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This Travel Kinship webinar with Ewan Cluckie, co-founder of Tripseed, is a practical guide to planning tailor made journeys across Thailand. Ewan follows a sample 12 day route through Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the coast, and shows advisors which regions, hotels and experiences suit which clients, and when to go. Recorded live on 29 October 2026, followed by questions from travel advisors.
What you will learn
Why Chiang Mai is Thailand's cultural heart, and how Bangkok's old streets and canals change the way clients see the capital
Where to take clients who have already seen the highlights, including lesser visited regions such as Isan
Andaman coast or Gulf coast: which beaches to recommend in which months, and how to plan around peak periods and festivals
Locally led experiences, from private craft and food sessions to community visits and carefully chosen elephant experiences
How to choose hotels by location, atmosphere and budget, from characterful boutique stays such as The Siam in Bangkok to ultra luxury retreats
How the same itinerary adapts for couples, families and different travel styles
How Tripseed works with advisors: proposal turnaround, booking lead times and support on the ground
Planning Thailand: key questions answered
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
It depends on where your clients are going. Chiang Mai, the north and Bangkok are at their best from November to February, when it is cool and dry. Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman coast are best from November to April, while Koh Samui and the Gulf islands are at their best from around April to August. Because the two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, there is a good beach somewhere in Thailand in almost any month. Green season rain usually arrives as short, heavy storms rather than all day rain.
How long should a first trip to Thailand be?
Ewan's sample journey for a couple is 12 days: three nights in Bangkok, four in Chiang Mai and four on the beach. There are no nonstop flights from the US, so the journey takes around 20 to 24 hours, and Tripseed keeps the first day free so clients can recover. Ewan rarely plans fewer than two nights in Bangkok.
Where should first time visitors stay in Bangkok?
On or near the Chao Phraya river. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are minutes away, and river boats avoid the traffic. In Bangkok, Ewan says, location matters more than star rating, so the setting comes first and the hotel second.
Which Thai beach is right for my clients?
Choose the coast by month first, then the beach by the client. Some beaches are lively and better for couples who want buzz, others are calm and spacious for families. For families, Krabi's calmer water and island days by longtail boat often work better than Phuket. Tripseed matches the beach to the client rather than defaulting to the best known names.
How far ahead should Thailand trips be booked?
Allow at least six months for Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, Easter and the US summer holidays, for the best hotels and guides. Chiang Mai's lantern festivals, Loi Krathong and Yi Peng, follow the lunar calendar in late October or November and need 12 months or more. Some hotels add compulsory gala dinners on festival dates, which Tripseed flags when booking. Tripseed also handles last minute trips, acknowledges every enquiry within 24 business hours and usually sends a first proposal within 24 working hours.
Questions advisors asked Ewan
Can clients paddle their own longtail boat in Bangkok?
Longtail boats run on engines, so they are not paddled. Instead, Tripseed offers kayaking through Bangkok's canals, and some tours use a solar powered electric boat, where the driver may let clients have a go at steering.
How does Tripseed choose elephant experiences in Thailand?
Ewan explained that Tripseed only works with sanctuaries that are fully hands off and observation only, and that also look after the mahouts who care for the elephants. That standard leaves just a handful of places in Thailand, and Tripseed advises which suits each client's time and interests.
Are there treehouse stays in Thailand?
Yes, from true treehouses in the rainforest to villas designed to look like them. Most have a rustic feel, so Tripseed checks they suit the client and the ages of any children, and can send pictures and recommendations.
Does Tripseed work with UK tour operators?
Yes. UK tour operators are currently Tripseed's biggest market, and the team also works with travel advisors in the US and Canada.
Can Tripseed look after cruise passengers stopping in Thailand?
Yes, when clients book directly or through an advisor. Tripseed has handled few cruise clients so far, because most cruise passengers use the ground suppliers contracted by the cruise line.
Does Bangkok have a cruise terminal?
Not in the city itself. Ships dock some way from Bangkok, and the cruise lines or their ground operators arrange transfers into the city.
About Tripseed
Tripseed is a women led, majority Thai owned luxury DMC based in Thailand, creating private, tailor made journeys across the country for travel advisors. It is a People and Planet First Verified Social Enterprise. Travel Kinship represents Tripseed to travel advisors. Discover Tripseed or contact Travel Kinship for an introduction.
Full Transcript
Kelly: Welcome to another Travel Kinship webinar, and thank you so much for joining. If you're joining right away, please put where you're listening from in the questions box, the little question mark icon at the top of the software. We always love to see where everyone is. I'm currently in Uruguay in South America. Ewan, where are you presenting from today?
Ewan: In Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand.
Kelly: Awesome. The questions box is also where you can write your questions as the presentation goes on, and at the end we'll have plenty of time to go through them. We have people joining from Bangkok, Tennessee, Washington, Chicago, Alberta, Montana, Peru, Germany, Toronto and the UK, so we're covering a lot of countries today. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule on a Thursday to learn with us. I'm really excited, because this is the first webinar Tripseed is hosting with us since joining the collection last year. We have a wealth of information to share, not just about destinations but about seasons, festivals and peak booking periods, and what you should look for in your travel partners in Thailand and why. So it goes well beyond which hotels and experiences to choose.
I'm the Managing Director of Travel Kinship, Kelly Tolliday. We're a representation company specialising in luxury boutique DMCs around the world, along with a collection of boutique nature based properties. You can see all of them on travelkinship.com, and you're always welcome to email me to be connected with any of our DMCs or properties. Use the questions box for anything that pops into your mind while Ewan is talking, and we'll leave about 15 minutes at the end for questions. You can also contact us directly afterwards.
Today we're learning from Ewan Cluckie, Chief Growth Officer of Tripseed, an amazing boutique DMC that is majority locally owned and women owned and operates throughout Thailand. We're going on a journey from north to south to discover all that Thailand has to offer, including which seasons suit which side of the country, which beaches suit which families, couples and travellers, unique places to stay, and how Tripseed can offer your clients experiences no other operator can. And to the question in the box, yes, we'll share all our contact details and a recap at the end. Over to you, Ewan.
Ewan: Hi everyone, and welcome to our Thailand 101 webinar. Thank you for giving us part of your morning, and a big thank you to Kelly and Travel Kinship for bringing this group together. Over the next half hour we're going to follow one real itinerary from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and down to the coast, and at each stop I'll show you what we would change for different clients. Today's session is built for advisors planning Thailand for upper mid range and luxury clients in the North American market. You'll get this deck as a PDF afterwards, including the reference pages with net pricing guidance and our working terms, so there's no need to take notes. Please put your questions in as we go and I'll answer them at the end.
First, a little about who's talking to you. My name is Ewan Cluckie, and I'm speaking from Chiang Mai, where it's just after 10 o'clock at night, so you've got my full attention. I grew up in the UK, but I've lived and worked in Thailand for close to 20 years, and it's home. Tripseed is the company I co founded with two Thai colleagues, June and Nat, who run our planning and operations teams. We're a destination management company. We plan and run private, fully guided journeys across Thailand, and we do that only for travel advisors and tour operators. We're purely B2B. What drives us is simple to say and harder to do: travel that's excellent for your clients and fair to the people who host them. I could spend 10 minutes telling you about that, but I'd rather show you, so you'll see it come through in the journey we're about to take together.
Very briefly, what sits behind the name. Tripseed is 70% Thai owned and 70% women owned, and our founding documents include a written commitment to reinvest at least half of our profits in social justice and environmental initiatives. What that means for you is that when you send a client to us, the people planning, guiding and hosting them are the same people who own and run the business. We're independently verified as a social enterprise by People and Planet First, and independently accredited on our tax conduct. I won't read every logo, but one I will mention is this year's Responsible Tourism Awards, where we were recognised for creating local economic benefit, and I'll show you what that looks like in practice a little later.
The Thai ownership figure matters more than it sounds. Thai law requires tour operators to be majority Thai owned, with foreign shareholders holding no more than 49%. Some foreign run operators meet that rule only on paper, using nominees, local Thais who hold shares on someone else's behalf with no real stake in the business. That's illegal under the Foreign Business Act, with serious penalties for both the nominee and the foreigner behind them, and it's quite a widespread problem. The authorities have been running a growing crackdown for the last three years, tourism is one of the sectors being targeted, and tour licences have been revoked over ownership. If a supplier you've booked with is caught, it can lose its licence immediately and be shut down, with your clients' trips and deposits in its hands. Our Thai shareholders run Tripseed every day, you can speak to them, and our shareholdings are public record. So ask your suppliers for theirs, and we're happy to show you ours.
Here's how we'll spend the next half hour. Rather than a tour of every province, we'll follow one journey: 12 days, 11 nights for a couple, with three nights in Bangkok, four in Chiang Mai and four on the beach. I know most of your clients will ask for exactly this, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and a beach, and that's fine; it's a wonderful first trip. So today is about two things: how to do those three stops really well, and where to take a client who wants something more. At each stop we'll look at a couple of experiences, the hotel choices and what we'd change for a different client. The order isn't fixed. Some clients fly straight north, some go to the beach first to recover. We build our proposals around the flights, the person and their interests.
A quick orientation. Thailand divides into five regions that feel very different. The north, around Chiang Mai, has mountains, temples, crafts and hill communities. Central Thailand has Bangkok and the old capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Isaan, in the northeast, has Khmer era temples, the Mekong River, silk villages and very few international visitors. And there are two coasts: the Andaman coast in the west, with Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak, and the Gulf coast in the east, with Koh Samui and Koh Tao. If you remember one thing from this map, make it this: the two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, so in almost any month there's a good beach somewhere in Thailand. You just need to know which one.
When to go. On this chart, dark green is when we recommend travel, light green can be mixed with some rain, pink is the hazy season, when there can be smoke from agricultural burning, and grey is the green season, when rain is more frequent. In the north, November to February is the classic window, cool and dry, with nights in Chiang Mai down to about 15 degrees Celsius, 59 Fahrenheit. Bangkok is similar from November to January. From February to May there's crop burning in the north, which can bring high levels of PM2.5 pollution to the north and central Thailand. We still travel then, but we plan lighter days with less strenuous outdoor activity, which matters most for anyone with breathing problems or anyone who wants to be very active outdoors. The Andaman coast, Phuket and Krabi, is best from around November to April. The Gulf islands, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, are almost the opposite, best from April to August. January to March and September to October are mixed, with some rain, and early year prices are already close to high season. Some hotels call this shoulder season, and some keep a simple low and peak split.
Green season rain is rarely all day. It's not like the UK, and I'm sure some parts of the States. It usually comes as short, heavy storms lasting a few hours, and the early weeks in the north and Bangkok still have plenty of good travel days. So if a client can only travel in July, there's no need to say no. We might send them to the Gulf islands or to a quiet, green north, and that's where the value can be too.
