There’s often chatter about what the wealthy decide to do with their downtime.

We try to keep up via their travel snapshots posted to Instagram, but they are far ahead of us, exploring the most unique and luxurious destinations the world has to offer.

Instead of having to guess where these places are, the recent International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) held in Shanghai gave us solid insight into some of these most extravagant places visited by the one percent.

From travelling camps in the Mongolian outback to a helicopter ride over the Adriatic, we have our top five, thanks to CNN:

World’s largest cruise suite, Regent Seven Seas

It doesn’t get bigger or grander than the 4,434-square-foot Regent Suite, the world’s largest cruise ship accommodation, aboard the Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

Launched last year and costing $450 million (R5.8 billion), the ship features crystal chandeliers, Versace crockery and Murano glass ceilings.

Unlimited dining, shore excursions and treatments are all included, but guests may not want to leave their suite, which is overseen by a personal butler. It includes a Steinway grand piano, a private spa and sauna and an opulent Savoir No. 1 bed, itself costing $150,000 (R2 million).

Suites are available from about $10 000 (R130 000) per night.

Helicopter over the Adriatic, Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

“Sveti Stefan” — “Saint Stephen” — is a small island housing a fortified village dating from the 15th century, linked to the coast by a narrow causeway.

Today the entire island and village is home to The Aman, an understated but luxury resort favoured by celebrities, including tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, who was married there.

The ultimate way to arrive is via helicopter from Dubrovnik in Croatia, a 40-minute journey down the breathtaking coast.

The Sveti Stefan Suite is about $5 750 (R74 500) per night, while the Dubrovnik to Aman helicopter is around $1 900 (R25 000) per person.

Magic gers, Mongolia

Mongolia continues to entice adventurous travelers with one of the world’s last genuine off-grid wildernesses.

Staying in mobile luxury camps, known traditionally as “gers,” allows visitors to roam the majestic landscape and wake up to panoramic views of the legendary Mongolian steppe grassland, mountains, sand dunes or rivers.

By the time they wake, everything has been packed up before they move on to the next horizon.

An exclusive long weekend for a couple starts from approximately $4 800 (R62 220).

Fairmont Penthouse Suite, San Francisco

For anyone looking for a Penthouse Suite to seriously party, the 6,000 square feet across the entire eighth floor of the historic Fairmont San Francisco should do the job.

Guests not only get three bedrooms, a living room and a dining room, but also a two-level library, a billiards room and a vast terrace overlooking San Francisco.

Former suite residents include JFK, Mick Jagger and Marlene Dietrich.

The penthouse is available from $18 000 (R230 000) per night.

Laucala, Fiji

Sand-between-the-toes experiences rarely get much more exclusive than the private 4.6-square-mile Laucala Island in the South Pacific nation of Fiji.

On arrival — via the island’s own airport, naturally — guests get to choose from 25 villas with private pools overlooking perfect white sand beaches and azure water. Coconut plantations and jungle help ensure total privacy and explain why the co-owner of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, bought the island.

All-inclusive rooms start from $6 000 (R78 000) per night.

Sound lovely, don’t they? Wouldn’t mind putting my feet up for a bit at one of these places.

To see the rest of the destinations and experiences suggested by ILTM, pop over here.

[source:cnn]