Virtuoso is all about luxury and experiential travel, and its 2024 Luxe Report is a what’s what of top trends and destination selections gathered from its 20-thousand strong membership of elite travel advisors. Accordingly, let’s take a peek at what they have picked as their top nine must-do travel experiences for this year.
Virtuoso: 2024 Looks Like This
Dark Sky Tourism: This trend takes your clients to the northernmost destinations of Norway, Iceland and Canada for Northern Lights experiences. Clients preferring warm beaches to cold tundra can opt to view the total solar eclipse on April 8 from the northern coast of Mexico.
Slow Safaris: Slow travel isn’t going anywhere (slowly OR quickly), and wildlife observation is topping the list for sustainable tourism for 2024. Think of it as an alternative to the adrenaline rush of lion hunts and wildebeest migrations—instead, this is gorilla trekking in Rwanda or birdwatching in Botswana, combined with participation in environmental and conservation programming.
Destressing: Seeking solace from daily life can mean a visit to the happiest country in the world or the Land of Happiness: Bhutan. This is a sanctuary for clients searching for authenticity and enlightenment, as is Thailand, which has plenty of hidden oases for rest, relaxation and renewal in mind, body and soul.
Japan—Spring or Winter: Whether you’re booking a springtime Sakura (cherry blossom) experience or winter skiing with Mount Fuji in full snow regalia, Japan is at the top of the list for reemerging destinations for 2024.
Cruising to the Rare and Remote: Wilderness, that is, whether its an expedition cruise to Antarctica or checking out the tortoises on the Galapagos Islands. Adventure cruising of the luxury kind is a leading trend that can take your clients one-of-a-kind access to some of the world’s most fascinating and pristine landscapes.
Luxury Train Travel: And by luxury, we mean going to Paris from Istanbul aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express, A Belmond Train. This is no ordinary train trip, this is an entire voyage that includes a guided tour of Budapest, four-course meals onboard and all the swanky trappings Belmond is known for. The trip ends in Paris with a few days to settle in before the 2024 Olympics, which are scheduled from July 26 – Aug. 11. Book your clients on an extended stay to witness the athletes or just have them enjoy a few extra days in Paris doing what it does best: shopping, dining, museums and galleries.
Pursuing Passions in Exotic Places: So maybe they like gardening, right? How about booking them tickets to the RHS Flower Show in London. Prefer reading? The Strahove Monastery in Prague is a bookworm’s dream. Dancing? Try the Carnaval in Rio. Snorkeling? New Zealand ticks off all kinds of boxes. The idea is to book clients on the coolest destinations where they can pursue their most beloved passion.
Cultural Cuisine: This blend of culture, tradition, culture and history served on a plate is a wonderful way to immerse your clients in a destination. And if it’s during a culinary festival, more’s the better! Think Peruvian picarones at the Mistura Food Festival, the street food in Slovenia or a hands-on cooking class in a family home in Vietnam.
Private Island Getaways: This is absolute seclusion option that gives your clients absolute freedom. No itineraries, no schedules, nothing to do but chill and enjoy a private beach—with all the perks of service that come with a luxury vacation, of course. Charter the entire island and watch the Instragram feed populate.
For more information, visit virtuoso.com.
