hand experience and the supplier rates we work with daily.
58 guides published — grouped by category below.
Cost & Budget (12)
How much does a luxury safari cost? A luxury safari typically costs £6,500–£12,000 per person for 7 nights all-inclusive. Ultra-luxury private conservancy or combined safari-and-gorilla journeys range £15,000–£25,000+ per person.
How much does a luxury Japan holiday cost? A 10-night luxury Japan holiday typically costs £8,500–£14,500 per person on the ground (hotels, rail, guides, transfers), plus £900–£5,500 in flights depending on cabin. Ultra-luxury (Aman, top ryokans, private vehicle) runs £18,000–£25,000+ per person.
How much does a luxury Maldives holiday cost? A luxury Maldives holiday typically costs £5,500–£10,000 per person for 7 nights half-board. Ultra-luxury overwater villas and private-island resorts range £12,000–£18,000+ per person.
How much does a luxury honeymoon cost? A luxury honeymoon typically costs £10,000–£20,000 per couple for 10–14 nights. Ultra-luxury or multi-destination journeys (Africa + Indian Ocean) range £25,000–£45,000+ per couple including flights.
How much does a private jet cost to charter? Private jet charter costs £3,000–£4,500 per flying hour for a very light jet, £4,000–£5,500 light, £5,000–£7,000 midsize, £6,000–£8,500 super-midsize, £8,000–£12,000 heavy, and £12,000–£18,000 for an ultra-long-range Gulfstream or Global. London–Nice is typically £14,000–£22,000 one-way on a Phenom 300; London–Dubai on a heavy or ultra-long-range £70,000–£110,000.
How much does a luxury yacht charter cost? A luxury crewed yacht charter costs £35,000–£80,000 per week for a 25–35m motor yacht and £150,000–£800,000+ per week for a 50–100m+ superyacht, plus 25–35% APA and VAT.
How much does a private jet charter cost? Private jet charter costs roughly £4,000 per flying hour for a light jet to £12,000–£18,000 per hour for ultra-long-range aircraft, plus taxes and fees. A London–Nice one-way on a Phenom 300 runs £14,000–£22,000; London–Dubai on a heavy jet £70,000–£110,000.
How much does a superyacht charter cost? A crewed superyacht charter costs from €25,000/week for a Caribbean sailing catamaran to €400,000–€1,000,000+/week for a 50m+ Mediterranean superyacht, plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of 25–35% and local VAT. A €150,000/week 35m Med yacht totals roughly €210,000–€230,000 all-in.
How much does a luxury safari cost per person per night? A top-tier African safari costs US$1,200–$2,500 per person per night at Singita, andBeyond and Wilderness lodges — meaning a one-week luxury safari for two runs £25,000–£60,000+ including light-aircraft transfers. Green-season departures (roughly November and April) save 30–40%.
How much does a water villa cost in the Maldives? Maldives overwater villas cost from around £650/night at entry-luxury resorts to £1,500–£5,000+/night at Soneva, Cheval Blanc, Velaa and Joali. A 7-night stay for two in a premium overwater villa runs £15,000–£25,000 all-in with flights and seaplane; ultra-luxury £30,000–£70,000+.
How much does a luxury chalet in Courchevel cost, week by week? The top 20 luxury chalets in Courchevel 1850 cost £60,000–£150,000/week in shoulder weeks and £120,000–£350,000/week over Christmas, New Year and February half term. Rates are catered — private chef, host, driver, daily housekeeping, ski technician — with peak weeks 40–100% above shoulder.
Empty leg flights explained — how they work and what you actually save An empty leg is a repositioning private jet flight an operator has to fly with no passengers — the aircraft is going anyway, so the seat cost is discounted. Realistic savings are 25–75% off the full charter rate, in exchange for accepting a fixed date, fixed route and fixed departure time.
Destinations (14)
Best luxury honeymoon destinations The top luxury honeymoon destinations are the Maldives, Bora Bora, Santorini, Mauritius, St Barths, Bali, Tuscany, Japan, the Seychelles, and combined Kenya–Zanzibar. Choose based on landscape priority (overwater, beach, mountain, city) and your travel window.
Best luxury family holiday destinations The strongest luxury family destinations are Mauritius, Dubai, the Maldives (selected family-friendly resorts), Italy, Greece, family safari in Kenya, the Caribbean and Mediterranean villas in Tuscany or Mallorca.
