Luxury and Tailormade Operators

Specialist Reports Styles of Holiday Luxury and Tailormade Operators Luxury Itinerary Operators 

Abercrombie & Kent

St. George's House, Ambrose Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL 50 3 LG
(0845) 0700 610
abercrombiekent
One of the biggest luxury holiday operators worldwide. ‘Plot your priorities, we do the rest', sums it up. Brochures include Africa and the Indian Ocean, Latin America and the Caribbean, Antarctica, Egypt, Morocco and Arabia, Europe and Beyond, India, the Orient and Australasia. Most resorts featured include a Push the Boat Out option with the ability to organise extras as large as a luxury yacht for a day. The idea is that clients talk to one of the consultants who can put together a tailormade itinerary to match their requirements.In addition Abercrombie & Kent Private Travel, the independent travel agency arm of A&K, specialises in bespoke luxury travel. The team here work with tour operators, hoteliers and ground handlers worldwide and can organise anything from snow shoeing in Canada to horse riding in Kazakhstan, plus beaches worldwide.
Where Originally African specialists, now covers most parts of the globe.
For Families The family programme covers properties recommended for families, most with specific facilities for children but including options like the Al Bustan in Oman for its fine beach, helpful staff, and a mass of child-friendly attractions outside the hotel including forts, hot springs and 4WD trips down the coast. Also included are four-star properties for parents who feel more comfortable with their children in a slightly less luxurious setting, and some simpler itineraries.A&K can also recommend elements of the main programme which would be suitable for those travelling with children such as visiting an elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, Sri Lanka or a riad in Marrakech as long as it has a small pool, in the heart of a very fascinating and entertaining city.As well as stay-put options, the operator can arrange semi-independent touring
Sample Price For two weeks in India staying in smaller, more interesting properties, £2,500 per adult, children £1,800 or £2,00 in their own room. For seven nights at Almyra, Pathos in Cyprus around £700 per adult and £300 per child, b& including flights and transfers.

Bailey Robinson

25 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0NF
(01488) 689 700
rbrww
Originally specialists in African safaris plus Latin America, offers a collection of the ‘very best luxurious properties in selected destinations around the world'. The company maintains that its level of customer service is second to none.
Where Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Indian Ocean islands, north Africa, the Middle East, and southeast Asia.
For Families Can arrange holidays for families worldwide and from 2002 made a point of highlighting family-friendly resorts in the brochure. Particularly recommended are the Elounda properties in Crete, particularly the Elounda Palace; Forte Village in Sardinia (easy for flights and transfers).
In the Caribbean the Jalousie Hilton in St Lucia or the Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands where there are sailing lessons - great for 8+.
In the Middle East highlights properties run by Kerzner International like the Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.
However, for a more personal touch suggests Alfajiri on the Kenyan coast a private house available as an exclusive rental, where there are three nannies in a staff of 14 and food imported by the Italian owners plus toy boxes and gadgets to entertain children. Can also do malaria free safaris in South Africa. In particular they recommend Ants Nest in the Waterburg region (fly into Johannesburg and then a two-hour drive). This is a private ranch let to one party at a time - great for large or two families staying together and there's the option of game drives, horse riding expeditions including children, walking, picnics, and meals out in the bush. A further, though notably more expensive option is a private, tailormade mobile safari with a professional photographer and film maker as guide. In Kenya can also do safari options with children's programmes with game trackers and children in their own vehicle learning about tracking game, build a fire in the bush stuff.
Also good might be US ranching holidays in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, staying on a ranch of varying styles, self-catering or high end smart like Triple Creek, and do cowboy bit during the day, plus visits to Yellowstone, mountain biking, fishing, walking, rafting and more. Parties they have sent out have including grandparents down to toddlers.
In the Indian Ocean they have a wide range of options but particularly highlight the Kerzner group which owns the St Gerain and Le Tousserok have good children's club.
Closer to home the Residence in Tunisia has a children's club during summer holidays, as does Amanjena during the summer holidays.
Sample Price Per adult for seven nights from ?1,565. Forte Village Sardinia in the Villa Del Parco from £1,815 per person for seven nights' b&b. Bitter End Yacht Club would be from £1,795 per person full board. A tailormade safari would be from £4,075 per person based on four sharing, for 10 nights.

