For those who crave such insider knowledge, but don’t plan on sinking tens of thousands into their annual holidays, Maury has some tips. She suggests investing in local guides (say an eminent Egyptologist for your first trip to the pyramids) and talking to those in the know, such as the hotel concierge or hotel manager.

Should you still hanker after some of the trappings of super-rich travel, however, then how about reserving the top cabin on a cruise line’s new yacht or reserving a seat on a luxury semi-private jet? The latter is available through Aero, a service that was first trialled in 2019 and now whisks families to the likes of Geneva, Milan and Nice via direct flights through private terminals for £1,200 return per passenger. 

Uma Subramanian, Aero’s chief executive, says that its customers enjoy “80 per cent of the value of private jet travel for 20 per cent of the cost”. They can save up to four hours of airport fuss, sidestepping the paperwork-laden check-in queues (typical of post-Covid travel) and the slalom of duty-free aisles. 

There are many other means by which you can slip on the costume of the super-rich on your next luxury holiday. For full immersion, try the “sky’s the limit” options. Or, should your budget be slightly less stratospheric, our “upgrade” options will still be sufficiently luxurious.

Fancy a private yacht?

The ideal upgrade: Board a small ship cruise

From Scenic to Ponant, a number of cruise lines are launching superyachts. One option with relative exclusivity (it has a 100-passenger capacity) is a trip on Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Azzurra. Book into an Owner’s Suite and you will have a private terrace from which to enjoy views of each new port and a large lounge area where you’ll be served daily, pre-dinner canapes. 

And where is more apt to sample the lifestyles of the rich and famous than the French and Italian rivieras? An eight-night voyage from Nice to Rome includes stops at the Côte d’Azur seaside town of Menton, beach time in Portoferraio on the island of Elba and wine tasting in the Corsican countryside. 

How to do it: From £10,490pp, staying in an Owner’s Suite (0808 271 3972; emeraldcruises.co.uk).