Is Japan expensive for luxury travellers? Japan is mid-priced for luxury travel — leading hotels run £700–£1,800 per night, comparable to Italy and below London or New York. Food, private rail and licensed English-speaking guides offer exceptional value relative to Western Europe.
What is the best luxury safari destination? The best luxury safari destinations are Botswana (Okavango Delta, ultra-exclusive), Kenya (Maasai Mara conservancies, best for first-timers and families), Tanzania (Serengeti and Migration scale), South Africa (Sabi Sand for guaranteed Big Five), and Zambia (South Luangwa for walking safari).
How long should you spend in Japan? 12–14 nights is ideal for a first trip — Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and one extra region (Hiroshima, Kanazawa or Naoshima). 7 nights for a city-focused taste; 18–21 nights for grand tours including Hokkaido or Kyushu.
How long should you spend in Italy? 10–14 nights is ideal for a first trip — pair Rome, Florence and Tuscany with either the Amalfi Coast or the Italian Lakes. 7 nights for one region; 18–21 nights for a full north-to-south grand tour.
How long should a safari be? A first safari should be a minimum 6–7 nights across 2 camps. 10–12 nights is the sweet spot — three camps in contrasting habitats — and 14+ nights for safari-and-beach honeymoons or combined safari-and-gorillas.
Is the Maldives worth it? Yes for honeymoons, anniversaries and pure-beach holidays. No if you want cultural depth, hiking or a sense of place beyond an island resort.
Is a luxury safari worth it? For most travellers, yes. Luxury safari camps deliver expert guides (1:4 ratios vs 1:12 budget), private vehicles, exceptional food and conservation impact that budget alternatives cannot match.
Is Bhutan worth visiting? Yes — Bhutan is one of the few remaining places that combines genuine cultural depth (Vajrayana Buddhism, fortress-monasteries) with dramatic landscapes and exceptional luxury hotels (Aman, Six Senses, COMO).
Best luxury private islands in the world Necker (BVI), Laucala (Fiji), Mustique (Caribbean), North Island (Seychelles), Velaa (Maldives) and Soneva Secret (Maldives) lead the world's private-island offering.
Best luxury overwater villas in the world Soneva Jani (Maldives), Cheval Blanc (Maldives), Velaa (Maldives), Joali (Maldives), The Brando (French Polynesia) and St Regis Bora Bora lead the world's best overwater villas.
Best luxury ski resorts in the world St Moritz, Courchevel 1850, Verbier, Aspen, Niseko (Japan), Lech and Zermatt lead the world's luxury ski. For pure powder, Niseko and Aspen; for glamour, St Moritz and Courchevel; for skiing depth, Verbier and Zermatt.
Is Saudi Arabia safe for tourists? Yes. Saudi Arabia is safe for international tourists in the tourism regions (AlUla, Riyadh, Diriyah, Jeddah, the Red Sea and NEOM's Sindalah), with an eVisa available to 60+ nationalities including the UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia. Dress modestly in public, respect alcohol prohibition, and standard cultural courtesies apply.
When to Go (15)
Best time to visit Japan The best time to visit Japan is late March to early April for cherry blossom (sakura) or October to November for autumn colour. May and June are excellent shoulder months; July–August are hot and humid; December–February is cold but exceptional for Niseko skiing and onsen.
Best time to visit the Maldives The best time to visit the Maldives is November to April — the dry season with calm seas, clear skies and consistent sun. May to October is the wet season (south-west monsoon), with more rain, better diving for whale sharks and mantas, and 25–40% lower rates.
Best time to go on safari in Africa The best general time for an African safari is June to October — the dry season, when wildlife concentrates around water and viewing is exceptional. Specific windows vary: Migration river crossings July–September; Botswana's Okavango flood June–September; Tanzania's calving January–March.
What is the best month to visit Jordan? The best months to visit Jordan are March, April, May, September, October and November — warm dry days (18–28°C), cool nights and ideal walking conditions at Petra and Wadi Rum. Avoid July–August (40°C+ at Petra) and January–February (cold in Petra/Amman, snow possible).
Best time to visit the Seychelles April–May and October–November are the ideal months — light winds, calm seas, excellent visibility for diving and snorkelling. Year-round destination with no monsoon.
Best time to visit Italy May, June, September and early October are the best months — warm weather, lower crowds than peak summer and full restaurant calendars. Avoid August in cities; favour the coast.
