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Want to travel like the ultra-wealthy without blowing your entire budget? Luxury travel isn’t always about five-star splurges. It’s about strategic swaps and insider moves that can unlock luxury experiences for less.
From first-class flights booked on a coach budget to VIP-style perks at midrange prices, here are five ways to vacation like a millionaire without spending like one.
1. Buy Back Time the Way Millionaires Do
Millionaires don’t wait; they curate. Skip-the-line passes, private transfers and timed-entry tickets can elevate even a midpriced trip into a VIP-level experience.
“The longest line you’ll ever stand in is the one you didn’t plan for,” said Shane Mahoney, founder of Lugos Travel. “I’ve sent people into the Sistine Chapel before it opens. A dozen people in the room instead of hundreds. Same masterpiece. Completely different trip.”
2. Leverage Loyalty Programs Like High-Net-Worth Travelers
Many millionaires utilize loyalty programs and rewards points to transform everyday spending into luxury travel experiences. By choosing cards and programs strategically, travelers can enjoy a “millionaire experience” without premium spending.
“We strategically leverage points from programs like AMEX Membership Rewards and transfer them to airlines for long-haul business-class flights,” said Tom Abraham, co-founder of the World Travel Index and a full-time globetrotter. “This gives us access to a huge network. A single credit-card bonus can often cover a flight that would otherwise cost thousands.”
3. Book ‘Luxury Adjacent’ To Get Five-Star Feels
Some millionaires rarely stay in the priciest ZIP code. Instead, they book just next to it. By choosing boutique hotels or rentals bordering top hotspots, it’s possible to enjoy luxury-level amenities and a “millionaire travel” experience at a fraction of the cost.
“Think Menton instead of Monaco, or Porto instead of Lisbon,” said Francis Hellyer, CEO of Tickadoo, an artificial intelligence-powered platform for personalized travel and live events “You get world-class dining, culture and scenery at a fraction of the cost, and you’re still close enough to dip into the pricier hotspots for a day.”
4. Treat Credit Card Points Like a Private Piggy Bank for Splurges
Affluent travelers see reward points as an investment tool, not a novelty. By treating points as currency for high-value redemptions, such as business-class flights, resort stays or airport lounge access, middle-class earners can enjoy millionaire-style travel upgrades without going broke.
“One of the best ways to get high-end deals without paying for it is using credit card points,” said Kendyl Grender, owner of Kendyl Travels. “The best thing you can do is earn points on your everyday spending, pay it like a debit card and use those points towards a free trip annually.”
To maximize the strategy’s effectiveness, Grender recommended using multiple rewards cards to earn higher point multipliers on everyday categories, such as dining or groceries, and then funneling those points into hotel and airline transfer partners.
5. Snag Off-Peak Luxury When the Wealthy Aren’t Traveling
Millionaires know the real luxury is privacy and space, not crowds and markups. By booking just outside peak season, travelers can experience high-touch service, exclusive amenities and reduced “millionaire-level” pricing, especially on international trips.
“By going right after the main season, we were able to stay in fantastic resorts in the Dominican Republic and Sint Maarten for up to 70% less than their peak rates,” Abraham said. “It feels like a VIP experience because the resorts are quieter.”