The Best Expensive Places to Travel

Let’s break for a moment from tips and tales of budget travel.  Let’s leave the economical tent at home and forget to bring our own groceries on our next trip.   Let’s imagine what it’s like to travel rich.

Fair enough, you’re not exactly poor.  The fact that travel is even on your agenda shows that you’re not worried about where your next meal will come from, or how to pay the rent.  But you’re probably not rich, either.  Oh come on, don’t be offended by that.  Let me ask you – do you budget for your trips?  Do you save up to travel?  If so, then you’re not rich; not the disgusting type of rich I’m talking about.  Despite the economy, the environment and the social pressure to be middle class, there are still a few lucky bastards out there who are crazy, stupid rich.  Before you condemn them to a politically correct prison, imagine that you were the villainous richy.  Oh, and how quickly things change!  Imagine that with your infinite piles of cold hard cash you could travel wherever and however you want.  Where would you go?  What would you do?  And what sweet type of yacht would you go there in?

Here are a few of the places I would go (and maybe never leave).

Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland

Price: Given upon application (what does that tell you?)

Why Go: Why not?  Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy pretty much anything else, including the chance to make believe in style.  What better way to let your inner prince or princess out than by staying in a castle?  Add in the moody gray skies of Scotland and the most famous sea monster in history, and you’re set for a real life fairy tale.

Twin Farms, Vermont

Price: $1400 – $3100 per night (double occupancy), all-inclusive

Why Go:  There are four reasons to visit Twin Farms, Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall.  This is a place that will be completely different depending on when you go.  Twin Farms is the picture perfect New England hideaway you’ve always dreamed about and never been able to afford.  There’s even a cottage called the Bird House for Heaven’s sake!  In this rich fantasy of yours you get to be the distinguished East Coast scholar on break from Harvard to enjoy the splendor of the countryside.  Sip brandy and read your book in front of your personal fireplace.  Bike, hike or snowshoe away your days of careless freedom.  There are even hot chocolate chip cookies served daily!  How could you not want to go?

Little Palm Island, Key West

Price: $990+ per night

Why Go:  There are beach resorts, and then there are beach resorts.  Little Palm Island foregoes the enormous pools of Club Med and opts to create a wonderfully tropical paradise.  Here you are not a stereotypical sun worshiper; you are a sun goddess to be worshiped by the poor peasants on the mainland.  Bruhahaha (evil witch laugh).  Little Palm Island makes everything a delicious secret.  The rooms are hidden beneath romantic thatch and flowers.  The pool is surrounded by jungle.  Even the bar is hidden behind enormous plants!

Dunton Hot Spring, Colorado

Price: $1,200+ per cabin per night, all-inclusive (excluding activities)

Why Go: Dunton Hot Spring is a restored ghost town, complete with town saloon.  It’s in the middle of breathtaking mountains, close to (my best) Telluride and the perfect setting for your own wild, wild west rich adventure.  Hiking, biking, climbing, rafting…all fun, of course.  But the real reason to stay here is the ghosts.  Even the pictures are terrifically haunted.  Let yourself be carried away by their tales of gun fights and stampedes (I’m assuming John Wayne films are all historically accurate).

So, my fellow (rich) traveler, where do you want to go?