This is not a paid post.
Luxury can have so
many meanings. To be able to travel and discover other cultures is an
indulgence that I believe is worth every penny. Since I discovered my
love for travel at the tender age of 10 months, when I escaped from my pram to
crawl out and explore the exciting world that was my back garden, it has always
been my raison d’être.
Travel is a
rewarding experience that influences your life and who you are as a person. It
gives you the opportunity to learn about history, art - even politics - as well
as trying out new foods or expanding your knowledge about wines. And for those
who prefer to fly and flop, it gives you a chance to recharge your
batteries and look at life from a new perspective.
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Iceland - one of the 160 destinations
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So I was delighted to discover Evaneos Travel. This French company founded in 2009, by Eric La Bonnardière and Yvan Wibaux claims to be revolutionising the travel market. Looking at it, it does appear to stand out from the crowd.
It is the first
online platform that connects travellers with 1,000 hand-picked local travel
agents in 160 destinations so that you can create tailor-made trips directly
and most importantly securely (an ABTA member) through local travel agencies.
Rather than having to work through a third party tour operator, you can benefit
from their expertise at a lower price as they are selling directly to you. You
can book an adventure trip or, if you would prefer something more sedate, I am
told the team will comply with your every wish and work to your budget.
“Two goals lie behind everything we do: to bring together the world’s biggest community of local travel agents, and to become the number one website for travellers looking to explore the world,” says Eric La Bonnardière, co-founder and CEO, Evaneos Travel.
“Two goals lie behind everything we do: to bring together the world’s biggest community of local travel agents, and to become the number one website for travellers looking to explore the world,” says Eric La Bonnardière, co-founder and CEO, Evaneos Travel.
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Checking out the wildlife in Madagascar
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“Our target users are typically people who don’t want to discover new places as just another tourist, but through an authentic lens. Rather than setting off on a standardised tour package, travellers can design every aspect of their trip themselves, whilst benefiting from the unparalleled local knowledge of a professional based in the destination itself. By cutting out the middleman, the Evaneos platform turns both the trip-planning and holiday process into a more enjoyable, personalised experience based on human interaction."
There are lots of places that I have never visited. I would welcome expert advice when visiting a country for the first time in order to get a bona fide picture. I feel life has moved on from the five-star so-called luxury brands as they have become so big and have lost that personal touch. I am looking for real experiences. I want to get to grips with the culture of the country and what makes it tick.
From honing your culinary skills in Vietnam to taking on Kung-Fu in China, or checking out the wild life in Madagascar, Evaneos Travel seems to understand what travel is really about.
By Daralyn Danns
For more information
visit evaneos-travel.com
