Everyone knows that money can’t buy you love. However, it seemingly can buy you happiness if spent correctly, according to Dr Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University. “One of the enemies of happiness is adaptation”, Gilovich explained in an interview with Co.Exist. “We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.”
Put simply, no matter how lavish the item or how expensive it is, eventually a brand new sports car becomes just another car, and that limited edition designer watch starts to lose its appeal. That is why the professor suggests that, rather than splashing out on possessions, people should spend their money on experiences that last.
Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods
“Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods”, Gilovich said. “You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you.” So rather than wasting money on material possessions, Business Destinations recommends that travellers heed Gilovich’s advice and spend their earnings on some of these truly incredible experiences that will last a lifetime.
Dinner in the Sky
This dining experience is what happens when gourmet cuisine meets the thrill of an amusement park ride: a dinner table is suspended high above the city skyline, providing a platform for some of the best chefs in the world to showcase their culinary skills in the most surreal of settings.
The team behind Dinner in the Sky first dreamt up this beautifully bizarre idea nearly a decade ago. Hakuna Matata, a Belgian communications agency that focuses on high-end gastronomy, made the decision to team up with theme park installation company, The Fun Group, which specialises in the deployment of cranes. On paper, many people would be forgiven for thinking that this business venture would turn out to be a massive mistake. But they would be wrong: the experience combines luxury and innovation in equal measure to cultivate a truly unforgettable experience.
This gravity-defying dining experience is a huge hit with gourmands and thrill-seekers alike. Since its inauguration, the team behind this daredevil dinner table has organised more than 5,000 events in some of the world’s most iconic cities. “All these events were unique, one of a kind”, reads the company’s website. “We can cite, for example, the event organised in the skies above Monaco for Prince Albert with France’s most highly ‘starred’ chef, Joel Robuchon, in command. But [we] also introduced new creative concepts, such as a Beach Bar in the Sky; an Opera in the Sky, with Lesley Garrett singing at the Tower of London; an Internet Café in the Sky for Nokia in Las Vegas; and a Poker Match in the Sky at the Grand Prix Moto of Jerez.”
The versatility of the offering makes it the perfect venue for a corporate event or private party – although it is probably worth finding out if any of the guests have a fear of heights first.
Sublimotion restaurant
For most chefs, creativity begins and ends in the kitchen. But for the Spanish chef Paco Roncero, the concept behind his own revolutionary dining experience, Sublimotion, started inside a research workshop, of all places.
The two-star Michelin chef believes that exquisite-tasting food is just one part of the dining experience, and set out on an incredible journey back in 2012 with the intention of creating the perfect environment in which to sample the many flavours of his signature dishes. For two long years, he swapped sous-chefs and saucepans for a team comprising of set-designers, architects, engineers, choreographers, screenwriters and even illusionists to create “the first gastronomic show in the world”.
What he and his team came up with somehow manages to combine state-of-the-art technology with extraordinary cuisine, creating one of the most unique culinary experiences in the world. Sublimotion, which opened in Ibiza’s Hard Rock Hotel last summer, sees 12 lucky diners seated at a table inside a 350sq m room that acts as a digital canvas, capable of rendering a host of audio-visual displays that help to uniquely complement each of the 20 dishes served. Diners will even experience literal changes to the restaurant’s atmosphere, with the temperature and humidity of the room being altered throughout the service with the intention of further immersing customers’ senses.
“We are very excited about the opening of Sublimotion and believe our guests will enjoy a culinary experience they’ve never previously encountered”, Roncero said in a statement. “We are so delighted to be working with Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza in one of the most international islands in the world.” Roncero first made a name for himself cooking avant-garde cuisine inspired by dishes from his native country. For those interested in a visit to this one-of-a-kind restaurant, the cost is around €1,500 ($1,670) for a 20-course taster menu.
Château Margaux
This French château is one of the most famous wine estates in the world. Known for producing one of only four wines to ever achieve premier cru (‘first growth’) status – a term used to signify a wine and/or vineyard of superior quality – it is also the maker of the most expensive bottle of red wine to ever be retailed: a $195,000, 12-litre Balthazar of Château Margaux 2009.
