Before travelling to a new location, you would naturally begin by researching the destination to get a sense of the culture, climate, main attractions and experiences. However, here is where we will differ from most travel tip guides when we tell you that it’s not always helpful to conduct too much of your own desktop research prior to planning a luxury trip to Australia. With a lot of mixed information online and the many nuances of travelling to a diverse country like Australia to take into consideration, selecting the right travel specialist to fulfil your travel needs is how your research will best pay off.

A luxury travel specialist brings a wealth of expertise, insider knowledge, and personalised insights that transcend what you can find online. These experts have dedicated years to curating unforgettable journeys, offering access to hidden gems, exclusive experiences, and unparalleled accommodations that may not be readily available through mainstream online research. Moreover, they meticulously tailor your itinerary to your preferences and interests, ensuring that your journey is not just a trip, but a life-enriching adventure. From seamless logistics to unique, off-the-beaten-path discoveries, the value of a luxury travel specialist lies in their ability to transform a visit into a memorable, bespoke experience that will leave you with cherished memories that last a lifetime.

Whether it’s your passport, visa, or other important documents, staying on top of expiry dates and deadlines can only serve you well when on vacation.

Travel specialists, like The Tailor, are here to give you the best travel experience of your life; they are here to get to know you and your interests to better tailor the trip to your personal preferences and recommend special touches that can elevate your experience. Giving your travel specialist as much information as possible up front will ensure a great journey becomes a truly memorable, lifechanging experience.

You never know when you might need something, but you can guarantee that if you don’t pack it, you will need it. For those who use their phone a lot on holiday (taking photos or staying connected to those back home), a portable battery to carry around in your bag to get you out of a pinch is always a good idea.

Take photocopies of your important documents like your passport or visa, write down the address of your hotel to show the driver if you lose phone service or don’t know the language. Ensure that you bring a backup credit card or travel card, ideally attached to a different bank, to use if something happens to your primary one. Bringing two of everything essential to your travel means that you’ll avoid potential stress if something is lost or stolen.

The best way to engage with the locals is to speak their language. You don’t have to know everything, just the basics – hello, thank you, this please, goodbye – are enough to get by.

If English is already your first language, try learning some of the local Aussie slang – cossie/swimsuit, this arvo/this afternoon, brekky/breakfast – it’s the perfect souvenir to take home to enlighten your friends and family.

Although Australia is considered a year-round destination, where you will find the sun at any time of the year, shoulder season can be one of the best times to visit Australia. For luxury travellers in particular, visiting Australia during the shoulder season is a strategic choice, offering exclusive advantages that enhance the overall experience. These include temperate weather, providing the perfect backdrop for outdoor activities, while still maintaining the exclusivity and privacy. With reduced crowds, five-star accommodations and experiences become more accessible, ensuring an intimate and personalised journey. The cost savings during shoulder seasons can free up additional funds for indulgent extras, such as private air travel or a private host. Additionally, this period often aligns with exclusive events and festivals, presenting unique opportunities for cultural immersion and culinary exploration. Ultimately, the shoulder season caters to the discerning tastes of luxury travellers by combining favourable conditions, accessibility to premium offerings, and a chance to savour the finest aspects of Australia in an unhurried and refined manner.

If you’re looking for a more private experience away from the crowds that gives your travelling party a little more space in which to relax, consider staying in a private villa or cruising onboard a private yacht. You’ll have complete privacy and all the amenities you can expect from a five-star hotel with more space to enjoy them in or the ability to explore far-flung destinations.

Alternatively, choosing a wildlife safari or a five-star station stay over a traditional hotel delivers an intimate connection with nature, cultural immersion, adventure, and unparalleled personal experiences. The exclusive and immersive nature of these options enable travellers to explore Australia’s natural wonders and Aboriginal Culture while enjoying the comforts and luxuries of a five-star experience.

It can be really easy to get caught up in the rush of travel, the excitement of new places and people, so finding ways to ground yourself in a new place can really help you connect with the destination. The Tailor team recommends things like walks, mindfulness or meditation to centre yourself in the moment. As one of our Travel Designers puts it:

The best way to experience a new place is to try things you wouldn’t or couldn’t do at home. In the words of our Travel Designer Sophie Natera,

If you want an authentic experience, go to where the locals are and listen to their recommendations. They are the best resource for finding hidden gems away from tourist crowds. All of our tours are guided by locals for this exact reason, our carefully-selected guides know the ins and outs of their city, plus have some incredible connections and networks to deliver truly unique, one-of-a-kind experiences for guests.

