Tailor-made Holidays

Often this is the best part of holiday planning. If you haven't chosen which country you'd like to visit or which cities or sites you'd like to see, explore our website and blog, which is packed full of information and inspiration on all the best places to visit. We're here to guide you through your choices, recommending both popular spots as well as gems off the beaten track for that something special.

The range of experiences on offer around the world can be just as diverse as each destination, so whether it's food, wildlife or outdoor pursuits that you're interested in, we'll advise on fabulous experiences to incorporate into your holiday. In the Masai Mara for example, there's a hot-air balloon ride at dawn floating over the endless plains as the resident wildlife spring into life. Or in Iceland, perhaps brave the cold and head out into the countryside in search of the spectacular Northern Lights.

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 jet lag to deal with and less time spent flying, which means more time out and about exploring.

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.

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 star properties to opulent 5 star properties that may eat up a fair chunk of your budget but offer the best in luxury and comfort. Many countries offer their own unique type of accommodation from traditional Japanese ryokans with futons and tatami mats to converted former royal palaces and forts in India. 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.

Often it's the journey, not the destination, that's the best part of a holiday. Getting from A to B is a necessary part of any touring itinerary but can also throw up some interesting and unique experiences. Perhaps opt 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. Train journeys provide the chance to interact with locals and soak up the views, from journeying through the dramatic landscapes of the Sacred Valley to reach Machu Picchu and speeding across Japan in an ultra-modern bullet train to reliving the regal life of Maharajas on India's luxury trains. For longer distances, internal flights are best for cutting down on unnecessary travel time.

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 very 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.

Having a budget in mind will help you 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. Starting with a ballpark figure of what you're willing to spend will ensure that the itinerary and services we recommend are suitably tailored to fit your budget. A limited budget does not completely limit your experience, and it may still be possible to add in a spot of luxury or special activity or two on your holiday. While the weather may not always be at its best, travelling during low season is a great way to make your budget go further, with the added benefit of seeing the sites without the high-season crowds.