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• Room upgrades, subject to availability 
• Daily breakfast for two
• Food & beverage credit or Hotel/Resort credit or Spa credit 
• Early check-in/late checkout, subject to availability 
• Special Virtuoso Promotions or Experiences

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What is Virtuoso? Unraveling Luxury Travel’s Finest

Travel transcends beyond being a mere pastime to being an immersive experience that stitches together unforgettable memories. It unlocks doors to unparalleled adventures, culinary delights, cultural treasures, and heartwarming encounters. To truly accentuate and customize these experiences, a knowledgeable guide is essential. That’s where Virtuoso steps in.

What is Virtuoso?

Virtuoso is an elite, invitation-only consortium consisting of top-tier travel agencies worldwide. Specializing in luxury and experiential travel, Virtuoso has carved out a niche for itself in the travel industry. With more than 20,000 advisors, Virtuoso is the key to unlocking an array of unique travel experiences. Its expansive network spans across 50 countries and includes the finest travel agencies, tour operators, cruise lines, and hospitality entities. This colossal network’s main aim is to design, curate, and execute experiences that echo the client’s dreams and desires.

The Unmatched Expertise of Virtuoso Travel Advisors

The heart of Virtuoso’s service is its travel advisors. These advisors are not merely booking agents; they are architects who design your dreams into a tangible itinerary. A Virtuoso advisor is your confidante who knows your travel aspirations, style, and preferences. They work tirelessly, drawing from their vast resources and insider knowledge to tailor a travel experience that caters to your every need and fancy.

Whether you want a luxury cruise down the Mediterranean, a cultural escapade in Southeast Asia, or a culinary adventure in Europe, your Virtuoso advisor is your concierge, guide, and troubleshooter. They align with the best cruise lines, luxury accommodations, and local tour operators to plan your journey, ensuring a seamless, unforgettable travel experience.

Unique Experiences and VIP Treatment: The Virtuoso Promise

What sets Virtuoso apart is its relentless pursuit of unique, experiential travel journeys. Its extensive alliance with premium hospitality entities and service providers across the globe ensures clients enjoy VIP treatment throughout their journey. This includes exclusive upgrades, flexible check-ins and check-outs, customized welcome amenities, and access to experiences typically off-limits to the average traveler.

Imagine enjoying a private, after-hour tour of the Louvre or a close-up encounter with African elephants in a conservation field. Perhaps a masterclass in Italian cuisine in a Tuscan villa? Virtuoso makes these experiences possible, crafting a travel story that’s as unique as you are.

Deep Diving into Luxury: Virtuoso’s Extensive Network

Virtuoso’s vast network connects you with over 1,800 premier hotels and resorts, the finest cruise lines, the most sought-after tour operators, and in-destination experts. This robust network lays the canvas for the travel masterpiece that your advisor paints, keeping your preferences at the forefront. Be it the rustic charm of a private island, the opulence of a heritage hotel, or the adventure of a luxury cruise, Virtuoso connects you to the finest experiences the world has to offer.

Final Thoughts: The Virtuoso Difference

Luxury travel with Virtuoso goes beyond the norms of high-end accommodations and premium amenities. It’s about sculpting unique, cultural experiences that resonate with your personal travel style. It’s about journeying beyond the destination, diving deeper into the local culture, history, and ethos.

Scott and Thomas strive to give our clients a personalized travel experience. We fuse our commitment, expertise, and the exclusive resources offered by Virtuoso to craft your perfect journey. So why wait? Reach out to us today and embark on your dream voyage with Scott and Thomas. Enjoy the Virtuoso difference – it’s luxury travel, personalized.

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The Secret Tool That Gets You EXTRA Value on Hotel Stays

While it’s true that we can choose to use points for luxury hotel stays, maybe that’s not always the best choice. After all, points don’t just drop out of the sky and into our accounts, right? Maybe we’re saving our points stash for another travel adventure. Or maybe we’ve spent our points and simply don’t have enough for an upcoming hotel stay. Or what if your travel plans take you to a destination that doesn’t have hotels you can book on points.

