Stunning landscapes, incredible variety, endless culture. The USA is the ultimate year-round destination. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration then look no further than the soul of the south – Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana. A region with an incredible wealth of history, culture and nature, coupled with sensational cuisine and unbeatable music credentials, the Southern USA is the vacation of a lifetime.

In partnership with Visit the USA, we invite you discover the soul of the south and to travel with us on Southern Grace, a 9-day luxury journey from Nashville to New Orleans. To whet your appetite, we’ve picked out some of our favorite moments.

For travel inspiration: USA destination guide

Read more about our Southern Grace tour: High Notes: How Travel Concierge Ann Amplifies the Sounds of the South

Walk in the footsteps of legends in Nashville, Tennessee

A welcoming and vibrant destination for visitors, Nashville has long been at the heart of country music in America. ‘Music City’ as it is affectionally known, is also the birthplace of bluegrass, with a thriving rock and pop scene. A city packed with sensational eateries and exceptional hotels, your stay at the sophisticated Grand Hyatt on our Southern Grace small group journey places you in the center of luxury and the downtown action.

Nashville grew from a foundation based on music and, as the 1800s unfolded it became a national center for music publishing. Join us and discover the music like a VIP. At Studio B – Nashville’s oldest remaining record studio, take part in a private recording session under the guidance of a professional sound engineer. Let your inner songbird free and record a take-home tune just as legends Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have done before you.

Later, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, as guests of Luxury Gold you’ll enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes look at the songwriting process with a local songwriter and singer. On your visit you’ll also see memorabilia from stars such as Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison, before topping the night off with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

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Discover U.S. history in Memphis, Tennessee

Home of ‘The King’, the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis is another musical pilgrimage hotspot. But over and above the music, this city holds an essential place in U.S. history, and its civil rights legacy lives on in many ways.

Nowhere is this history brought to life quite like the National Civil Rights Museum, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on Southern Grace. Immerse yourself on a guided tour through the interactive exhibits and poignant storytelling, the museum shares the story of key moments throughout the American Civil Rights Movement, from the history of enslaved people all the way through to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Memphis, and indeed the whole of Southern USA, is also known for its delicious cuisine including cajun, creole and some of the finest BBQ. To experience traditional cooking at its most tasty, Luxury Gold guests get a backstage pass to Central BBQ – one of the city’s oldest and most iconic establishments. Sweep past the queues (which are usually around the block) for your VIP visit. Inside you will meet Clint Cantwell, a renowned grilling expert to learn how to make the most delicious pulled pork, brisket and ribs – a rare event usually only local insiders get to experience. Followed of course by a scrumptious meal.

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Step back in time in Natchez, Mississippi

Stepping away from the hustle and bustle, Natchez is a charming retreat. The oldest city on the Mississippi and one of Southern USA’s hidden gems, more than 1,000 structures in Natchez are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With properties dating to the late 1700s, the South’s unique architecture and history comes to life in Natchez’s antebellum homes.

Your stay in the Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens, a National Historic Landmark built in 1818, gives you a timeless feel for the place. An early 19th-century antebellum mansion set in 26 acres of manicured gardens, world class service and historic surroundings combine for a decadent stay.

While in Natchez on Southern Grace, we invite you to personalize your day with a choice of two experiences. Either you can step back in time and take a private tour an 1850s Greek-Revival cottage, the beloved home of a local. Take your time to explore the interior and grounds and let your imagination run wild as you learn about its past. Alternatively you can choose to join a mixology class and learn all about famous Southern cocktails including the ‘Crown Julep’.

You may be interested to read: Our Favorite Classic Cocktails, and the Timeless Hotels To Try Them At

There’s nowhere quite like New Orleans, Louisiana

To cap off your Southern Grace tour the ‘Big Easy’ beckons. A city so steeped in history and culture and rich traditions there’s a tantalizing story around every corner. The Ritz Carlton is your majestic home for three nights and is a destination in itself. The building was built originally in 1908 and it became a luxury hotel in 2000 showcasing the best of American hospitality. Centrally located it means you are just a few steps from the area’s most popular attractions, including the famous Bourbon Street.

