3 things you should splurge on when travelling

When too much is not enough.

By Samuel Smith
Published: Tuesday, December 17, 2019

From gastronomic delights to immersive cultural tours, here are 3 things we think every traveller should splurge on at least once.

Food and drink

Nothing complements overseas travel like good food and wine. And one of the best ways to get acquainted with a new culture is through your stomach.

Seeing the sights is one thing, but tasting them is another. You can tell as much about a about a culture from its cuisine as you can from its architecture, language and traditional dress.

Take, for example, Vietnamese cuisine. While we’re sure you’re familiar with the humble banh mi, traditional Vietnamese food features a combination of 5 fundamental tastes – spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet. Each flavour is said to represent a different organ: gall bladder, small intestine, large intestine, stomach and bladder.

Thinking about gall bladders while eating your pho may not seem like the most pleasant experience, but the Vietnamese 5 element belief stems from the yin and yang principle – an ancient philosophy about balancing dark and light.

Traditional Vietnamese ingredients reflect the country’s landscape, with seafood, soy sauce, bean sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables used in a large number of dishes.

No matter where you travel, splurging on local cuisine can immerse you in local culture.

Splurging on food is splurging on culture.
Splurging on food is splurging on culture.

Accommodation

While some of the best travel experiences can begin in the depths of cheap backpacker hostels, there’s nothing like sinking into a gigantic, plush king-size bed after spending the day exploring a new city.

But ritzy hotels aren’t the only drawcard. Splurging on accommodation is even more worthwhile when it lets you live like a local. Why settle for a hotel when you could spend the night luxuriating in an ancient city historic town, boat or train?

Though it can cost a little more than your average hotel, spending the night in left-of-centre accommodation opens up another world of travel experiences. Away from bustling town centres and tourist traps, you’re more likely to find your destination’s hidden gems, from charming cafés, bars and boutiques, to secluded coves and forests.

Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Peru was originally the seminary of San Antonio Abad Chapel (pictured).
Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Peru was originally the seminary of San Antonio Abad Chapel (pictured).

Tours

Navigating a new destination solo is an undeniably exhilarating experience, but a bit of local insight can go a long way.

Today, tours are so much more than boring bus rides. No matter what level of luxury you’re looking for, you’ll find companies offering locally led private journeys in some of the world’s most exciting – and exotic – destinations.

From chauffeured trips through boutique vineyards to privately catered yacht cruises, splurging on a tour will get you up-close to your destination’s finest tastes, sights and experiences.

Touring the village of Positano, Italy.
Touring the village of Positano, Italy.

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