Getting here. There are no nonstop flights from the US, so expect at least one stop through an Asian or Gulf hub and around 20 to 24 hours door to door. Most long haul flights land in Bangkok, often late at night, which is why we always keep the first day very light so clients can recover from jet lag. Getting around is easy. Bangkok to Chiang Mai is about an hour and a quarter by air, Bangkok to Phuket or Koh Samui about an hour and 20 minutes, and there are direct flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket in about two hours. On the ground, clients have a private vehicle and driver throughout, with a guide on touring days, and we can arrange fast track on arrival and departure at six airports: both Bangkok airports, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Udon Thani and Hat Yai.
So, day one in Bangkok. Most clients land tired, so day one is simply arrival: fast track through immigration, a private transfer to the hotel and a quiet evening, with nothing scheduled. Then come two days of the city at a human pace, exploring markets, canals, food and craft with a private guide who can read how the clients are feeling and adjust the day if needed. Day two is the essential Bangkok day, and day three gets out of the city to a floating market. Three nights works for most first timers. Two is fine if the client is itching to get north or to the beach, but I'd rarely go below that. Bangkok is where people form their first impression of Thailand, and we want it to be a good one.
On day two we arrange our gateway to Bangkok, which takes in the city's essential sights in one well paced day. Clients start at the Grand Palace, then take a short tuk tuk ride to Wat Pho and its reclining Buddha. From there they cross to Wat Prayun, a temple from the 1800s that many tours skip, with a striking white stupa and beautiful views over the water. After a Thai lunch at a local restaurant, a longtail boat takes them through the khlongs, Bangkok's small canals, past old wooden houses and canalside shops, and the day ends at sunset on the Mahanakhon Skywalk, 74 floors up one of Bangkok's tallest buildings. For anyone nervous of heights, the glass floor is optional. And on this tour, much of the cost stays in the local area and benefits the local community, which I'll come back to with our Fairflow method.
Day three is a morning at a floating market. Clients leave the city early, before the heat, with a local guide. Our strong recommendation is Tha Ka market. It's much smaller, and the vendors still sell mostly to local people, so it feels far more authentic. The catch is that it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays the best alternative is Damnoen Saduak, which is much larger and much more touristy, so it's important to set expectations. If a client has any flexibility, it's really worth putting this day on a weekend. It suits first timers, photographers and food lovers, and families enjoy it too because there's so much to look at. It's a morning only, so clients are back in Bangkok by early afternoon for a rest, a swim or the spa.
Before the hotels, a quick word on where to stay in Bangkok, because it often matters more than the star rating. The river is the city's old heart, and we like clients to stay on or near it. In the old town or along the riverside, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are minutes away, and river boats get clients around without sitting in traffic, so that's where I'd put most first time visitors. Chinatown and Charoen Krung, a little downriver, are full of character, street food, galleries and old shophouses. Silom and Sathorn are central and well connected. It's the business district, but there are nice green pockets and public parks. Siam and Sukhumvit are the shopping and nightlife districts. They suit some clients well, but Bangkok traffic can make sightseeing from there take longer.
The three hotels I'll show you are all marked on the map, two on the river and one in Sathorn. Riva Surya is a lovely small boutique hotel right on the river, close to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. It's intimate and easy, with the sights on the doorstep. It works for families too, though there's no kids club, so it's best for couples, but we do have lots of families who have a wonderful time there. U Sathorn is the exception to the river rule. It's very central but a complete green escape from the city, with real space and large gardens, like an oasis in the centre. And in the ultra luxury segment there's The Siam, with just 38 rooms on the river, an outstanding spa and a collection of antiques gathered by the owners over decades. It's very good value for ultra luxury and feels far more characterful than some of the big international brands. It works well for families too, with a nanny service, a private cinema where children can watch a film while parents enjoy a quiet meal, newly renovated connecting rooms and pool villas.
Every stop on this route has a go further option, and this is where we can help you stand out. Your client still experiences Bangkok, and we add a day or reroute slightly for experiences they might not otherwise have. Ayutthaya, the old royal capital, is an easy day out by road or river from Bangkok. Kanchanaburi, about two and a half hours west, is home to the River Kwai and the Death Railway, with a lot of moving wartime history, plus the Erawan waterfalls and river life. It's best with a night or two. Sukhothai, Thailand's first capital, is magical at sunrise, exploring the old ruins by bike, and it's a natural stop if clients travel north by road rather than flying. Then there's Isaan in the northeast. We usually recommend going overland, stopping at Khao Yai National Park, about three hours from Bangkok and the gateway to the northeast. Isaan has Khmer era temples, the Mekong River, silk weaving villages and what many Thais would argue is the best food in the country. Very few international visitors get there, which is a large part of the appeal. It feels much more authentic and local, and you feel much more connected to the people who live there. The downside is that high end accommodation isn't at the same level as in the main tourism hubs and can be more rustic, but as long as expectations are set, it's a great place to visit.
Days four to seven are Chiang Mai and the north. This is our home. Our office is here, most of our team live here, and it's where our longest relationships with communities and hosts are, so it's where I can show you the most. Chiang Mai is the cultural heart of the north, full of temples, crafts and markets, and in my view the best food scene outside Bangkok. Four nights gives plenty of time for the city and a full day in the hills.
On day four we fly clients up from Bangkok and keep the afternoon gentle but interesting, with a trip just outside the city to a small craft distillery we work with directly, for a private behind the scenes tour and guided tasting. It's a great fit for couples, food and drink lovers, and repeat Asia travellers who think they've seen it all. It's short and relaxed, with no early start after a travel morning. What makes it memorable is the story. Most rum is made from molasses, a by product of sugar refining, but here they use fresh sugar cane, processed within four hours of harvest. Thailand is one of the world's biggest sugar producers, so there's something fitting about making rum from Thai sugar cane, and almost everything they use comes from local farmers and is organic and chemical free. We're one of the first DMCs to offer this visit, so very few travellers have done it.
Day five is the first full day in Chiang Mai: the classic sights done differently. Clients take a trishaw through the old city to Wat Phra Singh, one of the most important temples in the north, and the trishaw ride directly supports elders in the local community. Then they go to Warorot Market, the city's old market, to choose flowers with a local host, who shows them how to fold lotus flowers into an offering. They then travel by private van up to Doi Suthep, where they offer the flowers at the temple and receive a blessing from the monks. The temples may be the same ones everyone visits, but we craft the day with a story running through it, and that's what people remember. It's a half day, so the afternoon is free.
Day seven is the one clients will talk about when they get home: Footprints of the Akha. It's a full day in the hills. We stop at Mok Fa waterfall and have an early lunch at a forest cafe, then head to an Akha village, where members of the Akha community lead a walk along a trail they still use for foraging. It's about an hour of walking, roughly two miles, following a stream, with some scrambling and wading, so feet do get wet. Our own English speaking guide comes along to translate between the Akha hosts and the clients and looks after the rest of the day. It ends with half an hour to an hour drifting down the river on a bamboo raft. It suits active couples and families with children aged eight and over. The trek is moderate, so it isn't right for anyone with limited mobility. Clients are back in Chiang Mai around six, or they can stay overnight in a village homestay with a Thai barbecue dinner. What we bring is a relationship built over years, in which the community sets the terms of the visit and receives a fair share of what the client pays.
When a client asks you whether their trip helps anyone, most of us can only answer with good intentions. We wanted to answer with facts and numbers. So Fairflow is a method we developed to show where the money from a trip goes: to which places, to businesses owned by whom, and to women or men. We've applied it to more than 80 of our tours. It's a disclosure method, not a certification, and we're working on publishing openly how it works. It's also the work behind that local economic benefit award. On Footprints of the Akha, almost all of the tour cost stays in the province, a large share stays in the local area where the tour runs, and very little leaves the country. Across all our tours last year, most of what we paid suppliers went to businesses wholly or partly owned by women, and women earned most of the guide fees we paid. These figures cover tour costs only, not our admin costs, taxes or surplus, which we report separately. So that's an answer you can give clients with confidence.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai. Again, the big choice isn't star rating, it's setting: do clients want the old city, or nature in the hills? In the city, Tamarind Village is a beautiful small boutique hotel right on Tha Phae Walking Street, with lovely Thai architecture, like an oasis just off the busy roads, and direct access to the Sunday walking street. Rachamankha is adults only, ideal for couples who want a peaceful stay without children, and perfect for exploring the old city on foot. Stepping up to ultra luxury, 137 Pillars House is in the Wat Ket neighbourhood, just east of the old city. It holds a Michelin Key, it's built around beautifully restored teak, and every suite is named and different, so even returning guests in a different room have a completely different experience. The entry suites are 70 square metres. If clients would rather wake up surrounded by nature, we'd suggest Mae Rim, about half an hour away. One property we love there is Raya Heritage, on the Ping River, a calm, design led property full of locally sourced northern Thai craft, ideal for couples. And of course there's the Four Seasons in the Mae Rim valley, with pavilions set around working rice terraces and mountains behind, a full resort with plenty of space, still only half an hour from the old city.
If clients have more time, the north goes much further. Mae Hong Son and the famous loop offer mountain roads, misty valleys, Shan heritage and small towns. Give it three nights or more, because there are no shortcuts; it's the whole loop or nothing. Chiang Rai has tea hills, the Golden Triangle and striking contemporary temple art. It's about three hours by road, with direct flights back to Bangkok. And two places very few international visitors reach: Phayao, a lakeside town about two and a half hours from Chiang Mai that sits neatly on the way to Chiang Rai or Nan, and Nan, in the far east of the north, a quiet historic town known for the famous murals at Wat Phumin and its mountain scenery, with lots of trekking, outdoor and community led experiences.
Days eight to eleven are the beach. In this example the couple flies directly from Chiang Mai to Phuket, but the beach is the part of the itinerary we change most often, for two reasons: the month and the client. The most common mistake we see is the right beach in the wrong month, or the wrong beach for the client. Four nights is the minimum I'd suggest to unwind. This is probably the slide you'll most want to screenshot, so I'll leave it up for a moment, and you'll have it afterwards. It's the whole beach decision on one page: which coast, which months and which beach suits which client.
Here's that table with pictures, starting on the west coast, which is best from November to April. Phuket is the easiest and has the widest choice, but choose the area carefully. Mai Khao in the north is quiet, while Patong further down can be very lively. We usually don't recommend Patong, as it has a nightlife element and certainly isn't suitable for families, though for couples wanting something livelier there are resorts on the edges worth recommending. Khao Lak, just north of Phuket, has busy resorts, but walk a little way and there are long, quiet stretches of beach, so it's great for families and couples who want space without being completely removed from a tourist destination. Krabi is largely about scenery, the limestone cliffs and days out by longtail boat, and it's been appearing in a lot of recent film and TV productions. Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai sit between the two, with village life and small resorts, perfect for couples and families who want calm.
