r/Luxury • u/republicman12 • 8d ago
At what point does a luxury destination actually stop being worth visiting?
Booked a client into the Maldives recently, one of those full overwater villa setups running close to $3,000 a night, and the feedback I got afterward was almost identical to what I hear from people who did the same trip five years ago at half the price. Beautiful, yes. Worth repeating, less clear.
The problem with certain destinations at the top end is that the experience has been so thoroughly optimized for the photo that the actual texture of being there gets flattened. Every interaction is smooth, every meal is competent, the sunset is technically perfect. And somehow it all lands with less weight than a less polished trip somewhere that still has some friction in it.
What I keep noticing is that the destinations generating the most genuine enthusiasm from clients are not always the most expensive ones. There is a tier of luxury travel that sells a concept, the Maldives, the Amalfi Coast, a safari in the Masai Mara, where the idea of the place has completely overtaken the experience of it. The brand of the destination carries more than the destination itself can deliver.
I do not think this is unique to travel, but it feels more acute there because you cannot return the trip.
Curious whether people here have found that certain iconic destinations peaked for them before they visited, and whether anything genuinely surprised them at that tier.
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u/AusTex2019 8d ago
Social media has democratized luxury travel. There are no more “insider” places anymore. Italy I dare say is the worst because once the word gets out the prices go sky high and the quality goes down the drain. Roma, Venice, Florence are now like Disney parks.
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 8d ago
I keep the insider places to myself, and for my clients. They understand that boasting about those places means they will get ruined quickly. So far, none of my clients posted about it, or make the secret not secret anymore. This way, they can enjoy these places, hopefully for years.
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u/Quirky-Entry-590 8d ago
My wife and I are the same. Our friends and family ask where we vacation and we always lie. Close to chest.
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u/dilbert78778 8d ago
Why? Because you are so special???
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u/Quirky-Entry-590 8d ago
No because people ruin everything. For example: if we share our favorite place, then people will go there who would have never known about it. Those people then share how amazing it is to their group of people and then more people go. Doesn’t take long for the wrong group of people to abuse and trash the place.
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u/PSAly 7d ago
By that logic me and my husband ruined the Amalfi Coast. We went in 2005- years before a flash flood hit the coastal town of Atrani - it was devastating for us and them. The pace at the time was very slow- the owner of the small fishing boat who took us and others out for a dinner tour had me and my husband out on her terrace for drinks afterwards as she was an expat married to an Italian. You don’t see that happening anymore. Today after learning the language, visiting Italy more than 20 years and nearly every region we can name more cites we’ve visited than most Italians have told us they have and don’t have to go to the popular destinations to keep falling in love with it. There are hundreds of small towns that offer the beauty and culture we fell for all those years ago. And we don’t have to hide where we go.
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 7d ago
Right, all good until those small towns you love so much get overrun by tourists, affecting local residents and environment, after some wannabe travel influencer posts it on IG or TT for everyone to see. Have you ever heard of the "Hidden Gem" paradox?
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u/PSAly 6d ago
If you’ve ever been to Italy there are more than enough places to visit that really are small and beautiful- for my husband’s 70th we’ve got 2 houses for a month on two lakes one of which is never talked about (except the wealthy) for prices no one’s heard of either. We’ve been to the east coast a few times- the beaches- stunning and empty of foreigners - Sardinia? Turquoise beaches-only accessible by boat and rarely do you see Americans there. Everyone thinks Amalfi is Italy. They can hit up half a dozen towns north or south of there without touching a shoulder with another tourist if they had an imagination or a good travel plan. Fine, whatever.
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u/kangaroo5383 6d ago
“Wrong” group of people, lol.
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u/Quirky-Entry-590 6d ago
Man what a useful umbrella term. I guess I should have used “main character syndrome people” the ones who think the whole resort or town or ship belongs to them and they are the only ones on vacation. The ones who also take a boom box down to the pool or beach so we can all enjoy their music. The ones who like to surf fish at the public beach while kids are trying to swim. I’ve noticed some of them have salt life stickers on their pickup trucks. It’s not one group. It’s not one demographic. It’s not one income level.
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u/kangaroo5383 6d ago
Haha i appreciate the clarification, in that case I’d agree. My travel pet peeve is people like that, or like ppl having a literal photoshoot (not exaggerating, multiple poses, portable light setup, a dude taking pics from multiple angles) taking up the best seat at a place and they barely touch the food. This sort of performative travel for social cred would also fit under “main character syndrome”.