That’s where Virtuoso can come in. Let’s dig in and see how Virtuoso can work for you, what Virtuoso is, what benefits you can get, and how you can book Virtuoso rates.

Access Luxury Perks & Upgrades : If you’re looking to book a luxury hotel stay via Virtuoso —Katie, a member of our PointMe team, is a Virtuoso agent. She can help get you complimentary room upgrades , daily breakfast for 2, late checkouts and more (for no extra cost). Contact Katie for a fast reply to access these special perks.

Everything You Need To Know About Virtuoso

What is virtuoso.

What exactly is Virtuoso? Virtuoso is a worldwide network of travel agencies with specializations in luxury and experiential travel.

Virtuoso’s network consists of more than 20,000 travel advisors, each of which falls under a larger member agency.

Its travel advisors bring personalized travel recommendations and bookings to the clients. They have expertise when you’re looking for hotels, cruises, or tours.

Bookings made through Virtuoso come with value-added perks for no additional cost to the traveler.

What Are Virtuoso Benefits?

In almost all cases, hotel stays booked through Virtuoso come with the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2 guests per room
• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Early check-in (subject to availability)
• Late checkout (subject to availability)
• A special Virtuoso amenity (typically a $100 property credit or other amenity valued at a minimum of $100, like a free massage or round-trip car transfer)

Are There Fees To Use Virtuoso?

Virtuoso rates almost always cost the same exact price as the best available flexible rate.

This isn’t the same as a prepaid, advance purchase, non-refundable rate, corporate rate, or member-only rate.

However, if you usually book the best available flexible rates, you’ll literally get hundreds of dollars in added value just by going through a Virtuoso advisor.

In addition, Virtuoso advisors generally don’t charge you any commissions for hotel bookings. This does vary from advisor to advisor though so check with them upfront. They get a commission on the back-end, but that cost won’t be passed on to you most of the time.

This isn’t the same as a planning fee. If you’re booking a complicated trip, you might be quoted for this extra fee depending on the travel advisor.

Virtuoso Travel Hotel Properties

The complete catalog of Virtuoso hotels includes name-brand luxury chains like:

• Aman Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental
• Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
• The Peninsula Hotels
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Rocco Forte Hotels
• Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

This list just about covers all luxury hotel chains . You can book luxury boutique properties that may not have multiple locations or be part of a hotel group.

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Can I Earn Points on a Virtuoso Rate?

Booking Virtuoso rates is a lot like stacking benefits!

Because a Virtuoso hotel rate still goes through the hotel’s internal system, you can earn hotel points, elite night credits/stays, and even enjoy hotel elite benefits when booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor. If that’s not a win-win, then what is?

For example, if you’re a Hyatt Globalist member and you’re booking a Virtuoso hotel stay at an eligible Hyatt property, you will earn Hyatt points and enjoy Globalist benefits on your hotel stay.

Your Virtuoso travel advisor will also enter your loyalty number when booking your hotel stays, so you’ll be good to go earning hotel points on stays.

How Do I Find Virtuoso Hotels and Virtuoso Travel Advisors?

Do you have a stay in mind? Good. That’s the first step.

You can view the rates for hotels by visiting the hotel search option here , but you will need to contact a Virtuoso travel advisor (such as Katie ) to enjoy these benefits. You can even browse Virtuoso travel advisors by their destination specialties or travel interests!

Are There Other Programs Like Virtuoso?

Virtuoso is the largest group offering thousands of luxury hotels and resorts to choose from. Virtuoso was founded by Jesse Upchurch in 1986, but it’s currently lead by his son Matthew D. Upchurch. Virtuoso is a private company and has hundreds of employees.

However, other programs offer similar benefits, including Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Bellini, Dorchester Diamond Club, Hilton Impresario, Rosewood Elite, Marriott STARS, Marriott Luminous, and Mandarin Oriental Fan Club.

Virtuoso actually includes all of the brands above and offers similar benefits.  Virtuoso offers a “one-stop-shop” for booking luxury hotel stays and getting benefits regardless of which of these hotel chains you prefer.

