private travel · herd of wild elephants for the first time, experiencing rural life in a remote...

P R I VA T E T R AV E LL U X U R Y J O U R N E Y S D E S I G N E D J U S T F O R Y O U

“The journey you created for us was,

without a doubt, the most amazing, fun,

beautiful trip we have ever experienced.

Everything went as planned. The local

guides you chose for us added so much

to the success of the trip. They just

blended in with our family so well!”

- PAST-TRAVELED GUESTTCS PRIVATE TRAVEL

Dear World Traveler,

Professional travel planning with TCS World Travel is a luxury you’ve earned.

The Internet is helpful in all sorts of ways, but when it comes to managing the

most precious areas of our lives—experience and time—we prefer working

with professionals.

When it comes to creating tailored luxury journeys, we are your exclusive

travel professionals.

Mirroring TCS World Travel’s scheduled around-the-world private jet journeys,

the tailored journeys we create just for you are all-encompassing. They include

best-available chartered or commercial transportation, personalized day-by-day

itineraries, top-shelf accommodations, savvy local guides, reservations, drivers,

personalized dining experiences, tips and transfers.

The diff erence is you. Every journey we plan is just for you: year-round, whenever

your schedule permits, to virtually anywhere on Earth you want to explore. We are

available to you, your family and friends.

As always, if you’ve already traveled with TCS World Travel, all Private Travel

development fees are waived for you for life. If you haven’t experienced a tailored

journey with us, we hope that one of the real-world stories within this catalog

inspires you to create your very fi rst one.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or

800.454.4149 with any questions you may have.

Very truly yours,

Amber Shearer

Director of Private Travel

P.S. If you book your travel through a travel agent, please know that we love working

with agents, and we’ll gladly work with yours.

COVER: Friends dance during Holi in Jaipur, IndiaTHIS PAGE: Chiang Mai, Thailand

C R E AT I N G T H E P E R F E C T C U S T O M J O U R N E YF O R YO U A N D YO U R FA M I LYI S E A S I E R T H A N Y O U T H I N K

THIS PAGE: Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

“As the president of TCS World Travel, I’m

always asked where I’m going next. When I

travel with my family or friends, I work with

our Private Travel department. It’s the easiest,

best way to travel independently.”

- SHELLEY CLINEPRESIDENT, TCS WORLD TRAVEL

FA M I LY A N D M U L T I G E N E R A T O N A L T R AV E LC U S T O M J O U R N E Y S T A I L O R E D T O E N G A G E S E N I O R S , P A R E N T S , T E E N S A N D T O D D L E R S

INTERNATIONAL MULTIGENERATIONAL JOURNEYS OFFER BEAUTIFUL

RESPITE FROM DAILY WORK AND HOUSEHOLD ROUTINES, recharging family dynamics and strengthening bonds. Not only that, they’re enlightening, a lot of fun—and easier to plan than you think.

With proper planning, multigenerational travel can transcend age. This is true whether you’re traveling as parent and child, grand-parent and grandchild, or a whole extended family. Witnessing a herd of wild elephants for the first time, experiencing rural life in a remote village, and watching a tribe joyously welcome your family to theirs are soul-recharging, horizon-expanding encounters that

all ages can appreciate. By introducing your family to the art of international travel, you create the space and time for everyone to grow closer, learn from each other and see the world from different perspectives.

The following spread contains four remarkable examples of some of the independent, tailored multigenerational luxury family journeys our Private Travel consultants recently produced for some of our past-traveled guests.

ABOVE LEFT Bora Bora,French Polynesia TOP RIGHT Angkor Wat, Cambodia BOTTOM RIGHT Patagonia, Argentina OPPOSITE PAGE Cape Town, South Africa

“Incredible wildlife viewing opportunities! Great

time on our private yacht. All activities allowed all

of my family members to be together. My family

time is so special to me. Thank you for making our

vacation easy!”


ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT (ALL SWITZERLAND): Mount Titlis; Zurich

A N A C T I V E FA T H E R A N D S O N J O U R N E Y T O S W I T Z E R L A N D A N D N O R T H E R N I T A L Y

A client who travels year-round requested a 14-day custom summertime Alpine

adventure for himself and his 18-year-old son. With stops throughout Switzerland and

Italy’s famed Alps, this father-son journey included 4,000-foot long toboggan runs,

skiing, climbing, hiking, cliff walks and ropes courses at altitudes upwards of 7,000

feet. In between adventures among numerous mountain ranges and glaciers, they

explored a chocolate factory, Switzerland’s famed Swiss Army knife manufacturer

and specialty shops and restaurants from Zurich to Zermatt and nearly everywhere

in between.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE (ALL GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR): Sea lion pup; Great frigate bird; Galápagos giant tortoise

FA M I L Y T I M E I N T H E G A L Á P A G O S

The matriarch of a large multigenerational family asked one of our Private Travel

consultants to develop a private nine-day voyage through Ecuador’s famed Galápagos

National Park and Marine Reserve for her family of 26, whose ages ranged from fi ve to

72. Traveling together from island to island aboard a privately chartered yacht, their

journey incorporated fun junior park ranger training for the kids, wildlife-packed

age-appropriate nature hikes, and snorkeling and kayak expeditions for all led by a

a naturalist. The trip gave them plenty of time to refl ect on their shared experiences

and have heartfelt conversations. They ate all of their meals together—perhaps for the

fi rst time ever—and learned fi rsthand how Charles Darwin’s Galápagos research gave

birth to the theory of evolution.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE (ALL VIETNAM): Yen Bai province; Hanoi; Tam Coc-Bích Đong ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT (ALL CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA): Cage diving; Camps Bay

A M U L T I G E N R A T I O N A L FA M I L Y J O U R N E Y T O S O U T H A F R I C A

One of our Private Travel consultants was asked to created a six-day exploration of

Cape Town, tailored to appeal to a multigenerational family of fi ve whose ages ranged

from 80 to 16. Everyone had the opportunity to photograph or cage dive with great

white sharks on a chartered yacht and discover a colony of several thousand Cape

Fur seals during a cruise. With their own guide, kids explored the largest bird park

in Africa and discovered more regional wildlife in Cape Town’s world-renowned

aquarium while adults shopped and sampled glasses of South Africa’s famed wine

with a local sommelier. Throughout their journey, local guides highlighted Cape

Town’s layered history via a series of informative and lively excursions to Table

Mountain, Bo-Kaap, Hout Bay, the Cape of Good Hope and beyond.

A C U S T O M J O U R N E Y T H R O U G H O U T V I E T N A M F O R A FA M I L Y O F F O U R

A well-traveled guest requested a private thirteen-day voyage throughout Vietnam

which would appeal to both teenagers and adults. For the kids, the journey we

designed included one-on-one Vietnamese language lessons, opportunities to learn

to play traditional instruments and fun, guided night hikes in search of nocturnal

creatures. Mom and dad took in a multitude of guided architectural and historical

excursions, while everyone took advantage of numerous curated shopping and dining

experiences along the way. From Hanoi’s vivid night life and the bustle of Saigon to

the timeless pace of the fl oating village of Kenh Ga and Tam Coc’s surreal landscapes,

their tailored journey proved that sometimes the most memorable vacations are ones

spent with your family.

J O U R N E Y S T O M A R K S P E C I A L O C C A S I O N S

THIS PAGE: Trolltunga, Norway

“My husband and I cannot thank you enough

for planning our perfect honeymoon! It was

exactly the kind of trip we wanted with the

right amount of activity and rest. Thank you

for working with our requests and adjusting

the trip for us. All the info up front was great

and made our lives so much easier. We will

never forget this adventure!”


ABOVE The Maldives TOP RIGHT Annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya BOTTOM RIGHT London, England OPPOSITE PAGE Torres del Paine, Patagonia

S P E C I A L O C C A S I O N SB I R T H D A Y S , H O L I D A Y S , H O N E Y M O O N S , R E U N I O N S A N D P E R S O N A L M I L E S T O N E S

CROWN YOUR LATEST ACHIEVEMENT WITH YOUR VERY OWN TAI-

LORED LUXURY JOURNEY. We love helping our clients, their friends, and their families celebrate birthdays, honeymoons, reunions, graduations and all kinds of personal milestones. Our Private Trav-el consultants have the passion, ingenuity and experience to design a celebratory custom journey to virtually anywhere on Earth.

In the following spread, we’ve chosen four examples of the myriad ways our clients have chosen—with our help—to cele-brate milestones, accomplishments and life-changing moments through travel.

“One of the best vacations ever! The entire experience

was first class. The thought and imagination that

went into planning the tours and activities made

it an incredible experience. There was an excellent

blend of activities and alone time. With everything

planned ahead of time, our only job was to enjoy

ourselves. It was great!”

