When you dream about the ultimate, carte blanche vacation, where do you see yourself? Would you be luxuriating in a presidential suite, indulging in a relaxing massage and eating Five-Star food served to you by the chef himself? Or, would you go somewhere so remote that you could only get there by helicopter? If money were no object, what is the craziest, so-wild-it-had-to-be-a-joke vacation you would ever take? This month, rethink what’s possible as we round up five of the most decadent, over-the-top vacation packages on offer across North America.
Picture the Ultimate Trip for Photographers
Spring is the time for cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. To properly celebrate, Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown and 100-year-old camera brand Leica have put together a grand package for aspiring photogs wanting to capture the best of these beautiful blooms during the city’s National Cherry Blossom Festival. Book this deal to receive up to four cameras — Leica S (Type 006) and Leica D-LUX 6-Edition 100 — and a 100th anniversary edition camera bag, complete with professional tutorials from the Leica D.C. store. Your dream D.C. trip will begin with chauffeured pickup from your home (in the continental U.S.) to the airport. Another luxury vehicle will meet you in D.C., escorting you to Capella’s phenomenal presidential suite for two nights. Then take a private guided tour of the festival in a Mercedes GL SUV. For dinner, engage in an intimate sushi-making class on the Capella rooftop to celebrate the Japanese culture closely associated with the festival. To top it all off, you will get a family portrait session on the steps of the iconic National Portrait Gallery conducted by professional photographers from Leica. And those photos just might be displayed in a local gallery. Ultimate Leica Experience, starting at $50,000, through April 20
Go on the Adventure of a Lifetime
Get lost in British Columbia with this ultimate, six-day fantasy adventure. The first part of your trip will be at the luxury fishing lodge, Nimmo Bay Resort, a floating resort tucked inside an inlet off of the Broughton Archipelago. During your stay, a private helicopter will transport you to the farthest reaches of the beautiful country for fishing in rivers filled with wild salmon; heli-hiking through remote Alpine meadows; following killer whales to the Johnson Strait; or dining on a secret white sand beach. The adventure continues when you board a chopper, which will whisk you away to the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Wickaninnish Inn Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Let the inn’s chef prepare a locally sourced meal, then picnic at the foot of a 10,000-year-old glacier, relaxing at day’s end in a soothing hot tub soak underneath a waterfall at Ancient Cedars Spa. The possibilities are endless. Wickanimmo Vacation Package, $28,304.40 per couple; July 1-Sept. 30
See New York from a Different Perspective in a Whirlwind Getaway
The next time you visit the Big Apple, don’t settle for renting one of those public bikes; instead, you and a loved one should explore the city on shiny new cobalt blue bicycles custom designed by fashion consultant Lorenzo Martone. This two-night penthouse package at Gramercy Park Hotel comes with custom biking maps prepared by the concierge and Martone himself, so you’ll have to pardon him when he insists that a tour of his private studio be one of the stops. When you want to trade up your ride from two wheels to four, a private chauffeur awaits to usher you around the city any time you wish, 24/7. After riding around, invite up to 10 friends to a private soiree, complete with custom cocktails and other complimentary libations, at the Four-Star hotel’s exclusive Rose Bar. In-room massages for two and room service breakfast prepared exclusively by onsite restaurant Maialano’s executive chef, Nick Anderer, are also included. Oh, and those awesome blue bikes we mentioned earlier? You get to take those home with you. Ultimate City Ride Package, $50,000 per couple
Take a Dream Culinary Class with a Five-Star Chef
Gourmands, take note: If you want to hobnob with star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the namesake behind a host of Forbes Travel Guide star-rated restaurants around the globe, Trump International Hotel & Tower New York has just the package for you. Spend your three-night NYC sojourn in one of the property’s elegantly appointed suites that offers stunning views of Central Park. Each morning, grab breakfast at Vongerichten’s Nougatine. Things really get cooking afterward, when you are ushered into the Five-Star kitchen at the chef’s eponymous restaurant, Jean-Georges, for a private, two-hour cooking demonstration with the maestro himself. The deliciousness doesn’t stop there, though: That same evening, enjoy a three-course champagne dinner for two at the acclaimed restaurant. And as a memento, you will be presented with your own personalized copy of Home Cooking with Jean-Georges. Jean-Georges Culinary Masters Course, $9,999 per couple; 30-day advance booking is required
Fulfill Your Fantasy of Becoming a Cowboy
You think you’re ready to saddle up? Well, set your sights on Houston, home to March’s Livestock Show & Rodeo, the largest rodeo in the world. If you’re not quite ready to fully immerse yourself into the boots and spurs, book a stay the hip Hotel Derek, a Four-Star property that has just undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation. For three nights, your home will be one the hotel’s groovy standard rooms, kitted out to bolster your mojo with a modern, ’70s-ish retro feel. When you’re ready to channel your inner rancher, throw on your cowboy gear for three days of intense training at the Sankey Rodeo School, where you will learn the fundamentals of rodeo sportsmanship and bull riding. Back at the hotel, cold beers will be waiting for you to help you relax after all the horseplay. Should’ve Been A Cowboy Package; $819, single; $1,039, couples; May 24-26, Dec. 20-22
Photos Courtesy of The Wickaninnish Inn, Capella Washington DC, Georgetown and Trump International Hotel And Tower