Luxury Staycation Spots for a Dream Getaway

by

Posted on 15-10-2023 06:46 PM

Staycations have become increasingly popular over the past few years as people look for ways to relax and recharge without the hassle of air travel. While staycations can be done on any budget, luxury staycations take the experience to the next level. From five-star accommodations to exclusive amenities and activities, luxury staycations allow you to feel like you're on a fabulous vacation without ever leaving town.

Finding the Perfect Luxury Staycation Destination

The first step in planning a luxury staycation is choosing the right destination. Look for major cities and resort areas that offer high-end hotels, restaurants, spas, and things to do. Top luxury staycation spots in the U.S. include:

  • New York City: With iconic hotels like The Plaza, Mandarin Oriental, and Park Hyatt, NYC is a prime luxury staycation spot. Enjoy Michelin-star dining, Broadway shows, and shopping on 5th Avenue.

  • Las Vegas: Sin City hotels like the Bellagio, Aria, and Wynn offer lavish accommodations with casinos, nightclubs, spas, and endless entertainment on the Strip.

  • Miami: Known for its glitz and glamour, Miami has luxury beachfront hotels like 1 Hotel South Beach and The Setai Miami Beach. Lounge at the pool, enjoy water sports, and experience Miami's lively nightlife.

  • Los Angeles: LA's top luxury hotels include Hotel Bel-Air, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, and The London West Hollywood. Shop Rodeo Drive, hike in Malibu, or lounge at hotel pools.

  • San Francisco: Boutique Nob Hill hotels, scenic views, and world-class dining make San Francisco a fabulous luxury staycation spot. Visit Muir Woods, tour Napa Valley wineries, or enjoy a foodie tour.

  • Hawaii: Luxury resorts like Four Seasons Hualalai and Fairmont Kea Lani on the Big Island or Halekulani on Oahu make Hawaii a tropical staycation paradise.

  • National Parks: Luxury lodges like Amangani in Jackson Hole, WY and The Lodge at Blue Sky in Utah offer stunning natural settings near national parks.

Booking Five-Star Accommodations

Once you select a destination, it's time to book a luxury hotel or resort. Here are some top accommodation types to consider:

Luxury Hotels

  • Five-Star Hotels: Look for five-star hotels, the highest designation awarded. These offer impeccable service, lavish amenities, and excellent facilities. Popular luxury brands include Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Mandarin Oriental.

  • Boutique Hotels: For a more intimate, unique experience, boutique hotels offer personalized service with stylish, upscale decor. Many are located in vibrant urban areas.

Resort Accommodations

  • Beach Resorts: Luxury beach resorts like One&Only Palmilla in Mexico offer oceanfront rooms, beach butlers, water sports, and endless pampering.

  • Golf Resorts: Top golf resorts provide exclusive access to PGA-level courses along with lavish hotel amenities. Popular spots include Pebble Beach Resorts in California.

  • Ski Resorts: Luxury ski resorts in destinations like Vail and Aspen offer ski-in/ski-out access, ski valets, spas, and fine dining.

  • Spa Resorts: At spa resorts like Canyon Ranch in Arizona and Miraval Austin, wellness is the focus with extensive spa menus, fitness classes, healthy cuisine and more.

Unique Accommodations

  • Private Villas: Rent a multi-bedroom villa for the ultimate in space, privacy and luxury. These come with full staff, amenities, and VIP perks.

  • Luxury Camps: Safari camps like andBeyond in Africa and Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Canada offer ultra-luxe tents with five-star comforts.

Pampering Amenities to Look For

The hallmark of a luxury staycation is enjoying lavish amenities and services. Be sure to look for:

  • 24-hour Concierge: A dedicated concierge handles any request like booking restaurants, arranging activities, and securing hard-to-get tickets.

  • Butler Service: Personal butlers cater to your every need like unpacking, making dinner reservations, and serving afternoon tea.

  • Pillow Menus: Choose from a "pillow menu" with different pillow types, like goose down, memory foam, and buckwheat hull.

  • In-Room Massages: Many hotels offer private spa services in your guest room or suite. Treat yourself to a massage without leaving your room.

  • Plunge Pools: Luxury suites feature private plunge pools on balconies or patios for relaxing dips any time.

  • Rooftop Pools: Hotels offer gorgeous rooftop infinity pools with cabanas, cocktail service and amazing views.

  • Turndown Service: Return to your room in the evening to find it meticulously prepared for bedtime with curtains drawn, music playing, and slippers waiting.

  • Private Yacht Excursions: Spend a day aboard a private luxury yacht charter fishing, snorkeling or cruising to a secluded beach.

  • Helicopter Tours: See your city from a new vantage point with a private helicopter tour over key landmarks and surrounding areas.