The Gulf runs on a different calendar. Koh Samui is your answer for a summer trip when the Andaman side is wet, with direct flights from Bangkok. Koh Tao has brilliant snorkelling and diving, and its quieter bays, like Haad Tien and Sai Daeng, suit upscale clients better than the main beach at Sairee, which can be too touristy. And Koh Kood, towards Cambodia, is remote barefoot luxury for clients who don't mind a longer transfer and a bit more effort getting there.
Even in Phuket, the most visited beach destination in the country, there's local Thailand a few minutes from the hotel. On day nine, after a morning on the beach, we take clients to Phuket Old Town with a guide from the Old Town community, who knows its history and stories inside out. Not every guide can take people into this community in such depth. They start with Hokkien fried noodles and O Aew, a much loved local dessert, and hear the history behind these foods. Then they walk among the Sino Portuguese shophouses and hear how the town grew from its trading past. The highlight is a hidden heritage house that very few travellers get to visit, home to a watch repair business started by a Hokkien Chinese immigrant who came via Singapore and Penang, and run by the same family for generations. The afternoon ends with a view over the town and coast from Khao Rang viewpoint.
On day ten clients have our Phuket local living experience, a half day with a community in the north of the island. They're welcomed with pineapple tea and homemade sweets and paint their own batik bag, then ride an old style Phuket bus to a pineapple farm and a rubber farm. They try harvesting coconuts and make a traditional Thai dessert before a sit down local lunch, and they're back at the hotel by early afternoon. It's ideal for families and couples who want to see a side of Phuket most visitors don't. What makes it ours is how it's run: we rotate the farm visits so every farming family in the community benefits directly, not just one or two, and that ties back to our Fairflow work.
Beach hotels are where upgrading makes the most visible difference. All three of these are in the quiet north of Phuket. Bandara is right on the beach at Ao Yon, a secluded bay, and very good value for a beachfront hotel in the four star plus category. Stepping up to luxury, The Slate is a couple of minutes' walk from Nai Yang beach and works for couples and families. It's a Bill Bensley design, and you reach its Black Ginger restaurant by a little raft. It has separate adults only and family pools, giving couples privacy away from noisy children if they want it. And in the ultra luxury segment there's Anantara Layan on Layan Beach, an extremely peaceful beach retreat that competes with the likes of Amanpuri and Rosewood. One practical note: beach hotels can be booked through us or priced separately, and I'll come back to why we suggest booking them through us.
The south has much more beyond the main beach destinations. Nakhon Si Thammarat is the southern Thai heartland, with one of the most revered ancient temples in the country, shadow puppet masters, and cocoa farms where clients see artisanal chocolate made from bean to bar. It's about an hour and a quarter by air from Bangkok and combines really well with Koh Samui. Khao Sok is rainforest and a lake where you can stay in floating raft houses, about two hours from Phuket. And a couple of hours south of Nakhon Si Thammarat is Phatthalung, which almost no international visitors reach. It's home to Thale Noi, a huge freshwater wetland that's beautiful by boat at dawn. On the lake you'll see traditional lift net fishing, with great nets set on big bamboo frames, lowered into the water and raised by hand, a way of fishing very particular to this area. It's fantastic for photographers and birdwatchers, with around 300 bird species in the area.
Now let's change the client: the same three stops and the same flights, but a family of four instead of a couple. That changes far more than the activity list. In Bangkok we might arrange a morning by tuk tuk, an afternoon of gardens and Thai desserts, and a dinosaur park and wetlands for the children. In Chiang Mai, Thai street food by electric tuk tuk, a waterfall walk with a private picnic prepared by their own chef, an indoor alternative if it rains, and an ethical elephant experience. For us, ethical means observation only, entirely hands off, with no riding, bathing or feeding, so the elephants can live as close to a natural life as possible. We also look out very carefully for the mahouts, the elephant keepers, who are quite often quietly exploited in the tourism industry. In the south we might recommend Krabi instead of Phuket, for calmer water and island days by private longtail boat, plus a hands on ocean waste upcycling workshop. Tailor made, for us, doesn't just mean swapping a few activities. It starts with understanding this particular family: how old the children are, what holds their attention, how much the parents want to do, when everyone needs a rest and what they're hoping to take home. The pace, the free mornings, the activities and even the choice of beach all follow from that. That's the difference between an off the shelf itinerary that has been adjusted and one designed around the people on it. In this example we're assuming children older than six. For younger children we might recommend different places, hotels and activities.
The deck includes a budget guide, which isn't about quoting a trip but about helping you qualify a client quickly and talk to them with confidence about what their budget buys and when. People often ask how a four star trip differs from a five star trip. What rises with budget is the hotel, the vehicle, the dining, exclusive access and more space and privacy during the day. What never changes is our own planning team, our own guides whom we know and train, suppliers we've screened for safety and fair treatment, 24/7 in destination support for your clients, and the same care with every community host. So a four star plus client gets the same Tripseed as an ultra luxury one. The priced sample itineraries will come with the recording and the slides.
A few things to know before you quote. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are two festivals in Chiang Mai that follow the lunar calendar, so they fall in late October or November depending on the year. Always check the dates for your client's year. They need booking 12 months or more ahead, as do some of the more popular beach hotels, which can stop taking bookings early. For Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, Easter and the US summer holidays, we recommend booking at least six months ahead for the best hotels and guides. Many hotels add compulsory gala dinners at Christmas, New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Loy Krathong, and we always advise on any mandatory conditions during booking, so there are no surprises. Yi Peng is beautiful and very busy, and we'll always tell you plainly what that looks like. None of this means a late enquiry is a lost one. We handle last minute bookings all the time, and if your first choice of hotel or guide isn't available, we'll talk you through the options so you can go back to your client with a good alternative rather than a no.
Some ways to elevate a trip. In Bangkok, the standard vehicle is a Toyota Commuter, and we can upgrade to a Toyota Alphard, Mercedes, BMW or even a Rolls Royce. In Chiang Mai, we can upgrade to an Alphard, a Toyota Majesty or a Mercedes Sprinter, and child seats are available for families. There's VIP fast track at six airports, as I mentioned, plus airport lounges, and we can book hard to get tables, like Jay Fai in Bangkok. The one I'd really pick out is music with a story. We can arrange private performances by wonderful partners, such as a visually impaired musician in the south who plays the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument, or a seniors' group in Chiang Mai who play traditional Thai instruments. They're intimate and memorable, perfect for proposal dinners, anniversaries and celebrations, and the money goes directly to the performers. Gifts follow the same thinking. We source them from small local entrepreneurs and artisans: a basket of Thai snacks with a hand woven fan, a pure Thai silk cushion cover hand woven by elderly weavers in Pak Thong Chai in the northeast, with the income going directly to them, handmade crafts from Akha artisans in Chiang Rai, little elephant decorations with part of the proceeds donated to an elephant hospital, or three small bottles of rum or gin from the distillery we visited on day four, easy to pack for the flight home. Even small comforts help, like snacks and cold drinks in the vehicle on touring days.
So how does working with us work? You send a brief to June and our tailor made team. They come back with a proposal, with the full itinerary, hotel recommendations and price. You confirm, or we go back and forth on details, and then we book and send the documents. Our journey fulfilment team checks every detail and arranges all the vehicles, guides and logistics on the ground, and while your clients travel, Nat and our operations team look after them around the clock. We acknowledge every enquiry within 24 business hours and usually send a first proposal within 24 working hours too. Only complex itineraries needing lots of availability checks, peak season, last minute requests or larger groups take a little longer. Proposals come as a PDF as standard, or as an editable document if you want to add your own branding. Pricing is all inclusive, with beach hotels shown separately. Throughout, I look after our relationship with you, from onboarding and introducing you to the team to feedback after every trip, quarterly check ins and whatever you need along the way. And there's a happy side effect of the time difference: when you finish your working day, ours is starting, so a brief sent in your afternoon is often answered by your next morning.
On pricing, I know most of you in North America prefer to work on commission, and that's fine, but let me explain in one minute why we recommend net rates. Money we receive in Thailand is subject to VAT. On a commissionable rate we receive the full price including your commission, so your commission is taxed too, and when we pay it back to you in the US, withholding tax can sometimes apply on top, usually if you're transacting as a registered business rather than an individual. On net rates, you simply set your own markup, and it isn't subject to Thai taxes. We can work in US dollars or Thai baht. Bank transfers in dollars to our US account carry no processing fees. Card payments go through Stripe and can only be taken in baht, and Stripe charges a processing fee. If your clients pay us directly, we're flexible about how that appears, broken out on the invoice or included discreetly in the package price. All the detail is in the reference pages at the end of the PDF.
While your clients travel, they have 24/7 support from a real person in our operations team, whether it's a delayed flight or a change of plan, and a practical road book PDF with day by day details, contacts and our own restaurant recommendations for free evenings. If a domestic flight is changed or cancelled, which does happen, we rebook it, move the transfers and adjust the day, so your clients aren't left on hold with an airline chatbot. That's the main reason most advisors ask us to book domestic flights. The same goes for beach hotels at the end of the trip. If we booked the hotel and the ferry is cancelled, a flight lands late or the room isn't what was promised, we deal with the hotel directly and sort it out. If the hotel was booked elsewhere, we'll still help where we can, but we can't change a booking we don't hold, so clients are often left to solve it themselves. Booking the whole trip with us means one team looks after all of it, and you have full peace of mind while your clients are in the country.
One more thing, and it matters: we work through advisors. We don't market directly to travellers. Once in a while a traveller finds us online, and when that happens we check whether they've travelled with us through an advisor before, and if so, we send them straight back to you. Your clients stay your clients. We don't poach business like some other DMCs.
After today you'll receive this deck as a PDF, with the reference pages, both itineraries day by day, the budget guide, our working terms and team contacts, plus the recording, the priced sample itineraries and access to a shared folder of photos cleared for your client proposals when you're marketing Tripseed services. It's small at the moment but growing, so let us know what you need. The fastest way to see how we work is to try us on a real enquiry. Send us a client brief and judge our proposal for yourself. If you don't have an enquiry right now, book a 20 minute call and we'll talk about the clients you're seeing and how we can help you attract more enquiries from them. My email and our bookings email are on the screen. Thank you very much for your time, and I'd love to hear your questions about anything we've covered, or anything we haven't.
Kelly: Thank you so much, Ewan. That was extremely thorough and well worth everyone's time. I learned so much. We have about 10 minutes for questions. First, you'll receive all of this information within the next 24 hours, so if you don't see it by the end of today, it will be in your inbox tomorrow. One advisor asks, from your Bangkok excursion, is it possible for visitors to paddle their own longtail boats?
