Travel Posh

Popular travel magazine ‘Travel+Leisure’ has announced its annual list of "World's Best Cities" and Udaipur has been chosen as the best city for luxury travel. Udaipur is a picturesque city in the state of Rajasthan in India which overthrew Bangkok last year’s No. 1 city.

Udaipur is an ancient city that’s situated around a beautiful lake and has great luxury hotels and resorts with one being bang in the middle of the lake, connected to the mainland only by a boat service. The city is also dotted with many palaces and other historical buildings. Due to the rising tourist inflow many more luxury hotel chains are also planning to open hotels in Udaipur, a destination that is still unspoiled by commercialization and has a rich sense of tradition and culture. The city also has fantastic shopping opportunities and tourists find it very hard to resist shopping for Rajasthani antiques, jewelry and handicrafts.

According to the magazine’s editor in chief, there has been a noticeable change in the traveling habits of people. The world has become a much smaller place and travelers, especially luxury travelers are now looking towards newer and fresher places to visit. As a result, there has been a significant shift of interest from traditional European destinations. Travelers want to go to a place that offers a mix of ambience and foreign culture. All these qualities are present in Udaipur.

Apart from Udaipur, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Cape Town, Luang Prabang, Buenos Aires, Florence, New York and Rome were also featured in the list. Apart from the best city, the magazine also announced best hotel which was Bushmans Kloof Cedar Mountains hotel in South Africa. Bali was announced as the best island for travel and Singapore Airlines was judged the best international airline

A popular luxury travel website has recently published the upcoming tourism trends in luxury travel market. The website surveyed a wide spectrum of travellers and professionals related to the luxury travel industry. The survey reflected that in the current economic situations, the cost of luxury travel has become the decisive factor.

Travellers are looking at value for their money and branding budgets will take a backseat in 2010. The survey showed that only those luxury hotels and tour operators will be able to attract business that succeed in showing the customer that every penny they spend on holidaying is completely worth it. Travellers are looking and will continue for a long time, for a good balance between price and quality of their vacation. Proficient and intelligent travel advisors will need to provide the best available services at affordable prices at the top holiday destinations around the world.

Many professionals related to luxury travel have noticed the pressure to offer holidays packages which are more exotic, unusual and customized according to the customers’ needs. Travellers want to experience exciting adventures in new destinations. As a result, a new travel niche called the luxury adventure travel has developed and is on the rise. People are looking for heli-skiing, luxury safaris, boat cruises, and other such customized tours to add a pinch of adventure and excitement in their holidays.
Another relatively latest travel niche, eco-luxury travel is also making a huge difference in the luxury travel market. According to the trends, the year 2010 will see a rise in more sustainable resorts and inns in various destinations.
Travel experts also foresee a return of luxury travellers to Europe and it will be safe to say that newer and exotic locations in countries like Sardinia and Croatia will see an upsurge in tourism.