You don’t have to look any further than “Affluent Traveler” Magazine, and other magazines like it, to see the stereotypical image of a Jetsetter today.  Just picture a young, attractive couple dressed in the latest fashion, with their Rolex and Cartier watches and Manolo Blahnik shoes, getting out of a Porsche in Cannes for lunch at the Hotel Martinez. Only the best and only for the few. Exclusivity.

It sounds rather nice doesn’t it?  But it’s not reality for the vast majority of people, and it’s certainly not our reality.   It’s sad, but in today’s world, it seems that the term Jetsetter, and for that matter “Affluent”, have become solely an expression of a person’s “financial” wealth. We see it differently.

To us, a Jetsetter is someone who loves exploring and traveling for the “richness” of the experience.  Someone who enjoys and appreciates the finer things in life, and enjoys them to their fullest whenever possible.  Someone who is “enriched” by understanding a new culture, or learning a new language.  In our definition, a Jetsetter is just as passionate, if not more so, about their adventures than the “New Rich” on the cover of the luxury travel magazines.  Our Jetsetter enjoys her style, but the substance of the journey is more important.  Our Jetsetter is someone who makes every adventure the best it can possibly be with the money they have to spend.

So I guess, in a way, our definition of a Jetsetter is also about wealth, but in a slightly different context.  It’s about the wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding you gain in your exploration of our fantastic planet. Now that’s a New Jetsetter!

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About Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson is Co-Founder of New Jetsetters with over 20 years experience writing about luxury travel. You might say Steve was “born” with the travel bug. Born in the western foothills of the legendary Black Forest in Germany, he spent the first 12 years of his life tagging along behind his parents as they explored Europe. His first memories are of exploring German castles, and his early childhood education consisted of navigating the Austrian Alps, and mastering equestrian skills at the small sea-side town of Maspalomas, along the Spanish coast. Find out more about Steve below:

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I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but I know that, subconsciously, I always make judgements about people based on their appearance – even though it’s not something I choose to do. And I know I am not alone.

Today, traveller’s desire to put their comfort before appearance, and this has led to a wide range of “looks”, most of them not so good. If you go to any major airport where tourists are departing on vacations, you can bet that most of them will be in various combinations of sweat pants, hoodies, and track suits, followed closely by jeans and sweaters or t-shirts. Some might call it casual, but personally I call it “slopplazy”! Seems like a good word to me.

It’s true, most of us have to dress a certain way for our jobs. Why? Because employers know: “appearance matters”. We also “dress up” in what we consider an appropriate fashion, for occasions such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc., mostly because we have to… because – “appearance matters”. But hey, when we travel, it’s another story!   We don’t “have to” do anything! We rebel. We want comfort more than anything else.  But beware – this desire for comfort and ease can lead to being treated in a less than acceptable manner as others cast a quick eye of judgement and decide whether we are “worthy” of their attention or concern, or even just an adequate response.

We have all heard the old saying:  ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover”.  I actually agree with it and try really hard not to judge someone on their appearance – and chances are, as you read this you will insist this is the case for yourself.  However, on some level, most people just cannot help their gut reaction to appearance, whether it is an eyebrow-lift of admiration for a superbly tailored suit on a freshly groomed man, to an inner frown of disgust when someone stumbles towards you with ripped, stained clothing and greasy hair.   Those gut reactions and lightning quick judgements are carried out by every one of us, every day, on smaller and grander scales, despite our efforts not to.

“Good Clothes Open All Doors” is a famous quote by English Historian Arthur Fuller.  And I believe he had a valid point, even back in the 1600s. If you take the extra time and bother to dress well for your vacation, you may come out ahead.

With all this in mind, here are my top five reasons you should Look Good While You Travel

• People everywhere are more likely to respond more favorably to you if you are well dressed.
• Dressing well, sub-consciously and automatically  lifts a person’s self-esteem and level of confidence. You will therefore project the overall image of a successful individual who demands respect.
• Hotel clerks and managers are more likely to give room upgrades or other concessions to those who appear “worthy” of a better level and whom they consider a benefit to their establishment.
• A well-groomed individual will command more respect from those providing services of any kind. They automatically assume that the well-dressed person is superior to one who is dressed in a sloppy or messy manner. Questions or concerns are more likely to be addressed with speed and the desire to please a person who appears financially capable of demanding restitution if the situation is not resolved to their personal (and obviously high) level of satisfaction.
• Upscale restaurants are more likely to give well-dressed patrons a better table, and the server will treat these guests with more care. They want to encourage a well-heeled clientele, and will not hesitate to treat you like gold to encourage your return to their establishment if you look the part.

If you enjoyed this article, let us know what you think and review us!

About Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson is Co-Founder of New Jetsetters with over 20 years experience writing about luxury travel. You might say Steve was “born” with the travel bug. Born in the western foothills of the legendary Black Forest in Germany, he spent the first 12 years of his life tagging along behind his parents as they explored Europe. His first memories are of exploring German castles, and his early childhood education consisted of navigating the Austrian Alps, and mastering equestrian skills at the small sea-side town of Maspalomas, along the Spanish coast. Find out more about Steve below:

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