It’s no secret that that one percent live much more glamorous lives than most of us. While they have big houses and fancy cars, the income gap is probably most evident when it comes to how the upper echelon of society travels. Private jets, luxe beachside villas, and personal assistants are just the norm for wealthy folk. But, as entrepreneurs continue to create companies that democratize these once reserved services (Uber black cars anyone?), these types of travel perks are no longer reserved for the rich.
Yup, here are five ways you can now travel like the one percent on a budget.
- Hire A Personal Trip Planner
Even though the rich are logging those airline miles, do you think they’ve ever planned the itinerary of a trip? Figuring out the logistics can be one of the most stressful parts of travel for some and why wealthy people have someone to do it for them. Luckily, there’s a more affordable option to get that top-notch service: Essentialist. For a fee of $1,400 a year, the luxury travel planning service will plan all of your family’s trips including flights, hotels, and activities. Plus, they tap into more than 75 editors worldwide to craft an itinerary that’s off the beaten path or get you exclusive access to tastemakers, shows, museums, or whatever you fancy.
- Book A Private Jet
Yes, even private jets are available to those of us who don’t rake in more than seven figures. Many companies have popped up over the year allowing average Joes to book seats on private aircrafts for a fraction of the cost. JetSmarter, for example, makes booking a private flight as easy as Uber. You simply browse and book seats on existing shared flights via an app and can either pay as you go or set up a membership for $2,500 a year that gives you better discounts and accessibility. A quick search for a flight from New York to Miami showed seats on a private jet as low as $995 one way. It’s not cheap, but certainly not as expensive as owning a private plane.
- Lounge In A VIP Airport Suite
Ever wonder why you don’t see celebrities waiting to board a plane at the airport? It’s because there’s a secret VIP waiting lounge where they can relax before take-off. But, what if I told you that you too could rub elbows with the stars? The Private Suite recently opened at LAX and is separate terminal where you can enjoy food, beds and a private TSA security check. You are also driven on the tarmac to the waiting aircraft. The cost for the convenience starts at $2,700 for four people traveling domestically. Plus, hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles are offering access to the space as part of an overnight package.
- Rent A Private Island
Five-star hotels are certainly favorites of the rich. Private staffed mansions are just a little better though. While, yes, there are services like Airbnb that let you book alternative accommodations, companies like HomeToGo kick it up a notch. They the largest vacation home rental search engine and feature everything from private islands to actual celebrity homes. And they start at just hundreds of dollars a night, not thousands. An all-inclusive—chef, transportation, water sports, etc. are all included—private island in Belize, for example, costs just $600 per person per night.
- Hire A Personal Shopper
There’s nothing more annoying than arriving at your destination and realizing you forgot some essentials. Although some hotels will provide backups, they’re not always what you want. And if you’re traveling with kids, you might not want to fill your suitcase with diapers. Enter Jetblack. It’s a new personal shopping service where you text what you need, and it arrives at your door. They can send all the toiletries and essentials (think bulky diapers, wipes, sunscreen, ski gear, etc.) directly to the location and ensure it's there when you arrive so you don't have to worry about packing these items.
Even if you forget your swimsuits, they’ll get you new ones overnight. And you can opt to order all your holiday gifts through them, and they’ll send them ahead (wrapped, of course) to your holiday vacation destination. The Founding Membership price is only $50 a month for the service and Jetblack can send to any domestic hotel or house rental (nothing international at this time).
