A room with a beautiful view, breakfast that lasts longer than usual, and a few days when nobody needs anything from you. Sometimes that is the vacation worth saving for.
Billionaire Bookings is a playful name for trips with a luxurious feel. These are thoughtful splurges for travelers with room in their budget, whether that means a special anniversary, a milestone birthday, or one exceptional vacation instead of several smaller ones. A beautiful trip can feel extravagant without requiring a private jet or a presidential suite.
The trick is deciding which part of the experience matters most. Spend on the location if you want to walk everywhere. Choose the ocean view if you plan to enjoy your balcony. Book the lovely resort if you intend to stay there and relax. Then let the rest of the itinerary be simple.
Start your search with Marneys Tidbits on Expedia, where you can explore my travel collections and compare available stays for your dates. Availability, room types and prices vary; the storefront is a starting point for finding your own version of a special getaway.
1. A Montecito weekend with an oceanfront mood
Santa Barbara and Montecito make a wonderful case for a shorter luxury trip. Spanish architecture, leafy gardens and the Pacific create a beautiful backdrop, and Southern California travelers can often avoid the expense and effort of a long flight.
For an oceanfront resort experience, consider Rosewood Miramar Beach. For a garden setting and a quieter rhythm, look at San Ysidro Ranch. Both appear in my guide to the best places to stay in Santa Barbara, alongside more intimate options near the waterfront.
Make the splurge the hotel and one dinner you are excited about. Spend the rest of the weekend walking, browsing shops and enjoying the beach. My Santa Barbara restaurant guide will help you choose a table that suits the occasion.
Make it work: Compare a two-night stay with a longer weekend, including parking and dining. A room you love for two nights can be more satisfying than four nights in a hotel that does not feel special.
2. A Hawaiian resort escape with time to enjoy it
Hawaii is especially appealing when the plan includes generous amounts of doing very little. An ocean-facing breakfast, a slow swim and a sunset walk can become the highlights without filling every day with paid activities.
Choose the island before the hotel. Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Island of Hawaii offer different settings and travel rhythms. My Hawaiian resort guide is a useful place to begin comparing them. The official Hawaii travel guide also provides destination information to help you plan respectfully and understand each island.
For this trip, a resort should be somewhere you want to spend your days. If you expect to be out sightseeing from morning until dinner, paying a substantial premium for facilities you will barely use may not be the right splurge.
Make it work: Stay on one island and compare the full room total, including taxes, resort charges and parking. Fewer transfers can leave more of the budget available for a better room or an experience you will remember.
3. An Amalfi Coast stay built around the view
The Amalfi Coast is made for the kind of vacation where getting dressed for dinner feels like part of the pleasure. Terraces, colorful buildings and the sea give even an unhurried afternoon a sense of occasion.
Positano, Amalfi and Ravello create different versions of that experience. A central location can make wandering easier, while a quieter hillside setting may be better for a couple who wants to settle in. My Amalfi Coast hotel guide includes places such as Le Sirenuse and Hotel Marincanto to help you compare the atmosphere.
Build the trip around one base rather than moving hotels every other day. Give yourself a full afternoon for the terrace, a leisurely lunch and the pleasure of watching the light change.
Make it work: Compare dates outside the busiest summer weeks, while checking seasonal hotel operations and transport schedules. Confirm exactly what the room’s view category means and account for transfers before committing.
4. A Cotswolds country-house break
Luxury does not always look tropical. Sometimes it looks like a beautiful room in an old stone building, a garden outside the window and a long walk followed by a very good dinner.
The Cotswolds offer country-house hotels, boutique stays and cottages amid villages and rolling countryside. The official Cotswolds tourism guide is a helpful source for accommodation, gardens, events and travel planning. My Cotswolds weekend itinerary keeps the emphasis on a manageable area and an unhurried pace.
Choose a base with enough nearby options that you are not spending the entire holiday driving. One garden visit, one lovely village and a relaxed meal can fill a day beautifully.