Ewan: The longtails are powered by two stroke engines, so they're engine boats rather than paddle boats. But we do have a kayaking experience where clients can kayak through the khlongs, in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand. We also have experiences using a solar powered electric boat, fully powered by renewable energy, and occasionally the driver can be playful and let clients have a go at steering, though not for the whole tour.
Kelly: Amazing. You mentioned this in the presentation, but can we touch briefly on where around Thailand clients can have ethical elephant experiences?
Ewan: There are only five elephant sanctuaries that meet our recommended standards, in Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Tak and Phuket. Everywhere we work with is fully hands off and observation only, and we make sure the mahouts are treated well too, which is why our recommended list is about half the size of World Animal Protection's list. Their focus is animal welfare, and once you add mahout welfare, the list shortens again. The sanctuary in Tak is probably the best elephant experience clients can have, but it needs two or three days because it's quite remote. I can send the full list.
Kelly: Beautiful. Another advisor asks about unique accommodation like tree houses. Is that a possibility?
Ewan: Yes, there are a few options, and some are more tree house than others. There's one near Chiang Mai, but we don't usually recommend it at the upper end of the market, as it's a little too rustic for some and not suitable for young children. One we're more comfortable recommending is in Khao Sok, with a good range of tree houses surrounded by nature, though it still has a rustic feel because of where it is. Khao Yai National Park has a tented resort with tree house options, and some beach hotels, such as on Koh Yao, have villas designed to look like tree houses. So there's quite a range, and we can send pictures and recommendations if that's what clients are looking for.
Kelly: Thank you. An advisor asked about net prices and the commission markup, which you covered, and I'll follow up by email with any further questions. Another advisor said Tripseed's service is excellent and its quotes are fast. And someone is wondering, do you work with UK tour operators?
Ewan: Yes. The UK is our primary market at the moment, and most of our business comes from UK tour operators.
Kelly: Someone asked to see the beach map again, and of course we'll share the whole slide deck as well.
Ewan: Here it is. I'll leave it up.
Kelly: Perfect. Another advisor wonders whether you work with clients on cruises with stops in Thailand and Vietnam.
Ewan: To be honest, we haven't had many so far, but it's absolutely something we can cater for. I think that's because cruise lines usually contract their own ground suppliers, which is what their clients are shown. But if clients book directly or through an advisor, we can absolutely support them.
Kelly: Great. Lots of people are saying thank you for a great presentation. One last question: does Bangkok have a cruise terminal?
Ewan: Bangkok is set back from where the cruise terminals are. We don't operate for any cruise lines at the moment, but I believe many of them have easy transfer options into Bangkok, run by the cruise companies or their contracted ground operators.
Kelly: Awesome. Thank you, everyone, so much. We'll email you all within the next day with the recording, the slides, the sample itineraries and everything Ewan mentioned, and we'll reach out directly to everyone who asked questions today. Feel free to contact us with any questions or trip enquiries. We're here for you. Thank you so much.
Ewan: Thank you.
In this Voices of Kinship interview, Kelly Tolliday of Travel Kinship talks to Nefeli Oikonomidi, founder of Handy Tours, a boutique luxury DMC in Greece. Nefeli explains why the real difference in Greece is not the beaches or the sunshine but the Greek way of living, and how her team builds every journey around the individual traveller rather than a ready made itinerary.
What you will learn
How Nefeli started Handy Tours after helping guests from abroad with dinner reservations and boat days, and what their thank you messages taught her
Why she calls her work the "haute couture of travelling", and why a boutique team makes truly tailor made travel possible
Her picks for every season: Metsovo in winter, car free Hydra in spring, Corfu in summer and Santorini in autumn
Why Santorini in April or May feels like a different island from Santorini in August
The Peloponnese and Crete as her answers when clients ask for somewhere less known
Why fast replies and strong after service matter so much to advisors working across time zones
Her ambition for Handy Tours to be the most trusted DMC in Greece, not the biggest
Planning Greece: key questions answered
When is the best time to visit Greece?
Greece works all year, not only in the three or four summer months most people know. September is now part of the peak season, and October and even November are the quieter months, depending on the destination. Spring is beautiful on small islands such as Hydra, when the flowers are out, and in winter the mountain village of Metsovo has snow, stone houses and hearty food. Handy Tours shares a month by month calendar with advisors, so each trip can match the right place to the right time of year.
Is Santorini still worth visiting?
Yes, but timing changes everything. In July and August the island is very crowded, and finding a dinner table in Oia can be hard. In April, May or late September it feels like a different island, with locals, Greek travellers and repeat visitors, and you see Santorini's real way of life. Nefeli's own favourite time to go is autumn, when it is relaxed and the views are at their best.
Where in Greece feels less touristy?
Nefeli's first suggestion is often the Peloponnese. It is on the mainland but surrounded by the sea, and it brings together a little of everything Greece offers, which makes it ideal for a road trip. Crete is her other favourite: the largest Greek island, with traditional villages, quiet beaches and small tavernas where you may be the only visitors. As she puts it, what you do and where you stay matter even more than the destination itself.
What makes a Greece trip feel truly Greek?
For Nefeli, the real difference is the Greek way of life rather than the beaches or the sunshine. That can mean lunch with a local family in Crete, a visit to a very small winery, time on a farm or a cooking class. Handy Tours never starts from a ready made itinerary. Each journey begins with a conversation with the advisor about the traveller, and the destinations are chosen from there.
How quickly does Handy Tours reply to advisors?
Nefeli aims to come back to every request within two to three hours, even when the full itinerary needs longer. She knows advisors often have a client waiting and are working across time zones. The same care continues after booking, with last minute requests handled quickly and the team on hand in Greece if anything happens during the trip.
Who is speaking
Nefeli Oikonomidi was born and raised in Athens and founded Handy Tours to share a more personal Greece with international travellers. She is interviewed by Kelly Tolliday, Managing Director of Travel Kinship.
About Handy Tours
Handy Tours is a boutique luxury DMC based in Greece, creating fully tailor made journeys across the mainland and the islands. Travel Kinship represents Handy Tours to travel advisors. Discover Handy Tours or contact Travel Kinship for an introduction.
Full Transcript
Kelly: Welcome, everyone, to Travel Kinship's series, Voices of Kinship. We are a global representation company, representing some of the world's most boutique luxury DMCs. I'm Kelly Tolliday, the managing director of Travel Kinship, and I have Nefeli here from Handy Tours. She is the founder of Handy Tours, and we're going to dive deep into her story, her passion for Greece, and why she brings Greece to the forefront of travel, especially the lesser-known side of Greece: the more traditional, beautiful and still luxurious side of Greece that we can share with your travelers today. So if you're a travel advisor or any sort of travel planner, you are going to learn so much today from Nefeli about her story, her passion, and why Greece should be the number one destination your clients are traveling to this year. So thank you so much, Nefeli, for joining us.
Nefeli: Thank you, Kelly, and thank you for the lovely introduction. I'm so happy to be here.
Kelly: Thank you. I would love to start with your story. What was your journey into the travel industry? What initially drew you into a career in tourism?
Nefeli: Well, my journey started back when I was studying. I did my degree in economics and then I started a master's degree in tourism management, because I was sure that this was the industry I wanted to focus on. The thing about tourism is that it brings together many things that I love. It brings together people, different cultures, hospitality, food, creativity and, of course, traveling itself. So it was the only alternative I had in my mind when I chose what I would like to do in my life. And saying that, I started the company quite young. I was 25 years old. And as a Greek person, my number one priority was to be able to show people abroad how beautiful my country is, how much I love it, and the way of living in Greece. I didn't know exactly how I could do that, but as the years went by and I started having access to more travel advisors and travelers in general, I was able to understand that this is what I want to do, and right now creating itineraries is what I love and what I do daily.
Kelly: Amazing. And so you grew up in Greece. Where in Greece are you from?
Nefeli: I'm from Athens. Of course, my family has many roots, like everyone in Greece, but I was born and raised in Athens. However, I would say that I have probably been almost all around the country, because I love traveling and I love exploring different parts of the country, both because of my work and also because I like doing so. So yes, I would say that I'm from Athens, but this has nothing to do with what we provide in the itineraries. I mean, Athens is just a small stop when it comes to our trips.
Kelly: Are there any particular places, Greek traditions or experiences that shape the way you see your home country, and that you hope travelers are able to feel when they travel through your country?
Nefeli: Of course. I would say that people from abroad, especially from the USA or countries that are far away, have connected Greece with the beaches, the sun, the sea, sailing, these kinds of things, which are true and they're amazing, don't get me wrong, and the weather. But I believe that the number one differentiation of our country is the way of living. The way of living is of course associated with the natural scenery and the weather, but it's also associated with our culture, with how openhearted we are, with experiences like going to Crete and having a nice lunch with a local family, or meeting a local winemaker in a very, very small winery. These kinds of activities and this way of living that the traveler can get to know when they travel with us, I think it's the number one differentiation of our country, and of our company as well, in a way.
Kelly: Greece is so well traveled at this stage, and I'm sure you get requests for the tried and true destinations that everyone wants to go to. But based on your passion for showing Greece, your family history, and, as you mentioned, having traveled all over the country, are there any places in Greece that really help that shine? You mentioned the traditions and the way of living. Are there any places that really showcase that well?
Nefeli: I would say that all places can showcase that, based on what you're going to do in each place, where you're going to stay, and what your itinerary will be like. Of course, many people travel to Santorini and Mykonos and all the famous destinations that you mentioned yourself. But I believe that even for these destinations, there are many ways to explore them and many different timings to explore them. It's totally different to go to Santorini, for example, in August rather than in April and May. The whole experience will be something totally different. In August, you will be around tourists from all over the world, and the villages will be something different. If you go in April or May, it will be locals, some travelers, some repeaters, some people who know the country, some Greek travelers, and the way of living will be the true way of living of Santorini, if that makes sense. But when it comes to your question, I would also say that there are definitely many, many destinations that are not so well known, and they showcase this kind of Greek lifestyle very significantly. I can mention some of them. My favorite one is the Peloponnese, because it's not an island, it's part of the mainland, but the whole area is circled by the sea. I really love this destination because it has so many different places to see, different hotels, different activities, and it's like a combination of everything that Greece can offer in one particular place. It's mostly for road trips, but it's probably my favorite destination when I get requests from people seeking something off the beaten path. Crete is also a destination that can showcase this kind of lifestyle, because Crete is very authentic. It has many villages. It is a very big island, actually the biggest island in Greece. And it's also a combination of everything. It combines history and touristic places, but it also has villages, hidden beaches that no one has seen, and little tavernas where it's going to be just you and some Greek people eating local food. But as I mentioned before, I believe that the most important factor in how authentic and how Greek an itinerary will be is not the destination itself, it's what you're going to do and what you're going to see there. And, sorry for interrupting, it's also a matter of the traveler, because we never have ready itineraries or any ready plan before having a conversation, either with the traveler or the travel agent or anyone who knows the person who will be traveling. This is the key to understanding what they want to do, and this is how we decide which destinations are ideal for each particular request.