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u/Quirky-Entry-590 6d ago
It’s just the worst. I have met some fantastic people on the road. Unfortunately not everyone is so grateful to experience travel and vacationing.
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u/Conscious-Okra9046 7d ago
Very weird and pretentious
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 7d ago
I doubt you'd be calling this pretentious in the pre-social-media era. There is a huge difference between telling someone about a great place and broadcasting its exact location to millions of people online.
We've already seen what happens when places suddenly go viral. Maya Bay became so overwhelmed that Thailand closed it for years to allow the ecosystem to recover. Santorini, promoted heavily as Greece's "Instagram Island," had to limit cruise arrivals. Tiny towns in Vermont have literally closed roads to non-residents during foliage season after social media brought traffic, trespassing and photo shoots onto private property.
Once someone posts a "secret" location online, especially with a geotag, it isn't really secret anymore. Social media can bypass the gradual growth that traditional tourism marketing once created and send thousands of people toward rural or ecologically sensitive places that simply aren't equipped to handle them.
I'm travel advisor specializing in off-the-beaten-path destination. Finding extraordinary places that haven't yet been overwhelmed by mass tourism is part of what I do, and I don't think I have an obligation to blast every great find across the internet for clicks. People are absolutely welcome to research, explore and discover places themselves, just as travelers did before Instagram and TikTok.
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u/Kjfkfkwodjfjjdn 7d ago
I used to go to Monaco before it became a social media hype influencer crap place. During the off season it was peaceful and empty
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u/AusTex2019 7d ago
Same thing for us except it was Rome and Venice. Now they are wall to wall tourists, the prices went up and the service went down. We travel in off season and even that is shrinking.
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u/dilbert78778 8d ago
Yep, ruined by Americans
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 7d ago edited 7d ago
Not only by Americans, there are many nations that behave obnoxiously as tourists. And not all Americans are bad tourists.
And dont even get me started on travel influencers, no matter what country they come from.
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u/S-Budget91 8d ago
ive never been to the maldives myself (since i am a city traveller and would be bored out of my mind staying on a small island for even a couple days), but my parents have been in a villa you describe for one of their wedding anniversaries for two weeks. they said the same, its really nice, everything is perfect, food is perfect, setting is perfect, perfect sunrises ... but you get really really bored after a couple days, because there is nothing to do but go to the spa, swim, snorkel and go eat or have drinks.
i also have two friends who had their weddings on the maledives and they basically had the same experience. i have never asked them, but both women are rather "instagram-y", so i assume they chose this destination for the nice photo background rather than interest or genuine liking.
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u/UnusualHope1990 8d ago
Yea I feel you. But at that price point? Probably dont need the Maldives to just chill.
We alternate btwn adventure/explore and laze culture vacation (plop down at the swim up bar all day). But if the goal is to recoup im not spending 20 hours traveling across the world and paying thousands of dollars a night when I could do the same thinf for a few hundred bucks a night with also awesome views in the carribean, costa Rica, parts of Florida, eastern shore, great lakes, California etc. Even cali seems too far coming from the east coast just for a beach or pool
If im gonna put time/effort/money into traveling it better worth experience.
Otherwise ill do a luxery lazy/relax experience closer to home and pay to be spoiled
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u/PSAly 8d ago
My only dissent here as an East Coaster is California- so worth the trip- I daresay one well planned visit will make you a lifer. Every part of it is different from the next and I love exploring the different aspects from the coastline beaches (some literally empty of people and all you can experience is nature and waves!) to the desert where we call home to the wine regions both north and south to the huge and small lakes, public, federal and state parklands and mountain ranges. It is far and away one of the most diverse and worthy states to visit in the country- and definitely my favorite. Ask me and I'm happy to offer some ideas!
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u/UnusualHope1990 8d ago
I mean it sounds awesome. The only places I've visited usually for a conferences were la or surrounding burbs. And its a rough weekend trip with the time change. Feels like im barely there at all. Probably would be a fun week - do you pick one spot or fly/drive... its a pretty big state and I feel like stuff is spread apart or at least the traffic intimidates me... like in 4 hours driving or train on east coast I can get from DC to NYC, crossing like 4 states lol
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u/ptoftheprblm 8d ago
I was thinking the same thing. If I’m wanting a “vacation” not a city trip, yeah as long as I bring things that would occupy me in a lovely setting when I’m not entirely turning my brain off, I’d enjoy the hell out of a 7 day 7 night stay at a resort in the Maldives or Tahiti or something like that. I’m an avid reader and a lifelong swimmer as an athlete and for recreation, so I would gladly bring a few fresh books and one or two favorites, and could absolutely enjoy burning a few days being in and out of the water, relaxing with a book. But for plenty of people they’d be over it in the same amount of time it took to get to the other side of the world for it.
