Now You See Me, Now You Don't: Inside the New World of Invisible Travel

THERE WAS A TIME, NOT SO LONG AGO, WHEN STATUS WAS DEFINED BY ACCESS. GETTING past the velvet rope. Being at the table with the loudest champagne showdown at the club. Strolling into an invite-only event with nothing more than a glance at the door—because of course, your name was already on the list.

If you had club promoters on speed dial, PR managers from the hottest restaurants texting you daily, and a calendar full of brand dinners and exclusive experiences you could take plusones and twos to, chances are everyone wanted to roll with you. Access was the ultimate currency, and visibility was power.

But that era is over.

In 2025, real status doesn’t show off—it goes off the grid, deliberately and completely. No Instagram story mentions. No PR trails. No location tags.

The most powerful people in the world today aren’t chasing access—they’re choosing to disappear quietly. In a hyper-connected world where everything is curated to fit the grid—where every moment is designed to be shared, entire identities are morphed for the algorithm, and every second person is trying to monetise their ‘aspirational’ life—invisibility is emerging as the ultimate rebellion. Not the kind that shouts from the rooftops, but one that moves in silence. One that values privacy over performance, peace over chaos, and discretion over display.

Luxury Has a New Look. It’s Called Disappearing

From member-only apps that ban social media to luxury experiences and hotels you can’t even Google—in 2025, true luxury isn’t about being seen, it’s about not being found. Not in an MIA, hiding-from-the-world kind of way, but in a carefully curated way. Where what you experience goes beyond what money can buy.

Luxury hospitality has played with exclusivity for a while now, but we’ve entered a new era: hyper-exclusivity. Where it’s not about perks or special privileges but about erasing the possibility of access altogether—unless, of course, you’re already part of the inner circle. The kind of place you need someone to whisper in your ear about. It’s less about tangible benefits and more about the intangible power of just being there.

Hyper-exclusive—or “invisible”—hospitality concepts thrive on anonymity, privacy and the protection of their guests’ identities. With no listings on mainstream platforms and access only via word-of-mouth, referrals or exclusive invitations, these experiences are designed to be unsearchable, supremely discreet, and yes, untaggable. In these truly one-of-a-kind destinations, value lies not in broadcasting, but in being comfortable with invisibility—with the freedom to cut off from the rest of the world, if only for a little while.

How to Vanish in Style

Digitally fatigued and tempted to disappear without a trace? Start with places that don’t show up on Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Google or Instagram. To truly go off-grid, you have to look well beyond the obvious hotspots and seek out hospitality experiences that are built around anonymity.

These destinations are quieter, more laidback, and (almost) impossible to find. You could be sitting across the table from a tech billionaire, rubbing shoulders with a Hollywood A-lister, or playing a game of tennis with your favourite influencer—and you wouldn’t even know. But that’s exactly the point.

So, where does one go when they don’t want to be found? Here are a few invisible luxury experiences worth bookmarking (if you can find them).

Voavah, Maldives

Ever dreamed of owning your own island, at least for a few days? Voavah makes that dream possible. Operated under the Four Seasons Private label, so accessible by invite only, this is the world’s first exclusive-use UNESCO hideaway. Set in Baa Atoll, this seven-bedroom private island is reachable by private jet only. No resort signage, no neighbours, and literally nothing between you and the untouched marine magnificence of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Spend your days snorkelling or diving in the pristine blue wonderland, and as dusk approaches, take out Voavah Summer, your own private 19-metre yacht, for a sunset spin. Unwind with a meditative massage at your personal Ocean of Consciousness Spa before the chefs whip up a 10-course meal tailored exactly to your tastes. Dine wherever you please—stranded on a sandbank, picnic-style on the shoreline, poolside at the villa or at the island’s Beach House.

And if the night calls for more, no neighbours means no limits. Request the house manager to fly in your favourite international DJs for your own private Coachella, keep things more low-key with a string quartet over dinner, or just a local DJ to spin tunes during your midnight swim.

Reschio Estate, Umbria, Italy

If your idea of luxury doesn’t involve sea and sand, maybe a tuckedaway estate in the depths of the Italian countryside is more up your alley. This sprawling private estate caught between Umbria and Tuscany feels like you’re stepping into Europe’s best-kept secret. Beloved by royalty and A-list celebrities, this 1,500-hectare estate is home to a 10th-century medieval castle that has been converted into an utterly discreet hotel along with houses you can rent or buy—in case you decide to never leave.

Reschio Estate, Umbria, Italy

Days here begin with slow mornings featuring breakfasts made from locally foraged ingredients, rides down the rolling Tuscan hills on one of the estate’s Andalusian horses and afternoon dips in the castle’s old wine cellar turned ancient bathhouse. And whether you’re sipping on a glass of Solaia in your private courtyard, engulfed in the magnificence of the views, dining at the Alle Scuderie restaurant, honing your skills in pasta-making, embroidery or pottery or working off all the food in a game of competitive tennis—Reschio is where you go to slip off the radar, among those who’ve long since stopped needing to be seen.

Powder Haven, Utah

Perhaps you’re tired of the usual, unbearably crowded ski spots like Gstaad and Courchevel and have been dreaming of some solo time on the slopes. Whether you’re a first-time skier, a pro or just chasing that bone-deep adrenaline rush, a private ski-scape at Powder Haven in Utah might just be the invisible getaway you didn’t know you needed.

Nestled in 12,000 acres of alpine wilderness overlooking the Great Salt Lake, Powder Haven is a one-of-a-kind private ski community that is quickly becoming the favourite of billionaires who prefer their skiing without the fluff or paparazzi.

Powder Haven, Utah

Leading the way for a new trend in members clubs, private ski communities like Powder Haven are redefining what luxury on the slopes can look like. With only 30 founding families granted access, each member gets their own mountain ambassador, curated gear and a fully bespoke ski itinerary.

Off the slopes, take in the quiet beauty of untouched powder from your private chalet, head up to Skylodge—the mountaintop retreat—or stargaze from Powder Landing, a secluded lakehouse tucked into the alpine waters. With private cat-skiing and lifts reserved for residents, the experience is less about being seen or snapped and more about slipping into snow-scaped silence.

Les Prés d’Eugénie, France

If a private island, Tuscan estate and alpine chalet aren’t tickling your fancy for a dream invisible-getaway, how about a poetic, rustic haven set between the Landes forest and Basque country?

Once a spiritual retreat and now a Michelin-starred hideaway, Les Prés d’Eugénie feels like you’ve stepped into a time light years away from the everyday. And if your idea of a dream vacation revolves around gastronomy that borders the line between food and art, this 18th century estate epitomises that dream. With three stars under his belt, the legendary Michel Guérard, the ultimate pioneer of nouvelle cuisine, has turned this kitchen into a pilgrimage for culinary enthusiasts from around the world.

Les Prés d’Eugénie, France

Mornings here begin with garden strolls past the century-old trees, herbal infusions followed by soul-enriching treatments at the estate’s thermal spa that was the private haven of Empress Eugénie herself.

So whether you’re following your appetite through centuries-old recipes, curling up in the corner of your antique suite with a novel, or floating beneath candlelight in the Roman bathhouse, Les Prés d’Eugénie offers a slower, quieter kind of pleasure—one that feels lifted from another time.

To read more such stories from Esquire India's July 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.