A city world renowned for its Mardi Gras celebrations, as part of your exploration of New Orleans we invite you to enjoy an all-access pass to the Mardi Gras World’s Blaine Kern Studios. This workshop has created sensational floats for Mardi Gras and other parades around the world since 1947. Learn how artists and architects build Mardi Gras floats from the ground up and view colorful costumes and props.

Read more about this extraordinary hotel: Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

To enjoy the best of the USA with a luxurious visit to the sensational South, take a look at our Southern Gracesmall group journey.

Making every journey exceptional, your Luxury Gold Travel Concierge is at your service, 24/7, every step of the way. An expert on your destination and your tastes, they offer a flawless personal service tailored to you. Going above and beyond, they even know what you need before you need it, bringing stunning destinations like Ireland and Italy to life in a personal, tailored way. 

To find out more about what it takes to be a Travel Concierge, and some golden moments you can experience our tours, we spoke with Shona Finnie. A Travel Concierge since Luxury Gold’s inception in 2012, to her exceptional service comes as second nature.

“Luxury service means you don’t have to worry about a single thing,” she tell us. “It means comfort and every need being anticipated and fulfilled. Ultimately it means having a stress free, trouble free, absolutely fabulous way to travel.

Learn more about our personal service: Concierge Services

A flawless, personal service

Luxury concierge services on every small group journey are a hallmark of Luxury Gold. At the helm of your travel experience, they’ll lead you through under-the-radar history, introduce you to undiscovered artisans, and connect you to the humanity and culture of your destination.

A benefit of traveling with a smaller group, you’ll enjoy a personalized service from your Travel Concierge, as well as from the venues and attractions we visit. This tailored touch allows you to travel with ease, knowing everything is taken care of along the way.

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A tale of going above and beyond

Even if things don’t go according to plan, your Travel Concierge will go above and beyond. “On Ultimate Italy, we stay in Capri, and our luggage has to leave the night before we do,” says Shona. “So, I’m always reminding guests to keep something back to wear the following day. On one occasion a guests called me in the morning to let me know that she had forgotten to do that, and she just had her PJs in which to travel over to the mainland.

“I always keep something back, just in case. But the lady concerned was very small and slight, the exact opposite of myself. It was hilarious because I had to dress her in one of my outfits and the poor women had to get on the ferry dressed in my voluminous outfit!”

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy

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Unforgettable Capri

“Capri is simply sensational and is special because of its beauty, history, stunning blue waters and gorgeous grottoes,” says Shona.

“I love that we stay on the island and so, when the day trippers leave and the locals emerge on to the streets and piazzas, we get to see and experience the real Capri.”

An arrival fit for a celebrity, guests travel in open top taxi through dramatic coastal scenery and lemon groves to get to their hotel, the stunning Quissisana*. A private cruise around the dramatic coast of Capri seeks out hidden coves and grottos that few get to see. Lunch at Michelin-starred Le Monzù offers delicious plates with unforgettable views.

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The secret is to listen

“For me the secret to making guests feel extra special is to show them that you care about them,” says Shona. “To listen to their request to find out a little bit about them. To make sure that we can anticipate maybe things that they might ask.

“For example, if a guest on Castles & Kingdoms tells me that their family come from a certain part of Scotland or Ireland, I try and make sure we can pass by that place if possible.”

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My favorite tour – Ultimate Ireland

“If pushed to say my favorite Luxury Gold tour I would say Ultimate Ireland,” says Shona.  “One main reason is because we get to stay at Ashford Castle and that is the most luxurious, fabulous experience anybody could have.

Guests spend two nights at this exquisite 5-star hotel which, along with its extensive grounds, epitomizes the best of Irish hospitality, natural beauty and grandeur.

“The day that we leave Limerick and head to Ashford Castle is particularly memorable. We get to experience the beauty of the Burren, the majesty of the Cliffs of Moher and the vibrant and lively city of Galway. Your day the concludes with a piper escorting you over the bridge to this elegant castle, our stunning home for the next few days.”