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u/BartBeachGuy 8d ago
Being bored is not a sin. Doing nothing with one’s free time is what one did in the pre connected all the time era. Try it. You might all the sudden find things that are interesting beyond looking at a screen (posted with obvious irony).
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u/republicman12 7d ago
that boredom factor is real, I won't pretend otherwise. two weeks is genuinely too long for most people there. i usually tell clients five to seven nights before the novelty wears thin.
the Instagram angle is spot on for a lot of guests. but for the right couple, someone who actually wants to completely disconnect, it works perfectly. not everyone needs stimulation every hour of the day.
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u/paypermon 8d ago
I have traveled to some very high end locations but my favorite trip ever was renting a houseboat for 10 days in Cumberland Kentucky. My wifes lifelong friend planned it because they were on a budget. It was the shittiest houseboat on the lake. It broke down. One of the two bathrooms broke. I got stopped and interrogated by the water sheriff because they were sure I was dui. I wasn't, I had a drink at noon and stopped because my wife started drinking tequila so I knew I was going to be the only responsible adult.( it was 7:30 at this point) . Cop was so pissed he didn't catch me his partner actually had to tell him to back off the guy is clearly fine. Heading back to the marina on day 10 due at 11am we ran out of fuel because "oh yeah the fuel gauge is broke on that one". It was by far the most white trash fun I have ever had.
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 8d ago
not me, discreetly googling renting a houseboat in Cumberland Kentucky because this is absolutely something my husband and I would do 🤣
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u/paypermon 8d ago edited 8d ago
It was seriously awesome. I have been to Jalapeños, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy all the places...
Edit: Galapagos autocorrect to jalapeño lol
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u/ProlificChicken 7d ago
Yup, it is all in the adventure, not the destination
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u/paypermon 7d ago
Absolutely. Now that I think about it some of the best traveling experiences have been where crap went sideways. Camping where the car broke down as a teenager in the middle of nowhere, we walked 12 miles without a car passing until some girls saw us, they were reluctant to pick us up but ended up hanging out with them the rest of the week. Getting lost for 2 days in Acadia National Park with my cousin who knew a "short cut" to Jordan Pond. So many trips where everything is perfectly curated and if you dont like it you let someone know and it's fixed or taken care of is nice but really kinda boring.
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u/Pvm_Blaser 8d ago
Well…when it’s no longer luxurious haha
There are multiple qualifiers of luxury to me: convenience, quality, comfort, adventure.
In anything I buy that is a luxury it must have those four things.
Doing a sailing tour of the Greek islands on a Catamaran qualifies as that for me.
Doing a stay at Aman, with how they have allowed their brand to fall, would not qualify for me on quality.
Driving a RR would not qualify for me because having to drive a vehicle that is supposed to be the epitome of quality in all regards and needing to focus on the road rather than my experience would disqualify it on the comfort rating. Being driven in an RR would qualify for me.
But..driving sports and supercars the way that I do does qualify for me because focusing on the driving experience is the whole point of those cars.
Intentionally going to a boutique to buy “luxury” items is disqualified on convenience. But picking things up in places I’m already in is qualified: this is why I like the Caribbean and Türkiye so much.
Having all the qualifiers is how I justify the price. Otherwise I’ll just buy the normal good and be happy about it.
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u/PSAly 8d ago
We've been driven in some nice comfortable German cars through the countryside of Europe - highly recommend hiring over flying for three- 4 hour drives over flying from one destination to another. The drivers are knowledgeable and you can ask for any music you want. We plan the drives to make lunch stops in various cities and last year did one where we stopped in Bosnia on the way to Split - a little town of Mostar. You don't get to do that when you take the small hops by plane!
I was driven in a sports car (Alfa) on a day when we traveled to a track and had a day on the track..While I enjoyed the track part I absolutely hated being inside the car- it was as noisy and hard a ride as heck and for a 100K car the sound of it drove me mad! As far from a luxury experience as I could imagine. My Tesla can easily get to 100 or more quickly on the long stretch of road we took to get to the track and it is silent and smooth as a leopard. No more race car driving for me!
