Imagine unlocking exclusive travel perks – from limo rides to vineyard tastings – simply by booking smarter.
Introducing the new Société loyalty program, which is free to join and offers the opportunity to earn Points and Status Credits on Luxury Escapes bookings. Société Points can be redeemed for savings on future bookings, while every booking earns you Status Credits and brings you closer to those little luxuries. These include priority access, room upgrades, and that feeling of being truly taken care of.
I was lucky to be invited as a guest of Luxury Escapes on an overnight whirlwind tour of the wonderful Hunter Valley. Here’s my trip report, showcasing all the highlights, before we delve deeper into the benefits and features of the Société program.
From limo to Voco, travel in style
Limo Luxury
My Hunter Valley escape begins, true to the Luxury Escapes name, in luxury. I’m greeted at curbside at Sydney Terminal 2 by my chauffeur, ready to whisk me away on the two-hour journey up the M1 motorway. I have plenty of legroom in the back, as well as bottled water and smartphone charging plugs at hand.
The seats are incredibly comfortable. I must admit that, despite my good intentions to catch up on work during the journey, I doze off. I chalk that down to the ride being, well, so relaxing.
Impressive Voco awaits
It’s not long before I enter the beautiful entrance of Voco Kirkton Park. Reminding me of the conservatory on the Cluedo board game, it’s a very welcoming entrance with views of the fountain and courtyard, along with an outdoor dining area in the background.
We’re invited to a drink in a lounge and bar area near the entrance. The outdoor dining area is an ideal location for our high tea, offering ample natural light and stunning views of the resort and its surroundings.
Post high tea, I make my way to my room. For a standard twin room, I am surprised at how spacious it is. As I always do when I enter a hotel room, I switch the TV on to see what entertaining programs are available.
Considering this resort is designed for a relaxing stay with plenty of outdoor adventures, I would think the library might be more minimalist in style. But I’m wrong. The library is extensive, featuring movies, news, and my favourite, TV sitcoms. And not just any sitcoms, but my favourite 80’s and 90’s comedy sitcoms.
The room
My room is spacious and very comfortable, and includes a desk, which is a great feature that, unfortunately, seems to be disappearing from many rooms. While guests aren’t necessarily doing business or work, it’s great to have a place to put a laptop and conduct some travel research comfortably.
The bathroom is not amazing, but it easily fulfils its purpose. Perhaps the sink area is slightly small and doesn’t provide room to store toiletries. However, that is the biggest critique I can provide.
Chocolate and wine, the perfect combo
I’ve always heard of wine and cheese pairings, but I never really thought about wine and chocolate pairings. Having a sweet tooth, I jump at this opportunity as one of my optional activities for the trip. With five chocolates and five different wines, it’s a perfect pairing.
The tastes range from citrus flavours to raspberry and espresso. Anyone can experience this tasting in the comfort of their own home by purchasing a Chocolate and Home Wine Tasting Pack.
Up, up and away with Balloon Aloft
A trip to the Hunter Valley is never complete without a hot air balloon ride. Being scared of heights, it takes a bit of convincing to get up, up and away. But I eventually decide to soar to new heights (at least outside of a plane). And the day couldn’t be more perfect. No clouds, no wind, and a picture-perfect sunrise.
The hot air balloon ride is very smooth. We ascend slowly and hover at a relatively low altitude for a while before making a more rapid ascent. At this point, I have to make sure to look ‘out’ and not down. But aside from that slight apprehension, the view is just spectacular. It is made more majestic by the light covering of mist below us. The clarity of the day allows me to see far and wide, including the many mountain ranges and open farmland. Couple this with the silent tranquillity while we float mid-air, and it makes for a very relaxing experience.
A hot air balloon ride is something that everybody should do at least once in their life, especially if you’re in the Hunter.
Unlocking travel freedom with Société
Imagine sipping Hunter Valley wine knowing your next trip could cost you less. Thanks to a brand-new way to earn rewards, you no longer need to imagine. Société is a loyalty program that rewards loyal Luxury Escapes customers with free or discounted trips, upgrades and more. Whether it’s a voyage to Vanuatu, a jaunt to Jordan, or an upgrade from an Uber to a limo, your next luxury reward awaits!
Société members earn Société Points and Status Credits each time they make a booking. Société Points is a highly flexible Points currency that can be used in various ways.
Adam Schwab, Luxury Escapes Co-founder and CEO highlights this very point:
“Our customers can redeem their Société Points for absolutely everything on Luxury Escapes. From tours, flights, and experiences to travel insurance and hotel rooms, basically every product we sell, whenever they want it. Our members will be able to use Points instead of cash, or a combination of Points and cash.”
And then there are Status Credits. Every Luxury Escapes booking unlocks more freedom, recognition, and smart savings for your next adventure. Not to mention ditching the airport common lounge for an airport’s Premium lounge or a Standard Room for a King Suite.
Starting from Bronze status, you can climb up to Silver, Gold and Platinum, with the benefits for each status level shown below.
Did you know that you can double-dip on your Points? If you book flights or a cruise as part of your travel package, make sure to include your frequent flyer number or cruise loyalty number, in addition to your Société number. You’ll earn Points for both. Whether it’s Qantas Points, Velocity Points or another program, go wild. The points are yours!
Summing up
The introduction of the Société program is a very welcome development, representing the first loyalty program to cover an online travel agency, while also allowing for the double-dipping of Société Points and either frequent flyer or cruise points.
My Hunter Valley experience is one of literally thousands of trips and experiences that you can book with Luxury Escapes. And with the introduction of the Société loyalty program, loyal Luxury Escapes members can now be rewarded for making these bookings.
So whether it’s a luxury honeymoon getaway to Asia, a family trip to Disneyland, or a skiing trip to the Swiss Alps, there’s no better time to get booking.
Daniel Sciberras travelled as a guest of Luxury Escapes.
