The ultimate in travel
June 18, 2023 6:32 PM Subscribe
I'm interested in one day taking a vacation where everything is just taken care of for me. A trip where I am involved in the itinerary at a high level, and somebody else works out all the details so I don't have to think. Where do I find a travel agent that provides this level of service for people, and how much could I expect to spend for the service itself? (Not a cruise, please!)
Every vacation I've ever taken in my life has felt incredibly stressful, to the point where I wish I could take a vacation from my vacation. Deciding where to eat, what to do, what not to do, which tours to take, what the best time is to do a thing... it's exhausting.
I also don't want to go on a group tour. Just me and my wife. This someone books hotels and restaurants, shows and tours. We just show up at the right time and everything is all worked out.
We're talking a few years from now, so nothing immediate... but let's use Italy as a fictional destination.
Every vacation I've ever taken in my life has felt incredibly stressful, to the point where I wish I could take a vacation from my vacation. Deciding where to eat, what to do, what not to do, which tours to take, what the best time is to do a thing... it's exhausting.
I also don't want to go on a group tour. Just me and my wife. This someone books hotels and restaurants, shows and tours. We just show up at the right time and everything is all worked out.
We're talking a few years from now, so nothing immediate... but let's use Italy as a fictional destination.
You might like Pack Up and Go. It's a travel agency that plans your whole trip, but the destination is a surprise.
posted by shadygrove at 8:10 PM on June 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by shadygrove at 8:10 PM on June 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
If your idea is a bit more on the outdoor / active side of the house, take a look at Mountain Travel Sobek. https://www.mtsobek.com/
They offer fully guided tours to most parts of the planet. The nice thing is that you can also use the majority of their trips as a template and make them private. With the private tours you can customize them for your exact activity level.
I’ve used them in the past for small group trips. I like the idea of having a local guide plus a company that deals with stuff like transportation and permits for me. I just had to get to the destination airport and they took care of everything else: Guides, hotels, transportation, entry fees to wherever you are going, etc. I got to enjoy the trip and not worry about the details.
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 8:54 PM on June 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
They offer fully guided tours to most parts of the planet. The nice thing is that you can also use the majority of their trips as a template and make them private. With the private tours you can customize them for your exact activity level.
I’ve used them in the past for small group trips. I like the idea of having a local guide plus a company that deals with stuff like transportation and permits for me. I just had to get to the destination airport and they took care of everything else: Guides, hotels, transportation, entry fees to wherever you are going, etc. I got to enjoy the trip and not worry about the details.
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 8:54 PM on June 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
You could go on a tour. A basic itinerary is laid out, hotels and some or all meals are organized. A good tour guide knows when you can get tickets to see the David, where the best shopping is, etc. You don't have to hang out with others on the tour all the time, tours vary by how tightly planned they are. I'm not sure what tour company I'd recommend, would be a good Ask.
posted by theora55 at 9:34 PM on June 18, 2023
posted by theora55 at 9:34 PM on June 18, 2023
this is literally what travel agents do.
You find a travel agent that advertises a specialty in wherever it is you want to go. You call them and explain what you want and they do it. It is literally their job to put detailed itineraries together, including things like train tickets, guides, restaurant reservations etc.
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:56 PM on June 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
You find a travel agent that advertises a specialty in wherever it is you want to go. You call them and explain what you want and they do it. It is literally their job to put detailed itineraries together, including things like train tickets, guides, restaurant reservations etc.
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:56 PM on June 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
Audley Travel do this. Would recommend.
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 1:59 AM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 1:59 AM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
Local tour companies do this, that's why they're there.
I've had great luck a few times working with local companies in advance to work out a high-level agenda, then adjust the plans based on their advice. Usually there's a combo where I book a couple of things on my own, or have a "free day" before or after the tour by myself. I've only once done this on a group tour.
There's often a pattern where I'll spend time in a city, where it's easy to get around and see things on my own, and use the tour company services to get me into the countryside, where driving chews up time and might be more stressful.