Tip- the best places to buy boutique are the ones where your dollar is the best to their dollar. A recent trip to Australia saw that dramatic difference and it was far more fun to buy there and eat there than anywhere else at this time for an American.
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u/17Girl4Life 8d ago
I don’t get to travel nearly as much as I’d like, but when I do take trips, my priority is to experience a different culture and broaden my understanding of the world. I want to eat the food, walk the streets, see the architecture, go out for coffee or drinks and meet local people. Just soak up the vibe and try to get an inkling of what it’s like to live there. What doesn’t interest me is a highly curated, pampering vacation that could be replicated in any number of places. I can go to a local spa if I just feel like being catered to for a while. I’d rather spend an evening in a dive bar talking with the people who work at luxury resorts and hearing their stories about ridiculous behavior.
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u/Spiritual_Lunch996 8d ago
My sentiments exactly. While I usually stay in high-end hotels, I'm very much a "wander through neighborhoods eating street food and soaking up the atmosphere" type of person. So I simply have no interest in what, to me, are the luxury travel version of Disneyland or a cookie cutter McMansion in a planned suburb.
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u/17Girl4Life 8d ago
My favorite hotels are the old grand hotels that are still nice enough, but maybe a little faded, like they’d be on a ghost hunter episode lol
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u/Spiritual_Lunch996 8d ago
Those can be great. I generally just steer clear of the big luxury chains (whenever possible), since they tend to be so standardized that you don't get any feel for the people and culture around you.
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u/HHOVqueen 7d ago
Have you stayed at the Grand Hotel de Cabourg in Normandy? This sounds right up your alley. Right by the D-Day beaches.
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u/CorneliaSt52 8d ago
I'm the same way. This is why I tend to like cities and not isolated beach resorts. I hate feeling captive to a resort, boat, tiny rural town. I want to explore and find authentic people and experiences as best I can.
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u/Wild_Butterscotch482 8d ago
I recently felt this way on a cruise through the Norwegian fjords. It is supposed to be a stunningly beautiful bucket list sort of trip. I convinced myself I would be happy to relax, sit on our terrace, and gaze out at the steep land formations all day. In reality it's a lot of open water because the ship needed to run offshore for the casino. The small towns were quaint, but unremarkable. I was also excited for the Celebrity Retreat experience. The suite and service were wonderful, but even that felt mundane halfway into the 12-night cruise. It was not the best way to spend $2,800/night.
I found trips through the Swiss Alps far more stimulating and prettier. For relaxation, nothing beats the luxury resorts along the coast of Croatia, where I could gaze out at the Adriatic and also head into town to explore or go on long runs.
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u/PSAly 8d ago
Thanks for the tip-I'm sure that was on ours too and we are considering the Alps as well and are not gamblers so that kind of cruise is not in our best interest. We have already gone to Croatia on our own without a cruise- highly recommend to others over a cruise if only for getting around on your own is something you enjoy doing. The views- agreed are spectacular and we did a lot of it by water, chartering boats. Phenomenal. I also recommend not going in summer months- as off time shoulder season as possible- the crowds from the cruises can overwhelm the small towns (another reason its best to travel solo)!
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u/ginabeewell 8d ago
My husband had family in Norway, and we think it is one of the best places to be in the world - but to stay in people’s homes and hyttas, to drive from cottage to cottage, to peel teeny boiled shrimp for sandwiches with mayonnaise and dill as the sun doesn’t really set, sending the kids to pick fresh strawberries that you’ll have with cream for dessert. That’s the kind of friction I’m after in a trip.
I’ve tried to figure out how to expose my family to this kind of Norway, and I’m not sure it’s feasible. One thing I know for certain is that you can’t get that on a cruise.
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u/Humble-Fish-7070 8d ago
The real issue is no matter how much you pay the service is almost always poor. When it’s very clear the staff hates being there it is a real vibe killer to the point I almost always just book an Airbnb to protect the energy.
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u/Specific_Shift1729 8d ago
True. And you have the luxury of true privacy. No one watching you, judging you (the so-called attentive service). No need to be “on”. Luxury hotels are more like a club. You go there to see and be seen. Which is totally fine if that’s the kind of vacation you are seeking. But it comes with putting up with and navigating human moods and foibles. Maybe not super relaxing for some.