Pro Tip: Do you Pruvo all your hotels stays? If not, do what I do and let Pruvo monitor your reservations for price drops. It’s  free and it’s the easiest way to save money on all your hotel rooms.

Virtuoso Travel vs. Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is similar to Virtuoso in the sense that it offers perks like free breakfast and room upgrades. However, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts offers a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.

Virtuoso is bookable without a specific credit card, while Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts requires a premium Amex card like The Platinum Card® from American Express. However, you need to have a Virtuoso travel advisor to help make your booking for you (online or over the phone).

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and Virtuoso both have overlapping hotels.

Sometimes, both programs have the same rates. But sometimes not. Best to check both programs to see if there are price differences even at the same properties.

Don’t MISS OUT on the BEST current travel credit card offers!

Final Thoughts on Virtuoso Travel

Virtuoso is the secret tool that luxury travelers use to get hundreds of dollars worth of extra value on their bookings, especially hotel stays. The best part is you won’t need to pay extra to enjoy these benefits.

Some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands like Four Seasons, Aman, Rosewood, and The Peninsula are available to book through Virtuoso. It also includes small luxury boutique hotels that aren’t a part of a larger hotel brand, so you can enjoy a boutique experience as well.

With this program, you’ll enjoy benefits like free breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more all for the same price as the best available flexible rate.

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Shelli Stein

Shelli Stein is a travel writer, personal development coach , and story teller. She has come to realize writing as a way of sharing travel experiences brings her a lot of pleasure! Her areas of expertise are: all things  Southwest Airlines ,  hotel reviews , and what to do, see, and eat in destinations around the world. She sees travel as an adventure, trying to somehow get inside and experience a different way of life, a different cultural heritage. Maybe she can  show you something  you’ve never seen.  Inspire you with new ideas  for your next vacation. Attempt to  put a smile on your face . Help you learn from her mistakes . Or challenge your  assumptions about the world . She lives life with humor, gratitude, and humility and always sees the coffee cup as half full!

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Meet the New Travel Agents (a.k.a. Travel Networks)

How do these networks stack up against each other, and what does it cost to take advantage of their perks?

By Shivani Vora

Why would travelers ever plan a vacation on their own when their money will go a lot further with the help of a travel agent? At a time when booking trips online seems to be the norm, it’s a message that several travel networks, each with their own group of travel agents, are increasingly pushing.

With more than 16,000 agents globally, Virtuoso is one of the largest networks. That scale can benefit the traveler: Book a trip with a Virtuoso agent, said Albert Herrera, the company’s senior vice president of global product partnerships, and you will get hotel perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades and spa treatments; these extras are worth up to $450 a property. “If you’re staying at three hotels on one trip, you’re looking at more than $1,300 of amenities that you’re not paying for,” he said.

Signature Travel Network has more than 7,000 agents. Ignacio Maza, the company’s executive vice president, said that the network’s agents can get clients benefits valued at up to $500 at hotels; on cruises, more than $1,000.

Smaller networks also offer amenities for their clients: Andrew Harper Travel , for example, began in the 1970s as a hotel review company but expanded around 15 years ago to offer travel planning services; currently, the company has around 20 agents.

How do these networks stack up against each other, and what does it cost travelers, if anything, to take advantage of their perks? Here is a breakdown of some of the top networks.

Signature Travel Network

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT signaturetravelnetwork.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,030, both large chains and boutique properties; the collection includes four- and five-star hotels.

THE COST Signature doesn’t charge a membership fee to use its agents, but some charge fees of up to several hundred dollars.

CRUISES? Yes, 30 lines. Benefits vary by sailing, but could include onboard credits, prepaid gratuities and shore excursions. Also, on a select 200 a year, travelers get a private guide and driver for a day at selected ports — a perk valued at up to $900, according to Mr. Maza.

HOTEL PERKS Up to $500 of amenities at hotels, including daily breakfast for two, an extra amenity such as a $100 dining credit, room upgrades and early check-in and checkout, when available. Some properties, like the Ritz Paris , offer additional benefits including round-trip airport transfers.