Cazenove + Loyd

9 Imperial Studios, 3-11 Imperial Road, London SW6 2AG
(020) 7384 2332
cazloyd
Set up by three travel consultants with 20 years' experience in the business, wanting to utlise their expertise and offer the best of what's available for bespoke itineraries with an adventure angle.
Where Don't cover parts of the world they don't know (you always speak to someone familiar with the destination) and focus on Latin America, Africa, and India and Asia.
For Families Not particularly geared to families (there is nothing on the web site highlighting options for them), however, when contacted can come up with suggestions. One would be two weeks visiting the Galapagos islands plus Ecuador's capital Quito, and the Northern Sierra. Accommodation includes a 17th century hacienda 12 miles north of the Equator, a base to explore landscape and local markets on foot and by horse. This could be followed by a week on a boat to the Galapagos. One taking 48 passengers includes children from 7 years on six family departures a year.
Sample Price For the Ecuador and Galapgos trip, around £3507 per person, based on b& b with about half meals provided, and four sharing double or twin rooms. There may be a small reduction for under 12s.

Cox & Kings Travel

Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PH
(020) 7873 5000
coxandkings
One of the best established tour operators in existence with more than two and a half centuries of experience behind the name. As well as group tours organises individual trips from the brochure, or tailormade.
Where Originally specialists in the Indian subcontinent but now also with programmes to Latin America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, China and the Far East and Eastern Europe. There are also programmes called Luxury Escape and the Natural World (see Wildlife Holidays).
For Families In the way of resorts, suggests the Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort in Dubai, and the Ritz-Carlton Bali. The standard tours are aimed at a slightly older clientele so for those wanting to move around with children puts together individual itineraries. For those who like self-drive suggest Southern Africa, with safaris for families with children of 10-plus, or the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. A completely different style of holiday is to India which is reported successful with children because there is so much to see and do and people speak English so children can communicate with the people they meet. The problematic stuff can be taken care of with all transport, transfers and outings handled. Egypt is very popular because children know and recognise places and it feels familiar. If preferred it doesn't have to include a cruise but can be done on land and with flights. You can round it off with a visit to the Red Sea. Wherever you choose to go it is pointed out that the important issue is not to try to fit too much in but schedule a more leisurely pace than normal.
Sample Price Egypt on an eight-night break including a stay on the Red Sea costs from £4,000 for a family of two adults and two children. If you want something truly luxurious however there are holidays which could cost anything up to £10,000.

Tailor Made Travel Ltd

18 Port Street, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 6AN
(01386) 712 000
tailor-madeLaunched in 1988, states that prefers to concentrate on carrying smaller numbers of people who have a greater appreciation of quality, for example looking for luxury in off the beaten track locations. The aim is to offer attention to detail along with both value for money and a personalised service. Reports that it is the first UK tour operator to produce a personalised colour itinerary illustrated with images relevant to a client's request. The staff go on regular familiarisation visits and training seminars. part of the Australasian Titan Travel group, a UK specialist in holidays to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Africa, the South Pacific, Far East and Round the World.
Where Options include Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe , but the range is expanding and there is
For Families Canada - with three nights in Toronto b&b, four nights in a log cabin in Algonquin Provincial Park full board including all activities, full day trip to Niagara Falls, five days' car hire, flights and UK home pick up and drop
Sample Price For two adults and two children under 12 for a week during the summer school holidays £4,500.

Worldwide Journeys and Expeditions

27 Vanston Place, London SW6 1AZ
(020) 7386 4646
worldwidejourneys
As the brochure comments, it ‘contains hundreds of holiday ideas including resorts, private and group safaris, treks and cultural journeys.. Wherever possible we will create a personal itinerary for you that accommodates your preferred departure dates and includes activities and events that are of particular interest to you.' The brochure offers some of the most user-friendly itineraries but these are only suggestions and once you choose an itinerary you are free to choose the style and standard of accommodation. There is a selection of some of the best resorts, a wide range of nature holidays including safaris, cruises, and adventure and culture options.Commendably supports small but effective conservation schemes and gives all clients a copy of the code of responsible tourism.
Where East Africa, Central; Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Indian Ocean, most of South America, including the Galapagos, plus Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala, South East Asia, Indo China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet.
For Families Recommend the Galapagos on a boat called the Beagle. If two families club together can privately charter the boat. Nepal on a two week trip can include trekking, river rafting and jungle safaris by elephant back. Sabah wildlife jungle trekking includes wildlife viewing by boat, visits to an orangutan sanctuary and beaches. The Costa Rica Explorer visits volcanoes, rainforest, beach, and includes white water rafting. In South Africa a trip could include game viewing, beaches, battlefields, mountains with bushman art, and putt putt golf.
Sample Price To the Galapagos, adults from £2,595 and children from £2,200. Nepal, adults are from £1,950 and children from £1,750. Sabah is from £1,795 per adult and £1,595 per child. The Costa Rica trip is from GBP1,595 per adult and GBP1,295 per child. A trip to South Africa could cost £1,995 per adult and £1,695 per child.