AN ISLAND OF ONE'S OWN

HERE'S HOW SOME BILLIONAIRES AND CELEBS PLAN THEIR BESPOKE HOLIDAYS. TIME TO GO ON A BREAK?

- VINOD NAIR

WHEN IT COMES to holidays, luxury travellers are keener to explore lesser-known places than the usual big, popular cities they are used to visiting. Smaller towns and villages in Europe and Asia offer them a sense of privacy, especially if they are celebrities or well-known businesspersons. They also offer them more niche and refined experiences and a more personalised and unique range of leisure activities. With all these come a sense of peace and relaxation that these travellers, who otherwise lead hectic lives, so keenly look out for.

McKinsey's latest report on the perceptions of luxury travellers, among other interesting facts, also mentions, "ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) prefer quiet luxury with personalised service targeting remote, private destinations, accessible via private airports or helipads, that feature tailored experiences available nowhere else". The report further states that luxury travellers like to go on exotic and adventure-focussed vacations such as yachting trips and safaris.

When it comes to luxury travel, Gautam Singhania, chairman & MD of diversified business group Raymond Ltd, is someone who loves both the quietness of a remote island and the buzz of a popular holiday destination. And he loves his sailing holidays, as well as the driving ones. Singhania says that the best thing about having a yacht is that one can take it to wherever you want, whenever you want. “When I am in the mood to have a quiet time, I sail to the eastern tip of [the] Maldives which is not frequented by many and gives me a sense of privacy and exclusivity,” he says. “Once you get there, you get into a mix of water sports—I love jet-skiing—mingle with the local crowd and understand the place and its culture better.”