When GOBankingRates spoke to the luxury travel community near the end of 2023, they told us their wealthy clients were putting their money toward booking stays in popular destinations like Japan, the Maldives and Sardinia throughout 2024.
Looking ahead to 2025, high-net-worth individuals are seeking out global destinations that provide the unique experiences they crave — and are booking their travel now. GOBankingRates chatted with three luxury travel professionals to find out which three destinations are receiving the most interest and how much travelers are spending on their 2025 itineraries.
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If the sweltering heat of this summer has places with cold climates at the top of your travel wish list, you’re not alone. William Lee, travel agent at Chima Travel, told GOBankingRates that their travel agency has been seeing a lot of interest in Antarctica from travelers.
Getting to Antarctica isn’t cheap, but Lee said there are many cruise lines that make voyages to the continent. He uses the example of Atlas Voyages, a luxury cruise line that takes wealthy clients from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica for around $10,000 per couple.
And while a big draw to visiting Antarctica is its mystique, Lee said there’s a variety of excursions for every type of adventurer. Some of these include taking cold plunges in the freezing Antarctic waters and observing the night sky and listening to the sounds of whales as you sleep on land.
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Previously, Japan was cited by GOBankingRates as a travel destination where the wealthy were headed in 2024 — and this will be true for 2025 as well.
Urvashi Marwah, luxury travel advisor at luxury travel agency OvationNetwork, and Rob DelliBovi, founder of RDB Hospitality Group, are both seeing a surge in Japan requests from their clientele. DelliBovi told GOBankingRates that clients are spending about $20,000 per person for their Japan trips.
The culturally immersive experience Japan has to offer continues to be popular with wealthy travelers, especially when it comes to food and overall luxury.
“No matter what our clients’ particular interests are, they still need to incorporate these two points,” said DelliBovi. “We have people talking more about food than ever before. Selfishly, I love this, as this is why I go where I go.”
On the luxury side, Marwah said their ultra-high-net-worth clients are looking for full-service concierge services to help them source international real estate or rare artworks. This growing trend, she said, is presenting an opportunity to curate once-in-a-lifetime trips that foster significant relationships.
Not everyone wants to get away to destinations where there are chilly temperatures or bustling metros. Many of Marwah’s clients will be heading to private island getaways in 2025, which she said gives them unmatched privacy and exclusivity along with the ability to be surrounded by natural beauty and exceptional service.
Among some of the top destinations receiving interest from wealthy clients are the Bawah Reserve in Indonesia and the Pine Cay Resorts in Turks and Caicos. On average, Marwah said clients are spending $30,000 for these luxurious trips.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Luxury Travel Agent: 3 Destinations My Wealthy Clients Are Booking for 2025
Daisuke Kobayashi, JNTO executive director. Japan Nationa
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