- PAST-TRAVELED GUESTSTCS PRIVATE TRAVEL

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Chobe National Park, Botswana; Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

S U R P R I S I N G Y O U R G R A N D K I D S W I T H A N A F R I C A N S A F A R I

Some say experiences make the best gifts. We tend to agree. Following this line of

thought, one of our clients asked us to design a family safari that she could surprise

her grandchildren with on Christmas day, by way of a series of clues and fi ll-in-the-

blank mock airline tickets. Our Private Travel consultant developed an itinerary of

engaging, family-friendly safaris in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The 15-day

journey created for our client and her family included twice-daily game drives during

multiple stays in some of Africa’s fi nest game lodges and private game reserves, as

well as guided excursions into the continent’s most celebrated national parks. Local

experts and guides helped everyone spot, identify and photograph wildlife during

every game drive. Chartered fl ights carried them from lodge to camp to reserve.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE (ALL MOROCCO): Meknes; Marrakesh; A traditional Moroccan tagine

A FA M I L Y N E W Y E A R I N M O R O C C O

One of our Private Travel consultants created a tailored, 14-day New Year’s journey

throughout Morocco. Our guests, an intrepid family of four, enjoyed private guided

explorations of Fez, Meknes, Casablanca and Rabat in the northwest and Marrakesh,

Asni and Lac Iriki in the southwest. Together they discovered hidden villages, royal

palaces and jewel-like mosques. They celebrated New Year’s Eve with a day at a

palatial hammam and a night at Richard Branson’s exquisitely appointed estate hotel

Kasbah Tamadot. Working with our Private Travel consultant, this family was able to

transform their New Year’s dreams into near-cinematic reality.

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Paris, France; Skógafoss, Iceland

A N A R O U N D - T H E - W O R L D J O U R N E Y, A C O Z Y F A M I L Y R E U N I O N I N P A R I S

One of our Private Travel consultants designed a fun-fi lled private around-the-world

journey for a couple traveling together with their two school-aged children, which

included time for a small family reunion in Paris, France. Their journey included

luxury travel experiences throughout Fiji, Indonesia, France, Iceland and Costa

Rica. Based on their input, we designed a remarkable journey with guided hikes and

snorkeling in Fiji and opportunities to photograph orangutans, Komodo dragons and

forest elephants in Indonesia. They hosted their mini family reunion in a gorgeous

luxury apartment we rented for them in Paris—close to the Eiff el Tower. Before fl ying

home a local guide introduced them to some of Iceland’s famous waterfalls, glaciers

and hot springs.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE: Aurora Borealis, sled dogs, Lapland, Finland; Praslin, the Seychelles

A S K Y- T O - S E A H O N E Y M O O N

Our travel consultants create all manner of honeymoons. We recently developed

an amazing 14-day sky-to-sea honeymoon which encompassed the grandeur of the

Northern Lights and the serene paradise of the Seychelles. Beginning in Finland, our

honeymooners took in the breathtaking Aurora Borealis from the comfort of unique,

luxury, oceanside glass accommodations, went dog sledding, participated in cozy

fi reside cultural exchanges, and boarded an icebreaker for an afternoon cruise

before blissfully spending some time at leisure in Norway. Making a complete 180,

they fl ew from Oslo to the Seychelles, spending several carefree nights in a gorgeous,

romantic ocean-view villa in the country’s fi nest luxury all-inclusive resort.

U N I Q U E J O U R N E Y S A R E O U R PA S S I O N

COVER: XXXXXX, XXXX THIS PAGE: XXXXXX, XXXX

“THE TCS STAFF AND THE JET STAFF WERE ALL

OUTSTANDING. EVERYTHING WAS ANTICIPATED

AND PLANNED FOR. THE TOUR DELIVERED MUCH

MORE THAN WHAT WAS PROMISED!”

- JAMES DAHMANNTCS WORLD TRAVEL GUEST

THIS PAGE: Mustang District, Nepal

“The journey you created for me was especially

rich and enjoyable for a variety of reasons.

The specialists you introduced my wife and I

to opened more doors to more opportunities

along the way. I couldn’t have done that on my

own. The connections that our Private Travel

consultant had at her disposal allowed us to stay

on top of our very complicated itinerary.”


