What is a tailor made holiday?
An individual, bespoke tour itinerary put together by a specialist travel agent is the basic answer. However, like many other things in life, there is a lot more to it than that.
As anyone that has travelled independently will know, the logistics and time spent on just managing travel arrangements can become overwhelming. There is more choice than ever and information is more accessible than it has ever been but paradoxically, this can create more work and confusion rather than less. This is why more and more people elect to have the best of both worlds by having a specialist organise everything for them.
With our decades of experience we are ideally placed to arrange and organise your tailor made adventure giving you the very best value for money and experience and you also get to choose when you go! Your money is also 100% protected when you book with a recognised agency like Imaginative Traveller.
If you are unsure whether a tailor made trip vs a small group tour is the better option for you then read on.
Advantages of tailor-made
The most obvious advantage is that you are in full control of where you go, what you do and the total cost of your trip.
You also have the advantage of being able to leverage specialist knowledge, extensive contacts, the best local partners and the financial protection through bonding.
There are also a number of soft, or unseen, advantages, which may not be immediately obvious. All other things being equal, you have a much better chance of getting the most out of your chosen destination. Because everything is organised on your behalf in advance you wont have to spend time hunting around for the best services, this translates into more time spent doing the things you want to do.
Choosing when to go is a major plus for many people. If you have work or life commitments that mean your travel window is set in stone it can be frustrating to not be able to find a suitable trip with the right departure dates. With a tailor made trip this becomes irrelevant as you set the departure and return date.
Many of our partners are local businesses that are very keen to grow their business with us and as such you’re more than just another traveller passing through. You should expect attentive service from guides, drivers and any rep we engage with on your behalf.
Health and safety standards can vary around the world but we have the advantage of being able to educate and manage a higher standard through our local partners than you may encounter by making your own arrangements.
If you’re planning a road trip for the majority of your trip, then we can provide a local English speaking guide/driver with suitable transport. This can range from a car, mini-bus or a 4x4 jeep depending on what you plan to do. We can also charter overland trucks through our associate company Dragoman which are perfect for groups of 14-22 (or more). We have arranged these in Africa, South America and Asia including India.
There are no hidden costs to contend with. Travel can often be unpredictable and if things don’t go to plan the cost can mount up very quickly. As a fully licenced and bonded operator your money is secure prior to departure and while on the trip you wont find yourself stuck if for example your hotel has unexpectedly closed down as we will find an alternative for you.
You’ll know that your chosen trip caters exactly to your requirements and specialist interest. Whether it’s a specialist art tour, cooking classes, knowledgeable guide at a particular archaeological site or perhaps just enjoying dinner in the best restaurant in town, it will all be organised for you.
How to get the best value for money with a TM trip
Getting the best value for money from your tailor made trip starts with what you would like to do and when. A budget is a very useful, as although tailor made represents excellent value for money, the budget also has to be realistically able to cover all of the requirements. This doesn’t mean that tailor made is more expensive than a pre-arranged small group tour and in most cases the price is comparable.
Here’s a checklist of key things to consider;
- Where do you want to go? You may have some specific ideas or at this stage a more general idea but this is the starting point. We have a wealth of experience and knowledge about destinations and we are happy to share our advise with you.
- When do you want to go? Many places are seasonal and so costs can vary as can what you can expect to see and do. Worth considering also is the cost of flights as these can also vary seasonally.
- How many of you are there? We arrange bespoke tailor made trips for solo travellers, couples, families, groups (of up to 60+ people) and specialist travellers likes photographers and writers.
- Are you travelling with children? This can have a bearing on your itinerary and even mode of travel. Whilst you might be happy to spend the whole day at a UNESCO heritage site exploring all of its fascinating history, this would not be ideal for kids. There are also cost implications as some things can cost more, but there are also savings to be made by for example, selecting the right kind of accommodation
- What type of accommodation do you enjoy? For some it’s comfort and 5star service only while for others they prefer to stay in small locally owned more modest hotels or homestays. There is no better or worse with your choice but it can greatly affect the cost. As primarily adventure based travel experts, we generally offer the best value for those type of itineraries and accommodation.
Booking flights
We can take care of booking the ideal flight for your trip but some clients do prefer to book their own flights, especially if they have air miles to use up. This is fine and we will be happy to work with you on this.
However, the major advantage of booking your flight with us at the same time as booking your tour, is that the total package is financially protected.
Another benefit for you the client is that we are responsible for assisting with any changes or cancellations made by the airline prior to your travel. If you’re unsure which way to go simply ask to quote for your flight and you can compare the difference!
Insurance and other matters
Travel insurance is mandatory on all of our trips and we can arrange this for you through Cambell Irvine, our specialist insurance provider, or you can purchase this yourself. Please be aware that many ‘included’ travel policies that you get through bank accounts, credit card companies and the like are at best very basic and at the worst are not acceptable. Your insurance should cover full medical costs, repatriation and all associated costs.
We are friendly, knowledgeable and most of all we give you honest advice.
- Your whole trip is tailor made to suit your exact requirements. You go where you want and when on your own private experience.
- We organise your trip, guides, accommodation, flights, arrival transfers, drivers, all entrance tickets for your trip and anything else you require. This is a personal service and when you request a quote from us you get a beautifully presented dossier covering all of the details of your proposed trip.
- Imaginative Traveller are experts in their field. With over 25 years experience in offering bespoke and group tours all over the world we have a huge depth of expertise in how to successfully plan and manage a memorable trip.We are fully bonded giving
- You 100% financial protection under our ATOL number 4157 and ABTOT number 5232. When you book your package including flight you will be issued with an ATOL certificate which is your confirmation of protection.
Check out our sample itineraries for some inspiration on where to go and a typical budget. These are simply suggestions based on previous holidays that we have organised for our clients but remember, with tailor made, everything can be changed to suit your exct requirements.
Call today on 01728 862219 or email us tailormade@imtrav.net
We look forward to hearing from you.
