Chartering a superyacht in St Barts: What makes this island so different

I’ve sent clients to a lot of Caribbean islands over the years, and St Barts still throws me a little every time. It’s tiny. You can practically see across it from a hilltop. And yet it manages to be two completely different places at once: barefoot, salty, goats-on-the-hillside Caribbean on one side, and full-on glamour […]

What really happened on that semi-luxury private tour of Iceland

Last month we tried something here we had never done before. We published the full program and the full price of a private Ring Road tour before it ran. Nine days, two travellers from California, 2,503,000 ISK, call it 19,700 dollars. We promised to write down what actually happened once they flew home, and judging […]

Luxury living in northern Vietnam

Vietnam is a country that has so much to offer, there truly is something for everyone including luxury travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Having first visited Vietnam in 2004 we have been fortunate to explore many different parts of the country since that maiden Vietnam trip. By spending time in both Hanoi […]

5 reasons Cambodia belongs on every luxury traveller’s bucket list

Cambodia isn’t a destination people put on a list lightly. Most of ours end up going for one reason — Angkor Wat, usually — and come back talking about five other things entirely. That’s sort of the pattern with Cambodia. The temples get you there. Everything else is what actually stays with you. Here are […]

10 cool things to do when it’s hot in the Lake District

The Lake District has been enjoying some unusually hot weather lately, and it looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. Sometimes when it’s this warm, a walk on the fells can be sapping on your energy levels. Luckily, one of the magic things about the Lakes is the sheer variety of things to see […]

Luxury stays in Delhi: Where to stay in India’s bustling capital

Overflowing with rich cultural experiences, historical monuments, and an alluring, albeit frenetic, energy, the unique attractions of India’s bustling capital have spellbound generations of travellers across the centuries. The ever-present anchor of the multitude of kingdoms and empires that have risen and fallen around it, Delhi boasts a layered architectural legacy and an international cultural […]

Why private concessions are changing the way we safari

It is the moment everyone waits for on safari. Sometimes, quite literally everyone. You have spent the morning searching for that elusive leopard. Perhaps a guide has just tracked a lion pride moving through the bush. Maybe, after hours of anticipation, a pack of endangered African wild dogs finally emerges from the grass. You lift […]

How to rent a luxury villa in Mykonos

A couple contacted me at Concierge Unique in late May one year asking about a villa for the first two weeks of August. They had been looking online for several weeks. They had found properties they liked. They had a budget that would have been entirely adequate in February. In May, it was adequate for […]

10 Winter holiday destinations you can reach with your Avios

There comes a point every winter when the great British weather seems determined to test our resilience. When the novelty of cosy evenings and hot chocolate has well and truly worn off, the Christmas decorations are more of an annoyance than a celebratory feel good, and sunset arrives no sooner than you finish your afternoon […]

KwaZulu-Natal has it all

KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most underrated and undiscovered destinations, especially given its wide range of highlights all within easy driving distance of one another.  In just 10 – 14 days you can combine world class hiking, rich and diverse culture, delicious local cuisine (think Durban curries and bunny chows), a dramatic, emotive history […]

VIP restaurant reservations in Mykonos: How they actually work

The table at Scorpios that appears on your screen when you search is not the table worth having. The table worth having at Scorpios does not appear on any screen. As CEO of Concierge Unique, I want to be clear about what I mean by this, because it sounds like the kind of thing people […]

The case for Cape Town when European winter sets in 

There’s a specific day every November when it tips over. Not a date you can mark on a calendar – more a feeling. The clocks have gone back, the heating’s come on, and somewhere around the third consecutive grey afternoon you start doing the maths on how many more weeks of this there are. Quite a […]

Luxury Dubai experiences that go beyond the ordinary

Dubai is a city that is seemingly synonymous with luxury. It’s a city where even the police force owns a Bugatti Veyron, and one where the acceleration of wealth is like nowhere else. It’s hard to imagine that in 1968 there were only 13 registered motor vehicles in the entire emirate of Dubai. Today, things […]

Windstar Cruises: 8 reasons why small-ship sailing is the ultimate luxury

In an age when many cruise ships resemble floating cities, Windstar Cruises offers an elegant alternative: intimate yachts designed for a more personal way to explore the world. Carrying between 150 and 350 guests, Windstar’s fleet delivers immersive, authentic experiences with exceptional service. As the cruise line’s motto promises, sailing with Windstar is 180 Degrees from […]