When it comes to travelling, the wealthy have the best of the best: they fly to and from their destinations in private jets or helicopters, stay in the most luxurious hotels, eat the world’s finest foods, drink the world’s finest drinks, and indulge in entertainment fit for the elite.
The ultra-wealthy aren’t just a select few, either. There are more than 2,000 billionaires in the world. The majority of them reside in North America, Europe, and Asia, typically in major cities like New York City, London, and Hong Kong. But when it comes to travel, the wealthy tend to stick together — that is, if they’re not heading to their own private island. Here are some of the top travel destinations they like to visit:
1) The British Virgin Islands
Located in the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands are made up of four main islands and roughly 50 smaller islands, some of which are owned by the world’s wealthiest people. For example, Richard Branson owns Necker Island, which has hosted celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. It has numerous decked-out villas, a helicopter pad, infinity pools, tennis courts, and Michelin-star personal chefs.
Besides clear blue water, white-sand beaches, warm weather, and beautiful flora and fauna, the islands are also home to some of the most luxurious resorts, spas, and hotels. So it should be no surprise that when the wealthy want to get away, they tend to go here.
2) Monte Carlo, Monaco
This city in Monaco has long been associated with luxury. It’s home to some of the world’s finest casinos, entertainment, dining, and events. In terms of casinos, the Monte Carlo Casino is about as luxurious as you can get — it even houses the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (also known as one of the main choices of entertainment for the wealthy elite). The city also hosts the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix.
So, where do the wealthy stay when in Monte Carlo? Some of the best options include the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the Hotel Metropole, and the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. As for fine dining options, there are seemingly too many to count. There’s the Restaurant Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo, Le Louis XV, Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo, and Le Grill.
3) The Hamptons, New York
In the Hamptons, there’s actually a section nicknamed “Billionaire’s Lane,” where more than a few billionaires have multi-million-dollar mansions. Besides having a secluded beach-front property, a lot of the appeal is due to its proximity to Manhattan — It takes roughly 20 minutes to get to Billionaire’s Lane by helicopter. Some of the area’s wealthiest residents include David Koch, Jimmy Tisch, and Leon Black.
The homes on Billionaire’s Lane are equipped with tennis courts, pools, at-home spas, and private chefs, so one never needs to leave if they don’t want to. But if they do, they might head to fine dining options like The Palm East Hampton or a day trip to one of the area’s many spas. But more likely than not, they’re just going to hire someone to come to their home for whatever they need — like a haircut, massage, or an incredible meal — instead of venturing out.
4) Macau, China
This city is the place to travel to for the rich who love casino games. You might even call it the wealthy’s playground. More so than Las Vegas or Monte Carlo, Macau attracts the highest high rollers from around the world. In addition to gaming, there’s the City of Dreams, which has dozens of bars, lounges, and restaurants, among other entertainment. There are also plenty of high-end shops like Chanel, Gucci, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.
Macau is also home to numerous luxury hotels like the Grand Lisboa (and the soon-to-open Grand Lisboa Palace), The Ritz-Carlton, and the Banyan Tree Macau. As for fine dining, some of the top-rated options include the Jade Dragon, The Tasting Room, and Robuchon au Dôme.
When the wealthy travel, they do so in style — and go to some incredibly stylish places.
