The Luxury of Time: Why Ultra-Rich Travelers Are Choosing Slower Journeys

Luxury used to mean speed—private jets, instant confirmations, and zero downtime. But as 2025 unfolds, the definition of affluence has shifted. The world’s most discerning travelers are no longer racing from destination to destination. They are deliberately slowing down.

According to the newly released Virtuoso 2025 Luxe Report, travelers across 58 countries are redefining value not as efficiency, but as experience density—a richer, more immersive connection with place and purpose. The ultra-wealthy, once obsessed with optimization, now see time as the truest currency of privilege.

This emerging philosophy: the luxury of time, isn’t about retreat; it’s about reclaiming rhythm. Whether crossing Europe by train, cruising remote Arctic seas, or taking extended residencies in a single destination, today’s elite travelers are rediscovering the pleasure of arrival itself.

The Luxe Report identifies several parallel trends reinforcing this cultural shift: the rise of solo travel, the appeal of expedition cruising, and the resurgence of “Born to be Mild” adventures that balance exhilaration with restoration.

Luxury clients are increasingly drawn to journeys that unfold at a human pace. Rather than racing through multiple cities, they’re investing weeks in one place—learning local crafts, cooking alongside chefs, or hiking trails once reserved for explorers.

As Virtuoso notes, these travelers are seeking:

For those who can afford anything, slowing down has become the most exclusive indulgence of all.

The embodiment of this new ethos can be found on the water. Expedition and river cruises were once niche categories, and now are among Virtuoso’s top-rated travel experiences for 2025. These voyages favor intimacy and discovery over spectacle, allowing travelers to absorb each horizon rather than rush past it.

From the fjords of Norway to the glaciers of Antarctica, small-ship journeys cater to a generation of luxury travelers who crave reflection as much as adventure. Many of these itineraries last several weeks, emphasizing serenity, solitude, and environmental mindfulness.

As Virtuoso’s data confirms, 76% of advisors report clients are choosing destinations with more moderate weather, often traveling in shoulder seasons to avoid crowds. The desire to feel present—not just pampered—is defining the next era of affluence.

Luxury design is undergoing a quiet revolution. In an age obsessed with speed and convenience, the most forward-thinking brands are choosing to slow things down. This is not nostalgia—it’s a recalibration. Belmond’s reborn Orient Express carriages capture this perfectly: a blend of old-world glamour and modern restraint. Think Lalique crystal fixtures, gleaming mahogany, and hand-stitched silk upholstery—spaces that aren’t just meant to impress, but to hold you in stillness. Time becomes tactile here. You don’t race through a journey; you inhabit it.

Even the aviation world is embracing this shift. Private jet designers are reimagining cabins as “airborne sanctuaries,” outfitted with circadian lighting, noise-canceling architecture, and wellness pods that encourage meditation at 40,000 feet. It's no longer about getting there first—it’s about arriving whole.

This is the new expression of affluence: calm as currency. To slow down and fully experience a moment has become the most precious luxury of all.

The slow-travel movement is more than a trend—it’s a cultural return to intentional exploration. It recalls the 18th-century Grand Tour, when aristocrats spent months, sometimes years, journeying across Europe to cultivate taste, intellect, and worldly sophistication. These weren’t vacations; they were rites of passage. Today’s global elite are reviving that spirit, crafting bespoke journeys of depth over distance: a month tracing Romanesque architecture through the Douro Valley, a silent retreat in Bhutan’s highlands, or a hands-on culinary residency in Istria’s truffle country.

What’s emerging is a shift from itinerary to identity. According to Virtuoso advisors, travelers are no longer chasing checklists; they’re following stories. A film, a novel, or a podcast episode can inspire a months-long journey, anchoring travel in emotion and meaning. It’s not about where you go—it’s about what it awakens in you.

In 2025, luxury isn’t about how far you’ve been. It’s about how deeply you've traveled.