Planning a vacation is a tricky business. How you spend your holiday largely depends not only on where you want to go, but also on how much time you have, what kind of experiences you’d like to immerse in, whether you’d like to hit the road in an RV rental or just take day tours from a base city, and what your budget is.
Of course, if you had a million dollars, all of that becomes a non-issue. Take a year off and hit the road to see Australia. Go on a grand European tour. Or spend it all at once in an ultra luxurious, extremely high-end, reserved-only-for-the-rich-and-famous island resort. You’ve got a world full of possibilities.
Rent an Exclusive Island
Imagine yourself on a private island, surrounded by lushness and unbelievably blue waters, with a dedicated staff catering to your every whim and a luxurious al fresco villa waiting for you at the end of the day.
If you had a million dollars to spend on a vacation of a lifetime, why not splurge and rent a private island for a week? Like Necker Island, perhaps?
With fantastic beaches and hiking trails, the BVI are definitely an RV rental kind of destination. Yet they are also seeping in exclusivity. Join the ranks of Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, and the Obamas on one of the most exclusive islands in the Caribbean. This stunner is a 74-acre luxury resort that boasts Balinese-style villas, freshwater infinity pools, its very own water sports facility, and a small zoo to boot. It’ll only set you back around $560,000!
Take a Grand European Tour
With one million dollars at your disposal, you most certainly have the resource to take the Old Continent by storm. Start in Portugal where Lisbon, Madeira and Algarve are must visits, then meander your way north and east across the continent all the way to Finland to see the Northern Lights.
Eat your way through Italy. Hit the powdery slopes in Switzerland. Stay at Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi in Greece, and carve out some time for sunning and swimming. Take in the spectacular castles in Germany. See the gothic and medieval architecture in the Czech Republic. And take a scenic river cruise along the Danube.
Skip the car or RV rental this time, and clock in plenty of hours on the train instead. It is one of the best ways to see the European countryside.
Go on the Road around Australia and New Zealand
Grand adventures and epic sights await you in Australia and New Zealand. Beaches and awesome surf breaks abound, as are mountains, forests, land formations, caves, and cityscapes. And the best way to experience all of it is going on a languid, extended road trip in an RV rental, preferably a very luxurious one with all the necessary glamping amenities.
Start your tour along Australia’s eastern coast where most of the country’s best attractions are at your disposal. Cape Tribulation, the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Forest, the Cathedrals on Fraser Island and Sydney are some of the must stops. Go on a journey on the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles in the south then make your way to the Northern Territory to see the famous Uluru.
Continue your RV rental exploits in New Zealand to see Milford Sound, Tongariro National Park and its Maori sites, the Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Orakei Korako Geothermal Park.
Ride the Eastern & Oriental Express Train
If you’re itching for a more upscale spin on road travel than an RV rental, then the Eastern & Oriental Express Train might be more to your liking. What’s a more romantic and luxurious way to see Asia than onboard this exquisite locomotive that offers service and amenities beyond first class? Buy yourself a fancy dress or suit, then secure a Presidential Suite aboard this Old World journey from Singapore to Bangkok.
The seven-day-and-five-night journey takes you through the bustling cities and bucolic countryside of Malaysia and Thailand. You’ll see Kuala Lumpur, stay at the beautiful Cameron Highlands Resort, explore the Cameron Highlands jungle, visit colonial Georgetown, and stop by the small fishing village of Baan Huay Yang.
Onboard, you’ll be treated to elegant traditional East and Southeast Asian interiors, formidable dining, an excellent piano bar, a colonial veranda-style observation car, and a 125-square-foot suite that comes with its own complimentary bar.
Go On a Luxury Safari Trip in Africa
African safaris are known to be quite expensive—with rates that start at around $800 per person per night. So if you’ve got a million dollars in your travel account, it’s only a question of where. After all, the plains of Africa are as unforgettable as they are legendary.
There are many deliciously luxurious private reserves and camps to consider as your base. Abu Camp in Botswana, for one, offers gorgeous Old World-style décor, bright tent-style units, exploring the bush on the back on an elephant, elevated decks that overlook a lagoon.
However, if you prefer sleeping under the stars, then the Lion Sands Game Reserve is certainly the way to go. The award-winning reserve is home to several stunning and ultra lavish tree houses like the Kingston Treehouse, which come with exquisite flourishes, spectacular views of the grounds and the endless night sky, and a canopy bed set al fresco. It’s glamping on a whole new level.