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT virtuoso.com/advisors

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,250 luxury hotels, both large chains and boutique properties; 900 of those can be booked through virtuoso.com .

THE COST Virtuoso doesn’t charge a membership fee to use its agents, but some charge trip-planning fees; depending on the complexity of the trip, fees can range from $50 to several hundred dollars.

CRUISES? Yes, 31 lines, with more than 500 select sailings a year. Travelers get an $800 credit to use one of three ways: onboard, for a private car and driver at a port of their choice, or for a tailor-made excursion.

HOTEL PERKS Up to $450 of amenities at hotels, including daily breakfast for two, room upgrades (either guaranteed at the time of booking or on a space available basis) and early check-in and late checkout, when available. All affiliated hotels also offer extras for their Virtuoso guests which vary by property. Examples include a six-course dinner at Casa Gangotena in Quito, Ecuador and a horse-drawn carriage tour with a stay at Alpaga Megève in Megève, France.

Ensemble Travel Group

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT ensembletravel.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS Around 700, both large chains and boutique properties; the collection includes four- and five-star hotels.

THE COST Ensemble doesn’t charge a membership fee to use agents, but some charge trip-planning fees.

CRUISES? Yes, 26 lines. On more than 1,500 select cruises a year, travelers receive various benefits such as room upgrades, onboard credits and shore excursions.

HOTEL PERKS Benefits vary by property, but could include room upgrades, daily breakfast, spa treatments, and food and wine welcome baskets. The Raffles Makati in the Philippines, for example, offers daily breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and 50-minute massages for two.

American Express Travel

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT AmexTravel.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,000 affiliated luxury properties.

THE COST Several network benefits are exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders — the annual fee for a Platinum card is $550. (The company doesn’t reveal the cost of the Centurion card.) In addition, some agents charge small trip-planning fees.

CRUISES? Yes, 15 lines. On sailings of five nights or more, travelers receive an onboard credit of between $100 to $300.

HOTEL PERKS The average value of benefits travelers receive at each hotel is $550, according to Tom Stein, the vice president of American Express Travel. These include a space-available room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, noon check-in, when available, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout, as well as an additional amenity that varies by property — examples include a spa treatment, a meal or a bottle of wine.

Andrew Harper Travel

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT andrewharper.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS 500. The majority are 40 rooms or less.

THE COST $395 a year. In addition, advisers charge a $250 “commitment” fee which is applied to the cost of the trip once travelers book.

CRUISES? Yes, around a dozen lines. Travelers receive $100 onboard credit on every sailing.

HOTEL PERKS Benefits include daily breakfast, room upgrades upon availability or at the time of booking and an additional amenity valued at $100 that varies by property — examples include a dining credit or a cooking class.

An earlier version of this article, using information provided by a company publicist, misstated the name of a travel network. It is American Express Travel, not Fine Hotels & Resorts.

A picture caption with an earlier version of this article misidentified a building in Quito, Ecuador. It is the San Francisco Cathedral, not the Casa Gangotena hotel.

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How To Book Luxury Virtuoso Hotels Online – Get Free Upgrades & Perks at Luxury Properties

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What Is Virtuoso?

Virtuoso travel benefits, virtuoso rates, fees to use virtuoso, virtuoso hotels and properties, earning points on virtuoso bookings, how to book virtuoso travel online, remember to enter your loyalty program number, how to book multiple rooms, you can’t cancel your bookings via virtuoso, you can’t book same-day travel, final thoughts.

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If you’re a deal-seeker and you’re always trying to get extra benefits for your travel, particularly at luxury hotels, then you’ve probably come across Virtuoso at some point.

And while you might think you need to have some special connections to access a Virtuoso travel advisor, it’s actually super easy to make Virtuoso bookings online!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what you need to know to make Virtuoso bookings completely online!

What You Need To Know About Virtuoso

Virtuoso is the world’s largest luxury travel consortium . Basically, Virtuoso connects thousands of travel agencies worldwide and offers a set of exclusive benefits to each member agency.

In turn, anybody who makes Virtuoso bookings through these member agencies or travel advisors enjoys value-added benefits that might not be available anywhere else.

