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Switchfly: Greece Ranks Most Popular Country for Luxury Travel
Posted On 27 Jul 2015
4th most popular luxury travel destination in the world: Athens. Photo © Facebook – ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ
Greece is the most popular luxury travel destination in the world, according to an index for 2015 drawn up by global booking engine Switchfly.
According to Switchfly, the country ranks as the most popular country with three cities in the Top 15: Athens is the 4th most popular luxury travel destination, while Crete and Mykonos come in at #12 and #13, respectively.
12th most popular luxury travel destination in the world: Crete. Photo: © photoff, Shutterstock
Switchfly notes that Greece’s popularity is no doubt due to its dramatic isles and historical interest, but also to the economic crisis that, while creating hardship for the Greek people, “also made travel to the country more affordable—extending the opportunity for luxury travel to those travelers who might otherwise go economy, and incentivizing luxury travelers who like to save a buck”.
13th most popular luxury travel destination in the world: Mykonos. Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou
Luxury travel in Europe is still king
The Luxury Travel Index 2015 revealed that most destinations (seven out of 15) in the top 15 are in Europe, and two destinations are in the top 5 (#3 Milan, Italy & #4 Athens, Greece).
Although the majority of top luxury travel destinations are European, the top two luxury travel destinations are in Asia and the Middle East, respectively.
Interesting finds from Switchfly’s data also revealed that the average luxury travel vacation is more than a week long, and the top 15 destinations vary from an average length of stay of 8.3 days in Miami, Florida, USA to 13 days in Seoul, South Korea.
To see the top 15 luxury travel destinations for 2015, check out Switchfly’s infographic below.
Seeing that Athens does not have one of the top luxury chains represented, I find it difficult to believe that it is considered a top luxury destination. All my high-end clients try to bypass Athens on their way to the luxury hotels on the islands and the mainland. Where is Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, Rosewood, Bulgari, Roccoforte et al? Nowhere near Athens…..When one truly has only 1 to 2 luxury options (maybe the Grand Bretagne or the King George) in the centre of the city, it is not a luxury destination. The food and the hospitality, on the other hand, is worthy of the ‘luxury’ designation.