“The merlot is the ripest I’ve ever seen”, said the estate’s Chief Winemaker and Managing Director, Paul Pontallier, of the bottle during an interview with The Wine Cellar Insider. “[2009] offered much better conditions at harvest, which finished in dream-like conditions for Château Margaux.” The bottle, which went on sale at the flagship store of the fine wine and luxury spirit merchant, Le Clos, in Dubai, resides in a beautifully engraved oak case. Adding to its value, the buyer of this exclusive bottle of Bordeaux will also receive a private tour of the Château Margaux vineyard, capping off the day with a dinner at La Mothe de Margaux, hosted by Pontallier himself.
“Château Margaux’s history stretches back over 400 years, during which the estate has produced some of the world’s best wines time and again”, said Pontallier. “The Château Margaux 2009 vintage is one of the finest we have ever produced, hence why we chose to bottle it in this magnificent format.” For centuries, the wines produced at the Château Margaux have been heralded as some of the best the world has ever known. The high quality of this claret is due, in part, to the unique characteristics of the soil in which the grapes are grown, along with the hard-work and dedication of successive generations.
Hotel President Wilson
Switzerland and luxury goods go hand-in-hand, with some of the world’s best watchmakers – including Patek Philippe, Breguet and Rolex – calling Helvetia their home. It also boasts some of the best chocolatiers and cheese-makers anywhere in the world, as well as being one of the most popular holiday destinations for the rich and famous.
Located in one of the most expensive cities in the world, it seems fitting that The Royal Penthouse Suite at the prestigious Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland is – for now, at least – the most expensive hotel room in the world, costing CHF 60,000 ($63,842) per night. For those able to afford a night in the luxury suite, the first thing they will appreciate is its sheer size: with 1,680sq m of space, it is easily one of the largest hotel rooms in Europe.
The Royal Penthouse Suite houses 12 bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms, as well as a host of amenities that guests have come to expect – plus a number of ones they probably haven’t: features of the suite include one of the largest Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TVs in the market, a Steinway grand piano, a billiards table, a collection of fine art, and even its own private gym. But easily the room’s best feature is the sublime, panoramic view of Lake Geneva and the Mont-Blanc.
The suite also offers substantial security: fitted with bulletproof windows, a state-of-the-art safe to guard visitors’ valuables and even a private lift to ferry visitors, high-profile guests are able to avoid any unwanted attention during the course of their stay. This impressive offering has attracted everyone from former US President Bill Clinton to the late Michael Jackson.
Laucala Island
Owning an entire island like Virgin boss Richard Branson requires a massive financial commitment and a whole lot of free time. So for those that would like to have all the fun that comes with having their own private island but without all the hassle, then perhaps Laucala – an island located off the coast of Fiji in the South Pacific – is the answer.
Though a visit to Laucala involves travelling slightly further afield from the rest of our luxury offerings in Europe, the island is set over 1,400 hectares, combining luscious rainforests, beautiful white beaches, and all the amenities that people come to expect from a five-star vacation. The resort itself is located on the northern tip of the island, leaving the rest of the island under the stewardship of Mother Nature. But should visitors want to exchange the jaw-dropping wilderness for some man-made luxury, they needn’t travel very far.
Just a short walk from the resort is the island’s water sports centre, which boasts 14 boats, including the Riviera Open Flybridge, which is designed specifically for game fishing, as well as several Dragon sailboats and traditional Fijian outriggers, which are ideal for watching the sunset or exploring the waters surrounding the island. It even has its very own 18-hole championship golf course, which was designed by the renowned course architect, David McLay Kidd.
After spending the day on the beach, guests can head to one of the island’s many bars and restaurants. One of the first things they will notice about the food and drink that they sample is its quality, with Laucala using nature’s bounty to its benefit: the island is home to a host of organic farms and gardens that provide fresh ingredients for their vast selection of eateries. A villa at the Laucala resort will set visitors back $4,200 per night, with food, drink and activities all included during the course of the stay.