In doing so, these member agents can more easily convert potential travelers by offering benefits without any additional costs.

When you book Virtuoso hotel stays through a travel advisor or a member agency, you will almost always receive the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2 guests per room
• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Early check-in (subject to availability)
• Late checkout (subject to availability)
• A special amenity like a $100 property credit or a 60-minute massage

Normally, if you booked a room rate with breakfast and these benefits directly at a hotel, you’ll see a massive mark-up compared to the best available rate.

What makes Virtuoso exceptional is the fact that for the most part, you’ll pay the same price as the best available flexible rate when booking directly with the hotel.

This excludes rates like corporate rates, non-refundable/advance purchase rates, promotional rates, and more.

Virtuoso often gets compared to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts , but in most situations, Virtuoso rates are cheaper than Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts rates. There are a few exceptions, but in this section, we’ll walk you through a handful of example rates.

For example, let’s take a booking at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii. If we perform the same search on Virtuoso and Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, you might see a discrepancy.

Virtuoso is showing $2,133 per night as the cheapest available rate, while Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is showing $2,245 per night for the stay.

And if you pivot your search to the Maldives, you might find an even larger rate parity.

The Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives would price out at $1,299 per night, while Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts would charge $1,624 per night.

However, there are a few rare instances in which Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts ends up being cheaper than Virtuoso rates.

If you look at the example booking at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island below, the Virtuoso rate is quoted at $931 per night, while the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts rate is $791 per night.

The reason why this can happen is that American Express maintains a list of special offers that include benefits like a complimentary sixth night (as shown in the Conrad Maldives example).

Because these special offers are exclusive to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings, Virtuoso wouldn’t have access to this same offer.

Be careful, though — just because Amex has a special offer at a property doesn’t mean it’ll always end up being cheaper .

For example, the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in the Maldives is showing as cheaper at Virtuoso ($1,025 per night) even though Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is showing a complimentary fourth-night free benefit ($1,133 per night).

Bottom Line: You can enjoy Virtuoso benefits with the best available flexible rate. This is often significantly cheaper than Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. In general, Virtuoso matches or beats Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts except in some select situations where Amex has a special offer such as a complimentary night free on a multi-night stay.

There are usually no fees to book Virtuoso rates. As long as you book the same rate as the best flexible rate offered when booking directly with the hotel, you can enjoy Virtuoso benefits.

In some cases, travel advisors may charge an extra fee, but this is not a requirement across the board.

Travel advisors receive a small commission for these bookings, which is why they can usually assist for free.

So which properties fall into the Virtuoso umbrella? The good news is that almost all luxury hotels are partnered with Virtuoso. This includes:

• Aman Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental
• Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
• The Peninsula Hotels
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Rocco Forte Hotels
• Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

And much more!

Remember, Virtuoso’s portfolio also includes smaller boutique hotels around the world. You can also view the full hotel catalog .

When you book Virtuoso rates, it’s as if you’re booking directly with the property, so all your bookings will still be considered as eligible rates to earn points, elite nights, and even elite status benefits .

For example, if you use the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card to book a Virtuoso stay, you’ll receive 2x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar.

Similarly, if book a stay at The Ritz-Carlton using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card , you’ll get 6x Marriott points per dollar on your spending.

Generally, most people think that Virtuoso rates are booked with an advisor over the phone or via email. And while it’s true that many bookings are done this way, the reality is that you can make this even simpler by booking online through Virtuoso.com .

You can search for hotel rates completely online without designating an advisor at all. However, to actually book your stay, you’ll need to first choose your Virtuoso travel advisor – we recommend Leigh Rowan , a member of the UP team and one of the best in the business.

To find an advisor, you can visit the advisor catalog . You’ll see a window that looks like this, and all you have to do is click  Find an Advisor , where you can select specialties based on destination, interest, language, and more.

You can also perform a search before entering the advisor’s information, but the important thing to remember is that you can’t book the stay until you create an account (or log into your account if you already have one) and then select your travel advisor.

