Luxury Travel Specialist

A moment at Prague's Lennon Wall

When I think about luxury travel, I think about more than just a beautiful hotel. I think about how easy the trip feels, how well everything connects, and whether the experiences actually feel like they belong to you. One trip that really shaped the way I look at luxury travel was a journey through Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, traveling between each city by train. If you have these three cities on your list, I highly recommend doing them together, either Budapest to Vienna to Prague or in reverse. Budapest to Vienna is roughly 133 miles and direct trains can take as little as 2 hours and 25 minutes, while Vienna to Prague is about 157 miles with the fastest direct services taking around 4 hours and 13 minutes. Instead of dealing with airports and losing valuable time, you can sit back, watch the scenery change, and arrive right in the center of the next city. That is one of those little decisions that can make a luxury itinerary feel completely different. We started in Budapest at Aria Hotel Budapest, and this is exactly the type of property I look for when planning luxury travel. It is a true luxury boutique hotel, but it has personality. Music is woven throughout the property, with four wings dedicated to Classical, Opera, Contemporary, and Jazz. The design is sophisticated without feeling overly formal, and there are details everywhere that make the hotel feel connected to Budapest. There is the High Note SkyBar with panoramic views over the city, a great breakfast, an afternoon wine and cheese reception, and a beautiful spa with a pool, sauna, steam room, and whirlpool. Its location next to St. Stephen's Basilica is also hard to beat. But I think the best luxury trips are the ones where you can step outside the hotel and really experience the destination. Budapest is known for its thermal baths and nightlife, and we even ended up at a beatbox club, which was completely unexpected and one of those experiences that still stands out. That is the balance I look for. You can spend the morning enjoying a beautiful hotel and then go experience something completely different that afternoon. From Budapest, we took the train to Vienna. The change in atmosphere was immediate. Budapest has a little more edge and energy, while Vienna feels polished, elegant, and steeped in history. Park Hyatt Vienna was our base, and it is an excellent example of how the right hotel can make a city easier to experience. The property occupies a beautifully restored former bank building and sits right in the center, close to St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, shopping, and restaurants. And if you stay there, order the truffle scrambled eggs at breakfast. Vienna is also a destination where the timing matters. Visit around Christmas and you get the famous Christmas markets. Visit around Easter and the city takes on a completely different atmosphere with its Easter markets. I also recommend making time for Schönbrunn Palace and taking the guided tour or audio guide. The palace is beautiful, but understanding the history behind it is what makes the visit memorable. Add the Sisi Museum, Mozart's apartment, an evening at the symphony, and a proper Wiener Schnitzel, and you start to get a real sense of Vienna. Then it was back on the train and on to Prague. We stayed at Aria Hotel Prague, another property I like because it does not feel generic. It is just minutes from Charles Bridge, has access to the beautiful Baroque Vrtba Garden, and has a rooftop terrace with great views over the city. Prague was where I wanted to get a little more creative with the itinerary. We visited the Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague, which gives you a fascinating look at the city's connection to alchemy, and then went to an alchemy-inspired cocktail bar where the drinks were smoky and theatrical. It was unusual, fun, and definitely not something you would get from simply following a standard sightseeing list. That trip is a good example of how I approach luxury travel. I know the hotels matter, and I know the service matters, but I also think luxury should have some personality. I want clients to have the incredible hotel, the great room, the seamless transportation, and the exceptional service, but I also want them to come home with stories that nobody else in their group has. Budapest, Vienna, and Prague work so well together because each city gives you something completely different, and the train makes the entire journey feel easy. You can do the route in either direction, spend a few nights in each, and experience three incredible cities as one cohesive trip. For me, that is what luxury travel is all about: getting the big things right, paying attention to the small things, and finding those experiences that make the trip feel like it was designed specifically for you.