Kelly: I really love that. I love letting the traveler's interests and what they want to experience lead the way, but also knowing that the time of year plays into how authentic an experience is, as you mentioned. And you mentioned that you started Handy Tours when you were 25, which is quite young, to build something as amazing and as sought after as you have. When did the turning point happen for you? What was happening in your life when you realized, okay, this is exactly how I want to be showcasing Greece? Was there anything in particular that made introducing someone to Greece so exciting that you created your career around it?
Nefeli: Well, as I told you, I really love traveling. I really love travel in general, so I loved the industry. I didn't know exactly what I could do in that industry. I didn't have any idea. I had my master's degree, but I didn't have any previous experience working somewhere. But I owned a house from my family in a very premium area in Athens, and I started renting it out. I started having access to some people from abroad, and then I started having a connection with them, and they started trusting me with little things, like "make me a reservation for dinner tonight" or "I want a full-day boat cruise today," these kinds of services. And I noticed that I was so happy at the end of the day when someone came back to me and said, "Thank you so much for recommending this to us, it was the best dinner ever," or "The cruise was amazing, our children had the best time, look at the photos." So I think that it wasn't one point in time. It was me having access to these people and being able to provide such services that made me understand how much I loved it and, I don't want to say it, but how good I am at it, because I love it. So I believe that this was the main period of time when I noticed that, okay, this is what I'm going to do in my life.
Kelly: Amazing. Did you have any mentors in the industry at that stage, or were you really trying to forge your own path and do things the way you knew travelers and advisors were seeking?
Nefeli: I didn't have anyone in the industry that I would have as a mentor. Unfortunately, I wish I had, because probably my whole process would have been faster. But it also made me try to find solutions by myself and try to understand how the industry works. First of all, I tried to do inspections in many different areas, places and hotels, and to understand how things work with travel agencies, with DMCs and with the suppliers. I did not have a mentor, but throughout the process, and through some mistakes, of course, I am confident to say right now that we're in a very good position at the moment.
Kelly: Amazing. Of course it's nice to have someone tell you the pitfalls to avoid, but sometimes there's something really special about carving your own path and making a name for yourself in your own way. And what we're hearing from advisors who have worked with Handy Tours is that they wish Handy Tours was all over the world, because they love working with your team. So your company, Handy Tours, has grown into a DMC really focused on creating meaningful, authentic experiences across Greece, highlighting small producers, local families and the traditions of Greece, while at the same time, of course, delivering luxury, five-star experiences for the clients. What do you think makes a Handy Tours itinerary or journey different from simply visiting Greece? There are so many DMCs in Greece, similar to Italy, where there are so many DMCs to choose from. What makes the journeys that you handcraft different from going to Greece on your own or working with a different company?
Nefeli: First, I could say just one word, which I believe is the most important: personalization. And when I'm talking about personalization, I mean a hundred percent personalization when it comes to itineraries. I know that there are many, many DMCs, but I also know the way we work, and I know how involved I am in this process. There's no request, even if it's just one villa request and not necessarily a huge trip, that I'm not involved with, because I really want to know that the service we provide is the one that I have in my mind. So the differentiation from the other DMCs is that, because we are a very, very boutique DMC, a very small group of people who share the same passion and the same culture, we are able to provide solutions that are a hundred percent tailor made. Many people say that they do that, but I don't believe it's feasible for big companies to do that. So yes, I would say that the number one differentiation is that, and number two is how focused we are on the after service: after we book the trip, all the communication we have with the agent, and any last-minute requests that we try to provide for the traveler. How fast we are is also something I believe is very significant. For example, I'm not okay with receiving a request and not getting back to the agent within two or three hours, even if we need more time to create the itinerary. I'm very, very strict when it comes to being fast, because I also understand that an agent needs to be fast as well, because they have their traveler in front of them, and we're in different time zones. So I believe that these things are very important. But the most important of them all, I would say, is that the trips we create are focused on each and every traveler. I would say that it's like the haute couture of traveling. That's a term I sometimes use when people ask me what we do.
Kelly: Amazing. I think there's something really special about the combination of getting the speed that advisors and travelers are expecting these days, but also having something meaningful, not just copy and paste, and not feeling like it's the same itinerary that every other company is providing.
Nefeli: Yes, I agree with you. What I would also say is that what makes a DMC different is the kind of trust that you provide to the agent, because at the end of the day it's all about trust: trusting this DMC to handle your clients, for whatever service it is. And trust has a lot of things associated with it, like knowing that we're going to focus on that client as if it's the only client we have at the moment. This is what I try to say to every travel agent I collaborate with, or that I meet at the many exhibitions we go to abroad. I want them to understand that they can trust us and that there are people here in Greece. So whatever happens here, even if it's something very, very stressful, like something at three in the morning, or an emergency, which I hope never happens, but things happen, we always go the extra mile, because we feel like it's our obligation to do so, and because we like it as well. And it's also very rewarding at the end of the day.
Kelly: Amazing. Absolutely, being able to be there for their clients in their time of need. So you mentioned the hot spot destinations that people have obviously heard of, like Athens, Santorini and Mykonos. And not a lot of people know that Greece can be a year-round destination, in the winter and in early spring. There are so many times to go, and even summer is feeling longer and longer these days. September is still really warm and beautiful. I would love it if you could touch on some of your personal favorites in each season, like a winter destination, a spring destination, summer and fall. People often think of Greece as the yachts and the boats and the islands and the beautiful blue water, but there's so much to explore, like the really traditional feeling places you mentioned earlier in our conversation that give everything you could want. I'd love to know, from your perspective, where would Nefeli travel to in each season?
Nefeli: That's a hard question, because I have so many destinations that come to my mind at the moment. Because many people have associated Greece only with the Greek summer, the three or four months, and three specific islands they know, we've also built a full-year calendar that we send to our agents, recommending things for each and every month of the year. We recommend specific destinations for specific months, mostly for inspiration but also to share some knowledge. But if I had to pick one destination for each season, for the winter my favorite would be Metsovo. Metsovo is a village located in the mountains. It snows there in the winter months. It's full of stone-built houses, amazing food, mostly meat, and nice red wines. There's an amazing resort there as well that I go to every year, to be honest with you. So this would be my winter destination, although Athens is a lovely destination for winter as well, and for the Christmas holidays. For spring, I would say that I love the vibe of Hydra, which is a very small island that doesn't have any cars, so everything can only be done by walking. It's a small island, but very, very cute and very, very beautiful. I like it in spring because all the flowers bloom and the colors are amazing. It's a very, very nice vibe there in the spring. Summer, I don't know, it's really hard to say, because there are so many places to go and visit. My personal favorite this year would be Corfu, but next year it could be something different. I don't have one particular place that I love. And then autumn, probably Santorini. I love Santorini because I love the architecture there. I think it's something very unique in the world. And I feel bad sometimes that it has become so touristic, so overcrowded. So in autumn I would say that it's ideal. It's so relaxing, and this view, I believe, cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Kelly: I love that you mentioned Santorini that way. Not an alternative to Santorini, but saying, okay, it is beautiful, there's a reason why thousands and thousands of people flock to the island, but there's another season when you can go and experience it. I really love that you mentioned that. And that's why working with someone like yourself is so important, because I would never have thought about that.
Nefeli: Sorry for interrupting again. Imagine that this year, 2026, was the first year that I went to Santorini in the summer. And I only did that to see how it actually is when people go in high summer. I didn't even know, because I was always going in April or May, or at the end of September, because I know that it's way better. And this year I said, okay, let's do it, let's go in July to see exactly what Oia looks like. Oia is the central area. And I was so disappointed, to be honest with you, because I had a whole different idea of what Santorini is. And I really want my travelers to have the same image, the same idea of Santorini that I have in my mind, and not this kind of packed situation where you cannot find a dinner spot.
Kelly: Are you finding that summer is extending longer into September now that people are trying to find shoulder seasons to travel in? Are there definitely peak seasons, or is the off season starting to get crowded too?
Nefeli: Of course. Now September belongs in the peak season. More and more people have understood that it's better to go in September, so now it has been extended. October is now the lower season, or even November, depending on the destination. But yes, I definitely see an extension, which is a good thing, and I'm happy about it, because it's such a pity to have so many different destinations and only have three months when people visit them. So yes, I can definitely see this extension. But I also believe that there's much more room for improvement.
Kelly: So looking ahead to the future of travel to Greece, what are your hopes for your travelers, the ones traveling with Handy Tours? What are they going to take away from experiencing Greece with Handy Tours?
Nefeli: Well, as I mentioned before, of course we're going to recommend a very nice hotel, we're going to recommend the best activities and very nice vehicles, and our guides are very professional. But I believe many people can do that. All the good DMCs do these things. I find that it's the basic thing. I believe that the most important thing is that I want to introduce them to the way of living in Greece. This is my number one priority. This can be done in many different ways, but that's the goal. Whenever someone returns home and they're already thinking about their next trip to Greece, I think that we have done a very good job. And to be honest with you, I've received so many emails three days after their departure: "Hello, we're back in the USA," "we're back in Canada," "we're back in London," "we're planning a trip in two months, can you organize something on another island?" And this is the number one rewarding thing. And I would say that the reason they want to come back again so soon, and with so much passion, isn't because they liked the hotel so much or the vehicle. They can find a nice hotel anywhere in the world, probably better than here. I mean, if you go to Italy or France, I'm sure you can find hotels that we cannot even imagine here in Greece. But it's the way of living, and the culture of the Greek people when it comes to hospitality, that makes it unique and makes them want to come back and feel that again. It can be in a taverna, it can be on the beach, it can be in the local winery we're going to take them to, on the farm, in the cooking classes. It can be anywhere, but they can feel it. This is the most important thing that I want them to have and keep.
Kelly: I love it. Amazing. And on a personal level, I know you started Handy Tours when you were in your twenties, and the team has grown. What do you hope the next chapter of your journey, or Handy Tours' journey, looks like?
Nefeli: I definitely want to keep being involved with the business on a day-to-day basis, to be able to influence all the itineraries that we send. So I want to keep it personal, and I want to keep it small and boutique. Of course I want to grow, but I want to grow in a way that keeps up the quality. And I really, really don't care about being the biggest DMC in Greece, or one of the biggest. I want to be the most trusted.
