A trip can be made better with a little time behind the wheel. No matter how nice the hotel is — no matter how much you might never want to leave — there’s something about being able to jump in the car and just go. These three hotel and car packages offer the best of both worlds, including world-class lodging and a beautiful set of wheels to boot.
Greydon House (Nantucket, Massachusetts)
Nantucket is infinitely walkable, and its charming cobblestone streets convince most tourists to explore the tiny island on foot. Considering visitors must transport their own car to the island via ferry, many won’t bother with the inconvenience. The island’s newest boutique hotel, Greydon House, eliminates that headache with the aptly named Greydon House Car Package. In partnership with Audi, the deal provides hotel guests with a 2017 Audi Q7 and a driver, a curated picnic hamper from Michelin-starred Chef Marcus Gleadow-Ware, and seasonal gear, like blankets and baskets for apple-picking.
The Peninsula (Beverly Hills, California)
The Peninsula is a 150-year-old brand with hotels in the world’s swankiest cities, from Beijing to Paris to New York. Even amid the extravagant luxury of Beverly Hills, the hotel stands out. It’s difficult to imagine anyone actually wanting to leave the hotel grounds, but, for those who might, there’s the Escape to Xanadu: Malibu Surf, Sand, and Sun Package. On this bucket-list-worthy day trip, guests journey via Rolls-Royce up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. There, you’ll spend the day relaxing at Xanadu, a stunning oceanfront house once owned by actress Olivia Newton-John. Peninsula hotel staff, including a personal chef, facilitate an entire day at the house with swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, plus a three-course lunch and bespoke cocktails. The price of admission is just as over-the-top as the package itself: $10,800 (per couple).
Grace Vanderbilt (Newport, Rhode Island)
No East Coast destination epitomizes the absurd wealth of the Gilded Age like Newport. This iconic Rhode Island city is home to some of the most stunning 19th- and 20th-century mansions in the country. The Grace Vanderbilt knows the best way to explore the town in style is in a classic sports car. In partnership with Boston-based Fuel Fanatic, the Vintage Vanderbilt package hooks guests up with a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the luxurious Breakers mansion, plus a relaxed, three-hour tour of Newport, including a personally prepared picnic lunch from a 1920s Gilded Age menu. The best part? Guests have their pick of a 1960 Ford Thunderbird, a 1963 Porsche 356, or a 966 Volvo P1800 to cruise the town.
