By Tony Wooding
People often ask me what my dream holiday is.
Most expect the answer to be the Maldives, a safari in Africa, or a private villa in Tuscany. But for as long as I can remember, I had only one dream: to travel around the world.
Not in eighty days like Phileas Fogg.
I wanted to do it in just two weeks.
I wasn’t trying to break a record. I simply wanted to experience the world’s greatest cities, fly some of the best airlines, stay in legendary hotels, and discover what luxury travel really feels like when every detail comes together perfectly.
Planning the route turned out to be much harder than I expected.
Should I head east through Asia and chase the sunrise?
Or fly west across the Atlantic and follow the sun all the way back to London?
After countless evenings comparing flight schedules, hotel availability and airline products, I finally made my decision.
New York would be my first destination.
Choosing the first airline was surprisingly easy.
A few weeks before booking the trip, I had finished reading Richard Branson’s autobiography Losing My Virginity. As someone who has lived in London for years, many places he described felt strangely familiar.
His stories about growing up, building Virgin, and creating an airline that challenged the industry made me want to experience it for myself.
There was another reason too.
Virgin Atlantic offers something unique at Heathrow — the exclusive Upper Class Wing, where premium passengers can check in away from the busy terminals before heading directly into the airport.
If this journey was going to be unforgettable, it deserved an unforgettable beginning.
Many people believe luxury travel begins when you board the aircraft.
I disagree.
Luxury begins the moment you leave your home.
Living on Kensington High Street makes Heathrow an easy drive, but I still wanted the journey to feel special.
Instead of opening a ride-hailing app, I booked a chauffeur through Limotak, a platform I’ve relied on for more than a year whenever I travel.
What I appreciate most isn’t just the quality of the cars.
It’s the consistency.
Whether I’m booking a transfer in London, Dubai or Tokyo, I know exactly what to expect.
The platform now operates in more than 110 countries, making it one of the easiest ways to arrange premium ground transportation almost anywhere in the world.
Exactly on schedule, a chauffeur arrived in a brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The luggage disappeared into the boot, the rear door opened, and within seconds London slowly rolled past the window as we headed towards Heathrow.
No stress.
No searching for the driver.
No surprises.
Exactly how travel should feel.
Several hours later, my Virgin Atlantic flight landed at JFK.
Waiting outside arrivals was another chauffeur booked through the same Limotak app.
Same booking process.
Same professional service.
Different continent.
It’s amazing how comforting familiarity becomes when you’re travelling thousands of miles from home.
Some hotels don’t need an introduction.
The Plaza is one of them.
Standing proudly beside Central Park, it has welcomed presidents, celebrities, royalty and travellers for more than a century.
Checking in felt less like arriving at a hotel and more like becoming part of New York’s history.
After dropping my bags, I asked the concierge a simple question.
“Where do New Yorkers go for the best burger?”
His answer wasn’t a Michelin-starred restaurant.
It was a place called Big Ranch in Manhattan.
Sometimes local recommendations create the best memories.
The burger was outstanding.
The atmosphere was relaxed.
And it reminded me that authentic experiences often matter more than luxury itself.
As daylight faded, I wandered through Central Park.
The city around me never really stopped, yet inside the park everything felt strangely peaceful.
Horse-drawn carriages rolled by.
Street musicians played jazz.
Couples sat beside the lake watching the skyline change colour.
It suddenly hit me.
Years of dreaming.
Months of planning.
Thousands of miles travelled.
And this incredible journey had only just begun.
Tomorrow would bring another flight, another city, another hotel and another story.
Nine destinations still remained.
But if the first day was any indication, travelling around the world wasn’t simply about seeing new places.
It was about collecting moments that would stay with me forever.
