Private Affair

BILLIONAIRES, MOVIE STARS, and oligarchs tend to prefer anonymity and exclusivity on their holidays. Sample these vacations: a leading Indian business family (names withheld on request) chartering a plane to Cheval Blanc’s private island in the Maldives, Shah Rukh Khan renting a ₹2.2 lakh-a-night luxury villa on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills through Airbnb, and Lady Gaga’s ₹7.3 lakh-a-night Airbnb villa in the California desert. The pandemic may have hit pause on everyone’s plans for a bit, but this ultra luxury segment has only seen a discernible spike around the globe post the lockdowns. Big spenders are choosing to fly private, avoid cookie-cutter five-star suites, and travel to exclusive