Unique Travel Agency

Does anyone know of a travel agency that can plan unique tours. Any guide/legitamate agency/company that will plan and help a baby boomer aged couple to plan whatever trip they fancy? We can call them up and give them a list of things we want to do, however unique they are, as well as they can provide us with suggestions of special things and places? It could either be a guided tour or a place that just coordinates it all for us. Just so we don't have to hassle with medical worries, visas, and other comforts.

It seems like there should be some company out there that does this or at least acts as a referal service to various companies that are experts in local regions. Any ideas?

Or any other travellers our age (about to turn 60 each of us) who are in decent shape but want the comfort of planning a unique, long term trip now that the kids are all gone? We are empty nesters I am told, but I prefer to say we are middle aged (on our way to 120 I guess). We want to take a 3-4 month vacation and really do something special, different. Anyone else?

Thanks.

Well theoretically of course any travel agent can do what you are asking. In reality, many do little more than book package holidays for people. To find a truly knowledgeable travel agent isn't easy. To suggest one to you though I think you first need to say where you are. If you are in Seattle, there is no use having someone suggest one in Boston.

It also depends on what you mean by unique. If you want one that can plan a trip around the world to take in all the best times for flowers, it might be a problem. You have given no indication of what it is you are interested in seeing/doing.

Many travellers here on the TT, do their own research and planning. That is probably the only way to plan something that is really very original.

One idea that would completely relieve you of the worries and boring research before a long trip, though at the other extreme from a unique experience, is suggested below (I hope this helps):

Next, Please by Philip Larkin

Always too eager for the future, we
Pick up bad habits of expectancy.
Something is always approaching; every day
Till then we say,

Watching from a bluff the tiny, clear
Sparkling armada of promises draw near.
How slow they are! And how much time they waste,
Refusing to make haste!

Yet still they leave us holding wretched stalks
Of disappointment, for, though nothing balks
Each big approach, leaning with brasswork prinked,
Each rope distinct,

Flagged, and the figurehead wit golden tits
Arching our way, it never anchors; it's
No sooner present than it turns to past.
Right to the last

We think each one will heave to and unload
All good into our lives, all we are owed
For waiting so devoutly and so long.
But we are wrong:

Only one ship is seeking us, a black-
Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her back
A huge and birdless silence. In her wake
No waters breed or break.

Thought about backpacking Europe?

I'm 67. Been on tours, criuses, even a camera safari in Kenya.

Backpacking is the only way I'll go any more.
TI( (tourist info booths have cool unusual places on a list they give you.
Youth hostels are age friendly. Europeans bp into thier 70's. Its the most fun, relaxing, creative, and easlily changrd route system. I don't book ahead unless its a holiday, where I'm headed or high season. And so what if you do an hour search for a bed. You'll know more about the place for the next day.

Stay 3 nights every digs (sleeping accom.)
Intrnational Youth Hostels Association seems to house more middle aged folks.

Whole families bp together. Its fun!

And antiAmerican sentiments are mostly a myth. The main objection to us yanks is;
"They only talk to the people they travel with. aqnd "They're afraid of everything, but won't listen to the exsplanation."

Too true. The pearl of a conversation is often in the
"oh by the way" punchline. You like folks to hear you out, right?
You've got friends over there, you ain't met yet.

Don't just do something, sit there.

The way the industry is set up, travel agents earn their bread and butter through commissions from hotels, airlines, tour companies, etc. This means they are knowledgeable about and comfortable recommending and booking only the very mainstream, upper budget companies that provide the commissions.

I remember planning a trip to Victoria Falls with the assistance of a travel agent. She told me the only hotel she could book for me in Vic Falls was $600 per might for foreigners. I said I would sleep on a bench before I would pay that. Got on the internet and found a lovely lodge for $65 per night. But of course, at that price they would not be paying commissions to travel agents so they were not in her directories.

Every time I hear of the industry talking about switching over to a fee system (paid for by the traveler) so that they could be truly independent in their recommendations and bookings, people seem to scream, "Ripoff." We are not used to paying travel agents for their advice.

AS well, there may be some travel agents who are widely traveled at the "independent" level, but I am guessing that most have their travel experiences courtesy of "fam" tours which are provided for the indlustry by suppliers, so the agents will recomend their hotel, tour company,etc. Here in Canada, travel agents make very low salaries and have limited "holiday time" so it's not likely they do much travel outside of these fam tours. Their experience is definitely limited. Again, not all, but many.

