By Schoanna Vaswani and Sherina Mahtani - founders of De Luxe Life
We have been traveling together for years and we’d love to share some of our personal travel tips and stories with you! Feel free to ask us any questions or tell us what you think: schoanna@deluxelife.net || sherina@deluxelife.net
1. Rise and Shine!
One sure shot way of making the most of your trip is by waking up early! Catch the sunrise and then indulge in your hotel breakfast or wander out to the nearest street and grab a local snack. Getting a head start means that you’ll beat the crowds at most of the tourist attractions and have plenty of time and space to explore the city at ease. For all those photographers and Instagrammers out there, mornings are also definitely the best time to snap your best shot with the natural light and without any unwanted photo bombers in the back!
2. Get lost
Lose the maps and GPS system, wander where the wifi is weak and let the city roads and locals guide you. As cliché as it sounds, the journey is far more important than the destination - it’s where the magic happens. One of our best travel memories was getting lost just outside of Harbin, China and bumping into some friendly locals who showed us to a breathtaking sunset spot and then recommended a lovely restaurant just off the main road, serving up delicious authentic Chinese cuisine. You’ll never know what you can find unless you let yourself truly explore.
3. Slow Down
It may be tempting to visit multiple places in one stretch; for example, in Europe - but we found that focusing on just one country and exploring within was a much better choice! Driving around Spain was the perfect way to fully embrace the culture and experience the Spanish lifestyle of fiestas and siestas! With every city having its own charm, we fell in love with Spain, taking in everything it had to offer, from exploring Andalusian pueblos, running with the bulls in Pamplona, shopping in Madrid, and deep sea diving in Málaga. So, slow down and make the most of it wherever you are.
4. Stay Off the Beaten Path
As De Luxe Life always recommends, leave the guidebook behind and embark on a boutique experience. While a city’s landmarks and top-rated tourist attractions are a great way to get a feel of the city, the true exploration begins in the hidden gems, the small colourful alleys, and the local eateries and cafes. De Luxe Life specialises in making your every journey as unique and specialized to your preferences as possible! So don’t worry if you’re not sure where to go, just speak to any one of our travel experts and they’ll be happy to help you plan your trip: info@deluxelife.net
We also highly recommend staying at the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (a valued De Luxe Life partner) - with over 500 boutique hotel properties in over 80 countries, and each one more beautiful than the next, they have you covered worldwide!
5. Embrace The Culture
Make it a point to engage with the local community in the area. During our time in Masaai Mara in Kenya, we visited the local village and danced with the people of Masaai during a lively welcoming ceremony, and then spent valuable time with a family, learning the pleasures and disadvantages of staying amidst wildlife.
While it’s important to embrace the culture of the city, it’s also crucial to remain respectful of their culture and customs at all times.
7. Splurge A Little
Travel, in our opinion, is one of the best things you could spend your money on. See what the world has to offer and indulge not in materialistic things but in moments that will make memories. Travel far and wide, and in style, Fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, dive off your private yacht in Santorini or better yet, have dinner on the Great Wall of China. It’s time to make the luxe life yours.