ABOVE Jomblang Cave, Yogyakarta, Indonesia TOP RIGHT Bali, Indonesia BOTTOM RIGHT Stellenbosch, South Africa OPPOSITE PAGE Hakuba, Japan

Y E S W E C A N : S P E C I A L R E Q U E S T SU N U S U A L , S P E C I A L I Z E D , T R I C K Y O R U N P R E C E D E N T E D T A I L O R E D J O U R N E Y S

DON’T BE SHY. Our Private Travel consultants love to design and produce journeys that land anywhere on the travel spectrum, from wild to scholarly to epic or top secret. We’ve produced private ultra-niche journeys for art lovers, foodies, collectors and every stripe of culture vulture.

You think it. We make it happen. Are you obsessed with wine produced along a very specific latitude? We understand. Do you need to explore a part of the world that no one else in your group of friends seems to care about? Reach out to us.

Alternatively, do you or your favorite travel companions face mobility challenges? We’ve got you covered. Do you like traveling during shoulder or off-seasons? So do we.

Don’t let your must-haves stop you from traveling. The custom journeys we produce can accommodate just about any facet of virtually any request you may have. If your request falls outside of our immediate personal sphere of experience, we know who to ask. We are seasoned, personable professionals with endless empathy and senses of humor.

“The private art collections made available to us

on our journey were incredibly excellent. The

extraordinary access afforded to us made the trip a

12 or 15 on a scale of 1 to 10. Without access to those

collections, our journey would have been a wholly

different, and lesser, order of experience.”


ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT (ALL PERU): Machu Picchu; An Aymara woman, weaving

P I L O T I N G Y O U R O W N J E T

A private jet owner requested an eight-day exploration of Peru’s Sacred Valley and

nearby sights for his family. Our client piloted his own jet from his family’s home

in Texas to begin the journey our Private Travel consultant designed for his family.

The journey created for them included the exclusive use of a stunning private villa,

as well as private guides and private transfers throughout. They explored an ancient

temple built to worship a sun deity, as well as Cusco’s vibrant plaza and breathtaking

cathedral. While exploring the Sacred Valley, they experienced a ritual designed to

celebrate the Earth, learned fi rst-hand how ancient Inca agriculturalists mastered

terraced farming, all while taking in spectacular snow-capped mountain ranges.

Before fl ying home, they hiked part of the Inca Trail, reaching an altitude of over

8,000 feet, and explored one of the area’s more famous sites: the revered citadel of

Machu Picchu.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE: Naples, Italy; Grandma and granddaughter; Alberobello, Italy

W H E R E E V E R Y D AY I S A S U R P R I S E

Wanting to create an unforgettably special trip for herself and her granddaughter,

one of our clients asked us to created a creative 23-day, kid- and grandma-friendly

private journey throughout Italy, where every day would be a surprise for the

granddaughter and a joy for the grandmother. Each day began with a series of clues

for the granddaughter to guess what they would be doing that day, or where they

would be going next. One day the surprise was a private, after-hours exploration of

the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Other surprises included a private tour of

Naples’ subterranean Bourbon Tunnel, picnics, boat rides, concerts, operas, ballets

and cooking classes. In total, they explored eight cities between the east and west

coasts of Italy, from Rome to Alberobello.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE: (ALL ETHIOPIA): Church of Saint George, Lalibela, Traditional coff ee ceremony, Bahir Dar; A young girl from the Karo tribe, Omo Valley

C H U R C H E S T O T R I B E S I N E T H I O P I A

We recently tailored a unique 15-day journey for two throughout Ethiopia. The journey

we created included a privately guided exploration of Lalibela’s hand-carved 12th-

century Orthodox churches in the north and nine days interacting with tribes in the

remote lower Omo Valley. We tailored the ultimate cultural adventure. Waking daily

to cups of world-famous, traditionally-brewed Ethiopian coff ee, guests witnessed

tribal rites of passage and intriguing courtship dances among the Hamer, Konso, Karo

and Mursi people. Our consultant loved working one-on-one with her clients to create

a fi nely tuned custom journey that was thoroughly tailored to match their tastes, style

and, above all, expectations.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE: An artist painting a Chinese dragon, China; A gallery, Mexico; Paintings depicting tango dancers and a ballerina, Argentina

1 0 C O U N T R I E S , 8 0 G A L L E R I E S :A N A R T C O L L E C T O R’ S P A S S I O N

One of our clients, who has a passion for art, asked us to created two journeys designed

to follow that passion in two distinct parts of the world. First, we created an entire

journey based around a gallery show of contemporary Southeast Asian artwork.