  • Luxury Car Rentals: Upgrade your staycation drives with a luxury or sports car rental delivered right to your hotel.

Romantic Luxury Staycation Ideas for Couples

Luxury staycations also make for incredible romantic getaways. Here are top romantic staycation ideas:

Destination Staycations

  • Book a suite with an overwater bungalow or a private plunge pool for intimacy and ambiance. Popular spots include Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

  • Check into a cozy mountainside retreat with a fireplace and soaking tub. Enjoy the natural beauty and seclusion.

  • Rent a private villa on a tropical island for the ultimate in exclusivity and privacy. Many come with full staff.

Couples Activities

  • Arrange a couples massage in your hotel spa or in your guest room.

  • Charter a private sunset sailing cruise complete with champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

  • Take a chocolate making or wine tasting class for a fun, romantic experience.

  • Book a dance lesson like salsa, tango, or ballroom through the hotel concierge.

Romantic Touches

  • Order champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries to your room.

  • Receive rose petal turndown service while at dinner for a romantic surprise.

  • Enjoy breakfast in bed on a morning of your stay. The hotel can handle all the details.

  • Arrange for musicians to serenade you with violins during a candlelit dinner on your balcony.

Family-Friendly Luxury Staycations

Just because you're bringing the kids doesn't mean you have to compromise on luxury. Look for family-friendly amenities like:

  • Kid's Clubs: Top hotels offer supervised kids' clubs with games, activities, and even movie nights so parents can enjoy alone time.

  • Family Suites: Luxury suites provide extra space for families with separate bedrooms, living rooms, and sometimes kitchens.

  • Themed Suites: Some hotels offer themed kids' suites with bunk beds, toys, and decor from favorite characters or movies.

  • Kid's Menus: Resorts offer gourmet kid's menus so even little ones can enjoy five-star dining.

  • Game Rooms: Resort game rooms keep kids entertained for hours with arcade games, foosball, air hockey, and movie theaters.

  • Craft Classes: Sign the kids up for special art classes, cookie decorating workshops or mocktail lessons just for them.

  • Teen Spa Services: Let teens get mani-pedis at the spa while parents enjoy massages. They'll love feeling so grown up.

  • Family Excursions: Plan private snorkeling charters, helicopter tours, or poolside cabana days. The concierge can help organize.

Wellness-Focused Luxury Staycations

For the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, choose a luxury wellness staycation. Top wellness amenities include:

Spa Treatments

  • Ayurvedic Treatments: Spas offer traditional Ayurvedic treatments like Shirodhara oil pouring and Abhyanga massage.

  • Hydrotherapy: Water therapies include Vichy showers, Swiss jet showers, mud baths, and thalassotherapy pools.

  • Reflexology: This pressure point massage stimulates organs and glands to reduce stress and restore balance.

  • Reiki: A light-touch energy healing treatment that promotes deep relaxation.

  • Sound Healing: Meditate as crystal singing bowls produce calming, restorative vibrations.

Wellness Activities

  • Yoga: Take yoga classes or meditate in a tranquil sanctuary garden.

  • Pilates: Strengthen your core with mat Pilates or use studio reformers.

  • Guided Hikes: Breathe fresh air while connecting with nature on scenic guided hikes.

  • Fitness Classes: Take your pick from classes like kickboxing, barre, cycling, aqua aerobics, and more.

  • Healthy Cooking Classes: Learn new superfood recipes and cooking techniques from resort chefs.

Wellness Amenities

  • Juice Bars: Sip freshly squeezed juices and smoothies at on-site juice bars.

  • Oxygen Treatments: Breathe purified oxygen to energize, detoxify, and boost mental clarity.

  • Halotherapy: Bask in the rejuvenating effects of halo/salt therapy rooms.

  • Infrared Saunas: Detoxify and relax in therapeutic infrared saunas.

  • Cryotherapy: Some spas offer cryotherapy chambers surrounded by liquid nitrogen vapors.

Adventure-Packed Luxury Staycations

Luxury and adventure make an exciting combination for an active staycation. Look for hotels that offer:

Water Sports

  • Scuba Diving: Dive beautiful reefs and shipwrecks on guided scuba trips from your resort.

  • Snorkeling Tours: Snorkel in clear waters to see tropical fish and sea turtles up close.

  • Surf Lessons: Take private surf lessons to master riding the waves. Luxury surf camps also available.

  • Paddleboarding: Paddleboard yoga and paddleboard excursions offer new adventures.

  • Kayaking: See more by kayak with guided bioluminescent trips or daytime paddles.

  • Boating: Charter a private boat for the day to visit secluded islands and coves.

Land Excursions

  • Helicopter Tours: Soar over your city or scenic landscapes on a thrilling helicopter tour.

  • Hot Air Ballooning: Float peacefully above the scenery on a sunrise hot air balloon ride.

