Fancy a hotel in South America with a room decorated with white furniture? Or maybe a private bungalow in the middle of nowhere?
Well, with the rise of craft travel, globetrotters can expect bespoke experiences that does not compromise their budget or their preferences.
According to Pretoria-based travel expert Rolín Nel, the days for generic travel packages are numbered and the era of craft travel has arrived.
Nel, who owns Kaross Travel, puts together some of the most unique packages that caters to her client’s needs.
She said travellers yearn for unique experiences.
Rolin Nel shares her craft travel tips.
“People spend years saving to go on holiday and they want the experience to last a lifetime. Sadly, many travel agents create packages according to overall group needs rather than an individual experience.
“Craft travel puts the traveller first. We look at the client’s destination preferences, type of accommodation, budget and the experiences they seek. After we establish these important information, we are able to create an itinerary for them,” she said.
And no request is too big.
Once Nel had a client who coughed up over R80 000 pp for a week’s stay at a hotel in South America. The clients did not like the colour of the curtain and checked out. Fortunately, she had a list of other hotels that was able to cater to their preferences.
Other clients requests include carpeted flooring, the best Egyptian cotton linen and no rooms were to be smaller than 100sqm.
“Travellers should not compromise on their holidays even if the demands seem outrageous. You are entitled to have great travel experiences and that is what your travel agent should focus on,” she said.
Among the favourite craft travel destinations include the Northern Lights in Norway, Svalbard between Norway and the North Pole, Amalfi Coast in Italy and Mauritius.