Kelly: Awesome. And based on the feedback that we get from advisors, you are already on the way, if not already there, to being one of the top trusted DMCs in the region. Well, we appreciate your time so much, and you sharing a little bit more about you, about Handy Tours and, obviously, about your passion for Greece. If advisors are listening and they have a client trip coming up that they would love to start planning with you, what's the best way for them to reach you?
Nefeli: Thank you so much, Kelly. Call me, text me, email me, WhatsApp me, whatever feels better, and I'll get back to you very, very soon.
Kelly: Amazing. Thanks, Nefeli. And for those listening, again, you heard from the DMC Handy Tours in Greece. You are more than welcome to copy me in on any email or request. My name is Kelly, kelly@travelkinship.com, and we can't wait to work with you and your clients. Thank you.
Nefeli: Thank you so much, Kelly, for your time. It was such a pleasure.
In this Voices of Kinship episode, Kelly Tolliday talks to Frank Castro, founder of Adventure International and Northern Journeys, about nearly 20 years in luxury adventure travel. Frank explains how leading Kilimanjaro climbs led to luxury trekking, glamping and bespoke journeys around the world, and why he created Northern Journeys for privately guided travel in the national parks of the US, Canada and Alaska.
Connect me with Northern Journeys
Prefer to read? Read the full Voices of Kinship article: Think You Know North America? Northern Journeys' Frank Castro Wants You to Look Again
What you will learn
Frank's journey from Kilimanjaro to building Adventure International
The move from trekking and mountaineering into luxury glamping and bespoke travel
Why he saw an opportunity for more personal national park travel in North America
How Northern Journeys creates privately guided and self drive national park itineraries
Going beyond the usual national park circuit, from Grand Teton and the Pacific Northwest to Vancouver Island and British Columbia
Private villas, safari style camps, private guides and unusual places to stay for families and groups
How adventure travel blends naturally with wellness, and why time in nature is such a powerful antidote to stress
Planning a US national parks trip: key questions answered
Can clients self drive a national parks trip and still have a private guide?
Yes. Northern Journeys plans national park trips in two ways: fully escorted, or self drive. Because roads and navigation are so good in the United States, many clients are happy to hire their own car while the team books every stay. Then, in parks such as Zion, the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, a private guide collects them for the day, takes them into the park with a gourmet picnic lunch, and drops them back afterwards.
Which national parks are worth adding beyond the usual circuit?
Frank's favourite is Grand Teton, which many people treat as a side trip from Yellowstone. He calls it America's Patagonia: in a few days clients can go on a wildlife safari, hike to a waterfall, raft and ride horses. He also loves the Pacific Northwest, from the Oregon coast and Oregon wine country to the San Juan Islands off Seattle, where clients can kayak among orcas, and on to Vancouver Island and Tofino in British Columbia for wildlife, surfing and hiking.
Where can larger families stay near the national parks?
Families of five or more often find hotel rooms near the parks hard to secure. Northern Journeys uses private villas outside the parks where they are available, for example in Jackson Hole for Grand Teton, with a private chef at the house and private guides for the days in the park. There are also safari style camps outside the parks, including a new private camp in Yosemite.
Can a national parks trip include wellness?
Yes, when clients want it. Frank's team recently created a trip to Moab for a group of company leaders who wanted a few remote days before finishing somewhere more comfortable. They stayed in a private safari style camp with breathwork, yoga, guided stretching and sharing circles alongside the hiking and rafting, then ended at a ranch with a spa. It is not part of every trip, but it shows how far an itinerary can be shaped around what the group wants to feel.
What kind of trips is Northern Journeys best for?
Northern Journeys focuses on national parks and time outdoors, not city breaks. The most common request from advisors is a family trip they are not sure how to put together: where to stay, which guides to use, and how much of the trip should be privately guided. The team starts by listening to what the family wants and the budget, then adds experiences clients may not know are possible, such as rafting or a horseback trail ride in a park they thought they knew.
About Northern Journeys
Northern Journeys, formerly California Journeys, is Frank Castro's DMC for privately guided luxury travel in the national parks of the USA, Canada and Alaska. Travel Kinship represents Northern Journeys to travel professionals. Contact Travel Kinship for an introduction to Frank and his team.
Full Transcript
Kelly: Welcome, everyone. I'm Kelly Tolliday, Managing Director of Travel Kinship. We are a representation company specialising in luxury boutique DMCs around the world, as well as a collection of boutique nature based properties, and you can see all of them on our website, travelkinship.com. Today we are here to learn from Frank Castro, the founder of Adventure International and Northern Journeys. We'll be talking about how he created Northern Journeys, which focuses on US and Canadian national parks travel, and we'll learn a little more about his personal story. Thank you, Frank, for joining us today.
Frank: Good to be here.
Kelly: Frank, I would love to learn a little more about how you first got into the travel industry. What were some of the early experiences that shaped the way you approach travel today?
Frank: It's been a journey. The genesis of everything I've ever done started in East Africa, in Tanzania, doing Kilimanjaro climbs. From there it's been almost twenty years of iterations of what we do. We are very much in the luxury trekking and mountaineering space, and we've become involved in multiple destinations around the world. Through our relationships and our operations, we went a layer deeper into our own product, which is ecodomes and glamping. So my journey has really been about being a B2B, white label service for luxury tour operators and advisors doing luxury adventure travel: a lot of trekking, mountaineering and adventurous itineraries. That's how I started Adventure International, which has now spun off into different verticals.
Our first spin off was when we got involved in some ecodomes in Peru. That was really exciting, because if you didn't like sleeping on the ground and camping, now you had a glamping product with proper beds, toilets and showers. We started taking on more glamping in destinations like Guatemala, Tanzania and actually the United States, where we worked with partners on safari camps outside the national parks.
That was right around the time COVID hit, so it was a very serendipitous move into domestic travel. I had spent many years living abroad and going to remote places, and to be honest, I hadn't spent much time in our own backyard in North America: the USA, Canada and Alaska. When I became a parent, I wasn't running off to Patagonia or Everest Base Camp with my kids, so I started sticking closer to home. I'm from the US. We were doing a little more Central America travel, I got back into surfing, and I really started exploring the national parks. North America is just stunning. There are so many things to do here in our backyard.
As we got involved in the safari camps outside the national parks, we started getting requests for trips beyond the camps themselves. I looked at who was doing what among North American DMCs, and I felt there was a gap in privately guided national park itineraries. So it became a decision: are we going to do this? As you know, Kelly, I like to stay busy and start new projects. So here we are. Northern Journeys was born to provide privately guided national park itineraries, whether fully escorted or self drive.
Self drive was new for us. When we run trips in Tanzania, Nepal or Peru, people aren't driving themselves. But the infrastructure in the United States is so good, with GPS and easy car hire, that there was room for self drive: clients have their own car and we book the accommodation. Then, during their stay at Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, for example, we provide privately guided day tours that take clients into the park. They're with a private guide, they have a gourmet picnic lunch, and then they're dropped back. That took a lot of work at the front end to figure out, but we can do it, and it has been very popular.
Kelly: You've spent most of your career and your life around adventure and expedition style travel, abroad and at home. What is it about adventure travel that has captivated you? What do you think it gives travellers, compared with more traditional fly and flop travel?
Frank: Every partner I've had, when we talk about going on holiday, says Frank's nightmare trip is sitting at a resort by the pool all day doing nothing. I'm not knocking it, but I'm so active that I need to be doing something, whether that's a bike ride, hiking, yoga or surfing. Any time I travel, I want an active, adventurous trip, and luckily we've found plenty of people who want to travel that way too. There's something about moving your body and going out into nature. I think it's far more immersive than sitting at a resort. If you need that kind of relief, great, but it's not going to work for someone like me or for the people who want to do more.
The added layer, and I think one of the most beautiful parts of a trekking expedition, is that in many of these countries you are getting remote. You see different communities and how they live, and there's all this serendipity in who you meet. Without saying "we do transformative travel", it happens by default. A lot of people who climb Kilimanjaro, trek in Nepal or travel in the Andes have amazing, transformative experiences, because they're out of their comfort zone, they're challenging themselves, and they're in remote villages. I think they slowly become global citizens, whether they know it or not, because they're learning about different people. Then they come home and bring that back into their communities. It really shapes people, and it shapes families. That's why I'm so attracted to adventure travel.
Kelly: You've been crafting itineraries and experiences for people for a long time now. What have you learned creates an exceptional, impactful adventure experience? What are the ingredients of the recipe?
Frank: It's a big question, because it's so case by case. What comes to mind is that a lot of companies work a bit like a marketplace. They push cookie cutter itineraries to advisors and clients: if you're coming for six or seven days, this is what you need to do. I'm sure it's a great programme and you'll hit some highlights. But there's something different about curated, private FIT travel, where you take the time to listen to what a couple, a family or a group want to accomplish. If they want to check the box and reach a goal, great, let's do that in the best way possible. If they're looking for more depth and something more off the beaten track, then it's about really crafting that for them. And then managing expectations, especially about where you're going to sleep at night and what the food will be.
I think where we shine is this. Often companies stay inside a small box, because they know they can deliver a good experience when the logistics are tight and they've done it before. When we're asked whether a client can go biking for two days somewhere, and that needs a lot of logistics and know how, we say yes, let's do it, because it will be an amazing experience. Or if we need to charter a private plane or a boat to reach an area, we're not afraid of that. If I'm honest, our special sauce is being comfortable in the uncomfortable, and saying, okay, let's make this happen.
Kelly: Your flagship experience was Kilimanjaro, and now you also operate on Everest, in Patagonia and in Peru. At the same time you've launched Northern Journeys, closer to home for those of us based in the US, with privately guided US, Canadian and Alaskan national parks. You mentioned you saw a gap in the market. Could you explain that gap, and how Northern Journeys fills it for advisors creating a well rounded national park trip?
Frank: What I saw in the market were DMCs that cover everything: a city tour in New Orleans, say. I got a request the other day for clients in Miami for three days, and I said, I'm sorry, that's not really what we do. I have no problem with Miami, New York or New Orleans, but city tours aren't our speciality. With a focus on the national parks, by default we're doing something more adventurous, which is our sweet spot. There are companies doing their thing well, but I felt there was room for one more.
In a way, we're almost a concierge. The most typical request that crosses our desk from an advisor is: I have this family, and I just don't know how to put this together. There are a lot of elements in a national parks trip. Where should they stay? How do I find guides? These clients want a private guide the whole time; those ones are happy to self drive. So instead of pumping out predetermined itineraries, we ask what this family wants to do over seven days, what the budget is, and we start putting the pieces together.
We also offer more interesting, more dynamic experiences. Yes, there's the typical circuit, where people stay at a hotel and go into the park with a guide. But we also find new things to do. Maybe someone didn't realise they could go rafting there, or take a horseback ride into an area of a park they didn't know offered trail rides. That's what has become really interesting for me.
