By Tony Wooding
There are trips that simply take you somewhere. And then there are journeys that stay with you forever.
Ever since I was a child growing up in Surrey, I dreamed of travelling around the world. Not in eighty days like Phileas Fogg, but in a way that would let me experience the very best our planet has to offer without spending months away from home.
As my business grew, so did my passion for travel. Living today on Kensington High Street in London means Heathrow Airport is almost on my doorstep, and one evening I finally decided it was time to stop dreaming and start planning.
The challenge wasn’t whether to go.
It was where to begin.
Should I fly east, following the sunrise, or head west and chase the sunset around the globe?
After days of comparing routes, airline schedules and hotel openings, I chose the classic direction.
Booking the first flight turned out to be surprisingly emotional.
I selected Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, not only because of its reputation but because, just a few weeks earlier, I had finished Richard Branson’s autobiography Losing My Virginity.
Reading about the early days of Virgin while recognising so many places around London made the story feel personal. Branson writes about Stowe School—a place I knew from attending summer camps—and many streets and neighbourhoods that have been part of my own life for years.
Flying Virgin somehow felt like the perfect way to begin the adventure.
Another reason was Heathrow’s dedicated Upper Class Wing, one of those small luxuries that transforms the airport experience before you’ve even boarded the aircraft.
A luxury trip shouldn’t start when you board the plane.
It starts the moment you close your front door.
Rather than booking a standard taxi, I opened the Limotak app, which I’ve been using for more than a year.
For someone who travels frequently, consistency matters more than anything.
Whether I’m in London, Dubai or Tokyo, I know exactly what to expect.
The platform now operates in more than 110 countries, and every journey I’ve booked has been punctual, professional and remarkably smooth.
Ten minutes before pickup, my driver’s details appeared in the app.
Exactly on time, a brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrived outside my apartment on Kensington High Street.
The chauffeur greeted me by name, loaded my luggage, and within moments we were quietly making our way towards Heathrow.
No stress.
No surprises.
Exactly how travel should begin.
Eight hours later, Manhattan appeared beneath the aircraft.
Waiting inside the terminal was another chauffeur arranged through Limotak.
One booking platform.
Two continents.
Exactly the same standard of service.
That consistency is surprisingly rare in international travel.
If you’re beginning a journey around the world, where else could you stay?
The Plaza Hotel.
Walking through its famous entrance felt like stepping into a film.
The Plaza is more than a luxury hotel.
It is part of New York’s identity.
After checking in, I resisted the temptation to sleep.
Jet lag could wait.
New York couldn’t.
Luxury travel isn’t only about Michelin-starred restaurants.
Sometimes the best memories come from unexpected places.
When I asked the concierge where locals actually go for a great burger, he smiled and recommended Big Ranch in Manhattan.
It wasn’t glamorous.
It wasn’t famous.
It was simply outstanding.
Exactly the kind of place you hope someone local will tell you about.
As the sun began to set, I wandered through Central Park.
The noise of Manhattan slowly disappeared behind the trees.
Horse-drawn carriages rolled past.
Joggers finished their evening run.
Musicians played near Bethesda Terrace.
After months of planning, thousands of miles flown and years of dreaming, it finally hit me.
I had actually started travelling around the world.
And this was only Day One.
Ahead of me were nine more cities, nine more flights, new cultures, extraordinary hotels and unforgettable experiences.
The real adventure had only just begun.
