Here at luxuryholidayideas.com my overriding preoccupation is quality first; experiencing and sharing my thoughts on luxury holidays and travel ideas from around the world. This doesn’t however mean that, especially in this day and age, I don’t appreciate a bargain when I see one and some of the readers who do contact me often ask if there are ways to enjoy a little luxury but at a more affordable price. With this in mind I have been looking at affordable luxury holiday properties and specifically what is on offer for less than £100pppn

Caribbean Club, Cayman Islands £96- One of the newest and more exclusive properties on the largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, the boutique hotel is located on the doorstep of the famed Seven Mile Beach and only 15 minutes from Owen Roberts International Airport. The Caribbean Club is billed as a ‘home away from home’, matching informal settings with five star service to create a relaxed and particularly family orientated atmosphere. That isn’t to say that the Caribbean Club doesn’t suite couples either, dining privately on your own balcony and strolling along the stunning coast line promise all the seclusion and intimacy one might need. With only 39 beautifully appointed apartments the dedicated staff are able to focus entirely upon their guests ensuring your stay is well attended and carefree.

Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania £87- An eco tourist’s dream, this property is recognised as one of the greenest resorts in the world and resides, Robinson Crusoe style on its own private Nature Reserve Island.  7 distinctively designed bungalow villas dot the pristine shores of the island, these ‘bandas’ have been constructed from local materials and evoke a kind of Sydney Opera House architecture. Solar power and renewable energies are harnessed at the resort to reduce the carbon footprint of your stay to a very minimum. The meals themselves are cooked by local villagers using time honoured recipes and locally grown vegetables, fruits, fish and reared meats. Guests can explore the stunning and undisturbed reefs, marvel at a kaleidoscopic array of shimmering tropical fish or wander along the deserted beaches.

The George, New Zealand £87- One of the most renowned boutique hotels in New Zealand in its short life has already won numerous national awards and is now a fully fledged member of the illustrious ‘Small luxury hotels of the World’ group. Nestled in the picturesque city of Christchurch the hotel overlooks the pristine Hagley Park gardens and the serpentine Avon River. The beautifully crafted interior creates a sense of light and spaciousness juxtaposing traditional materials with contemporary design. The lobby is adorned with modern New Zealand artwork and leads into the chic 50 on Park restaurant and bar and the internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurant Pescatore.

The Peninsula, Bangkok £91- Peninsula is a name synonymous with the elite, with luxury, grandeur and well, the top. With properties in world centres like New York, Chicago, Tokyo and Beijing The Peninsula brand is a globally recognised seal of quality and prestige. The Peninsula Bangkok certainly maintains these impeccable standards epitomised by its desirable location along the banks of the Chao Praya River with unimpeded views across to the heart of Bangkok city centre. A sense of serenity an calm pervades the hotel despite its situation in one of the world’s most vibrant municipalities and this predisposition to relaxation pervades throughout the Peninsula with its stunning three tiered swimming pool, sauna, spa, beauty salon and fitness room. Inside our outside of the hotel you can immerse yourself in Thai culture with the innovative Peninsula Academy where you can experience anything from culinary classes in creating the perfect dim sum to an introduction to Buddhism.

People are motivated to go on luxury holidays for all kinds of different reasons; simply a need for rest and relaxation, a yearning for the exotic or a need for far flung adventure. One of the most popular and rewarding activities that is often coupled with a luxury holiday is diving; the underwater exploration of the Earth’s hidden depths is a truly magical way to spend your vacation. The common consideration is that we know more about the surface of the moon than we do our own planet’s oceans and beneath the tranquil waters of places like Fiji, Egypt and Thailand a whole other world lies in wait for the intrepid explorer. Indeed the beauty of a luxury diving holiday is that it can be combined with a more typical land based stay and in some of the world’s most glamorous locales; so whether you are a dive enthusiast or not you will still be privileged with a unforgettable and cordial encounter.