You’ll be assigned a default Virtuoso advisor. If you already have a Virtuoso advisor, you can click the button that says  Look up your Virtuoso advisor.

Enter your travel advisor’s name, and after the advisor’s image and name show up, you can click Continue Booking .

Here’s Leigh Rowan’s Virtuoso profile from our team below:

Before your stay is booked, you can also view the exact amenities you would get at that particular property: 

Then, you will need to select the hotel rate you’re booking before getting redirected to the booking page.

When you’re there, enter your travel information, payment information, and any special requests.

After that, you’re ready to go!

Tips To Remember When Booking Virtuoso Travel Online

When you’re making your Virtuoso booking, don’t forget to enter your hotel loyalty program number, if applicable. Sometimes, the hotel chain doesn’t have a loyalty program, as is the case with Four Seasons.

The box will be titled Hotel Chain Loyalty Program Number and will look like this:

Once you enter your details, you can get the points credited to the proper account and enjoy the proper elite status benefits, as well.

When it comes to booking multiple rooms, these will need to be done 1 at a time. You can still book multiple rooms at the same time, but you’ll need to do this offline with your travel advisor via email or phone.

Prefer 1-1 Service? If you have special requirements or would simply prefer to connect with a travel agent directly — Leigh Rowan, a member of our UP team, can help get you complimentary upgrades, daily breakfast for two, hotel credits, and more (for no extra cost). Contact Leigh for a fast reply at [email protected]  for that extra level of service.

Any bookings made via Virtuoso can’t be canceled online. That’s not a big deal because you can call the hotel or reach out to your Virtuoso travel advisor to cancel your booking.

Remember, canceling bookings is not instantaneous unless you go directly to the hotel, so keep that in mind if reaching out to your travel advisor to cancel a reservation.

As you might have seen during the booking process, Virtuoso rates can’t be booked for same-day reservations.

If you need to arrange same-day travel, you’ll need to utilize a different platform, such as Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.

Virtuoso is one of the world’s best luxury travel networks — making bookings through Virtuoso often results in lots of added value in the form of elite-like perks.

One of the biggest myths out there is that you need to get on the phone or send an email to get the booking process started — you don’t!

You can book Virtuoso stays online, thanks to a seamless booking portal. Just be sure to create an online account and choose a travel advisor before trying to finalize your booking.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does virtuoso travel cost.

Virtuoso doesn’t usually cost anything extra. When you book with a Virtuoso travel advisor, the advisor will earn a small commission. That’s why these bookings can be done at no additional cost. The cheapest eligible Virtuoso rate is usually the best available flexible rate.

Is Virtuoso free?

Virtuoso is usually free to travelers, but it depends on your exact travel agent. You can almost always enjoy these perks for no additional cost to you.

What is Virtuoso Travel Network?

The Virtuoso travel network is a group of travel advisors and agencies that help clients book luxury hotels, cruises, tours, and more. By going through Virtuoso, you can enjoy extra benefits like free breakfast and room upgrades.

What are Virtuoso amenities?

Virtuoso amenities usually include:

• Free breakfast for 2 daily
• Room upgrades, subject to availability
• Early check-in, subject to availability
• Late checkout, subject to availability
• A Virtuoso property amenity, like a spa or shopping credit

Who owns Virtuoso Travel?

Virtuoso was founded by Jesse Upchurch, but it is now helmed by his son, Matthew Upchurch.

Is Virtuoso a consortia?

Virtuoso is a travel consortium. Almost all of the world’s luxury hotel brands are included in Virtuoso’s consortium, as well as many of the boutique ultra-luxe properties. There are nearly 2,000 properties that fall under the Virtuoso umbrella around the world.

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What is Virtuoso Travel and how it benefits You as a Traveler

Ania M Wroblewska

Polished Traveler

Wild Horses at Nihi Sumba

What is Virtuoso Travel? 

Virtuoso Travel  is the Industry’s leading Leisure Travel Network of agencies (more than 20,000 agents worldwide) specializing in luxury and experiential travel. Virtuoso also partners with over 2,000+ of the world’s best companies, such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. Virtuoso Travel Advisors use their personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment, and rare access. This  Invitation Only  organization ensures that you, as a Traveler, will benefit from working with the  top 1% of Travel advisors, Vendors, and Properties.  