Best time to visit Greece May, June, September and early October — warm seas, light winds and full island restaurants without the August crowds.
Best time to visit Thailand November–March is the dry, cool, ideal season nationwide. Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is best Nov–April; Gulf coast (Koh Samui) is best Feb–April and Jul–Sep.
Best time to visit Bali May, June and September are the sweet spot — dry season, warm temperatures and lighter crowds than July–August. Avoid January and February (peak rains).
Best time to visit South Africa May–September is the dry season — peak safari in the Kruger and Sabi Sand. November–March is summer in Cape Town and the Winelands. April–May and October are the all-rounder months.
Best time to visit Morocco March–May and September–November are ideal — warm days, cool evenings, perfect for Marrakech, the Atlas, the desert and the coast. Avoid July–August in the south (45°C+) and the Sahara.
Best time to visit Vietnam February–April and August–October are the best all-rounder windows for a north-to-south Vietnam itinerary. Each region has its own pattern.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka December–March for the south and west coast (Galle, Tangalle, Yala). April–September for the east coast (Trincomalee, Pasikuda). The Cultural Triangle is good year-round.
Best time to visit Saudi Arabia October to April is prime season for AlUla, Riyadh and Diriyah — 20–30°C by day and cool clear evenings. The Red Sea coast (St. Regis Red Sea, Six Senses Southern Dunes, Shebara) is comfortable almost year-round, best October to May. Avoid the interior in June–August (44°C+).
When is the best time to visit the Maldives? The Maldives is best November to April (dry season) — sun, calm seas, minimal rain. December–March is peak and most expensive; May–October is greener, warmer and 20–35% cheaper on the same villa. Christmas–New Year adds 40–80% and 7–10 night minimums at the top resorts.
Seasonal Picks (17)
Best luxury holidays for October October is one of the best travel months globally — the Maldives enters dry season, Japan reaches autumn colour, Kenya safari peaks, Jordan is at its ideal temperature, Greece offers warm-water shoulder, and Italy has the wine harvest.
Best luxury winter sun destinations The best luxury winter sun destinations (November–March) are the Maldives, Mauritius, St Barths, Dubai, Cape Town, Thailand, Costa Rica and the Seychelles. Choose by flight time, beach style and activity preference.
Best luxury holidays for Christmas & New Year The Maldives, St Barths, the French and Swiss Alps, Cape Town and the Caribbean (Mustique, Antigua, Barbados) are the top luxury Christmas destinations. Book 12+ months ahead.
Best luxury holidays for Easter Japan (cherry blossom), Sicily, Morocco, Jordan, the Maldives and Greece are the top luxury Easter destinations. Cherry blossom in Japan is the biggest draw — book 9+ months ahead.
Best luxury summer holidays The Mediterranean leads — Amalfi, Sicily, Sardinia, Mallorca, the French Riviera, Greece and Croatia. For long-haul off-season, Indonesia, Iceland and parts of South America are exceptional.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in January January is peak season for the Maldives, the Caribbean, Thailand and South Africa — long-haul winter sun is at its most reliable.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in February February is the warmest, driest month for the Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Tanzania — and the heart of the ski season in the Alps.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in March March is the bridge month — late Indian Ocean season, cherry blossom in Japan, shoulder Caribbean and the start of safari shoulder.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in April April opens the European season — Italy, Greece and Spain in spring — plus Japan's cherry blossom, the Galapagos and Easter Caribbean.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in May May is the European sweet spot — Greece, Italy and Spain at their warm-but-uncrowded best, plus the start of the African dry season.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in June June opens the European summer and the East African safari dry season — plus the Arctic, Iceland and Greenland midnight sun.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in July July is peak European summer and the heart of the African Migration — plus Iceland, Patagonia (winter), and Indonesia's dry season.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in August August continues European summer and the Migration — best handled with private villas, yacht charters and remote safari camps.
Where to go on a luxury holiday in December December is winter-sun peak — Maldives, Caribbean, Mauritius — plus the start of the ski season and Christmas in Cape Town or Patagonia.
Mediterranean yacht charter season — when to sail where Mediterranean yacht season runs May to October. French Riviera and Italian Riviera peak in July and August; Croatia and Greek islands are best May–June and September; Balearics peak June–September. Book peak weeks 6–12 months out on strong 40m+ yachts.