Richelieu Rock, Thailand- Situated between the Surin National Marine Park and the mainland port of Khao Lak, Richelieu Rock is one Thailand’s most famous dive sites and consistently figures as one of the top ten dive sites in the world. You can choose to navigate the area via a ‘live-aboard’ yacht and enjoy several days out at sea or take daily trips by speed boat, where even the most remote parts of the site are reached in just over one hour. I would particularly recommend the speed boat option which affords you the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dive, but sleep soundly and in luxury in your accommodation back in Khao Lak each night. The Rock itself is a huge pinnacle that rises up from the depths of the Andaman Sea and just about breeches the surface at low tide, but although there is little to see above the waves, below them there is a cornucopia of life, from soft, colourful corals to fish of all sizes and pelagic species such as whale sharks and manta rays. Away from Richelieu, Khao Lak is one of Thailand’s premier luxury travel destinations; less developed than Phuket it is an excellent base from which to explore Richelieu Rock.

S.S.Yongala, Australia- Just of the coast of Northern Queensland within the renowned Great Barrier Reef, the S.S.Yongala has been consistently regarded as the world’s best dive site. The passenger ship sank in 1911 when it was caught in a cyclone, all one hundred and twenty two people on board perishing in what is considered as Australia’s greatest maritime disaster. From such despair life has found a way of blooming once again on board the Yongala and today it provides habitat for one of the most diverse ranges of sea life in the world. From giant Queensland gropers and barracuda to clownfish, sea snakes, turtles and eagle rays there is so much here to explore and discover. It just so happens that Queensland is also one of the most interesting and vibrant regions in Australia, with attractions such as Rockhampton, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach and Cairns, as well as the Cape rainforests; a Queensland holiday is the ultimate eclectic experience.

S.S.Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea- I couldn’t in all good conscience discuss luxury diving holidays without including Egypt. Although some people may argue that individually, other diving destinations may be more spectacular, nowhere else in the world compares to Egypt as one nation which enjoys such a diversity of underwater attractions. Yongala may be widely considered as number one in the world’s top ten dive sites, but of those ten half will be from Egypt, such is the country’s all encompassing marine geography. The SS Thistlegorm, like the Yongala is a sunken ship, but in this case a Navy merchant ship built in 1940 and sunk only a year later by a German bomber. The wreck lies in the straits of Gubal and acts as a living museum as well as supreme marine habitat. The site can be accessed via the famous resort town of Sharm el Sheikh, one of Egypt’s most popular tourist destinations and home to some of its most luxurious properties.

Hermanus, South Africa- For those with an iron constitution how about diving with a little added thrill. Hermanus, on South Africa’s Western Cape is famed for its alternate ‘big five’ contrasting the safari based equivalent these beasts of the sea include southern right whales, cape penguins, cape fur seals, great white sharks and humpback whales. Climb into a cage and come nose to snout with the ocean’s apex predator, the iconic great white shark, also expect to see hammerheads and other species of big fish. The western cape is an excellent place to enjoy a holiday and for a comprehensive wildlife experience how about combining the marine ‘big five’ with their safari correspondents, lions, elephants, buffalos, elephants and leopards.

Thailand has an undiscovered side. Its secluded beaches, exotic location and lively cities have been popular for some time with those lucky
enough to have unearthed its hidden depths, and recently there’s been an emergence of chic hotels to accommodate a growing number of visitors. Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui are all enjoying an influx of tourists who have an eye for design. And in Bangkok, swanky restaurants and bars – such as Vertigo at Banyan Tree and Bed Supperclub – are attracting a sophisticated crowd. Activity-wise there are golf ranges nearby and the capital’s Siam Paragon is one of the biggest shopping malls in Asia.
If you’re looking for unspoilt beauty, then it’s a good idea to head off the beaten track. Koh Yao and Koh Racha are both ideal starting points.

With remarkably clear water and reefs, the islands are fantastic for those who enjoy snorkelling and diving. Trang, on the other hand, offers peaceful seclusion and stunning scenery on the western coast, while Koh Chang, along the Gulf of Thailand, will delight nature lovers with its rainforest, waterfalls, and the opportunity to ride on an elephant. In the north, around Pai, thrill-seekers can float down river on bamboo rafts, imbibing lush green views along the ride. Ready for some chill out time? Choose from the pretty island of Koh Lanta, in the south, for picturesque beaches or the slow pace of rural Issan in the northeast.