MADRID


San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts


Factum Arte


Prado Museum


Royal Tapestry Factory


guests have to be experts in that area to enjoy the trip. The behind-the-scenes look at Madrid’s arts scene unlocks a whole new layer to my visit, and when it comes time to leave, it’s not just my appreciation of art that has been enhanced, but also my knowledge of how Madrid’s creative heritage has shaped it into the vibrant city it is today.


World of choice If, like me, your clients aren’t experts in art, then the itinerary can be tweaked to align with their interests – something that Geoffrey Webb, Mandarin Oriental’s head of global sales, believes has played a key role in boosting the popularity of Exclusive Journeys. “They’re not group tours, they’re all private,” he says. “So, while there is a framework for all of our Exclusive Journeys, we do encourage the adaption ov i>Vh ov Ìhim Ìo ÃÕiÌ «io«li½Ã ëiViwV nii`ð v you’re doing the Madrid experience with children, they’ll build in customised art classes and different experiences that appeal to multigenerations – something that has been well received and embraced.”


Aside from art, the collection caters to a diverse range of interests. From Mandarin Oriental Paris, guests can venture to Champagne to taste rare vintages and explore 300-year-old private cellars; those staying in the home of watchmaking at Mandarin Oriental Geneva can try their hand at building their own timepiece; and in Japan, the Way of the Samurai itinerary combines a deep dive into the heart of this warrior class with a stay at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. What remains the same across each of the


journeys, according to The Luminaire’s co-founder and chief executive Adam Sebba, is how they offer access to “the rarest experiences in the world, booked with the same ease as you’d make a hotel reservation at a Mandarin Oriental property”.


BOOK IT: Mandarin Oriental and The Luminaire’s Custodians of Spain’s Priceless Art itinerary is priced from £4,520, based on two guests sharing, and includes two nights at Mandarin


Oriental Ritz, breakfast, transfers and all guided excursions. THELUMINAIRE.COM/MANDARIN-ORIENTAL


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


JUNE 2025 ASPIRE


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CREDITS: Shutterstock/Alvaro German Vilela, TK Kurikawa, Sean Pavone; Factum Foundation; Isobel Turner


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