  • Horseback Riding: Ride horses along beaches, through forests, or on mountain trails.

  • ATV Tours: All-terrain vehicles allow you to cover more ground for nature adventures.

  • Jeep Tours: Explore off-road areas by open-air jeep to see beautiful vistas.

  • Zipline Tours: Get your adrenaline pumping on zipline canopy tours and adventure courses.

Safari Adventures

  • African Safaris: Luxury camps place you front-row for the Great Migration in Kenya's Maasai Mara or gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

  • Galapagos Cruises: Sail by yacht to explore the islands' unique wildlife and volcanic landscapes.

  • Amazon Lodges: Spot exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, and pink river dolphins on an Amazon cruise.

 

Culinary Luxury Staycations

Food Tours

  • Embark on walking food tours through cities like New Orleans, Charleston, and San Francisco to sample bites at top eateries and markets.

  • Take foodie road trips to visit wineries, dairies, orchards, and other local food producers.

  • Book street food tours to taste your way through night markets, food trucks, and hole-in-the-wall spots.

Cooking Classes

  • Learn new techniques like searing, braising, and deglazing in hands-on cooking classes.

  • Take a knife skills workshop to chop, slice, and dice like a seasoned chef.

  • Attend a mixology class to create craft cocktails under the guidance of an expert bartender.

Farm Stays

  • Stay at a working farm to pick produce, collect eggs, and milk cows.

  • Go on a foraging walk to gather wild mushrooms, herbs, berries, and greens.

  • Tour artisanal food makers like cheese factories, cider mills, and maple syrup farms.

Gourmet Picnics

  • Pack a luxury picnic basket filled with charcuterie, artisanal cheeses, fresh bread, and fruit.

  • Enjoy champagne picnics with fine bubbles and caviar in lush gardens or scenic nature spots.

  • Relax at poolside picnic lunches with lobster rolls, crudités, and refreshing cocktails.

Luxury Shopping Staycations

Shopaholics will love these luxury shopping staycation ideas:

Shopping Tours

  • Arrange a personal shopper to create looks, offer styling advice, and pull pieces at designer boutiques.

  • Take a VIP retail tour with behind-the-scenes access, complimentary champagne, and car service between stores.

  • Book mall walking tours hitting the best shops followed by relaxing foot massages.

Shopping Events

  • Attend warehouse sales to score designer brands at deep discounts.

  • Shop exclusive pop-up shops from visiting designers or limited-edition collections.

  • Snag coveted items at sample sales and trunk shows.

Crafting Experiences

  • Make your own perfume under the guidance of fragrance experts.

  • Take a jewelry making class to craft earrings, necklaces or rings.

  • Learn to cut and polish stones in a gemology workshop.

Luxury Services

  • Get styled head-to-toe with blowouts, makeup applications, and personal styling.

  • Indulge in mani-pedis featuring hand massages, paraffin dips, and polish changes.

  • Book in-room spa services like massage, facials and body treatments.

Luxury Event Staycations

Experience exclusive events only accessible to VIPs:

Entertainment Access

  • Watch runway shows during Fashion Week from coveted front row seats.

  • Gain access to star-studded film festival screenings and parties.

  • Attend awards shows and after-parties for a glamorous night out.

Music Events

  • Enjoy concert suites with premium views, lounge access, and drinks.

  • Attend music festivals like Coachella or Lollapalooza in ultra-luxe VIP style.

  • Score tickets to intimate performances at iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl.

Sports Events

  • Watch games from cushy luxury boxes with food and beverages included.

  • Attend championship games and finals in exclusive courtside seats.

  • Experience thrilling races like the Monaco Grand Prix from trackside or paddocks.

Galas & Fundraisers

  • Walk the red carpet at dazzling charity galas and balls.

  • Attend exclusive tasting events with top chefs and wineries.

  • Bid on over-the-top auction items at lavish fundraising events.

The Height of Luxury Staycations

For no expense spared indulgence:

Butler Service

  • Butler-serviced suites cater to your every need 24/7.

Penthouse Living

  • Stay in lavish hotel or apartment penthouses with panoramic views.

Presidential Suites

  • Feel like a head of state in palatial multi-room presidential suites.

Villa Rentals

  • Rent a cliffside villa with infinity pools, home cinemas, and full staff.

Private Jets

  • Travel in ultimate comfort aboard an exclusive private jet charter.

Yacht Charters

  • Cruise in style on your own chartered luxury yacht fully crewed.

Helicopter Transfers

  • Arrive at hotels and events by private helicopter for the ultimate entrance.

With attentive service, dreamy accommodations, and incredible amenities, luxury staycations allow you to experience a vacation-like getaway without leaving your hometown. Live the high life by booking a lavish local escape!

 

 

 

 

Search
Recent Posts
Categories