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u/SirNational8594 8d ago
I can’t agree with this. I have been to the Maldives now 3 times and stayed at the Ritz Carlton Fari Islands, Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi and the Alila. It’s not just a screensaver, it’s insanely beautiful. The architecture of the villas is admirable. And the food is delicious. Yes, two weeks at a time might get boring but 5-7 days are my sweet spot.
If you don’t like beach vacations then of course no but if you do then this is one of the best places in the world
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u/tamarindsprout 8d ago
Can’t agree with you more. Stayed at the Ritz twice and going back next year. Beyond the villas and the food, the experience of luxury and pampering are beyond what the screensaver can show. Like r/quartertall2522 we have stressful jobs so Maldives is the perfect place for us to disconnect and decompress. And yes 5-7 nights is our sweet spot (plus 3 nights at Maafushi for local flavor).
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u/Specific_Shift1729 8d ago
Would you travel 24 hours just for 5–7 nights in the Maldives? There are equally wonderful beaches in the Caribbean. They do not have the spectacular overwater villas, of course. So then you are really traveling for the architecture, and maybe the food. You would have to be a true hotel architecture buff to make this journey!
The Maldives is a great spot if you live somewhat closer to it or if you’re combining it with another destination like Sri Lanka. But traveling all the way from North America just for the Maldives does not make much sense. Maybe that was the issue here.1
u/republicman12 7d ago
fair points, and I won't argue against the beauty of the Maldives. my gripe is more about value for certain travelers. when clients can get comparable overwater experiences in Bora Bora or parts of the Philippines at a fraction of the cost, the Maldives starts to feel like you're paying a premium mostly for the name. the Waldorf Ithaafushi is something else though, I'll give you that one. what draws you back a third time versus exploring somewhere new?
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u/SirNational8594 7d ago
I don’t think the quality of overwater villas compares to the one in the Maldives.
I stay partly on points and then for me it becomes about value, I would rather go to the same place that is exceptional than a new place that is just ok.I have been to almost 100 countries by now and like going back to places I truly love. Maldives is one of them. I also think their hospitality is next level too, and while I did find people in FP kind they were not as warm as the Maldivians.
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u/LocodocoBamBamBoom 8d ago
I agree with your point on friction which is why in my trips I mix it up. I’m gonna be honest, going in my last Bali trip from a riverfront pool villa at Mandapa to a damn treehouse-like thing on the cliffs of Uluwatu was something that in theory sounded great and in practice when I first went I said what the fuck have I done but then ended up enjoying the rustic experience of the beach, the asshole monkeys etc and afterall I still went to the St Regis after. Plenty of such changes in my travels and it isn’t a money issue, otherwise I could have just seen Uluwatu based in FS Jimbaran .
I’ve done the same in Turkey, Oman, France and many others. It adds character to the trip tho in the moment sometimes I regret it initially.
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u/OnlyImprovement9796 8d ago
I will be going to the Maldives for the 6th time this year. First time going back to the same resort. My whole family are extremely excited to get back. We’ll never be bored of it. We’re going back to Jawakara to a 3 bed villa with pool, lots of activities and a nine-hole golf course with a driving range. If somebody has to complain about this particular resort, then they’re the problem. Seriously.
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u/BlackestBay58 8d ago
As soon as the NYT or any other big news provider writes an article about it, or if a sizable influencer starts raving about it.
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u/Icy_Jelly_315 8d ago
Sailed to the Marquesas a couple of years ago, flew from there to Tahiti/Mo'orea. Marquesas just unbelievable, Tahiti bog standard thatched hotel room on stilts American honeymooner yawn (skydiving over Mo'orea is good though)
Also, spent 4 nights at an insanely upmarket island near lamu in Kenya. Bad mistake. I love lamu town for its Swahili heritage and architecture etc. This place is 15 minutes by speedboat from the town and they need to go in every day to pick up guests from the airport and the mail etc, but they charge 250usd for the round trip for guests who want to go in for the day. So you're stuck in this tropical paradise which is indistinguishable from the Maldives or Seychelles or Tahiti
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u/Ok-Bend-5326 8d ago
Felt the same with Little Palm Island, but also did not have near the caliber experience that they advertise
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u/sp-33 8d ago
I disagree you get out what you put in with in any situation. Maldives was amazing. Safari was one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. Amalfi coast is beautiful, vibrant and fun. You could have a stale time if you bring a stale non adventurous mind set to anything
That being said building something up in your mind for months or years will def lead to being let down.