Make it work: Add a few countryside nights to a trip you are already taking to England. Compare the cost of transport and meals as well as the room, and choose the location that best supports your plans.
5. A French Riviera escape with a beautiful everyday rhythm
On the French Riviera, the pleasures can be wonderfully ordinary: a morning pastry, a market visit, an afternoon beside the water and dinner somewhere you can walk to. A well-located hotel makes those moments feel effortless.
Nice is a useful starting point for travelers who like a city atmosphere alongside the sea. My slow travel day in Nice is built around that balance. Instead of planning a different town every day, spend time getting to know the neighborhood around your hotel.
The luxury here is location and ease. Compare rooms close to the places you actually want to spend time, rather than choosing a grand address that complicates the whole itinerary.
Make it work: Pick one special hotel stay and one memorable dinner. Leave space for markets, walks and simple lunches. Check beach access arrangements before assuming a hotel booking includes a private beach experience.
6. A French Polynesian lagoon getaway
French Polynesia is the bigger splurge on this list, especially once flights and island transfers are included. If blue water and a lagoon setting are your long-held dream, it deserves a realistic plan rather than an impulsive booking.
An overwater bungalow may be the headline experience, but it does not have to be the room for every night. Compare the available accommodation categories and think about how much time you would actually spend on that private deck.
My Tahiti resort guide covers options across several islands. For island information and planning, visit Tahiti Tourisme. You can also explore my Bora Bora activities collection on Viator.
Make it work: Compare the complete trip, including transfers, meals and room category. If a short overwater stay fits your plans, price it alongside other room options. Avoid assuming that a lower nightly rate means a lower overall cost.
7. A Palm Springs design-hotel weekend
Palm Springs brings the glamorous getaway closer to home for many Southern California readers. Mountain views, mid-century architecture and a thoughtfully chosen pool setting can make a few days feel like a complete change of scenery.
This is a lovely choice when you want the hotel to set the mood without organizing a major international trip. My Palm Springs hotel guide focuses on properties in Palm Springs proper, so you can choose a location that matches your idea of a desert weekend.
Decide whether you want quiet pool time or easy access to shops and restaurants. Those priorities will tell you more than a long amenities list. Leave one afternoon open for a book, a swim and absolutely no appointments.
Make it work: Compare weekdays with weekends and check the weather for your dates. A lower room rate is only a good value if you will enjoy being there. Add parking, dining and any poolside extras to your budget.
How to book a splurge you will still feel good about
Start with the complete vacation budget: accommodation, travel, transfers, meals and the experiences you care about most. Then choose your one priority. A special room, a longer stay and a packed activity schedule all cost money; you do not need to maximize every category.
Compare the same room type and cancellation conditions across dates. Check whether breakfast, parking or other extras are included. Leave a little breathing room for the unplanned lunch or lovely discovery that becomes a favorite memory.
Ready to explore? Browse Marneys Tidbits on Expedia and use the guides above to narrow your choices. Beautiful travel begins with a thoughtful decision about how you want to spend your time.
Frequently asked questions
Do these trips require a billionaire’s budget?
No. The name celebrates a luxurious feeling. These are discretionary splurges for travelers with a comfortable travel budget, and the cost varies greatly by destination, dates, duration and room category. Choose the trip that fits your own finances.
What is the easiest way to make a luxury trip more manageable?
Shorten the stay, stay closer to home, or choose a standard room at a hotel you love. Compare the complete cost before deciding. Flexible dates may help, but savings are never guaranteed.
Can I book through Marney’s Expedia page?
Yes. My Expedia storefront links to travel collections. Check current availability, prices, inclusions and cancellation terms for your dates before booking.
Should I reserve activities before the hotel?
Usually, settle your travel dates and accommodation first. Then book the experiences that need advance reservations, leaving enough unscheduled time to enjoy the stay.
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About Marney Dornan
Marney Dornan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Marneys Tidbits, a Cardiff-by-the-Sea lifestyle publication devoted to beauty, wellness, travel, home and garden inspiration, recipes, restaurants and living life beautifully.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026
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