Discover this on: Ultimate Ireland

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Exceptional dining with a positive impact

“Every Luxury Gold journey features some amazing experiences, curated with our guests in mind,” says Shona. “On Ultimate Ireland our Farm-to-table lunch at Tracey’s Farmhouse on the beautiful banks of Strangford Lough in County Down, between Belfast and Dublin is outstanding.

“We’re welcomed into her home and Tracey shows guests how to make traditional Irish soda bread and gets them involved. We’re then treated to a lovely homemade lunch with time to chat to Tracey and learn all about life on the shores of Strangford Lough.”

A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, Tracey’s Farmhouse is actively practicing and encouraging the slow food movement, and this visit focuses on seasonal produce, organically grown ingredients sourced from the immediate community. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences curated exclusively for guests, each designed to ensure it brings a positive social or environmental impact.  At least one is featured on every Luxury Gold small group journey.

Learn more: Tracey of Tracey’s Farmhouse on the benefits of eating what’s in season

Special requests

“I once had a request to hire Ferrari for a guest who wanted to drive around Tuscany,” Shona tells us. “I was nervous until they returned, because driving a Ferrari in Tuscany not the easiest thing to do.

“And a couple of occasions I’ve been asked to organize surprise proposals for people which is really nice to do. When this has happened I’ve put my knowledge of the destination and my contacts book to full use and sought out a particularly romantic spot. I’ve made sure the Prosecco is on ice and the musicians are ready to play. Usually I’m hiding in a bush somewhere with a camera ready to capture the moment that the ring is placed on the finger! Fortunately, every time that’s happened it’s been a positive answer.”

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Extra touch for guests to enjoy

“I like to offer extra little touches for guests along the way,” says Shona. “Something a little unexpected.  It really depends on the destination, But I find guests really enjoy it when you give them something that’s a flavor or a taste of the region. Maybe something to eat or drink, something we wouldn’t have tried before but very much represents the place that we’re travelling in at that point in time.”

See for yourself how your Travel Concierge goes above and beyond with our worldwide collection of  small group journeys.

*Itinerary varies depending on departure dates

It’s the ultimate treat: neat trays of cloche-lidded dishes, tiny condiment jars and paper-topped glassware delivered to your room. A feast you can eat in a pristine white towelling bathrobe. A spread of potentially over-ordered, almost certainly mismatched items with no one around to judge. The only thing more luxurious than a late-night order at a hotel is an order at the world’s very best room service hotels.

Aman New York

New York City has perhaps the highest concentration of fabulous in-room dining experiences. Take the recently opened Aman Hotel’s in-room omakase service. Meaning “I leave it up to you”, this Japanese style of dining allows an expert sushi chef to slice and sizzle a curated selection of bite-sized dishes, creating a feast of surprises. Only guests in the Aman Suite, spread across floors 11 and 12 with corner views of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, can request this rarefied private audience with chef Takuma Yonemaru.

The Savoy, London

Adding a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne, or smoked salmon and caviar, to your room service breakfast is just one opulent room service option at London’s A-list hotel. Past midday there are dedicated oyster and caviar menus, Cornish lobster rolls, Wagyu beef tartare, comfort foods like mac and cheese with black truffle or lobster, and sought-after vintages of Dom Perignon and Krug. Make like past guests Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra and lounge in your monogrammed bathrobe to enjoy.

Intercontinental Bora Bora, French Polynesia

This honeymoon spot makes the list of best room service hotels for its photogenic ‘canoe breakfast’, where breakfast trays of lavish tropical fruits, fresh juices and hot foods arrive floating on a va’a, a traditional wooden outrigger canoe. Decorated with local flowers, the vessel will glide up to your overwater villa, where a waitress in a flower crown serves piles of fresh pastries, melon and pineapple, yoghurt bowls served in half-coconuts, hot omelettes, sausages and more.

