Route planner
Joanna Biddolph looks at ways to plan a holiday with help from a specialists in Chiswick
Above: Escape to a beach with Capricorn Travel
How do you book your holidays? Do you scour the internet for a cheap deal – or do you turn to a specialist for a more exclusive option?
A quick (unscientific) survey of friends and colleagues reveals that while many of us rely on the web for short breaks, or to stay with family abroad, we are a choosy bunch when venturing further afield. Luckily for us, we are well-served by local experts who are several sandcastles above the rest.
Family-owned Capricorn Travel has been arranging leisure and business travel for 25 years, 13 of which have been based in Chiswick. “We do some cheap and cheerful trips,” says manager Shane Mallon. “But most clients are discerning travellers who want a mid to upmarket option. They are often time-poor and want guidance but still within a budget.”
His team puts quality of service first, plus encouraging people to open their eyes to different experiences. With a travel lounge downstairs, clients can search through guidebooks and the web, knowing that there is expert advice and a human approach upstairs.
“Booking a holiday takes time and it’s best to be thorough, especially if you are spending a lot of money,” says Shane. “We have a children’s play area here so parents can browse without constant distractions.” Aware that there is a perception that
using an agent is more expensive, he stresses the benefits. “We have a passion for what we do and plenty of ideas. Hill walking, whale watching, visiting little-known towns not normally used by package tour operators, staying in boutique hotels away from the hoards. We have a lot of first-hand knowledge and want to do what’s best for our customers.” Including advising clients to avoid using Terminal 5 at Heathrow!
“We knew there would be teething problems as we’d had inside information so we automatically booked clients on other flights.”
Inside knowledge is also on offer at Journey Latin America which has been located in Chiswick since it opened in 1980. All 80 members of staff are either from
Latin America, have travelled extensively within it, or have Latin American
studies qualifications.
Marketing executive and tour leader Laura Forsyth’s favourite destination is Rio de Janeiro, her mother’s home town. “We know the standard of the guides, the right tours to choose, the best cafés and restaurants to dine at, the local dishes to try and the places of special interest,” she explains. “Plus if things go wrong we can get help to the client. It gives people peace of mind.”
Journey Latin America specialise in tailor-made tours, from Mexico to Antarctica, including classic tours for people wanting comfort in private accommodation, original adventures, exploring remote areas, or family holidays which combine jungle walks with archaeological sites and fun stuff for kids.
“In the grand scheme of things, going to Latin America is expensive. It’s often a once in a lifetime experience, particularly if you don’t have a lot of time. You will want to pack in a lot and it’s essential to have advice beforehand,” says Laura, summing up.
For Cathie O’Dea of Travel Counsellors, a network of home-working travel experts, an important benefit of using an agent is financial security, particularly in a difficult year for tour operators. “Many clients want high-end holidays and that is where the greatest financial risk is,” she says.
While talking, her email inbox pings. Two honeymoon requests arrive. “Both have complicated itineraries and you can’t do them on the web. I do a lot of research, to save clients time in the long run,” she continues, which is credited to her 35 years’ experience in the travel industry.
Lorna Tresidder, a local artist, specialises in textile and painting tours in India. In Kerala you will experience a variety of climates from humidity to extreme cold and diverse scenery including waterways, temples and colonial tea plantations. On her textile tour you can visit local embroiderers in their own homes in remote villages.
“You seldom see another tourist,” she says. “Clients are paying for my knowledge and contacts, built up over years. They can sleuth the internet and might find some
of it, but not all.” Lorna recommends adding extra time to her tours. “You need time to assimilate the culture and adjust to the cuisine.”
What about people who travel for a living? As a cabin crew purser, Chiswick resident Mark Robson doesn’t like hotel chains. “It reminds me of work,” he says. He has used Capricorn Travel for skiing holidays but backpacked round Vietnam using a Lonely Planet guide. “I was a bit apprehensive about where to stay and what to do, but the beauty of it was the flexibility.” His tour round North Korea was strictly organised but, generally, he likes to be in control and not feel confined, “I couldn’t bear to go on a cruise. I like getting out a map and walking around a city,” he explains.
Inside knowledge works well for people in the industry, but if you don’t work in travel and you are worried about wasting money going through an agent, don’t. “They get next to nothing out of it as commission rates are near to zero for many airlines,” an industry source confirms. And isn’t it worth supporting a local, independent business to get exactly what you want?