The benefits of a bespoke itinerary

In the internet age, so long as there’s a computer to hand, anyone can go online and book themselves a holiday. But just as owning a spanner doesn’t make you a plumber, neither does being a whizz with a mouse make you a travel expert. Sometimes, there’s just so much information out there that it’s hard to know where to start – and it can be a time consuming process to sift out what’s relevant and which recommendations are reliable. However, at Mundana, we believe that we can bring something special to your trip planning. Here’s why you should trust us to create a bespoke itinerary.

Your time is precious

Time is one of the most valuable commodities in our busy lives. Though for many of us, trip planning is a fun activity, it can also be very time consuming as internet searches lead us further from our original purpose with a few enticing clicks. You might have come online to take a closer look at a hotel you’re thinking of booking or to try to figure out how many days it’s going to take to see the sights in New York.

Before you know it, an hour’s passed and you find yourself instead looking at food tours and rooftop bars. Instead, you’re better off investing that time working out the kinds of things that are important to you and your family or friends. Are you culture vultures or night owls? Would a plate of bad food or a poorly located hotel ruin your vacation? Tell us what matters and we’ll come back to you with suggestions for a bespoke itinerary that can be refined until it’s absolutely perfect.

Ditch what bores you

The same principle applies once you’re on vacation. It can be tempting to find a reputable operator and book a group tour. But off the peg is rarely the perfect fit we hope it will be. Even if you’ve scrutinised the small print, there’ll always be a few surprises. Sometimes they can be a good thing, as the spontaneous moments of our trips can often be the most memorable. For example, you might stumble across a talented street performer or an unexpected parade.

But if you’re spending time in some boring museum or art gallery in which you have no interest simply because someone else thought it worthy, then that’s a waste of your time. If you’re making a return visit to a place, you’ll probably want to be sure that you’re not on a tour itinerary which replicates what you’ve done before. Go for a bespoke itinerary which will cater exactly for your needs, with no compromises. We’ll work with you to make sure that the only activities that make the cut are the ones that you think will make you happy.

Experts can help you get the timing right

Sometimes, work schedules and family commitments mean you can’t be as flexible with our holiday arrangements as we’d perhaps like. But if the trip dates you’re working with are fixed, it pays to be more flexible with the destination. One of the most important factors to consider is the weather at your destination, though a large conference in a small city can also impact severely on accommodation choices. Often you don’t have to travel far from the place you originally planned to visit to mitigate either issue and we can suggest an alternative that would work better.

Much of the Caribbean region, for instance, lies within the hurricane belt. That means if you hoped to visit in late August through September, you could be in for a wet and windy trip – or worse. Instead of choosing Barbados, Cuba or Puerto Rico, how about considering the ABCs instead? The Bahamas, Saba and Nevis are statistically most likely to lie in the path of a hurricane. However, we’d recommend islands such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, as they are rarely impacted.

When it comes to accommodation, it’s personal

Many hotels market themselves as luxury properties. But that doesn’t mean they’re all the same – when it comes to five stars, one size really doesn’t fit all. The star rating system can sometimes be more about facilities and functionality than the standard or style of what’s offered. That’s where a personalised approach to vacation planning really comes in to its own. We understand that opting for a bespoke trip means drilling down into what really matters.

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If work’s off the cards for a couple of weeks, you might be keen to find a hotel with a funky bar in a place known for its nightlife. Or maybe you’re seeking the exact opposite, a retreat where you can kick back and unwind. Families might love the convenience of interconnected rooms, kids’ clubs or safe spaces where teens can hang out. Meanwhile, if you’re travelling for business, connectivity’s important, but you’ll also benefit from a comfortable space to relax when the working day is over.

Travel your way

Another vital part of trip planning is figuring out how much time you should spend in each place and the best way of getting from A to B. Take Italy, for instance. You might fancy combining two world class cities such as Venice and Rome, or experience la dolce vita as you explore the villages of the Cinque Terre or the glamour of the Amalfi Coast. With a bespoke itinerary, discussing your preferences rather than opting for a readymade tour means you get to call the shots.

We can help you assess the convenience of a self-drive itinerary or hiring a car with a driver. Sometimes taking a domestic flight will be the best use of your time, but in some parts of the world, taking the train can be quicker or more fun. Other times, we know you’ll want to stay on the ground to make sure you don’t miss anything. We know where to suggest a more circuitous route so you can enjoy a scenic detour along the way and can advise on the minimum number of days you’ll need to see different places.

Stay abreast of change

The world of travel evolves all the time. Hotel chains expand and contract, museums close for lengthy refurbishments and the hottest restaurants in town can quickly become lukewarm with the departure of a chef. From time to time, cities veil their most iconic landmarks behind scaffolding. London’s Elizabeth Tower, home to the famous bell called Big Ben, had been shrouded for several years before 2022’s spectacular reveal. And it will be some years before Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris fully reopens after the shocking fire that caused extensive damage in 2019.

If you’ve always dreamed of seeing a particular landmark with your own eyes, the last thing you want is to find it’s not as you expected. So how do agencies like Mundana stay abreast of such changes? Subscribing to industry-only forums and specialist news agencies, together with attending annual conferences and benefiting from the tireless work of PR agencies are all tools that help industry professionals keep up to date.

At Mundana, we’re firm believers in the benefits of a bespoke itinerary. Travel’s our business and our passion, so why not put us to the test?