While the word "luxury" often brings to mind gold-plated faucets and stiff-upper-lip service, a new travel trend is taking over that values soul over spectacle. It’s called "Fluxury"—a portmanteau of "Flexible" and "Luxury"—and it’s the secret sauce behind the current shift toward "bespoke budgeting"—maximizing the experience by being strategic about where you spend and where you save.
In a recent conversation with Tara Cappel, founder of FTLO Travel , a group tour company geared toward travelers in their 20s and 30s, she told me about the term and explained that travelers today are trading the corporate, five-star hotel chains for a high-low mix that prioritizes cultural immersion.
Same Adventure, Better Sheets
Cappel started FTLO in 2016 with a specific mission: to create a brand that made young professionals feel "heard and seen and comfortable to sign up for a group tour with strangers." Growing up in the tourist economy of Sun Valley, Idaho, Cappel understood early on that luxury isn't about isolating yourself from a destination; it's about connecting with it.
At the time, she noticed a massive gap in the market. For most young women she met, a high-end travel experience seemed like something reserved for a "really cool honeymoon"—it didn't feel attainable or accessible for a solo adventurer. The existing group tours were often "college bus tours" or mixed demographics that didn't resonate with someone looking to connect with people at a similar life stage.
The formula resonated: today, a staggering 75% of her travelers are either repeat customers or word-of-mouth referrals. But as her original community has evolved over the last decade, so have their needs. "We really do care about the thread count on the sheets now," Cappel laughs.
This has also led to a soon-to-launch series called FTLO Elevated, group trips that provide the same social and cultural aspects that long-time fans love, but with "nicer hotels and some more premium touches." It’s a way for the brand to grow alongside its travelers, proving you don't have to sacrifice comfort to find an authentic connection.
Related: 6 Luxe 2026 Destinations Women Over 50 Will Love
What Exactly is Fluxury?
Fluxury is the art of the "smart splurge." It’s the realization that you don’t need a 24-hour butler if it means you can afford a private boat day in the Mediterranean.
"We might stay at a more budget three-star hotel in a small town," Cappel explains. "But that saves budget for doing an incredible cooking class in the middle of a vineyard with a nice bottle of wine." It’s about piecing together an experience that combines premium details where they actually matter—like the quality of the trip leader and the food—with authentic stays that keep you engaged with the local community.
Take FTLO’s top-selling trip to Sardinia, for example. In the coastal town of Cala Gonone—home to some of the bluest water in the world—the group stays at a modest, family-run hotel designed for local Italians rather than international tourists.
"Staying at a more modest hotel affords us the budget to have private boats for the day," says Cappel. This "Fluxury" trade-off allows travelers to spend their afternoon on a private excursion with wine and lunch, accessing hidden coves that are unreachable by land.
Related: 7 Cruises Every Woman Over 50 Should Consider, From a Cruise-Savvy Travel Pro
3 "Fluxury" Escapes for Summer 2026
If you're ready to test the Fluxury waters, here are three ways to do it this summer:
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The Barcelona "Sea-to-Suite" Hack:Fly JetBlue’snewly launched daily non-stop from Boston to Barcelona . Spend three nights at the iconic W Barcelona—which is undergoing a massive rooms renovation—before hopping on a 3-Day Windstar Cruises ' Taste of Southern France, sailing to Sèteand Collioure. Windstar’s small-ship feel is the ultimate Fluxury move: you get the intimacy of a private yacht with the amenities of a luxury line.
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The Antibes Sanctuary:Take Delta’sbrand-new nonstop flight from Boston to Nice(launching May 2026). Skip the massive resorts in Cannesand retreat to Villa Fabulite in Cap d'Antibes. This 12-room boutique hideaway offers the "Blue Mind" serenity women crave, with a heated pool and lush gardens just minutes from the coves.
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The FTLO Sardinia Signature:Join Cappel's own Sardinia tour , which has become a "can't stop booking" favorite. The trip bases you at Hotel Cala Lunain Cala Gonone, a boutique, family-run stay positioned directly on the Lungomare promenade. The Fluxury moment? Trading a corporate hotel for an 8-day immersion that a full-day private speedboat excursionthrough the Gulf of Orosei to explore neon-blue sea caves and the hidden beach of Cala Mariolu. As Cappel says, "Sardinia isn’t the kind of place you rush through… this island deserves your full attention."
Related: What Is 'Deadzoning?' Why This New Travel Trend Is the Secret to a Stress-Free Vacation
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