A few years ago a fellow who WAS widely traveled offered his services here on this board - to help less experienced travelers plan and book their trips - he was roundly slammed for going commercial. Too bad. I thought it was a good idea.

If you want some ideas, go have a look at my website, www.lifewellspent.com. We travel about 6 mos of the year and post lots of trip reports there. I am usually pretty frank about costs, good companies/bad companies etc. May help give you some direction.

I have come across a few guides and soem groups from Intrepid Travel in some of the Asian countries I visited and have been impressed by this ability to connect with the locals and get away from the stock-standard tourist route. Not exactly what you are looking for as they are not a travel agent but a tour organiser but I think they organise trips for individuals as well as groups. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/

I can't give a personal recommendation as I have never used them myself - I love the planning and researching part of a holiday too much to go on a tour or to use travel agents.

Conde Nast Traveller had a great article a number of months back about the best travel agents for a particular trip... so if you wanted to plan an amazing trip with special access to normally not seen spots, that's the agent you want. However, be forwarned: they were NOT cheap!

Here is a link: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/11587

good luck!

I make a distinction between travel "agent" and travel "consultant." A "travel agent" works for commissions - not for you, the traveler - he/she is a member (a clog in the wheel) of the travel industry.

A "travel consultant" does not accept free stays or commissions of any kind. He or she is not, therefore, a "player" in the "travel game". A travel consultant charges YOU for consultant services just as any other consultant would. You pay for unbiased advice and suggestions. Worth it, in my opinion, if you haven't been there yourself.

I am a travel consultant, but only for travel in Costa Rica, where I live and have traveled, and do travel, a lot! I do not attempt to provide consultancy services for Ireland or Tasmania, since I have not traveled there - and haven't even read the brochures!

If you used my services, I would ask you many questions in order to define what it is you seek from your holiday. Then I would tailor-make suggestions just for you, which you could take or leave - it matters not to me, since I will be paid the same whether you accept my advice and suggestions or not. No commissions to be made by me because I recommended a particular hotel, so no reason for me to recommend it unless it happens to be just right for you. I do want you to be happy with your holiday, however, because you will become key to my business - your recommendation of my services will provide most of my future clients.

So, look for a "travel consultant." We exist everywhere. Perhaps we just don't have quite so grand a sign or office or website for you to go ga-ga over.

Not a bad pitch Rader. Costs could mount up though for someone thinking of visiting quite a few places on one trip.

Yahoo financial news has an article now on yank travellers. More are opting to backpack and stay in hostels.

Good news is, its a chance to educate more of us naíve yanks about the outside world.

Bad news is, they can be a pain in the ass. And it'll be harder to get beds.
One objection to us yanks is, we only talk to the people we travel with. Or mostly other yanks. Sad waist of opportunity.

Educate a yank who'll hear you out. That's a talent we've squelched. Instant gratification, and substitution of video games for intraction.

"reality shows?"

Thanks for all the great replies. And thanks to Rader (8) for the travel consultant idea. That is what we want. The travel consultant. But now the tricky part....We want a travel consultant and we are not exactly sure where to go. We have some ideas and would love to talk/pay with a consultant. So , I guess what I want is a directory of consultants, so that I can pay a fellow like Rader and then if I wanted to go to "Ireland or Tasmania" then Rader could point me to the right travel consultant and/or know of a guide in those unique places. I understand that travelling independently is great and it is the way to go for some. And I also get that some folks like catered, boring, typical tours. I guess what I want is something in the middle, if that makes sense. Thanks again everyone.

Is this is the kind of travel agent you are looking for?
http://www.rogerkershaw.com/

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

Next time tryt backpacking. And love the diff either way.
ç(;oD

For years I did what Rader does. I was a travel consultant (before I retired) but only specialized in Australia. Because people paid me for my time, I would book anything they wanted, including hostels.

The bad news for you is that the truly good travel consultants only specialize in a very limited area. I used to spend 2-3 hours a day reading about Australia: hotel updates, special events ect in addition to my many trips there. And that was just to keep "in the know"

If is best to meet face to face but not imperative. I had clients from all over the US from referals. Personally, I would not use someone like what #11 suggested. This Roger is a Vituoso agent and I can tell you they do not get accepted by Vituoso without having sold a very high amount of commissionable items.

Go to the countries webs site and see if they maintain a list of specialists and start there. Many countries have "specialist" programs.