What sets you apart from other trip consultants and managers?
Probably the single greatest thing that sets us apart is our desire to encourage parents to share the pioneering spirit with their children through travel adventures. Our mission is to inspire families through unique adventures which change their lives. We prepare unforgettable and rewarding adventure trips for families who are curious about the world, and often come to us with only a vague idea where they want to travel and how to do so with their children. We consult with them, then research and meticulously plan every detail of their vacation until we have custom-crafted their inspirations into their ideal trip, taking into account all ages. Our customized service doesn’t end with the sale – rather, we are hands-on managers, on call throughout the trip so that our travelers feel secure that even the smallest issue that may arise will be handled.
We’re not a big company and don’t pretend to be. As a matter of fact, we’re proud of it, as being small enables us to give our clients the personalized, individualized attention they deserve. Our travelers always speak to the same person from initial contact to follow up email at the end of their trip. We take the time to understand their needs and are invested in ensuring that they get the most out of their travel experience.
The final thing I want to mention is that when we create an adventure for families, we are not only inspiring them and changing their lives – we are also changing the lives of the local cultures visited. We are passionate about giving back to local environments by choosing destinations with plenty of protected landscapes and wildlife and working with local travel providers who contribute to conservation efforts and support native businesses.
Aren’t these kinds of trips more appropriate for adults? Can we parents really enjoy this type of vacation with our children? Will the kids enjoy it?
Children see the world through fresh eyes and their presence can be a real icebreaker. We find that people across the globe are more open to you when you travel with children. They not only help bridge the language barrier and culture divide, but are often key to meeting people you would not normally have met or visiting places you would not normally have reached.
Active adventure vacations abound for every age group – the possibilities are endless. We know that family holidays should be filled with fun, excitement, discovery and special times leaving families with unforgettable lifelong memories shared by all. When designing these journeys, we make certain that we custom fit the itinerary to our travelers’ various age groups, be they young or old. The trips we create for you take into account your children’s special needs – to spark interest and pique their natural curiosity beyond the conformity of what they typically encounter back home; to show them that the world has far more dimensions than they may have realized. Travel with children is undeniably a rewarding experience – put simply, we love children!
Can you give an example of a family adventure holiday you have planned?
Probably the most extensive trip I have planned was an eight-month round-the-world journey for a family with 2 young children. Because they were traveling with young children, nothing could be left to the spur of the moment, and even the “down times” and “spurs of the moment” needed to be factored into their itinerary. As they were traveling around the world, their journey included adventures of every kind – Tiger watching in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, Elephant riding in India, the Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo, cave explorations in Malaysia’s Niah National Park, a stay with Uros Island villagers on Peru’s Lake Titicaca, and a cruise on the Nile River including cruising on a traditional felucca – these were just some of the many adventures throughout their journey. Rest and relaxation was interspersed in between these adventures and included “down time” breaks in such exotic places as Malaysia’s Langkawi and Thailand’ s Krabi Islands, Bali and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Another example of a trip I designed was for a family traveling with four children of various ages ranging from kindergarten through high school. They traveled to Peru and visited such famous archeological sites as Machu Picchu, spent time discovering the cultural heritage of Cuzco and hiked a part of the Inca Trail. To add even more spice to their trip, we added a trip into the wilderness – a canoe ride into the jungle of the Tambopata National Reserve, where the family spent several days in tented accommodations with generator-induced electricity. This was a true eco-tourism adventure for them, and included visits with villagers, hikes in the jungle for wildlife watching, trips on the river, and the excitement of seeing hundreds of species of birds, butterflies and unusual wildlife.
As you may well imagine, in the case of both these trips, adults and children alike returned from their adventures enthused, energized and excited from the wildlife and wilderness experience, but also from gaining insight into the local life, culture and heritage of many peoples.
Which types of families take adventure trips? What are their demographics?
First, let me say that adventure travel fits all types of families as it enriches the lives of all travelers. Generally speaking, our clients are affluent families in their 30’s to 50’s with children ranging in ages 5 to 20, or affluent baby-boomer grandparents traveling with their families. We also offer trip for fathers and sons who want to bond, or “just the girls” of the family. Another group we cater to are extended families looking for a unique travel experience for their reunion.
What is the Process in Planning a custom-tailored itinerary?
- We receive a request by phone or email or from the website.
- We send a questionnaire to the client to get a picture of their travel patterns, likes and dislikes, their past travels, most memorable destinations and resorts, and the kinds of activities they enjoy.
- We schedule a phone consultation and the questionnaire needs to be completed by the time of our discussion. We then go into further detail about the trip they want.
- We research the best options for the client based upon his interests.
- We prepare an itinerary with several options and within a week, we send a quote with the suggested itinerary options.
- We revise the itinerary based upon feedback from the clients. Usually more than one revision is necessary.
- When the client is completely satisfied, we confirm the itinerary and take a deposit.
- We then send the client an informational packet which includes detailed information about their destination, frequently asked questions, required documents and vaccinations, if any, and a suggested reading list.
- Depending on the destination, we process final payment 90-120 days prior to the start of their trip.
- We send out a full set of travel documents 1 month before travel. The set contains the travelers’ itinerary, contact details to leave behind with loved ones, brochures for the properties where they are staying, if brochures are available, details of their tours, restaurant and free time recommendations and other pertinent information.
- A week after sending documents, we contact the clients to answer any questions they may have.
- A week before the clients depart, we contact them again to wish them bon voyage and answer any last minute questions.
- We continue to be in contact with the local representatives guiding the clients throughout the trip to ensure that no issues that may arise go unattended.
- A week after the travelers return, we call to discuss their journey and get their feedback.
How much can one expect to pay for a family adventure vacation?
It totally depends on the destination and the length of travel. Based on our experience, for a 10 -12 night journey, itineraries begin at about $3500 per adult and slightly less for accompanying children, again dependent on their age and the family requirements. This does not include the cost of international flights, but it does include the cost of almost everything else, including transportation once there.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I encourage families to share adventures with their children. Adventure holidays are truly a bonding experience for families. In this age of technology, where time is a valued luxury and parents have little enough of it to give to their children, this type of trip is extraordinary. Families return from their journeys enthused and with life-changing experiences and unforgettable memories.