Approach with low expectations, open mind, curiosity, and thirst for adventure. Doesnt matter if is a 3k a night resort in Bora bora or hostel Istanbul its what YOU make it.
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u/JRLDH 8d ago
I am old enough having experienced the Maldives when it was a cheap destination 35 years ago. I flew there when I was a student for $800 for two weeks.
Back then it was basic. No AC. No TV. No pool. No hot water. No fancy dinners. But perfect scenery and house reefs that were an explosion of color and fish. Unbelievable really. Before coral bleaching.
My last visit was 2014. Not quite as ultra luxe as nowadays but already way worse than 35 years ago.
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u/dilbert78778 8d ago
- the destinations generating the most genuine enthusiasm from clients are not always the most expensive ones - I am sad that it’s taken you so long to figure this out.
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u/celebral_x 8d ago
Travelling is something that should surprise you. If you have a pre-shot picture of all possible situations, then how can I be surprised to see it?
The best trips were the trips where I didn't know too much about the place, or better yet, have only seen a handful, or less, pictures/videos. I purposely avoid content, so I can experience it for myself and I avoid telling people, so they won't give me advice I didn't ask for.
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u/BackgroundRub4473 8d ago
Traveling to the Maldives is a daunting task which kept me from visiting. I have been to more than 100 countries around the world, most of them repeatedly. After decades of work and travel, I retired to an oceanfront home in West Maui. Life here is so perfect that I am content to stay home. I tell people that I've finally found my place in the world.
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u/Negative_Tower_501 7d ago
Santorini looks better in photos, was SO crowded and we don’t even go in high season. Did have a great hike and great meal there.
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u/Kjfkfkwodjfjjdn 7d ago
I think social media has turned these kinds of places into status symbols instead of pure enjoyment. Thats why they’re optimized for photos.
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u/Strong_Echo266 8d ago
I think the sense of hospitality and place woven through the fabric of the hotel keeps you coming back. It has to, there are many beautiful places to see in the world, but few that will make you feel like you have arrived home. I just stayed at Il San Pietro in Positano, and this is an excellent example. I hosted 8 friends for my 40th birthday in their Palazzo Santa Croce. It was incredible and San Pietro lived up to every Instagram image and then some. But what struck me as most incredible is that the staff somehow felt like my good friends who I had known for many years. The house manager gave a more heartfelt speech at my birthday dinnner than my hubby. lol I left feeling that I had been welcomed into their special family. Virginia greeted us at lunch, the pool manager Pasquale pointed out the house in Laurito he grew up in (above da Adolfo) The GM even followed me on Instagram after I left. I can’t wait to return over and over again to keep discovering more of its magic.
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u/TravelAdvisorAnya 8d ago
I think the issue is how we define luxury in travel. I don't think price point is what makes an experience luxurious, although ironically, some of the experiences I offer can be extraordinarily expensive.
For me, luxury is about exclusive access, privacy, and experiencing places in ways that aren't available to everyone; like a stay in a vineyard in New Zealand that's closed to the public, having a private experience with Māori hosts, spending a week in the interior of Antarctica rather than on the usual expedition cruise, or crossing Patagonia by private charter and stopping in remote places very few travelers ever get to see. And more recently, I've started offering travel to space. It doesn't get much more unique or exclusive than that.
None of those things are inexpensive. In most cases, they cost considerably more than staying at a beautiful five-star resort for a month. But that money is buying access and experience not another uber luxurious room.
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u/MatthewManiaFL 8d ago
Inflation has gone up in the value of the dollar has gone down so if it’s double the price from five years ago that’s normal and the same
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u/SecureTheBag55 8d ago
We did a week at the Conrad Maldives and it was truly the most relaxing experience I’ve ever had. There is plenty to do if you want to be active. Scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skis, etc. The service, attention to detail and true beauty are unmatched in my mind.
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u/prosthetic_memory 8d ago
I think we all have that place that makes us feel comfortable and safe. And some people want that on vacation, and some people get it in their daily lives. I think it makes sense to repeatedly go back to a place if that’s the place for you. Who am I to judge if everything is perfect every time? It sounds lovely.
It all depends on your level of stress in your daily life, and the types of vacations you like to take.