We're also offering areas like the Pacific Northwest. Everyone is obsessed with the Southwest corridor, but we're curating trips to the Oregon coast and up into Washington, kayaking with orcas in the San Juan Islands, and flying up to British Columbia, to Tofino and Clayoquot, which is like a mini Alaska. That's what I'm really interested in: offering new possibilities in North America.
Then there is the safari camp product. This past year we had a safari camp in Yosemite, which is really exciting. And another unique option is using private villas outside the national parks. For families of five or more, it can be really hard to find accommodation. Having a private home with a private chef, and guides to take you into the national park, is really special. It isn't available everywhere, but where it is, it's wonderful. Jackson Hole, for instance, for exploring Grand Teton National Park.
Kelly: You've mentioned the Southwest corridor, the Pacific Northwest and Yosemite. Could you share a handful of your favourite experiences or destinations, perhaps some lesser known national parks you'd love more people to experience?
Frank: A lot of people go to Yellowstone and think of Grand Teton as a side trip. But I feel Grand Teton is America's Patagonia. There's hiking and there's wildlife. You can genuinely go on a wildlife safari one day, hike to a waterfall the next, then go rafting and horseback riding the day after. It's a really dynamic destination, and it's been fun to do more there.
I'm also enamoured with the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon coast is probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, which was such a surprise. Inland, Oregon has beautiful wine country, and you can go surfing too. Oregon is epic. Up in Washington, the San Juan Islands are really special, almost like a mini Galápagos right off Seattle. Going out there by seaplane or private yacht is really interesting. And then British Columbia. You and I both surf, so I'm always looking for places to surf, and Tofino on Vancouver Island is epic for wildlife, surfing and hiking. Those are really interesting places to travel right now. I'm also out in North Carolina, which is a full adventure hotspot, and it's been great to do more there too.
Kelly: Adventure travel is about the adventure, but it can also lend itself to wellness, because you're in nature, moving your body and breathing fresh air, and adventure often comes with camaraderie. Wellness travel is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism. How can you blend wellness with adventure on a national park trip, beyond the traditional wellness resort?
Frank: We recently curated a really interesting trip for some very senior CEOs who wanted to go to Moab. They wanted a couple of days of remoteness and then to finish at a more traditional luxury property. They wanted something that went beyond hiking, rafting and ATVs, around mindfulness and wellness. So we set up a safari camp in Moab, and we did breathwork, yoga, sharing circles and fascial release stretching. There was much more going on than "okay guys, let's go hike". I think they got a deeper layer out of it than a boys' trip. Then they finished at a ranch with a lovely spa, where they continued with yoga and massages between their excursions. For me, that sounded like a really epic few days. It isn't on offer for every trip, but if people want to go that deeper layer, it's all possible.
You mentioned this is trending. I think what's trending is people wanting some relief from stress and from the constant flow of technology. Everyone feels so stressed, the cost of living is rising, and technology is a lot. People are asking, can I just go to Costa Rica, surf, do some yoga and have massages? They're looking for relief. How can I feel a little lighter?
Kelly: And you don't have to go far to find that, because there are such amazing nature based experiences close to home in the US and Canada. To wrap up, when you craft an experience, whether it's summiting Kilimanjaro or going to Moab, what do you hope travellers come home with from one of Northern Journeys' journeys?
Frank: I get really excited about families travelling. It's great to see parents putting together interesting trips for their kids. My hope is that those kids are in nature and always know that if they're stressed, having confusing feelings or navigating life, nature is the ultimate medicine. It has been for me. Whether it's an expedition in a remote country or travel here at home, I feel we're a vehicle for getting people into nature. What that looks like, what people spend and where they go can vary enormously, but that's the through line. Hopefully, from there, they become advocates for the environment and want to protect nature, because they've found so much joy and solace outdoors. You create all these little ambassadors who want to protect open spaces and respect other people's cultures. It's amazing how much simply getting people outside can ripple out into the world.
Kelly: I love that. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and the story of Northern Journeys. If people want to connect with you, what's the best way to say hi?
Frank: I always say, talk to Kelly. Get hold of Kelly and she'll get hold of us.
Kelly: Perfect. You can email me at kelly@travelkinship.com, or look up adventure-international.com and northern-journeys.com to learn more about the beautiful experiences Frank creates around the world. Thank you so much for sharing, Frank.
Frank: Thank you.
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In this Travel Kinship live Q&A, Viktor Hošek, founder of Dream Tours, shows travel professionals how to plan Austria this winter and in 2027: the Christmas markets of Vienna and Salzburg, four very different ski areas, the Salzburg lakes and the private, after hours experiences his team arranges, with Kelly Tolliday hosting.
Connect me with Dream Tours
What you will learn
Why Austria sits at the heart of most Central Europe trips, and how it compares with Switzerland
Winter beyond skiing: Christmas markets, the Krampus tradition and private festive experiences
Choosing a ski area for each client: Zillertal, Kitzbühel, Lech Zürs and Sölden
New for 2027: five senses tours combining sightseeing, a tasting and a short workshop
Longer stays by the lakes near Salzburg, Austrian wine and cycling along the Danube
Four family and mountain hotels outside Vienna and Salzburg
Private experiences, from Vienna’s palaces after hours to Berchtesgaden from Salzburg
Planning Austria: key questions answered
How do Vienna, Salzburg and the Alps fit into one trip?
Austria is compact. Vienna to Salzburg is about two and a half hours by train, and the mountains are an hour or an hour and a half from Salzburg, so clients can combine imperial cities with nature without long transfers.
Which Austrian ski area suits which client?
Zillertal offers a huge ski area and year round snow on the Hintertux Glacier; Kitzbühel combines skiing with lifestyle and the Hahnenkamm race; Lech Zürs is the most luxurious, with Swiss standard chalets; and Sölden adds glacier snow and James Bond history.
What can clients do in an Austrian winter if they do not ski?
Viktor builds winter around the Christmas markets of Vienna and Salzburg, the Krampus tradition and private experiences in the cities, then adds snow activities as clients wish.
Are the Austrian lakes worth a longer stay?
Yes. Viktor recommends three to five nights by a lake near Salzburg rather than a quick visit, with day trips around the Salzkammergut from a comfortable base.
What is new from Dream Tours for 2027?
Five senses tours in the capitals: sightseeing, a stop at a local bistro and a short hands on workshop, such as a silversmith, all in one tour.
Questions travel professionals asked Viktor
What private experiences can Dream Tours arrange?
In Vienna, hundreds of sites can be opened after hours, including the Belvedere, Schönbrunn Palace and Liechtenstein Palace, plus pre opera visits. From Salzburg, clients can see Berchtesgaden’s Second World War sites with access usually closed to the public, or take a helicopter to lunch or sunset on a mountain top.
Does Dream Tours arrange hiking?
Yes. Most clients choose guided day hikes around the lakes, and multi day hikes with luggage transfers are possible too.
How does Dream Tours work with travel professionals?
Ideally Dream Tours handles the whole trip, including hotels, so it can manage everything smoothly. Viktor is open to splitting hotel bookings, can offer Virtuoso amenities where hotels provide them, and offers 24/7 WhatsApp support on complex bookings.
Is there a minimum spend?
No. Viktor prefers to stay flexible and find a way to help with each request.
Can Dream Tours look after clients before or after a river cruise?
Yes. About one in five enquiries is for pre or post cruise stays, often starting in Budapest or picking up in Germany and continuing to Prague.
Should clients still visit Hallstatt?
It is less crowded than before 2019 and a private guide plans around the crowds, but a full day around the other Salzkammergut lakes and towns can be even more rewarding.
Is it too late to book the Christmas markets?
No. Even the days around Christmas can still be arranged, although guides and New Year capacity are tighter. The main markets stay open into early January; smaller ones usually close after Christmas Eve.
Which smaller towns have lovely Christmas markets?
The towns around the Salzburg lakes all have their own markets, Vienna has charming smaller markets beyond the main one, and Český Krumlov, just over the Czech border, is full of them.
About Dream Tours
Dream Tours is a boutique luxury destination management company founded by Viktor Hošek, based in Prague and operating across Central Europe. Travel Kinship represents Dream Tours to travel professionals. Discover Dream Tours or contact Travel Kinship for an introduction.
Full Transcript
Kelly: Let's start with a little introduction to Travel Kinship. I'm Kelly Tolliday, Managing Director of Travel Kinship. We're a global representation company specialising in some of the world's most boutique, locally run DMCs, across Europe, North, Central and South America, and Asia, and we also have a collection of unique nature based properties around the world. You can find all our DMCs and properties on our website. Today I'm joined by Viktor Hošek, founder of Dream Tours, which is based in Prague and operates across Central Europe. We're focusing on Austria: the festive season, Christmas markets, the ski season and what's coming up for spring and summer. If you have questions, write them in the questions box and we'll take them first come, first served. Viktor will start with an introduction to Dream Tours as your destination partner across Central Europe, then go deeper into Austria.