The guest mailed our consultants the exhibit catalog and asked us to build a 26-day

guided gallery and museum tour throughout Korea, China, Singapore, Vietnam

and Thailand, which included personal meetings with the artists. Then, we created

a second, parallel journey throughout Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and

Brazil. Between both journeys, he met countless artists and explored more than 76

private galleries, contemporary art museums and home studios—approximately 31 in

Asia and more than 40 in Mexico and South America.

A S T E P U P : C H A R T E R E D T R A N S P O R T AT I O N

“Oh man...the jet you chartered for us was so

amazing! It meant so much to us having that space

and huge seats. We had a lot of kids with us so it

made life so much easier.”


THIS PAGE: Sossusvlei, Namibia

P R I VA T E LY C H A R T E R E D T R A N S P O R T A T I O NL E T U S S I M P L I F Y T H E L O G I S T I C S O F Y O U R N E X T J O U R N E Y

ABOVE Zakynthos Island, Greece TOP RIGHT Milford Sound, New Zealand BOTTOM RIGHT A youthful co-pilot OPPOSITE PAGE Relaxing on a private jet

SOME TAILORED JOURNEYS ARE BEST SERVED BY CHARTERING PRIVATE

TRANSPORTATION. We are able to charter virtually any type of fully-staffed transportation for you, from jet to helicopter to plane, to any type of fully-crewed marine or river vessel, from yachts to ships and river barges and anything in between. Ground charter options include everything from fully-staffed trains to luxury motor coaches.

The following spread contains four real-world examples of journeys our Private Travel consultants planned for clients, using best-available privately-chartered transportation. We hope these examples inspire you to ask us to charter transportation for your next journey.

Please contact Stephanie (Stevie) Wooten, Vice President of Private Travel, or Amber Shearer, Director of Private Travel, at 800.454.4149 if you are interested in privately chartering any kind of transportation for your next journey. Email Stevie at [email protected] or Amber at [email protected].

“The yacht you chartered for us for our journey was

the perfect fit for our large extended family of 27.”


ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: An Akha woman picking tea, Thailand; A baby cheetah, South Africa

F I V E C O U N T R I E S , O N E J E T

A guest requested an intriguing 22-day family journey through Thailand, India,

the Seychelles, South Africa and Dubai. The journey that we created for them

incorporated fun and educational activities for the whole family to enjoy. Along with

17 family members, ranging in age from 12 to 70, she fl ew from country to country

via a privately chartered Embraer Lineage 100 jet. Kids learned how to command

an elephant on a mahout training course in Thailand; had their choice of canoing,

snorkeling or mountain biking in the Seychelles; visited a cheetah orphanage in South

Africa; and went off -roading on sand dunes in Dubai. Adults relaxed in four and fi ve-

star luxury resorts at all stops, practiced yogic meditation in India and tasted world-

class wines with sommeliers in South Africa. Together, the whole family took cooking

classes, discovered Thailand’s remote hill tribes, deep-sea fi shed in the Seychelles and

witnessed the Big Five on a stunning private game reserve in South Africa.

CLOCKWISE ABOVE (ALL IRELAND): The Cliff s of Moher; Dublin; Musicians

S H A R E D H E R I T A G E

Four related guests requested a 13-day journey for themselves and 27 of their family

members to explore their Irish heritage. With stops throughout Ireland, the journey

we planned for the group (ranging from two to 80 years old) was guided by veteran

expedition leader Richard Butler. It included the use of a privately chartered Boeing

757-200, castle tours, age-appropriate professional storytelling, private whiskey

tastings for the adults, gorgeous lodgings with private breakfast rooms, nature hikes

fi t for any age, scavenger hunts and a historically themed costume dinner party. In

between adventures among Ireland’s most engaging locales, they participated in a fun

and educational Saint Patrick’s Family Challenge and ate all their dinners together—

including a spectacular farewell dinner with Irish musicians, traditional dancers and

Irish games for all ages.