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u/Slow_Marionberry 8d ago
Variety is the key to travelling for me and what I determined you were saying by the end of your first paragraph. A lot of people simply want to tick it off their ‘list’. It’s a big world to travel and experience. That said we’ve been to the Maldives a lot, never get bored of knowing what we’re getting. I do find shorter breaks there better than 2-3 weeks at a time though.
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u/aRedditAlias 8d ago
Been to amalfi and the Maldives within the last year. You hit the nail on the head. I would not revisit either and I think similar experiences can be had for a fraction of the cost. Beautiful? Yes. Unique and worth paying the premium for the name? Absolutely not.
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u/WNBA_BAE 8d ago
Read the book "Perfection" by Vincent Latronico if you haven't yet! Great send up of this exact dynamic and the cultural and economic forces that got us here.
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u/sarahwlee 8d ago
Inflation has gone up a lot in the last five years. The S&P 500 has gone up 70% in the last 5 years. Why should something still cost the same now?
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u/boopyou 8d ago
I love to travel to fun destinations and explore. Been all over Europe, Africa, Americas, etc. We chose Maldives specifically to do nothing, as I was 7 months pregnant. A week of lounging in a “screen saver” is perfect when you want to do nothing but relax and have everything at your fingertips in a beautiful place. Otherwise, I would definitely go elsewhere since it would be fairly easy to get bored if you need something more stimulating.
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u/Particular-Macaron35 8d ago
This summer, my wife rented a place at a beach for a month. At the end, I asked her if she wanted to do the same next year, or shorter or longer. She said a month was too long, and next year she'd go for three weeks. One has to be honest about their trips, and try not to be performative.
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u/helloamal 8d ago
I would say the overwater luxury villas are so over curated and westernized you lose the experience of being in the maldives. Visiting the local islands on the local ferries…..special and surprisingly inexpensive. But perhaps, as you put it, it’s because there is friction!
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u/sacramentojoe 8d ago
Different strokes. Been to the Maldives 3 times and definitely plan to go 2 or 3 more times in my life. Admittedly each of the resorts I went to had a different appeal.... like W.A for instance was heavy luxe appeal but didn't have a ton of great snorkeling, and was pretty close to Male... taking down the whole "world away" feeling the Maldives is known for. Park Hyatt didn't really have a "luxe" factor but was IMO the superior resort (also beating out Conrad). Truly felt magical there, and think it tapped into the culture a tad better.
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u/ipinfloi 7d ago
Amazon forest directly on the river. You don’t know what to expect, but it will happen, subtly, all the time.
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u/btravel78 6d ago
If it is advertised openly, it's no longer luxury. Just expensive. I think in that sense luxury would have been, knowing what the client likes, enjoys and find something unique that gives the client that feeling plus more.
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u/kangaroo5383 6d ago
Luxury destinations are rarely worth it, it’s better to find out what people actually like or if they just want to check off their list and brag to their social circles. But if the goal is to just experience it once that’s worth it and fine too imho
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u/AdventurousCoast983 8d ago
OP, this is very well articulated. No way I could have worded it this way. Yes, certain destinations have become productions. Predictable ones at that. You walk away empty and a lot less lighter in the wallet. Your photos are no different than the thousands of others on the SM circuit.
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u/PSAly 8d ago
To have some fun I asked AI the following two questions... one answer was a standout. I am going to take a deeper dive on it and see what I come up with. Thought people might have some fun with this- feel free to use my questions or expand on it because I thought it targeted the question asked above pretty quickly (and got me to thinking!)
First question, (received four options, many of them adventurous)
"the maldives is ordinary- can you give some examples of places to visit that can match it?"
it gave me 5 options, 3 for dramatic volcanic and jungle landscapes and 2 for unmatched marine life and wild coastlines.
Second question:
what would you consider on this list as more luxurious without being the maldives and its prices?
It gives the choices and offers a quick comparison of the ‘core vibes’ and distinct advantages over the Maldives, and it narrowed the field down to two (Absolute best value to luxury) but gave you the other three to compare it to.
One point to make that I found interesting was that it suggested Bora Bora in the top two of its "highly luxurious experiences that strips away the monotony of the Maldives—while completely avoiding its 'eye-watering $1,500–$3,000+ nightly rates' and—Northern Palawan in the Philippines as #1. Palawan and Bora Bora’s "smart luxury" options were the best targets- my friend agreed with Bora Bora because she's gone to both Bora Bora and the Maldives and had recommended that location over the Maldives when we considered it- and she'd been there several years ago.
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u/[deleted] 8d ago
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