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The ultimate exclusive experiences are
available to the ultra-rich, but you'll have to be among the one per
cent to qualify for some companies
We all daydream about the luxurious holidays we would take if we were to win the euromillions.
For
the most elite members of society, the holidays they go on are so
exclusive, that money alone is not enough to secure a place.
With the exclusivity comes experiences that you would never normally be able to buy.
Specialist
Italian travel company, Bellini Travel, set up by Emily FitzRoy 15
years ago, is so exclusive that it only caters to a carefully selected
list of 100 clients a year.
'As we look after a limited number of people each year, we can pull in huge favours,' Emily said.
'For
example, we're just in the middle of negotiating to close the Uffizi
for a client who only has 24 hours in Florence, but wants to see
Botticelli's Birth of Venus on his own.
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Luxury travel company Brown and Hudson
describe themselves as a cross between therapists and an investigative
journalists in providing customers with the best service
Brown
and Hudson describe themselves as the antidote to everything that is
packaged and unconsidered about today’s luxury travel business.
Their
bespoke service, which charges a minimum of £1,000 simply to create an
itinerary for potential clients, has an impressive portfolio of bespoke
experiences they have orchestrated for guests.
This includes surprising a honeymoon couple with the perfect wedding present; tea with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu.
'If
their passion is James Bond and their destination Iceland - we might
introduce them to the producer of the Icelandic scenes from Die Another
Day,' said founder Philippe Brown.
We’re not for everyone. We don’t want to be everyone. We are in a category of one.
Philippe Brown, founder of Brown and Hudson
'We
attract demanding, cultured and often well-travelled clients. We’re not
for everyone. We don’t want to be everyone. Appealing to everyone leads
to an average product or service with mass appeal. We are in a category
of one. It takes bravery to do this.'
He describes how one client had a serious medical condition which meant she was unable to retain short-term memories.
They
discovered that she was a keen but shy pianist, so they arranged for
her to enjoy a phenomenal piano playing experience, alone on stage at
Reykjavik’s Iconic Harpa Concert Hall.
Luxury
lifestyle website VeryFirstTo was founded by Marcel Knobil in 2012 to
cater to what he calls 'early adopters of luxury' who strive for far
more than a luxury holiday or an expensive watch.
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Some companies refer to their clients as 'friends' and others only work with 100 people a year
'They're
a very special breed of people for whom having it first matters.
Whether it's a new gadget or an incredible experience or holiday, these
individuals want the privilege of getting there fist.
'We
recently helped one client produce a birthday film rather than send a
card, while another individual requested a meal at a special restaurant
with such incredibly rare ingredients and wine, it came to around £6,000
a head.'
Alexander
Martin, director of luxury lifestyle website The Envy Group agrees that
for the super-rich, it's not about what you give, so much as the
amazing experience behind it.
If you've ever wondered what you'd do if you're numbers came up on the Euromillions, you're not alone
'Our
clients - or 'friends' as we call them - are very successful and
generous people, and we help them create unique lifestyle experiences
that goes far beyond booking a table at an amazing restaurant.
'We
recently organised the world's only Tiffany-blue Bentley for one of our
friends, and created a 20ft Tiffany-inspired remote-controlled
hydraulic gift box complete to deliver it in.'
But there are some experiences that no amount of money will buy.
With a
hush-hush client base bursting with wealthy, successful and famous
individuals, Alexander is also able to offer his 'friends' the kind of
experiences that no amount of money can buy.
'We
get to know our friends very well so when Al Pacino was in town he
agreed to have dinner with one of them who we knew was a huge fan of
his. And we arranged for another friend to meet with the Jackson family.
There are some experiences you just can't pay for.'
So just who are these boundary-pushing people?
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Lots of money can buy you dinner in
some of the world's top restaurants, but it's going the extra mile that
counts when you're already super-rich
'There
are no lottery winners as far as I know,' reveals Andrew Barker, owner
and managing director of bespoke luxury holiday company Hurlingham
Travel.
'Our
clients are very successful, they tend to have their own companies or
they hold senior positions in international companies. We also work with
quite a few UK TV and music celebrities as well as some Hollywood
stars.'
Andrew,
as with the other luxury providers, remains tight-lipped about the
identities of his super-wealthy clients, but if you should find yourself
with a million pounds or two burning a hole in your pocket, here's a
few ideas on how to spend it.
Feeling flash with your cash? Here are some ideas to help you spend it:
Visit every three Michelin-star restaurant in six months
VeryFirstTo - from £182,000
This
epic gourmet adventure for serious foodies - or the very hungry - takes
six months and will visit all of the 105 Michelin 3* restaurants across
the globe.