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An omakase chef will come to your suite at the Aman New York

Raffles, Doha

In the sculptural, horseshoe-shaped Katara Towers in the Qatari capital, this glossy new Raffles doesn’t do anything by halves. And that includes its in-room dining, where nine-course breakfast trollies are brought to majestic suites (involving Arabic touches such as signature shakshouka and labneh with honey). Meanwhile the all-day menu encompasses foie gras au torchon, wagyu rib-eye steaks, lobster casarecce, sole Meuniere and the signature Gold Cappucino. Want something even more niche? Every guest at this all-suite hotel has a butler on call, 24/7.

Park Lane Hotel, New York

Not every hotel can boast a “Caviar Hotline” ‒ but that’s the room service essential this Central Park-side hotel lays on for its guests. Dial 5 from your in-room telephone and you’ll select your caviar presentation of choice: from the tin, with blinis, creme fraiche, capers and red onion? Or sprinkled on nachos, topping deviled eggs, along with a glass or bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Brut champagne ‒ or a shooter of Stolichnaya vodka.

Four Seasons Chicago

Whether you’re over or under the age of 21 will dictate which room service treat will bring you back to the FS Chicago. Will it be the legendary in-house ice cream cart? Call down to summon it for a 30-minute spree in your room, choosing between new seasonal flavours dreamt up by the hotel’s chefs, plus toppings from fudge sauce to sprinkles and M&Ms. Or for a more grown-up palate, you might craving the services of the martini cart, which appears with the questions: gin or vodka? Olive or twist? Both options have been delighting guests for nearly 25 years.

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The ice cream cart at Four Seasons Chicago hotel

The Peninsula, Bangkok

In a city known for its affordable, high-quality street food, staying in for tray service may seem especially decadent. But the Peninsula’s breakfast spreads alone are the stuff of legend: there’s a Chinese Breakfast involving dim sum and congee rice porridge, a Thai breakfast packed with fresh fruits and crabmeat omelettes, and a plant-based menu for vegans. Oysters by the half-dozen, and a whole range of Thai specialities from steamed sea bass to roasted duck red curry, give you options from comfort foods to luxury treats.

Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston

Got a VIP – a Very Important Pet, that is – traveling with you? You’re going to want to check in at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, which has a luxe in-room dining menu for guests’ dogs, as well as their humans. Codfish and caviar is the standout dish, though there’s also organic scrambled eggs with kale and quinoa for the health-conscious hound, and beef patties made (naturally) with the finest Aberdeen Angus beef.

Four Seasons Ko Samui

Make your reservations now for this Ko Samui resort – it’ll be booked up for years after its starring role on the next season of The White Lotus. But TV tourism is just one reason to visit: the hotel is known for its in-villa barbecues, where guests are treated to a traditional Thai moo kra ta feast of tiger prawns, Angus beef, pork and chicken cooked in a hot pot over glowing coals. Meanwhile, gourmet picnic baskets can be loaded up for you to enjoy in your villa or around the resort, featuring prawn and pomelo salads, mango and sticky rice and chicken wraps.

Vegan, healthy and even dog options are often available

Pendry Washington DC

With a Potomac river view, a rooftop sushi restaurant and glamorous pool terrace, the Pendry is one of DC’s hottest newcomers. And its in-room dining matches that energy: caviar-topped deviled eggs, Cobb salads sprinkled with lobster, and a New York strip steak with a decadent black truffle gratin. (Pair them with several top champagnes, Napa Valley reds or Provence rosés.) The Maine crab cakes are a real hit with regulars, while California rolls and artisanal cheese plates can be ordered if you get in after hours.

Milestone Hotel, London

Fancy a cocktail, but staying with someone you want to impress? At London’s Milestone Hotel, one of the creative room service options is an audience with one of the hotel’s expert mixologists. They’ll come up to your room to consult on your favourite notes and flavours, then stir you up the perfect aperitif. You could try the hotel’s own Smoky Old Fashioned, request a margarita or Manhattan as you like it, or ask your private bartender to shake up something entirely different. The Milestone is part of the Red Carnation group, the preferred hotels of Luxury Gold groups when staying in Britain.

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