The arrival is part of the story

The first hour of a trip sets its tone. A long queue, a confused taxi rank or a transfer that goes on too long can take days to shake off. A good arrival does the opposite. You step off a plane or a train and the journey simply continues, only more beautifully.

Plan the last mile first

Many travellers plan the flight and the hotel, then leave the part in between to chance. Reverse that. Before choosing where to stay, find out how you will get there from the airport: how long it takes, what the road or water is like, and whether the transfer itself could be a pleasure.

• In Venice, a private water taxi from Marco Polo crosses the lagoon and often delivers you to the hotel's own landing stage.
• In the Maldives, seaplanes fly low over the atolls, but only in daylight, so late arrivals may need a night near Malé.
• On the Amalfi Coast, a car to the port and a boat along the cliffs can be far more graceful in summer than the coast road.
• In Paris, a driver who meets you inside the terminal turns an hour in traffic into an hour to decompress.

Private terminals and meet-and-assist

Business and private aviation passengers use fixed-base operators (FBOs): small, separate terminals with their own lounges, handling and often very short walks to the aircraft. Travellers on scheduled flights can have some of that ease through meet-and-assist services at many major airports, where someone greets you at the gate and walks you through arrival formalities and baggage. Availability, inclusions and prices vary by airport, so book with a reputable provider and read the details.

When to drive, and when not to

We love a great road and a great car. We think of the car as a second home on the road. But the right transport depends on the place. Drive when the road itself is the destination, as in the Engadin passes or on the Riviera's corniches. Where roads are narrow, congested or absent, as on the Amalfi Coast in August, in central Kyoto or in Venice, take a driver, a boat or a train instead. The Prestagio Planner makes the same judgement for every escape it suggests.

The small things

Share flight numbers, not just times, so your driver can track delays. Carry a light layer for over-air-conditioned cars and cold terminals. Keep one bag you can manage yourself. And if the hotel offers to arrange the transfer, ask who operates it. Often the answer is a local company you can book directly.