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You'll have to be very rich, and very
hungry, to experience this epic gourmet adventure. Dubbed the most
delicious holiday in the world, you'll visit all 105 Michelin 3*
restaurants in six months
Highlights
include salmon poached in a liquorice gel at experimental chef Heston
Blumenthal's The Fat Duck, the delicacies of legendary chef Alain
Ducasse in Monaco: and Juan Mari Arzak's pineapple bubbles in the
mountainous Basque country.
Business class travel and 5* hotels included, naturally.
Take part in a rickshaw race across India
Quintessentially - from around £15,000
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Not your average holiday! Have you got what it takes to race a rickshaw across India?
Driving in India can be a hair-raising experience, but driving a rickshaw must surely be up there with nail-biting rides?
Quintessentially's
trip to take part in a rickshaw race will take in the sights, sounds,
smell and traffic in this incredible country. Just please fasten your
seatbelt.
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the comfort of a private luxury yacht
Bon Vivant - from £3,000 depending on the yacht position (flights not included)
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Watching the grand prix in Monaco is an amazing experience, watching it on board a private yacht is better
The
Monaco grand prix is synonymous with style and glamour but why not up
the ante even furhter and watch it on board your very own private yacht?
You'll
be treated to full hospitality during the qualifying rounds on Saturday
and race day on the Sunday, including breakfast, lunch and canapés, as
well as Champagne all day.
Take part in a hot air balloon race
Quintessentially - price on application depending on location
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Up, up and away! Sometimes it's not about getting there, it's how you get there that counts
Take
a moment to enjoy life in the slow land and recreate your very own
Jules Verne moment with an exhilarating race in your very own hot air
balloon.
And
once you touch down, you'll be whisked away to plan your race tactics
for the next day in the comfort of a luxury five star hotel.
Supercar gift box
The Envy Group - from £20,000 (supercar NOT included!)
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This extravagant Tiffany-blue Bentley was delivered inside a 20ft remote-controlled hydraulic give box
Because
sometimes a bow attached to a shiny new Ford Fiesta in the drive just
won't do... If you're searching for a super-special gift with plenty of
WOW factor, consider buying your loved one a supercar in a box.
This is a fully bespoke tailored to the individual client's needs.
Watch opera in the Royal Box at the Royal Opera House in London
Bon Vivant - from £9,000
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Want to hear the fat lady sing? Listen in style in the Royal Box and the Royal Opera House
Most
of us treat ourselves to a West End show if we're in London for the
weekend, but if you know your La Traviata from your Turandot, go one
better and amaze your family and friends with a night in the Royal Box
at the Royal Opera House.
It's the best and most prestigious seat in the house - and you'll definitely be able to hear the fat lady singing.
Have different supercar delivered to your door every week for a year
VeryFirstTo - from £245,900
Why have one supercar when you can a different one every week?
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Believe it or not, supercars can get boring, so have a different one delivered to your door every week
This
dream scenario for any motoring enthusiast features legendary motor
companies including: Aston Martin, Bugatti, Bentley, Ferrari,
Lamborghini Lotus, Maserati, McClaren, Porsche and TVR.
Visit every UNESCO World Heritage Site in one holiday
Hurlingham Travel - from £1million
If
you've ever wondered how many UNESCO World Heritage sites there are,
and how long it would take you to visit them all, the answer is 922 and
roughly two years.
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The Taj Mahal in India is one of 922 UNESCO World Heritage sites that you can visit in two years
At
the time of going to press, the companies are in negotiations with a
Chinese PHD student who is hoping to be whisked off on this incredible
adventure once he completes his studies.
Travel around the world by private jet
Hurlingham Travel - price on application
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Sharing your plane with other passengers is so 2008! Why not treat yourself to a private jet...
Checking
in with the hoi palloi at overcrowded airports and squeezing into a
tiny seat can be a tiresome experience at the best of times.
If
you're a frequent traveller, treat yourself to a comfortable arm chair
recliner aboard a VIP Boeing 757, accompanied by a team of logistics
experts and a doctor to tend to your every whim.
Personalised Envy Box delivered in Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Envy Group, from £1,000 (price of gift not included)
The
super-rich tend to be super generous but if you really want to make a
good impression, it's not just what you give, but how you give it that
counts.
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Anyone can give a gift, but it's how you give it that will really make a lasting impression
For
this service, The Envy Group will personally source your gift - however
obscure or rare - and have it hand-delivered by a smartly-dressed
courier in a Rolls-Royce Phantom to your desired destination.
Visit the world's top 12 casinos in a month
VeryFirstTo - from £96,000
A
high-roller's dream holiday, this high-risk trip comprises the world's
top 12 casinos in eight different destinations over four weeks.
High risks for high rollers await the lucky person who embarks on this casino-themed holiday
Highlights
of the trip include the legendary Caesars Palace on the neon-lit Las
Vegas Strip - one of the world's first casinos - The Casino de Monte
Carlo, the Atlantis Bahamas, and the world's largest casino, The
Venetian Macao.