10 Luxury Experiences That Are Worth Having

“Happiness is not a goal…it’s a by-product of a life well lived.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

I am one who often talks more about the small luxuries of life and if you follow me on Instagram, you know what I mean.  I whole heatedly believe that the simple pleasures of everyday living is what elevates life into an artform, and this is where I invest most of my time and money overall.

However, there are some luxury experiences that are truly worth having at least once in your life.  I dare say that most of you are like myself, just a lady on an everyday income who saves up for the things she truly wants.  But I am also a lady who appreciates the finer things in life and one who wants to savor these experiences when I am able to partake in them. Some things are truly worth their price tag and for me, these finer things are always worth their investments.

From the list below thus far, I have had the pleasure of experiencing most of these things in my own life and the only one left is a full spa day to enjoy.  All pictures below of are from my own personal experiences with these luxuries. I have gotten to do these lovely things sporadically throughout my life and the funny thing is that I never think of the cost afterwards, only the feeling and memories that they gave me. I once heard Shannon on The Simple Sophisticate Podcast say, “The one who dies with the most money does not win, the one who dies with the most experiences, wins”.  So, let’s all create not only the lovely experiences for everyday living, but some truly luxurious ones along the way.  Here are ten luxurious experiences that are truly worth having at some point in your life.

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1.Staying At A 5 Star Hotel

-I have had this experience twice in my life and soon to be a third time as we booked a 5-star hotel for our upcoming autumn trip in October. I have stayed in many accommodations in my life, everything from a pared down Holiday Inn to an Airbnb, and even 4-star hotels, but the luxury of a 5 star is unparalleled. The absolute comfort and attention to detail is something that I believe we strive for in our daily lives and staying at a luxury hotel provides more than just your standard bed and bathtub, it provides a sense of refinement that reflects back on one’s self-image of who they want to be in the world. You will most likely encounter those who are monetarily wealthy, and you will get to observe how they move through the world and their deportment, and you’ll ultimately feel inspired to elevate these things within yourself. You will also be inspired by the luxurious feel of the surroundings, and you will most certainly take that back home with you to incorporate into your home as well.

2. Dine At a Michelin Star Retaurant (or any fine dining restaurant)

An appreciation for fine dining will always be a part of a luxurious life. Food is intrinsically intertwined with culture and while most of us eat our everyday meals at home, it is worth the experience to dine at a Michelin Star (or any fine dining establishment) at least once.  You want to visit the kind of place that has a dress code, where the lights are down low, and the food is of exceptional quality.  This will give the appreciation of truly slowing down to not only enjoy a meal, but to enjoy a beautiful and decadent meal. Pay attention to the details of the entire experience. Notice the design of the restaurant, the linens, the guests, the plating of the food, the wines, the dishes and glassware, the flavors and even the music if there is some playing. You will be immersed in a culinary luxury moment that is unlike any you’ll have in a casual dining restaurant.

3. Indulge In a Full Spa Day at a Luxury Spa

This is one item that I have not yet experienced fully, but I plan to at some point. I have had many facials at a spa, and I am always left feeling relaxed and pampered. When you visit a spa, you really get to indulge in a bodily self-care treatment that also transcends to the mind. You will come away with the belief that you are your greatest investment and worth caring for. As mentioned in the previous entries, always pay attention to the details.  For the spa, notice the beautiful, light surroundings. The lovely scent of the candles, the quiet tones of which people use, the ease and gentleness of people’s movements. You will leave the spa with having the pleasure of enjoying the sensual treatments at your own pace and what could be more luxurious than that?

4. Go To a Symphony, Opera or Ballet

Culture will always be a pillar of luxury and going to a cultural event such as a symphony, opera or ballet will give you the opportunity to cultivate an appreciation for the arts.  The experience of getting dressed up in a nice outfit, having a dinner before the show and then making your way to the center for performing arts will give you a feeling of doing something that has a touch of elegance. Attending cultural events as part of your overall lifestyle will create a moment to savor a beautiful artform in a sophisticated setting with like-minded people. You will begin to feel as if your overall life has elevated to a new level of refinement.