When it comes to travel, take your time to fully immerse yourself in the destination rather than racing through numerous locations in a rush to tick off a list. Slow travel allows for richer exploration, with time to savour each individual experience, allowing for genuine connections with local culture, appreciation of the destination’s nuances and the creation of lasting memories.

Getting out and about from the get-go will give you a good introduction to a new destination, plus ensure that no time is wasted on your dream vacation. We usually recommend a private tour with an expert local guide to begin, which provides a broad overview of the destination, before plunging into some more unique and in-depth experiences.

In the realm of luxury travel, the quest for comfort naturally aligns to our innate desire to explore new horizons. However, as seasoned travellers, we also understand that our journeys should not only enrich our lives, but also leave a positive impact on the places we visit. Responsible travel is no longer just a buzz word, it’s an integral component in one’s travel plans.

Despite months of careful planning and meticulous coordination, the best-laid plans can go awry. From unfavourable weather to last minute flight cancellations and everything in between, no travel plan is fool proof. Whilst we aim to take all the guess work out of travelling, arranging backup options and putting contingencies plans in place, being flexible, in the unlikely event of an interruption to your itinerary, could prove positive and provide a new and unexpected experience that becomes a cherish memory from your vacation.

We understand that a lot of vacation time is intended for relaxation and rejuvenation; lounging poolside with a drink in hand and dining at the finest restaurants overlooking spectacular scenery. With this routine, it is easy to get comfortable with just lounging around and feasting your way through your vacation. But trust us when we say that it’s always a good idea to move your body, especially if you’re away for a long period of time. Walking is one of the best ways to take in a city, get a little more energy, and discover hidden gems. Client feedback consistently confirms, some of our traveller’s most memorable moments come from wandering through pristine wilderness or navigating secret side streets in an unknown city with an expert guide.

There are certain things that cannot be controlled; like the weather. If the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s that situations can change at the drop of a hat and that the unexpected can change everything. The best thing people can do in these circumstances is to be patient and be kind.

If you’re prone to jetlag, the best way to adjust to your new destination is to keep busy once you have landed and stay awake until your normal bedtime. This way, you’ll have a better chance of keeping the effects of jetlag at bay and ensure you’re ready to get going from day one and enjoy every minute of your dream vacation.

Being open to elevated opportunities as suggested by your Travel Designer will give you unique experiences in exchange for a fairly mundane task.

Imagine you’re travelling in Far North Queensland, instead of returning to Cairns airport and catching the scheduled flight to your next destination on Lizard Island, you take a helicopter along the coast, stopping on a deserted sandy quay for lunch, then making your way to the renowned Quinkan rock art to tour the site with a local Aboriginal family. Such an incredible experience is born out of something as simple as a transfer. Be flexible and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what is offered to you.

If you’re coming from a long-haul flight, the best thing you can do as soon as you land is rejuvenate and revitalise. For our guests, we recommend a massage and spa treatment or private yoga session to relax muscles tense from airport lounges and flight seats, ensuring you feel refreshed and ready to explore.

While public touring can be a practical choice for some travellers, the experiences you’ll encounter on a private tour are simply incomparable. We exclusively organise private tours for our guests because they offer an unparalleled level of personalisation, enjoyment, and intimacy, enabling you to explore and engage in activities you might never have imagined. Connecting with locals for one-on-one conversations and experiencing something truly unique can elevate your journey from enjoyable to extraordinary and unforgettable. Regardless of your Australian destination, we create a range of private tours designed to unlock the region’s treasures for your utmost enjoyment.

Hire a professional specifically for the way you want to travel. Our Travel Designers are dedicated to their clients, ensuring through any means necessary that they get an unforgettable experience. A luxury travel specialist truly elevates your journey in ways you might never have thought possible and their knowledge of the places you’re travelling to are unparalleled.

Travel can be one of the most rewarding, yet stressful experiences in life. Engaging a luxury travel expert, like The Tailor, can not only take the guesswork out of travelling, but also means that you won’t need to consider most of these travel tips. Our Travel Designers will get to know you, your personal interests and travel dreams to seamlessly stitch together a memorable, lifechanging journey, plus be on call in the unlikely event something unexpected emerges while travelling.