Travels with Bob

With more than a billion tourists – nearly 15 percent of the world’s population – traveling in 2015, it’s easy to understand why more and more leisure travelers are looking for ways to get off the beaten path. Going your own way, however, does not necessarily mean that you need to vacation in a remote desert.

Way off the Beaten Path

Seasoned travelers desiring to go their own way usually require custom itineraries designed around their personal interests and travel objectives – adventure, rest and relaxation or simply savoring the cultural experience of a particular destination to name a few. They appreciate boutique hotels hidden in the heart of major cities and prefer private or small group tours that avoid the lines when visiting iconic landmarks.

Such travelers also allow time to be “accidental” tourists open to experience destinations in ways that most people never will.

For example, a few years ago we made a wrong turn onto a country lane and discovered a small West Essex village celebrating its annual Country Day Fair. Admission was one pound per person to experience duck races, antique cars, a local horse show and many other activities. At one end of the village green was a church with bake goods and hand-made crafts for sale. On the green’s opposite end was a pub where the whiskey was warm and the hospitality was friendly. While this stop was not on our itinerary, it’s what we remember best about our trip to southern England.

Getting off the beaten path requires careful planning and special attention to little details that a travel professional can provide. It also might involve a little luck!