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Atacama Desert, Chile; Iguassu Falls, ArgentinaCLOCKWISE ABOVE (ALL FRANCE): Blois; Château d’Amboise; Wine barrels, Château de Brézé

I T ’ S E A S I E R W I T H A P R I VAT E J E T

Not wanting to waste a single moment of her guest’s travel time, one of our consultants

was able to charter a small private jet for a small group of friends wanting to explore

the highlights of Argentina, Chile, and Brazil—an itinerary that typically forces

guests to backtrack to major airports on multiple commercial fl ights. Chartering a

small private jet allowed our consultant the freedom to expand her guest’s itinerary

to include guided explorations of Iguassu Falls, the Atacama Desert, San Carlos de

Bariloche and Torres del Paine National Park before concluding in Rio de Jenero. Her

guests stayed in four- and fi ve-star accommodations throughout, and benefi ted from

the best-available local guides when exploring. Not once did they have to re-route, join

a cumbersome transfer, or think about anything other than the curated experiences

our consultant planned for them.

T H E L O I R E VA L L E Y F O R T W O V I A A P R I VAT E LY C H A RT E R E D R I V E R B A R G E

One of our Private Travel consultants recently chartered a gorgeous fully-crewed,

Dutch-designed river barge to transport and accommodate two of her guests on a

private, tailored river journey she designed for them to explore France’s famed Loire

Valley. Following a uniquely-designed route, the barge’s pilot leisurely guided the

vessel down the river Cher, taking advantage of its shallow berth to dock alongside

the jewel-like, 17th- and 18th-century riverside towns of Moulin de Nitray, Larcay,

Vallet, Montrichard and Chissay en Touraine. Whether dining on or off their river

barge, exploring numerous private châteaus or relaxing on deck, our guests’ only

concern was which gold-medal wine to pair with which gourmet meal, sunset or

private moment.

W H Y G O O D L O C A L G U I D E S M A T T E RQ & A W I T H A M B E R S H E A R E R , D I R E C T O R O F P R I V A T E T R A V E L

SEASONED TRAVELERS REALLY ONLY HAVE TWO SECRETS: purchase traveler’s insurance and talk to a local. Our Director of Private Travel shares when she discovered the value of a good local guide, when to employ one and why the Internet never tells it like it is.

Q: YOU’VE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY. WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU

REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT HAVING THE BEST LOCAL GUIDE CAN

BE? A: I was 24 years old and traveling in Iceland. It was the first experience I had with having a guide and it was life-changing. That sounds a bit dramatic but it really was. I would have never known about the depth of Icelandic folklore and how it’s a huge part of their culture, about Iceland’s isolated gene pool and the revelations surfacing with research efforts by isolating mutations to fight dis-eases, etc. The guide truly opened up a whole dialogue I would have never received from reading a book or online forums.

Q: WHERE HAVE YOU TRAVELED WHERE YOU WISH YOU HAD A GOOD

LOCAL GUIDE? A: Ireland. I thought a guide wasn’t necessary because English is the common language. However I found I failed to cover as much ground as I would have otherwise and I didn’t get to the local hotspots I would normally like to experience because I was too busy trying to find my bearings and hit the main sites on my own.

Q: WHAT DOES A LOCAL GUIDE DO? A: They enable you to fully opti-mize your time, hit the must-see sites based on your interests and allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture by breaking any language barrier, explaining nuances that would easily be missed or misconstrued. They also make you feel more connected to the des-tination. I remember one time in India, we happen to be walking by a home and the guide looked up and said, “That’s my grandmother in the window.” He waved to her, and we went in and had tea. It end-ed up being a huge highlight and one that I fondly remember.

Q: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CLIENTS WHO ARE TRAVELING TO A DESTI-

NATION WHERE ENGLISH IS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE SPOKEN, AND

THEY ASSUME THEY WON’T WANT A LOCAL GUIDE? WHY OR WHEN

SHOULD THEY RECONSIDER? A: I always think having a local guide enhances the destination, at least for one day. I often hear people say things like, “I’m heading to Australia, it’s so easy I can do it all on my own.” What they fail to realize is that one day with a guide will allow you to know where all the hot spots are, where the locals go, what beaches are the best and why, and become familiar with the destination in a much shorter time-frame, allowing you to truly have fun exploring on your own and really feel like you know the place.

Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE LOCAL GUIDES FOR ONE OF THE JOURNEYS

FOR YOUR CLIENTS? A: We only use licensed seasoned guides who are highly educated and qualified. Our guides are hand-chosen given their particular background. If I know someone is traveling to Egypt and wants to see actual dig sites, I request a guide who is an archaeologist and can provide in-depth information. If I know someone is interested in birding, I will secure a guide who is a master birder, or if someone loves art I will seek a curator or art historian as their guide to enhance their experience.

