If your dream is to travel like a millionaire but you are living on a beer and hamburger budget, your champagne wishes and dreams of caviar may still be within reach. With a little research and planning, you can vacation like the rich and famous without breaking your budget. Your millionaire dream vacation can be achieved without refinancing your mortgage or running up your credit card bills.
Look the Part
If you want to fit in with the millionaire crowd, you will have to discover the secrets of dressing and acting like one. You probably can’t afford to go on a spending spree and buy lots of expensive clothing. This is where the planning comes into play. Instead of buying many luxury items, reduce your list to a few articles and wear them everywhere.
Where you shop will determine how much you can afford to buy. Don’t go to high-end stores and pay full price. Consider shopping online and getting huge discounts on the same items bought by the rich and famous. Accent your wardrobe with designer bags and colorful items such as scarves and sunglasses to better fit the part. Shop at outlets like Orton Outlet to get high end accessories for a fraction of their true prices. These items will help complete your look.
Sleep like a Millionaire
Millionaires book directly through hotels. In order to afford luxury accommodations, the last place you want to book through is an expensive hotel. Research vacation rental sites which make it easy to look for luxury rental properties. Since many of these places accommodate up to a dozen guests, consider traveling with a group of friends and sharing the cost.
Airbnb can be a good resource for finding luxury accommodations for a good price. Other travel resources such as HomeAway.com can provide five-bedroom ski-to-your-door homes complete with hot tubs and wood burning fireplaces for around $600 a night. That’s only about $50 per person if you find a dozen friends to join you. Find your luxury dream rental and with a few friends, you can sleep like a millionaire.
Private Planes and Yachts
Think you can’t afford a private plane or yacht? Visit sites that make being part of the jet set group affordable for the common folk, like Jet Suite. Normally, booking a private jet would set you back around $5,000 an hour. Companies like Jet Suite have last-minute deals. Book a flight on Suite Deals and rent a whole jet for around $500. For example, a flight from Miami to West Palm Beach, Fla. cost $536.34 last July. American Airlines had the same flight for $327.20. Six people on the private jet would have cost less than $90 a person. Searching last minute for jet deals is the perfect way to fly like a millionaire.
If yachting is more your style, there are similar deals for booking yachts. Companies such as GetMyBoat.com offers 108,000 boats in 184 countries. While you might not be able to afford a mega yacht, this site offers everything from powerboats, sailboats, fishing charter, houseboats and jet ski rentals. Skimming around the islands on a fancy jet ski is a sure bet in pulling off the look and feel of a vacationing millionaire.
Drive in Style
Once you book your dream vacation, be sure and rent a sports car that adds to the glamour and glitz of your millionaire appearance. Nothing says rich and famous like a shiny red convertible. Be sure and brush up on. tips for driving a sports car as it may have a bit more power than you are used to.
Dining Out
After you are dressed in your fancy clothes and driving your shiny sports to dinner, there are a few simple tips to being able to afford fine dining. While it may not be as cool as whipping out hundred dollar bills to pay for dinner, Groupon has great deals on even the most elite restaurants. Groupon will help save a bundle when you are sipping wine and enjoying surf and turf.
Similar discounts for dining can be found on Gift Card Granny. Find gift cards up to 88% off fine restaurants. Even Costco offers gift cards far below the face value. Get two $50 cards to Shogun for $79.99. You can redeem the skimping on gift cards with a glass of good wine. Buy the whole bottle, however, rather than by the glass. There is a large markup when buying wine by the glass. Some restaurants let you bring your own wine, for a small corking fee.
Tips for Travel
Planning for your millionaire style vacation starts with smart spending. Sign up in advance with a travel rewards credit card. Use everyday purchases to give you points that you can use on your next vacation. If the card requires you to charge a certain dollar amount before getting the bonuses, use the card for all your daily shopping. Pay off the card in full each month and the bonuses become free money for your vacation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for upgrades. Smart travelers are not afraid to politely ask for perks. Being friendly to flight attendants, hotel staff and car rental agents can sometimes pay off. It is very possible to use your pleasant demeanor to get upgraded to a better car, a hotel suite, or if you’re really nice, first class. Be sure and mention if you are traveling for a special event. If you are having an anniversary, going on your honeymoon, or celebrating your birthday weekend, speak up. Airlines and hotels are often happy to provide perks for couples on a special trip.
Following the simple tips of booking through discount travel accommodations, using a rewards card to shop for designer wardrobes through outlets, and renting a shiny sports car, will help you achieve your dream of looking like a millionaire when you travel. Be sure and research the cheapest times of year to go on vacation and takes some friends to get those group discounts. Look for last minute deals on jets and yachts and go on your dream vacation in style without breaking the bank.