The companies and tourguides that I've worked with have generally been happy to work with just one person--but I've checked with them at the outset to make sure it's something they're willing to do. Many do have minimums and only work with groups. I'm willing to pay a bit more as a single person, depending on the situation.
I'll note that I haven't done this in Europe on the assumption that it might be expensive (my assumption might be wrong?). Also because I kind of enjoy making the hotel, transportation and destination plans, and doing that in Europe is pretty accessible online.
Also, using a tour company makes sense if you think the local infrastructure would be challenging to navigate, or if you think you might have language issues. (There, too, neither of those would apply to me in Europe.)
Drop me a message if you'd like details from specific companies and destinations.
posted by gimonca at 4:48 AM on June 19, 2023
I've had great luck a few times working with local companies in advance to work out a high-level agenda, then adjust the plans based on their advice. Usually there's a combo where I book a couple of things on my own, or have a "free day" before or after the tour by myself. I've only once done this on a group tour.
There's often a pattern where I'll spend time in a city, where it's easy to get around and see things on my own, and use the tour company services to get me into the countryside, where driving chews up time and might be more stressful.
The companies and tourguides that I've worked with have generally been happy to work with just one person--but I've checked with them at the outset to make sure it's something they're willing to do. Many do have minimums and only work with groups. I'm willing to pay a bit more as a single person, depending on the situation.
I'll note that I haven't done this in Europe on the assumption that it might be expensive (my assumption might be wrong?). Also because I kind of enjoy making the hotel, transportation and destination plans, and doing that in Europe is pretty accessible online.
Also, using a tour company makes sense if you think the local infrastructure would be challenging to navigate, or if you think you might have language issues. (There, too, neither of those would apply to me in Europe.)
Drop me a message if you'd like details from specific companies and destinations.
posted by gimonca at 4:48 AM on June 19, 2023
Maria’s Travel does small tours to Spain, Portugal, and North Africa, among other places, and the owner/guide is a lovely person.
posted by matildaben at 10:22 AM on June 19, 2023
posted by matildaben at 10:22 AM on June 19, 2023
Most small group travel takes care of all of this. You turn up at your departure point when you’re supposed to meet your guide and group, you travel - they make sure you’re where you’re supposed to be, get any tickets you need or hand you over to your local guide they have organised. They’ll figure out where you’ll eat etc. The itinerary may have the odd half day where you can do your own thing but will have suggestions and organise them for you if you want.
The only thing you have to do is pick the tour, figure out if you want to add time either end of the tour and what to pack. You may be offered to book a flight at the time of booking or you head over to kayak and make your own travel arrangements.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:58 AM on June 19, 2023
The only thing you have to do is pick the tour, figure out if you want to add time either end of the tour and what to pack. You may be offered to book a flight at the time of booking or you head over to kayak and make your own travel arrangements.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:58 AM on June 19, 2023
We (my wheelchair using wife and two teen boys) visited Japan with the help of Inside Japan Tours. They were terrific. They carefully listened to our wants and needs, made excellent suggestions, booked accessible transport and personal guides, and did their best to cater to our budget. Everything (except international flights) was booked for us; we just had to show up. It was not cheap but worth every single cent. They also do small group tours.
posted by gerygone at 4:22 PM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gerygone at 4:22 PM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Rick Steves My Way tours (or even their regular tours) may be what you're looking for.
posted by Rykey at 1:36 PM on June 20, 2023
posted by Rykey at 1:36 PM on June 20, 2023
Higher cost, but my neighbor absolutely swears by Black Tomato. My neighbors are a married couple, no kids, and have gone to Europe a few times with this service.
They have at least three sets of Italian itineraries, which seem around $6000 per person for everything except flights.
posted by talldean at 3:24 PM on June 26, 2023
They have at least three sets of Italian itineraries, which seem around $6000 per person for everything except flights.
posted by talldean at 3:24 PM on June 26, 2023
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posted by Nerd of the North at 7:24 PM on June 18, 2023