5. Visit and/or Buy Something at a Luxury Store

There is something about having an experience of going into a luxury store and looking around. You’ll find no plastic hangers here or items strewn about carelessly.  You will instead find a shop that has thoughtfully placed their items in a pleasing way and have set their stores up for viewing maximum pleasure. The store will have beautiful details all around and you feel as if shopping is a pleasure and not a hassle. When visiting a luxury store you want to be sure that it is truly a luxurious moment and not one of standing in line to get in or one where people are frantically pushing about.  I suggest visiting a luxury store first thing in the morning or early evening to miss the crowds. While one can certainly go with the intention of solely looking around, I highly suggest buying something while you’re there and I do not necessarily mean an expensive handbag. I have visited Bergdorf Goodman’s in NYC and bought a Christmas ornament. I have visited Harrod’s in London and bought a tin of tea and tea towels. I have visited Nordstrom and bought a perfume. A simple purchase will do, but the act of making the purchase and watching the salesperson take extra care of the item and wrap it in pretty paper and bag it with meticulous care is a moment to savor.

6. Eat A Luxury Food

I mentioned above about visiting a fine dining restaurant, but this point is slightly different. One can still visit a fine dining establishment and simply get a cheeseburger and fries at most places.  I do love a good cheeseburger and fries to be sure, but at some point, one must try a luxury food to fully be emersed into the luxury experience of fine dining. It does not need to only be caviar as there are many foods out there considered to be luxury. Truffles, saffron, oysters, wagyu beef, and foie gras are among some of the foods in the culinary scene that are considered luxury.  While the price of these foods will be more than the standard fare, it is worth it to refine one’s culinary palette.

7. Take A Car to/from The Airport While Traveling

When visiting a large city such as Paris, London, New York, etc. it is most economical to take the metro/tube/subway, but this is about having luxurious moments and as simple as it sounds, to be able to take a car from the airport to your destination is truly luxurious. After a flight, especially a long one, it can be arduous to pull your luggage through the train stations, then hop on and off of trains, and to also have to possibly pick the luggage up when going up or down the stairs when escalators are not available. While the cost to take a cab to your destination is sure to be pricey, you will feel more relaxed, possibly save more time and not have to worry about your luggage at all as you get driven straight to your hotel, you simply get to relax, and luxury is all about comfort.

8. Buy A Luxury Box of Chocolates

I dare say that everyone I know loves chocolate in some type of version. Whether dark, milk, white, filled or plain, one thing we can all agree on is chocolate is always a favorite to indulge. So, why not elevate this experience of chocolate to a new, luxurious level? While one can simply go into their nearest market to pick chocolate from large brands like Hershey’s, dove, and so on…this moment of sweet indulgence needs a luxurious upgrade at least once. When traveling I always look for the luxury chocolate shops to stop and get a box truffles. Shops such as La Maison du Chocolat, Richart, Compartes, and Vosges tops the list of luxury.  However, you may not have access to these shops except through online, so I highly suggest finding either a chocolate shop in your own town or even a nice box of Godiva can work to help create a luxurious chocolate moment for you.

9. Buy A Set of Luxury Lingerie

For all my Francophiles, we read about this a lot in French Lifestyle books. How French women revere their beautiful sets of lingerie.   To purchase a beautiful set of lingerie is not only a luxurious moment for the ladies, but a truly feminine one as well. And this item doesn’t even need to cost as much as you think.  While there are ultra luxury brands of lingerie such as La Perla, Agent Provocateur and Simone Perele, one can still have this luxurious moment without spending quite this much. Some other brands that offer quality and luxury but at a more attainable price point are places like Intimissi and Gooseberry Intimates. It’s the act of buying something for only you to wear and enjoy and something that will elevate you everyday life as you get dressed.

10. Have An Afternoon Tea At A Luxury Hotel or Restaurant

If you’ve been around long enough then you know I love a good teatime, but I also love elevating this already lovely ritual into a luxurious experience. An afternoon tea at a luxurious hotel or restaurant really sets the mood for refined elegance. There are so many beautiful details that are part of this experience that must not be missed.  Things such as the setting of the tearoom with its beautiful linens, teapots and teacups, the aroma of the teas, the elegant little finger foods, the chandeliers…I could go on and on. There are so many variations of the afternoon tea, but rest assured luxury is always on the menu.  You can even elevate this moment even more by adding a glass of champagne.  I immensely enjoy the luxurious experience of the afternoon tea and love how it elevates the simple ritual of drinking tea to a whole new level.

Experiencing these things isn’t about doing something luxurious for the sake of an Instagram picture. It’s about creating elegant experiences that enhances your everyday life as you come away with inspiration to elevate your overall lifestyle.  With these experiences you also get to enhance your own self image to a more refined version of who you’d like to be and that in and of itself is a luxurious moment to truly savor.

Comment below if you would like and tell me of a time you experienced a luxurious moment that was worth the cost for you.