From longer trips to jam-packed itineraries and train travel, here's how Original Travel clients are holidaying since the tailormade tour operator launched its Travel Less, Travel Better concept 

Original Travel launched its 'Travel Less, Travel Better' concept in November 2021, anticipating a trend that we will be swapping last-minute, 'throwaway' trips for ones that are better-planned and more meaningful – and the prediction has proven true. 

The Travel Less, Travel Better collection features philanthropic holidays, responsible travel, slow travel, rail trips and sabbatical itineraries and was designed in response to an appetite to make travel count for more. Of Original Travel's current bookings, nearly a quarter (23%) are for longer trips of 15+ days, with itineraries packed with excursions and activities, whilst slow travel by rail or road and a preference for locally-run hotels is also on the rise.  

Tom Barber, Co-Founder of Original Travel, says: 'Throughout the pandemic, our newsletter open rate and web traffic remained strong, so we knew that our clients were busy planning, researching and dreaming about their next trip. Two years in the making, the enquiries coming in now are for longer trips, encompassing overland travel, locally-run hotels and chockful of activities. 

'Recent bookings have included the likes of a seven-week diving trip to Indonesia and Palau, a five-week summer sabbatical to the US and rail trips through Italy and France. We've had requests for unique tours and niche experiences, such as a tour of the mid-century architecture in Palm Springs, visits to the local artisan studios of Mexico's San Miguel de Allende with a view to buying some local art and a request to hunt down Rome's original restaurant to serve pasta alfredo. Not only is travel back, but it's back in the best possible way.' 

Tom adds: 'Of course, every trip booked with Original Travel is a conscious decision to travel better because your flight and ground transportation carbon is absorbed by our many tree-planting projects; you are directly helping to fund admirable projects around the globe through our Foundation, and you can choose to 'travel better' by embracing one of our new concepts such as train-only itineraries, OR 'philantourism' (choosing a destination deliberately because it's down on its luck).' 

Sample itinerary: 

Travel from London to Puglia through France and Switzerland, enjoying epic mountain views and arriving into Milan 12 hours later, where you'll spend the night. The next day, continue south on the direct Frecciabianca train service, whisking you across the idyllic Italian countryside and past vineyards, olive groves and medieval villages as you continue to Lecce, where you will stay for four nights. Explore the Roman architecture, the coast of Salento and its sea caves, the café culture and indulge in the local cuisine – said to be the best in the country, which is saying something.  

Prices from £2,255 per person, based on two sharing and including all rail travel, transfers and six nights' accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk  

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For more information contact:   

press@originaltravel.co.uk  

020 3582 4990  

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Notes to Editors: 

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”. 

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Original Travel launched a flexibility pledge that allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure. For new bookings made before 30th April 2022 and for departures until 31st December 2022, while you still need to pay a 20% deposit at the time of booking, your final balance is now not due until 30 days before travel (this is usually 60 days). We will also offer you the full flexibility to change the trip up to 30 days prior to departure. You can, for any reason, change your destination to any other, and to any date up until the end of 2022, and there will be no charge. For all bookings where we cannot fulfil the trip due to changes in travel restrictions, we will postpone your trip - again at no charge - to any departure date until the end of 2022, or offer credit against any future departure, or refund all monies paid. 

Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. This insurance policy is only valid for travel to countries where there is no FCDO advice against all but essential travel. Full details can be found on a new section on Original Travel's website, entitled 'Coronavirus Confidence'. 

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit. 

Three of our consultants were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Travel Specialists list, including Co-founder Tom Barber as family specialist, Jacqui Brooks as Indonesia specialist and Oliver Rodwell as Mexico specialist, giving an excellent snapshot of our expertise. 

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including: 

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.