How the Rich Live

Just in case you're wealthy and are looking for ways to blow some cash, here are some options. You can fork over $200k for a space flight, stay in a high end hotel, or plan a special getaway. The space flight is the only one that's truly out of the price range for most people reading this post, but the others can be pricey for what they are -- basically hotel rooms for a night.

Now if you really want to spend some serious coin, get a yacht, an executive mansion, or a membership to a high-end vacation club. Or, what the heck, just pick up all three. It's only money, right? ;-)

Comments

[MonkeyMonk]

I guess it all come down to what you truly value when you want to treat yourself. My wife and I value travel very highly and if we're going to splurge it's usually something along those lines. This year we blew through about $7K for a 5 night trip to an Aman Resort. We wondered if we were being foolish with our money but in the end we thought it was entirely worth it and would probably do it again . . . but maybe in a decade or so.

[Dave]

While I am generally frugal, my wife and I have splurged high end hotels on occasion and I have no regrets about it. For our honeymoon we stayed at the Grand Wailea in Maui (before it was bought out). More recently we spent three nights at a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas. Both times we purchased our reservations online and for a small discount over the rack rate, although still at enormously expensive prices. (About $450/night in Maui, $300/night in Cabo.)

Both trips were absolutely amazing, and we thought the money was well spent. Those luxury items that come with higher end hotels--higher thread count linens, marble bathroom, infiniti pool, gorgeous gardens--all make a big difference in your overall experience. Would we have had fun if we stayed at a Motel 6? Probably. But given that we don't generally live the "high life" these are experiences we won't soon forget.

[kitty]

I travel quite a lot and the older I get the higher my requirements get - up from two star hotels to three stars, although if I consider inflation and the difference in my income/assets I actually spend less now in terms of percentage of my income than I used to. Now I prefer 4 star hotels, but I shop around on various web sites looking for deals. Still, I normally keep my expenses around 2000-3500 for a trip to Europe depending if it is one- or two- or three- week trips; also if I travel alone (single room) or share expenses. Also if I travel with someone who can afford less than I can, I need to scale down my hotel needs accordingly. So far the most expensive hotel I stayed in was $150 for a single room - this was a few years ago in London when I got a really great deal on Expedia - this was for a 4-star hotel in Covent Garden; normal price oveer $300.

I think also that what super-rich consider high end is not the same that most of us would consider high-end. There are hotels out there where rooms cost $999 or more.

I wouldn't go on a space flight if it were offered me for free, but I remember a funny story about it. Some guy won it on some lottery, but couldn't afford to go because the taxes on the prize were too high.