Book by: ASAP
Travel by: Various through 2009
The deal
Imagine cruising at high altitude in your private jet, landing at some of the world’s most unique destinations to be welcomed by a chauffeur-driven limousine and taken to a five-star hotel. Private jet holidays are the pinnacle of luxury travel, and a one-off experience worth paying for. Most are still prohibitively pricey but some have been made more affordable. We selected several options for private jet holidays — whether you want to splurge on a trip in 2009 (giving you enough time to save up) or go sooner and spend less.
Short breaks in Europe
The most affordable private jet holidays are the short breaks around Europe by a British tour operator, Jeffersons. The holidays range from day trips to six-day sojourns; all include roundtrip flights in a private jet (departing from smaller airports around London); champagne, wine and soft drinks on the outbound flight; limousine transfer to and from the hotel; and accommodation with continental breakfast. An example: a two-day stay in historic Bruges in Belgium, in a luxurious suite at top-rated Hotel de Tuilerieën, costs $7775 per person, based on two people traveling, or $4293 if you gather a group of four. Some of the other available destinations include Paris, Venice, Monaco, Capri, and Madeira.
World highlights in two weeks
To see the world’s highlights in just two weeks by a private 757, we recommend a 2009 holiday by TCS Expeditions. This 14-day trip is scheduled for departures from London on February 26. It will show you the world’s most breathtaking sights, from Europe to the Middle East and from the Indian subcontinent to Africa. Those include the mysterious sandstone city of Petra in Jordan; India’s famed Taj Mahal and the pink-stone capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur; Morocco’s ancient trading city of Marrakech; the desert metropolis of Dubai; and Egypt’s ancient Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. This trip is priced at $38,950 per person, with deluxe accommodation, meals, tours, and even gratuities.
Explore world cultures
For a unique holiday by private jet and with an educational twist, we recommend the Extraordinary Cultures by Private Jet on offer by Smithsonian Journeys. This epic 26-day journey around the world is scheduled for departures in March 2009, roundtrip from D.C. En route, this holiday will let you explore the ceremonies and rituals of Peru, Easter Island, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, India, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, and more. You will learn about the mysterious Moai and Birdman cult of Easter Island; the Dogon cliff-dwellers, mud mosques, and Tuareg nomads of Mali; and the Ta Moku tattoo art of New Zealand’s Maori people. The listed price is $59,950 per person, with lodging, meals, sightseeing, and gratuities.
See the nine world wonders
Another operator that offers private jet holidays is the upscale Abercrombie & Kent. Various options include Africa: Desert Kingdoms and Natural Splendors; Southward from the Peak: Hong Kong to Bora Bora; and Cultural Treasures Around the World. But the tour that caught our eye is the Nine World Wonders with the 2009 departures, in March and October. This 26-day odyssey that departs Miami and returns to Boston is indeed quite a splurge, priced at $89,800 per person. However, you’ll see the world’s most incredible sights, including the dramatic Inca city of Machu Picchu; the mysterious Easter Island; and Cambodia’s temple city of Angkor Wat; to name just a few.
To charter a private jet:
The dollars
See details above. Note that visa, vaccination and other costs of travel are not included.
The catch
You better start saving up!
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