Tailormade Holidays

Choosing your holiday destination

This part of the holiday planning is the best part! You've chosen which country you'd like to visit and should have an idea of which cities or sites you'd like to include on a touring itinerary. If not, grab a guidebook, explore our website which is packed full of information on all the best places to visit, or check out TV documentaries for inspiration. Let your imagination run riot and look into popular spots as well as off the beaten track destinations for something a little different.

Experiences - taking you beyond the main sites

You know where you want to go, what you want to see and where you want to stay but there might be a special excursion or activity you want to add to make this trip the most memorable of all. If you're in the Masai Mara consider a hot-air balloon ride at dawn floating over the endless plains as the resident wildlife spring into life or brave the cold and head out into Iceland's countryside in search of the spectacular Northern Lights. The range of experiences can be just as diverse as the destination so whether it's food, wildlife or outdoor pursuits that you're interested in, decide whether you want to incorporate that into your holiday.

Holiday Duration

This could range from a long-weekend to an epic month-long tour. How long you have to spend on holiday will affect how much you can cover without exhausting yourself. If you're flying half-way around the world to get to your chosen destination it's worth spending at least two weeks there to get over the long flight and make the journey worth it. For shorter-haul destinations you can get away with a quicker holiday as there'll be less jetlag to deal with and less time spent flying, which means more time out and about exploring.

Pace of travel - tailored to suit

Are you happy with a fast-paced tour visiting as many sites as possible with guided touring each day or do you prefer a more relaxed pace, mixing half day tours with time to explore independently? If your list of destinations includes cities and beaches or national parks, would you prefer to mix it up over the time you have or start with the touring and end with time at leisure on the beach? The more places included on your itinerary the more time spent travelling and checking in and out of hotels and possibly airports and train stations. If relaxed is the speed you're aiming for, consider visiting fewer places to allow more time in each.

Choosing the right accommodation

Where you spend each night can be just as important as what you do each day so it's good to have a clear idea of what you're expecting of your accommodation. Hotels range from affordable 3* properties to opulent 5* properties that may eat up a fair chunk of your budget but offer the best in luxury and comfort. Consider whether a swimming pool is important to you, whether you will want to use a gym whilst on holiday or have access to an on-site spa for the chance to relax.

Many countries offer their own unique type of accommodation from traditional Japanese ryokans with futons and tatami mats or heritage properties in India's Rajasthan where former royal palaces and forts have been transformed into beautiful hotels. Depending on your choice of destination you may want to add a night on a houseboat or spend a night in a homestay for an insight into a new culture, camp beneath the stars out in the desert or sleep in a treehouse in the jungle - in many places accommodation can be an experience in itself!

It's also wise to consider location - do you want to be in the heart of a city with easy access to transport, shops and restaurants or are you happy to stay in remote hotels where the only dining options are the hotel restaurant? If you're visiting a city for a particular event then location will be key whereas in some destinations a hotel or resort can provide you with everything you could possibly need making location less of a consideration.

Choosing the best transport options

From thrilling rickshaw rides on the city streets to road transfers in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles, getting from A to B will be a necessary part of any tour itinerary but also allows for unique experiences. Perhaps you'd like to see more of Vietnam's countryside and cycle between Hue to Hoi An or cruise between St. Petersburg and Moscow visiting interesting places along the way.

Trains are an excellent choice of transportation in many countries as they provide the chance to interact with locals and soak up the views as you travel to your destination whether it's journeying through the dramatic landscapes of the Sacred Valley to reach Machu Picchu or speeding across Japan in an ultra-modern bullet train. If you're a die-hard railway enthusiast you may want to spend your entire holiday on a train and a number of destinations offer such once-in-a-lifetime experiences - just consider the Trans-Mongolian route between Beijing and Moscow drinking vodka with local Russians, or India's selection of luxury train journeys where you can relive the royal experience of the Maharajas.

Depending on what you're looking to cover, flights may be necessary to save time travelling by road. The cost of domestic flights can either be surprisingly affordable or shockingly pricey - it ultimately depends on the destination, time of travel and availability. Overnight tourist buses exist in many countries - especially in South America where a bus ticket gets you ample leg room, onboard toilets, TV entertainment and snacks - and for those on a budget it's a great alternative to flying, saving on the cost of a night's accommodation at the same time.

Touring and local guides

To get the most out of your destination it's always best to travel with a guide or use local guides at each site. A passionate, knowledgeable guide can provide you with an invaluable insight into the places you visit, the local culture and be a handy source of tips whether it's the best place to sample the local delicacies or best bars in town. In some destinations your tour guide will also be your driver and accompany you throughout your journey whereas in other destinations you may travel independently and meet a number of specialist guides at each port of call. Private touring in some parts of the world can be prohibitively expensive so where available you may wish to consider joining shared tours, which not only keeps costs down but also gives you the opportunity to meet other travellers.

Your holiday budget

Having a budget in mind will help decide on the most suitable standard of accommodation to use, the most cost effective modes of transport and whether shared touring or private touring is the best way to go. Ideally our dreams would come first and the budget would sort itself out but unfortunately this is rarely the case so starting with a ballpark figure of what you're willing to spend will ensure that services are selected according to expectations - a 3* budget will require 3* services whereas a 5* budget will allow for 5* services. However, don't let budget put you off! If your budget is limited but you want to add in a spot of luxury here and there, consider a lower standard of accommodation for the most part with a few nights in an upgraded hotel as a treat.

Other ways to make your budget go further is to look at travelling in low season. The weather may not be at its best but there will always be something to see and something to do, usually without the crowds and with hotel room rates slashed and flights and trains much quieter.