Whether you are a business owner, a solo traveler or merely someone who is budget-conscious but has long outgrown the idea of two- and three-star hotels, you may be wondering how on earth to have the leisure or business trip of your dreams without breaking the bank. And don’t worry, you are definitely not alone. Travel specials, last minute deals and opaque bookings are great, but not if you need, or like, to plan ahead.
The good news is that there is still another option for travelers who do like to plan ahead but are also hyper-conscious of what they spend (even millionaires watch their money, that’s how they got there in the first place!). Constant innovation and rapid growth of the travel industry means that we have more information and options at our fingertips than ever before and thanks to the sharing economy, people of all walks of life are seeking out peer-to-peer interactions and tailor-made offerings to fulfill their individual needs and interests. This could come in the form of sharing a ride or hotel room with a like-minded traveler (who might even become a new friend and travel companion) or booking a room at a discounted price over busy times because the original guest doesn’t want to stay for the full duration of the minimum required days booked.
Here are two examples of travelers who have enjoyed a luxury trip at half the price (no matter their status or financial position):
- Mr. Tang, the Millionaire
While money is certainly not an issue for Mr. Tang, who at 36-years-old owns his own Rolls-Royce, he thrives on meeting interesting people when he travels and likes the opportunity to make new friends—so he embraces the sharing economy whenever he can. Just the other day he met Lili, a young engineer who dreams of developing a vertical farm in Shanghai, while riding an Uber, and before that he met Olivier in Beijing. Olivier is a student at the Beijing University who explained an extraordinary business formula to him, one which he realized he could apply to his own business in Hong Kong. Thanks to this wonderful application based on the sharing economy, Mr. Tang was able to connect with phenomenal and fascinating people, who shared remarkable ideas and concepts with him during solo business trips which otherwise might have been both boring and lonely.
- Marie-Laure, the businesswoman
Marie-Laure is a 43-year-old business woman, and despite her success, she is very strict on both her budget and finding accommodation that resonates with her beliefs. Her last business trip took her to Singapore, where she had decided that she wanted to stay at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, an eco-friendly hotel and by far the most luxurious hotel in the city. She had set her budget at 500 USD, which is exactly what she would have needed for one night at the hotel (on special). Through the TiCATi booking platform and ShareRoom service, she met a like-minded traveler called Charlotte, who is 34-years-old, owns her own company, and loves to surf—much like Marie-Laure herself—who also happened to be traveling to Singapore on the same day. By sharing the room with Charlotte, Marie-Laure was able to spend only half of her budget on the room—250 USD—allowing her to use 150 USD to see the city after work with her new friend, and further enabling her to save a whopping 100 USD.
Because of her excellent experience with TiCATi in Singapore, Marie-Laure decided to use it again, this time for a holiday. Because she owns her own business, Marie-Laure can travel when most people which often means that none of her friends are able to join her. Despite this, and because she knew how badly she needed a break, she set her sights on the five-star deluxe resort Six Senses Laamu Maldives in the Maldives—a resort fit for A-listers and royalty.
The minimum room price for Kanuhura is approximately 1000 USD per night, and Marie-Laure knew that it would be much better if she could share her experience with another like-minded traveler. So she opted for the ShareRoom service on TiCATi once more where she met Olivia, a 39-year-old designer from Paris who was also craving a trip to the Maldives. This allowed the like-minded duo to enjoy the luxury room at half the price, which enabled them to use their extra budget for spa experiences and once-in-a-lifetime excursions in the paradisaical destination. After a few days on holiday, Marie-Laure and Olivia realized just how much they had in common and become the best of friends. These days, whenever Marie-Laure is in need of exceptional dresses, she contacts her friend Olivia.
The beauty of the sharing economy is that you can meet fascinating, like-minded people that could change your life in beautiful and surprising ways while you enjoy luxury accommodation or services that are inline with your budget. Interested in trying it out for yourself? Take a look at all the extraordinary offerings at TiCATi.com.
Let's travel green! 