Virtuoso Travel is  the largest and most luxurious  consortium of its type allowing its member agencies to increase their buying power, commissions, and amenities they can provide their clients. The resulting relationships mean that we, as Virtuoso Travel Advisors, can better serve our clients by offering special promotions, rates, and amenities not generally available to the public. Virtuoso also serves as  a conduit  for us to constantly stay in the loop with our partners worldwide and be up to date with the latest trends, hottest destinations, Covid-19 issues, and more.

Long Bar at the Raffles Europejski Warsaw

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa

Why should You work with a Virtuoso Travel Advisor? 

What does this mean for you? Being a Virtuoso Travel Agent’s client will not only give you extra perks  but will also mean you will be recognized as one of the most prestigious guests of the hotel and will be treated as such.

Examples of Virtuoso Amenities include:

• Room upgrades, subject to availability
• Daily breakfast for two
• Food & beverage credit or Hotel/Resort credit or Spa credit
• Early check-in/late checkout, subject to availability
• Special Virtuoso Promotions or Experiences

In addition to the above Virtuoso amenities, we are often able to offer some unique perks. Not convinced yet? Check out some of the complimentary experiences clients have enjoyed in the past:

• A martini-making lesson with the King of Martinis – Antonio Pizzuto, the head bar man at the Egerton House Hotel in the UK – plus two martinis, and two tickets at the Victoria & Albert museum
• A horse show hosted by the Horse Whisperer at the Estancia La Bamba de Areco in Argentina
• A kitchen tour and aperitif when dining at Roux at the Landau at the Langham London Hotel.
• A “Picnic in the Park by Jean-Georges” – a picnic basket featuring a selection of delectable foods and refreshments for 2, prepared by The Mark Restaurant’s kitchen

Virtuoso Welcome Amenity at the Hotel Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine

Virtuoso Welcome Amenity at The Serras Hotel Barcelona

Polished Traveler Polished Traveler, a Worlds Away Travel Company is an independent affiliate of Travel Edge – a Virtuoso Member , a $750 million company specializing in Leisure Travel.

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Why book virtuoso.

• Personalized travel assistance
• Guaranteed Room upgrade (based on availability)
• Complimentary full American breakfast
• Early check-in, Late check-out (based on availability)
• Exclusive on-site Virtuoso amenities

* Virtuoso is a ‘membership by-invitation only’ travel network of the leading travel advisors and partners. Booking through a Virtuoso agency provides you special rates and amenities at the top luxury travel brands including:

AMAN * ANDBEYOND * BELMOND * FOUR SEASONS * HILTON *HYATT * KEMPINSKI * INTERCONTINENTAL * LUNGARNO COLLECTION * MANDARIN ORIENTAL * MONTAGE * ONE & ONLY RESORTS * PREFERRED HOTELS * ROCCO FORTE HOTELS * RELAIS & CHATEAUX * ROSEWOOD * SINGITA * SHANGRI-LA HOTELS * SIX SENSES * SLH * STARWOOD * TAJ HOTELS * RITZ CARLTON * VICEROY HOTEL GROUP

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Virtuoso Reveals the Hottest Travel Trends for 2024 

From wellness to yachting, the luxury travel network shares the top trends from its global survey.

By Irenie Forshaw

Travelers have been making up for lost time this year, returning in their droves to far-flung locations across the globe. And, if Virtuoso’s Luxe Report on travel trends is anything to go by, this appetite for adventure will only grow in 2024.

The luxury travel network surveyed a group of industry-leading travel agency members across more than 50 countries to gain an insight into the preferences and desires shaping the high-end travel sphere for the year ahead.

It’s been a turbulent time for travel and, as the pandemic gradually fades from our minds, there has been a dramatic shift from binge-watching TV in our pajamas to planning that bucket list trip.

