The spa is inarguably one of the best parts of any luxury hotel experience. It’s the place you go to truly relax and unwind with sumptuous saunas, massages, and endless treatments to soothe and rejuvenate. We asked the Luxury Gold Travel Experiences team for their best hotel spas. From St. Moritz to Sydney, mountain views to mineral wraps, here are their recommendations.

As 2023 unfolds before us, we’ve rounded up current luxury travel trends to catch your eye. Sustainability remains at the forefront, whilst modern and future technology ensures the most luxurious and seamless experiences. From local gastronomy to going solo, 2023 promises to be a year of unforgettable journeys.

Sleep and sleep technology

@hastensleepspa_coimbra

Enjoy the most luxurious night’s sleep with the help of technology. Sleep is fast becoming one of the key luxury travel trends. More and more hotel brands are looking to technology to ensure their guests get the best rest. Think AI-powered beds that adjust mattresses to support your body and select the best room temperatures for you to maintain quality sleep.

In Coimbra, Portugal, you can enjoy the Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel, a boutique hotel from the famous Swedish mattress brand. Here acoustics, sleep books and hypoallergenic mattresses are all designed for optimal rest and relaxation. In London, the Belmond Cadogan Hotel offers the services of a ‘Sleep Concierge’ service. This includes meditation as well as weighted blankets, pillows and pillow mists, all based on a guest’s sleeping preferences.

Related content: 5 ultra-modern tech gadgets to help make jet lag a thing of the past

Flat-pack hotels

@habitastulum

Though this may sound like one of the more gimmicky luxury travel trends, it is rooted deeply in sustainability. The flat pack hotel has its parts manufactured in a factory, flat packed and transported to its destination, before being assembled on site. Famed for leading the trend is hotel group Habitas. While the phrase flat packed doesn’t initially conjure up luxury, its Tulum hotel in Mexico is a thoughtfully designed, sustainable lifestyle hotel that offers ‘stylish simplicity’.

Instead of glitzy lobbies and heavy structures, their hotels are built around natural elements such as trees, rocks and water. Habitas’ hotels have opened in the Ashar Valley of Saudi Arabia and in Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende countryside. More retreats are planned for 2023 in Mexico, Morocco, Costa Rica and Bhutan.

Related content: Our top 10 hand-picked luxury hotel stays for 2023

Meaningful itineraries

Having missed out on a lot of travel over the past few years, the luxury traveler is keen to make travel experiences deeper and more meaningful than ever. Instead of just passing through a destination or skimming its surface, guests are wanting luxury to also mean educational and real.

At Luxury Gold our curated experiences are the highlights of our tours, with many opportunities to enjoy local connections. Join us to tap into this trend for luxury travel in 2023. Delve into the colorful history of traditional textiles in Perugia, Italy, as you meet Marta who works hard to preserve the ancient craft. And in Memphis, USA, take part in a Creole cooking demonstration before feasting on traditional Southern dishes that you have learned how to create.

On our exclusive Founder’s Collection departures, meet European nobility, legendary locals and celebrated icons. Meaning that you mingle with the people who have shaped the history of the places you go. And you will make a positive impact on people, communities and wildlife through our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences.

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy, Southern Grace

Read more: Slow and sustainable: the expectations of the luxury traveler in 2023 and beyond

The rise of solo travel

It seems everyone is talking about solo travel now as one of 2023’s hottest luxury travel trends. And we agree it’s an enlightening and empowering way to see the world. Why wait for others? Travel where and when you choose and make sure nothing remains gathering dust on your bucket list. And don’t think it is something only for the young, solo travel is for everyone. Virtuoso recently reported that among its travelers aged 65+, interest in single travel went from 4 percent in 2019 to 18 percent in 2022.

Choosing to travel solo in a group is the ultimate combination of individual freedom and the security of others. And luxurious, curated travel provides the ultimate way to realize your dreams and go beyond your expectations.

Read more: 7 reasons why luxury travel is the ultimate form of self indulgence

The Metaverse – try before you buy

Image by Freepik

With the help of the Metaverse to ‘try before you buy’, traveler engagement will climb to the next level in 2023 and beyond. Through this technology, travelers are able to have experiences in the online world, for example at virtual concerts and exhibitions. As technology advances, it is possible to incorporate deeper cultural experiences into this virtual world.

The metaverse offers an exciting opportunity to enhance pre-trip assistance. As well as creating a sense of excitement and desire with previews of experiences that await. One of the more remarkable luxury travel trends, Qatar Airways recently announced the Qverse with a MetaHuman cabin crew. Through this they will offer an immersive experience for navigating Hamad International Airport.

Local travel and food ticks the boxes

@visitjapanau

More and more, high-end travelers are seeking out both luxurious and local. A yearning for locally sourced produce, seasonal menus, and regional fare is prevailing – and this is one of 2023’s luxury travel trends. And this means not just eating local food but having the opportunity to mingle with locals at the same time.

