Private Travel Is the New Norm in 2021

Thanks to the rise of exclusivity as the new luxury, as well as the social distancing imposed by COVID restrictions, private travel is here to stay.

But don’t switch off just because a private jet is out of this year’s budget; private travel doesn’t have to mean Necker Island levels of privacy.

Customised, small-group private travel may be more within reach than you think.

Now, more than ever, hospitality and tourism providers are thinking about ways to offer private travel experiences of all shapes and sizes. Government restrictions have accelerated it, but even before the pandemic, it was a growing trend—a fine example is Sydney’s Igloo on the Pier, where you can drink and dine in a private igloo perched in an isolated spot on the harbour.

It’s also easy and possible to do stay-cation style, while we must: Charter a private yacht around Sydney Harbour for a day, take a behind-the-scenes tour of Taronga Zoo, or book a private car or van to shuttle you around wineries in the Barossa.

When looking further than your own backyard, homestays with families around the world, after-hours tours of famous museums and one-on-one cooking classes are all examples of easily accessible private travel.

The benefits go beyond the luxury of exclusivity. Booking private experiences can help you maximise limited time while travelling, and let you take in experiences in a more in-depth, personal way. A private cooking class means a customised menu, a private gallery tour means you can skip art that doesn’t interest you, and a private boat charter means more flexibility with the route.

Other private experiences that immediately upgrade your travel include airport lounges (not technically private, but still exclusive), hiring private drivers for a day (usually significantly more efficient than navigating public transport), booking queue-jump tickets (Disneyland is better without the queues), and asking the hotel concierge to help you organise your stay in a city.

Private travel also extends to accommodation: Airbnb is one of the most obvious providers of exclusive accommodation, letting your group rent an entire house for complete privacy. There are also many smaller and boutique hotels that allow you to book all the rooms for a completely individual stay.

Airbnb also offers private events in your destination city—tours of hard-to-find markets, craft lessons, tasting afternoons and behind-the-scenes explorations are just a few of the thousands of experiences on offer.

Or turn your whole holiday into a private tour. Plenty of companies offer bespoke, private tours that customise and organise every step of your journey from door to door. Ker & Downey, Greaves Tours, Jacada Travel, Artisans of Leisure, Classic Journeys and Black Tomato are just a handful of the many travel companies that offer luxury bespoke trips—complete with travel, accommodation, dining and experiences—for you and your nearest and dearest. They know all the tricks for keeping your holiday as exclusive as possible, and they have the knowledge you need for the perfect trip.

Finally, even if a private jet purchase isn’t on the cards, you can always consider a rental. Plenty of companies such as Navair, Adagold, Air Global Aviation, Altitude Aviation, Ausjet Aviation Group, Edwards Aviation Australia and Execujet offer private plane charters both domestically and internationally for the ultimate in private travel.

As international travel slowly resumes in a post-COVID world, the demand for private travel shows no sign of slowing down.

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