For those with the funds to travel, there’s a clear desire to tick off those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that only recently felt completely out of reach. Here, we break down the findings from Virtuoso’s survey on travel trends for 2024 to give you some inspiration when planning your next vacation.

[See also: Elite Traveler’s Top Suites in the World]

Destination

First, let’s get straight down to where affluent travelers want to go. Whether retreating to a Tuscan wine estate or one of Amalfi’s historic palazzos , Italy takes first place across the board when it comes to top destinations for 2024. For US and UK travelers, it’s closely followed by France and Greece. No surprises there.

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When it comes to ‘re-emerging destinations’ by region, Japan – one of the last countries to open its borders – scoops the top spot, with Egypt, Sri Lanka, Morocco and Antarctica also on the rise ( cruises to the White Continent have seen a dramatic uptick).

“Experienced travelers are diverging from the usual European options and branching out to exotic locales driven by the desire to visit a place dreamed of during the pandemic or even the ambition of being the ‘first’ to a destination,” explains Misty Belles, vice president for global public relations at Virtuoso .

“The cultural richness of these re-emerging hotspots offers unique and exciting itineraries for those seeking a departure from the norm and provides a story to tell friends around dinner tables on their return.”

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Virtuoso also revealed the cities wealthy travelers hope to visit next year. Paris – host of the 2024 Olympics – came in first, with Dubai, New York , London and Florence also in high demand.

A whopping 94% of travelers are incorporating wellness into their travels, with 47% willing to pay $5,000 – $10,000 for this self-care element per trip.

While traditional spa treatments and outdoor nature-focused retreats are among the most in-demand experiences, wealthy travelers are also showing an increased interest in sleep programs, creative and performance art, and sustainable wellness.

When it comes to the top wellness destinations, Mexico , the US and Europe are the most popular spots. Virtuoso also highlighted Thailand, Bali, Fiji, Iceland and Africa as destinations where self-care is very much on the rise.

Food and Wine

It will come as little surprise that food and wine are a major draw when it comes to vacation planning, with 70% of Virtuoso advisors reporting an increase in culinary travel.

Visiting a brewery or distillery and sampling street food take the top spots for favored culinary experiences, with more travelers hoping to fully immerse themselves in cultures through food.

Italy, France and Mexico are the most popular foodie destinations, with Portugal, Copenhagen , Croatia and Colombia emerging as culinary hotspots.

Exclusive Use

The pandemic has spurred a notable shift to exclusive-use experiences. From swapping first-class flights for private aviation to opting for luxury villas instead of five-star hotels, high-net-worth travelers are seeking hassle-free, custom trips away from prying eyes.

“People were inconvenienced to such a degree during the pandemic that they’re now looking for ways to minimize stress, annoyances and remove anything that potentially interrupts their plans,” says Belles.

Yachting has seen a dramatic rise in demand; Virtuoso’s report reveals 2023 bookings were up 79% over 2019. The Caribbean, Croatia, Greece,and San Tropez are among the most sought-after spots The luxury travel network also found an increase in demand for intimate, small-vessel cruises . Popular routes include the Danube River, the Mekong River and the Nile.

Sustainability

High-net-worth travelers are demonstrating a growing awareness of the environmental impact of their trips. Virtuoso’s Luxe Report revealed that 29% of UK travelers are looking to minimize their carbon footprint with carbon offsetting initiatives, while 82% are selecting destinations with more moderate weather conditions.

When it comes to giving back, affluent travelers are most likely to support animal wildlife conservation, local communities, land conservation projects and staying at eco-lodges.

Belles highlights Greece, Morocco and Hawaii as places that have been top of mind for travelers who want to support those recently impacted by disaster. “We’ve seen clients taking action to support the economy of such destinations, including making donations to local relief efforts, supporting local businesses, attending vetted fundraising events and engaging in volunteering,” she explains.

To combat over-tourism and avoid the crowds, the report also found travelers are visiting destinations at off-peak times and embracing the ‘slow season’.

virtuoso.com

[See also: Elite Traveler Reveals Top Jets in the World Database for 2024]

Irenie Forshaw

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• Why Virtuoso

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• Virgin Galactic
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