Today’s luxury traveler is looking for fine dining, but also for a selection of venues off the traditional tourist route. These are places where you can sit, mingle and soak up the true culture of your destination. At Luxury Gold there are plenty of opportunities to connect to the local culture and community and through cuisine. From thoughtfully selected restaurants to free time where your Travel Concierge can make recommendations, we’ve got it covered. Travel with us to Japan and we’ll introduce you to a Local Expert who will take you on a stroll through the famous Donburi Street. You’ll hit up all the best stalls to taste all the specialties from grilled meat skewers to melon pan ice cream.

Discover this on: Majestic Japan

Read more: From Tokyo to London, were to sample the world’s best street food

Luxury yachts from luxury hotel brands

@ritzcarltonyachtcollection

Imagine the luxury and comfort of your favorite hotel brand combined with the magic of the open sea. A new era of yachting from the world’s leading hotel brands is tantalizingly being dangled before us. And last October, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection was launched with Evrima, the most sophisticated and expensive civilian ship ever built in Spain.

At the end of 2022, Four Seasons confirmed the launch of a cruise ship with 95 suites. Belmond, the name behind the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, was a pioneer, launching its river-focused péniche-hôtels in 2004. These sophisticated vessels are designed for luxurious relaxation, letting the magic of each destination provide the main entertainment.

If these luxury vacation trends have inspired you to think about your next journey, take a look at our worldwide collection of limited-edition tours.

What is jet lag? 

What is jet lag? This common sleep disorder for long-distance travelers affects your internal sleep clock (or circadian rhythms) and can make those first couple days in your destination a foggy blur. Fortunately, there are options for jet lag treatment that can help you enjoy every moment at your destination. We’ve gathered our top five jet lag gadgets to help you leave the fog behind.

Apps to fight jet lag

One popular and inexpensive category of jet jag cure are apps that regulate your sleep. For example,  TimeShifter was developed by a doctor at Harvard Medical School to personalize how you fight jetlag. You enter information such as your gender, age, the times you usually fall asleep and wake up, if you use caffeine or a sleep aid, and if you’re a night owl or early bird to help shift your sleeping rhythms before and after you fly. You’ll then receive notifications with recommendations on adjusting light, sleep and drinking caffeine. Similar technology has even been used by NASA astronauts. 

Similar apps such as Entrain help to regulate your light and darkness exposure. Simply enter your current and new time zone and the app will create a personalized light schedule for you. Jet Lag Rooster app also monitors your light exposure to help in adjusting to your new time zone and sends similar notifications as TimeShifter on light exposure and sleep times. Since you can create your personalized jet lag plan before you fly, why not get ahead of jet lag with one of these easy-to-use apps?

@timeshifter

Light therapy wearables

Another cutting-edge jet lag remedy is light therapy you can wear. Because light is one of the top cues for our brain to adjust to a new time zone, focusing on light exposure is a natural way to combat jet lag. Light therapy, such as bright tabletop lights you may have seen to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder, is used in the morning to simulate the morning sun to kick off your body’s natural rhythms. 

One example of a light therapy wearable is Re-Timer, a portable light device worn on your face. This battery powered device looks like a large pair of glasses. They work by emitting a green light that provides the same benefits as sunlight to regulate sleep and waking patterns. You can wear them day or night – ideally for 50 minutes three times a week – to adjust your body clock. You can even use Re-Timer to help with insomnia, Seasonal Affective Disorder or other light deprivation issues.

@re_timer

Sleep masks

Similar to light therapy wearables, traditional sleep masks are a beneficial low-tech solution to limit light exposure. While a high-quality blackout mask is best, even the airplane’s complimentary sleep mask can help. Some sleep masks have padded eye cups, making them extra comfortable. 

Or, you can take your sleep mask to the next level with a mask that works with a mobile phone app to adjust light and help you regulate your sleep patterns. The mask syncs with the app and tells you when to seek light before your flight and helps you adjust to your new time zone during your flight. Neuron sleep mask measures brainwaves to gather sleep data, develop advanced sleep staging and get personalized sleep tips. Topoint Sleep Eye Mask Wireless Headphones includes built-in wireless so you can also enjoy sounds and music of your choice.

Noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds

Sound therapy, and management, can also help regulate sleep. Loud airplane cabins can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. So, while earplugs and standard headphones are beneficial, investing in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can enhance your sleep quality. Not only will these block out noise but can give you the auditory experience of your choice from white noise and meditations to music from the app of your choice. 

Portable White Noise Machines

On the topic of sound therapy, you can continue to treat your ears to soothing sounds and regulate your sleep in your destination with a small, portable white noise machine. These easy-to-pack devices mask the background sounds in your room that can be particularly distracting in a new environment. Many machines offer a range of choices from bright or deep white noise to the sounds of the ocean. Should you prefer to pack light, there are many apps offering a wealth of white noise or soothing sounds. 

Check out more of our travel trips and plan your next journey with Luxury Gold.