Viktor: Thank you, Kelly, for the introduction and for organising this, and thank you everyone for your time. I know it's the most valuable thing we all have, especially before the festive season. Let me dive into my slides. First, the territory we cover. Dream Tours is a boutique luxury DMC, and most of our clients come from the US, North America and Latin America. Almost everyone who comes to our region combines countries, so our goal is to provide the same level of experience everywhere, throughout the whole trip. You don't have to switch to a different DMC and a different provider for every country. What I'd love you to know is that you don't have to worry every day while your clients are travelling, because we cover all these destinations and you can leave your clients with us the whole time. Across the territory we focus on collecting exclusive and unusual experiences. We started years ago in Prague and in Vienna, collecting after hours visits and very tailor made experiences, and now we can offer them across the whole territory. Of course we also handle all the general requests. We are with your clients all the time. Our 24/7 WhatsApp support and the care we give clients during their trip is something we really rely on, and for me it's the most important thing we offer: your clients are in good hands the whole time they're travelling. But today we're here to talk about Austria. As you can see, the country is full of mountains, and I always compare it with Switzerland, which is very famous in Latin America and North America. I would say Austria has even more to offer, because here you have Vienna and Salzburg, two cities steeped in history. You don't just have nature and landscape; you can combine a historic trail and then go straight into nature, and it's all very compact. Vienna to Salzburg is two and a half hours by train, and from Salzburg the mountain areas are an hour or an hour and a half away. We can even organise a day trip from Vienna to Salzburg and back. I don't really recommend it, but it's doable. In terms of service, Austria is very good. Across our territory, Austria and the Czech Republic are where we can do the most exclusive things. There are the most places that can be privatised, where we have direct access, and the service is at the very best level, even compared with Germany or Switzerland. So I would say Austria is the leader of our territory, and almost all our clients cross Austria at some point, so it's very important for us. As Kelly said, we're here to talk about the winter season and then about 2027. In winter, Austria isn't just a ski destination; you can combine the cities and nature beautifully. In Central Europe the most important thing in the festive season is the Christmas markets, and the most famous are in Vienna and Salzburg. We always try to add other experiences to the itinerary too, something that belongs to the snow, or private visits while clients discover the cities and the markets. The Krampus tradition is very interesting, and it's coming up in November; we've already had three or four requests to be there. Even a ski holiday can be combined with the cities, because you always fly somewhere, usually Vienna or Munich as the closest airports, and then continue to the mountains. On skiing, I've chosen four ski areas, and each is a little different. My personal favourite, as a skier myself, is Zillertal, one of the largest ski areas, with the Hintertux Glacier at the end of the valley, so there's snow all year round. Even when other resorts can't offer good conditions, you can be sure you'll be able to ski there. Kitzbühel is the most famous, because of the Hahnenkamm race, one of the hardest downhills in the world, which gets the whole world's attention every year. The town of the same name is lovely, with very nice five star properties, and it's more of a lifestyle destination than a strictly skiing one. Lech and Zürs are very close to Switzerland, and they feel a little more Swiss than Austrian, full of chalets and luxury shops. They're for clients looking for Swiss standards of accommodation and chalets; elsewhere you rarely find really good chalets, but in Lech you can find perhaps fifteen of them. So the most luxurious area is definitely Lech Zürs. And Sölden is one of my favourites, because it's not just about winter but summer too. A James Bond film was shot there and there's a really nice exhibition at the top of the mountain. There's also a glacier, so there's snow all year, and in summer we organise trips there for clients who are very into James Bond. I have one more slide on Austria in 2027, because we've tried to come up with something extra for next year. In each core destination, in each capital, we'll add tours we call five senses tours. They'll include the sightseeing, but also a short workshop and a tasting of something nice. People ask for food tours, but nobody wants to eat all day, and sometimes a workshop is very long. So in each destination I'm putting together a combination: sightseeing, then a stop at a local bistro, then a silversmith's shop for a short workshop where you learn something directly, all in one tour. I hope this will bring attention to our services next year. The lakes are, I would say, the best part of the whole Central European region. I go to the Austrian lakes myself for a week every year, and there's now a really good range of lovely properties, so clients can stay longer. It's not just about going to see the places; you can stay close to Salzburg, for example, do lovely trips around the area and stay by the lake for three, four or five nights. Austria is also a wine country, which is very important to mention. And for active clients who'd like a really nice walk or a bike ride along the Danube, that's something to keep in mind. Lastly, these hotels are top of our list. Everyone knows the hotels in Salzburg and Vienna, but I want to mention these four for family stays and for staying close to the mountains, and each is different. Das Edelweiss is a big property with wonderful activities for children. Moar Gut is what they call a Bauernhof hotel; Bauer means farmer, so they have great farming activities for children, getting in touch with the animals and learning how a farm works, but at a five star level. Krallerhof has a beautiful spa, as you can see in the picture. And Rosewood has just taken over Schloss Fuschl, which is legendary and probably one of the best hotels in Austria, just outside Salzburg. That's the most luxurious version of a lake hotel. I know there will be questions, and I'm ready to answer them.
Kelly: Amazing, thank you so much, Viktor. If anyone has questions about Austria, put them in the question box at the top. Everyone listening will receive the recording and a PDF of the slides, so you'll have all this information. The first comment is some praise for Dream Tours: "I love Dream Tours. My clients travelled to Germany, Austria and Switzerland this past summer and had the best time. They raved about their guides and experiences." Thank you for that feedback. I can also personally say that previous clients of mine who travelled with Dream Tours had nothing but great things to say. Next question: can you give some examples of the special private experiences you can arrange for clients? I'm sure it's a wide range, depending on the season.
Viktor: Yes, depending on the season. The widest range is in Vienna, as the capital, where there are hundreds of sites that can be privatised after opening hours. Almost anywhere you can imagine can be opened after hours. The Belvedere with the Klimt paintings, or Schönbrunn Palace, are quite common requests. Liechtenstein Palace in Vienna can be yours alone with your guide, as if you have the keys. We also do pre opera visits in Vienna, and there are plenty of other things. I'd also mention Salzburg and Berchtesgaden, which is very famous. It's in a corner of Germany, but it almost belongs to Austria, because the tours there go from Salzburg. It's about 20 minutes from Salzburg, while from Munich it's two hours, so most people visit from Salzburg. It's a very important Second World War site, and we can give you access to places usually closed to the public, including the lift inside the rock, where you can see the machinery and go deep inside with your guide. Then there's the helicopter flight, but with lunch, or a sunset in summer, right at the top of the mountain before coming back. I know a helicopter can be done anywhere, but it depends on doing it smoothly with the right place to go, so it's not just point A to B but something special on the way. And as I mentioned, Sölden and James Bond: one client asked for something really tailor made around James Bond, so we're creating a whole trip with secret envelopes and surprises. He'd like to jump from a cliff, I mean paragliding, and he thinks it will come on the last day, but it will come the day before, because there will be a change. That's also part of our work. When someone asks for something special, it's more like creating an event. Even ordinary things, in the right order and with the right story around them, become extraordinary private experiences.
Kelly: Amazing, thank you. Do you offer hiking trips?
Viktor: Yes. People ask in two ways. We've done multi day hiking trips, which are definitely not for everyone, but most people ask for day hikes, which are very common. Multi day trips are doable too; we transfer the luggage, and once we did four days that finished with white water rafting, an adrenaline week in Austria. Usually, though, it's a day hike somewhere around the lakes with a guide, and that's a really lovely experience.
Kelly: Perfect. Next question: can you describe how you work? Do you only do full itineraries? Can you match or pass on Virtuoso amenities? Do you give a breakdown of pricing? Do you have a WhatsApp chat with clients? So maybe go through the process of working with Dream Tours, minimum spend and so on.
Viktor: The most important thing for us, and the core of our business, is that you trust us to handle the whole enquiry from the first point to the last, including the accommodation. Where hotels offer Virtuoso amenities, we can offer them as well. Sometimes we can even get a better price than the Virtuoso rate, so we can discuss what matters more to you or your clients, the amenities or the price. I understand that agents sometimes like to book hotels themselves, so there can be options where we do land services only. But I can tell you that right now we've had requests for four, five or six separate services over the New Year period, and I declined them, because in peak season I need to focus on the smoothest possible execution. We are not usually a DMC that offers just transfers or a single tour. The most important thing is that you give us the clients from beginning to end, so we're responsible for everything running smoothly. If you really want to book the hotels yourself, I'm always open to discussing it. If there are four hotels, you could book two and we could book two; there's always a way to find the right approach. Good relationships with the hotels in our territory also matter to us.
Kelly: And how do you manage client communication during the trip? Do you have a WhatsApp chat?
Viktor: Yes, WhatsApp. Since COVID it's become standard and all clients have their WhatsApp chat. We think it belongs to the clients for whom we handle all the services. If you just book us for two or three tours, it's not really for questions about the hotel. I don't have a strict rule written down, but I'd say it belongs to complex bookings.
Kelly: Do you have a minimum spend, or a per person per day figure for Austria? I guess it changes by season.
Viktor: Right now we don't have a minimum spend, because you never know how a request will go. I remember a request for a short stay in Prague with quite a small budget, and we said yes and did it. Three weeks later the same agent sent us a much bigger enquiry. That's why I'm always open to cooperating and finding a way, rather than setting a minimum.
Kelly: And can you work with a pre or post river cruise stay?
Viktor: That's about 20 percent of the enquiries we receive. This year was very different, because many sailings were cancelled due to the low river level, and twice we had booked a pre and post cruise stay and ended up arranging the whole trip by land instead. Usually it starts in Budapest, or there's a pick up in Germany and then on to Prague. I sometimes also suggest clients check how the tours and experiences on the cruise are run, because the level of service can be quite different from private touring. If clients want the cruise, of course they go, but it's a small piece of advice.
Kelly: What do you recommend for clients who want to go to Hallstatt? Is there an alternative that isn't as overcrowded?
Viktor: Luckily, since COVID it has never returned to how it was in 2019. Back then I told everyone not to go, because there were buses standing everywhere. There's even a replica of Hallstatt in China, so many visitors wanted to see the real one. Now it's not as crowded as it was. But if you only have one day, the whole area has so much to offer. You can go around the other lakes and spend more time in towns such as Wolfgangsee; there are maybe ten different stops. If someone really wants to see Hallstatt, our private guide does it a little differently, not just the main car park and the same tour as everyone else, so you're not with the crowds all the time. Still, you lose time you could spend discovering something more. You can easily lose two and a half hours of your private guide's time standing in the queue. I know it's iconic and worth seeing, and it's easy for me to say, having been six or seven times. But we can do a really lovely tour around the Salzkammergut lake district without Hallstatt and clients will be very happy with the programme.
Kelly: Switching to Christmas markets and the festive season: is it too late to book?
Viktor: I don't know why everyone was sleeping in July and August, because September and the beginning of October were our busiest in maybe ten years. The trend is to do everything last minute. But it's still worth it, and there's still time to organise everything. Capacity around New Year can be complicated, and if you want one particular small hotel it may be difficult, but in general, even on the 24th or 25th of December, it's fine. The hotels aren't full and the experiences can still be done; it can just be harder to allocate guides everywhere. Last year our biggest booking of the whole year came in on the 15th of November for the 23rd of December to the end of the year, and we organised it within a month. So it's never too late. The main Christmas markets stay open until the end of the year or early January, while the small ones usually close after Christmas Eve. So from the end of November until Christmas Eve is the time for the Christmas markets, the best atmosphere and all the concerts. Then it becomes more about celebrating, and the markets quieten down between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Kelly: Are there any unique towns or villages beyond Vienna and Salzburg that give a really special experience of the festive season and Christmas markets?
Viktor: I know we're talking about Austria, but the Christmas markets are big across the whole region, and the Czech Republic and Germany have a lot to offer too. Český Krumlov, right on the border between the Czech Republic and Austria, is a UNESCO World Heritage town surrounded by the river, with the castle on top, and it's full of lovely markets, not one big one but markets everywhere and a wonderful atmosphere. Some of these smaller towns have more charm than the crowded ones. That said, I was in Vienna last year, and as well as the big market in front of the city hall there are smaller ones, with real animals and everything, and they were lovely. So even in Vienna there are markets and a festive atmosphere well worth visiting. Almost every small town has its own market. The smaller towns near Salzburg and in the lake district all have their own Christmas markets and are decorated for Christmas, so it's worth doing a full day tour around the lakes and visiting several towns on the way. I wouldn't say one is the best; they all have something to offer.
Kelly: Amazing. I think that's it for questions.
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