Q: WHAT ARE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS THAT CLIENTS HAVE ABOUT

LOCAL GUIDES? A: I often feel people think of mass tourism when they think of a guide. They might not have the experience or per-spective to realize how much value having their own private guide provides or how much value it brings to their overall experience.

“The local guide you found for us was

outstanding. He took us home and introduced

us to his family. The opportunity to meet a

local family was invaluable to our journey.

Seeing and feeling what day-to-day life is like

for them was a true highlight of the journey

you created for us. We felt honored.”


THIS PAGE: Rome, Italy

“When we travel, we worry less about

getting full value and more about

having the best experience.”


R E L A X . O U R P R I VA T E T R AV E LC O N S U L T A N T S D O A L L T H E H E AV YL I F T I N G F O R Y O U .

Discerning travelers, couples, families and groups of any size—or age—have been

traveling independently with TCS World Travel for years. Mirroring our annual

large-group around-the-world journeys by private jet, our Private Travel journeys

use the same veteran trip planners and destination scouts to create your trip, and

the same local guides lead your experience. The only diff erence is the journeys our

Private Travel consultants create are tailored just for you. You tell us where you want

to go, what you want to do when you get there and how long you want to stay. With the

help of a Private Travel consultant, journey virtually anywhere in the world, any time

of year, at your own pace, with anyone you wish.

We know travel is important to you year-round, whether it be for an imaginative

family holiday, a fun personal vacation, or as a means to explore parts of the world

that intrigue you.

Our seasoned Private Travel consultants work one-on-one with you and your

companions—on your terms and your schedule. Custom private itineraries include

all accommodations, transportation, guides, drivers and the ability to adjust any

detail along the way.

O U R P R O M I S E T O Y O U

We know we’re not the only game in town when it comes to designing luxury, tailored

journeys. However, we will not only match or exceed the quality and level of detail of

anyone else in the business of designing tailored luxury journeys, but also the price.

B R A S S T A C K S

Clients who are new to our brand of tailored luxury travel invariably want to know

what our tailored journeys cost. Unless you’ve traveled with TCS World Travel in the

past, we ask for a nominal initial development fee which allows us to take the time to

properly answer that question.

THIS PAGE: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

M E E T Y O U R C O N S U L T A N T S9 0 + Y E A R S O F C O L L E C T I V E E X P E R I E N C E

To begin planning your custom journey, please visit TCSWorldTravel.com/Private-Travel or call 800.454.4149

S T E P H A N I E ( S T E V I E ) WO O T E N

Stevie has worked in every area of the travel industry, including

sales, operations, marketing, leading expeditions and scouting

destinations for the past 40 years. She has explored more than 98

countries to date. Stevie is the cornerstone of Private Travel.

KA R E N KU E S T

With more than 21 years of experience in small ship and private jet

travel, and having explored 49 countries to date, Karen’s travel savvy

is humbling. Karen’s guests often seek unusual customizations

during the planning process—and she excels at delivering them.

A N NA H AW L E Y

The newest member of the Private Travel team, Anna builds quick

rapport with her clients to ensure their journeys perfectly refl ect

their interests. Anna is passionate about connecting to a destination

when she travels. Authenticity is her mantra.

A M B E R S H E A R E R

Amber has explored more than 85 cities in 34 countries. Beyond the

numbers, Amber is meticulously creative while planning journeys.

She loves her guests and has built a loyal and enthusiastic fan base.

She has been with TCS World Travel for more than 12 years.

C AT R I NA F O RC I E R

Catrina’s love of travel started when she was a teenager, crossing

the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboat with her parents. This love aff air

continued into her adult life. She is a passionate 22-year veteran

planner of luxury itineraries to off -the-beaten-path destinations.

“I want to thank our travel consultant. She took

such good care of us. The journey she created for

us exceeded our expectations by a wide margin.

We didn’t make it easy for her either. Thanks for

truly understanding what we hoped to accomplish

and making it so.”


THIS PAGE: Bagan, Myanmar

To begin planning your custom journey, please visit TCSWorldTravel.com/Private-Travel or call 800.454.4149

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDSEATTLE, WA

PERMIT NO 2018

TCS WORLD TRAVEL3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 300

Seattle, Washington, 98121

COVER: Friends dance during Holi in Jaipur, IndiaTHIS PAGE: Beijing, China

private travel · herd of wild elephants for the first time, experiencing rural life in a remote...

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