How tailor-made trips by Rough Guides keep travel real (and easy)

Authentic, hassle-free travel means a trip that feels real and immersive, without the stress of planning every detail yourself. This isn’t just another “stress-free vacation” list. It’s about tailor-made travel that actually works.

Rough Guides' tailor-made trips are built around your interests, with expert planning that keeps things simple while delivering real experiences. You get the freedom to travel your way, plus the local insight that turns a good trip into a great one.

How Rough Guides defines authentic travel

Here’s what authentic travel means to us:

• Real people, not performers. Rough Guides connects you with trusted local travel experts: people who live in the destination and know it inside out. They handle the planning and bookings. We just make sure you're talking to the right people from the start.
• Freedom to explore at your pace. No bus schedules or rushed group stops. Your itinerary is built around you.
• Meaningful cultural connection. Go beyond the usual museum stops. Cook with locals in Oaxaca or walk ancient trade routes with a Berber guide in the Atlas Mountains.
• Stays that fit your style. From heritage guesthouses to boutique hotels with late breakfasts and in-house spas, where you stay should match how you like to travel.
• Local flavor over tourist favorites. You might spend a day exploring a neighborhood market or trying a family-run eatery, just enough to get a real sense of place, without skipping the highlights.

Rough Guides’ tailor-made trips are designed for travelers who want something real without spending months researching or settling for generic. It’s not just about where you go, but how you experience it.

Wondering if tailor-made travel is right for you? If you value local insight, flexibility, and a trip built around what you actually care about, then yes, it probably is.

What’s included in a tailor-made trip

Tailor-made travel with Rough Guides isn’t just a loose plan and a wish for good weather. It’s a fully supported experience built around you. From custom itineraries to local help on the ground, here’s what’s included when you book a tailor-made trip, and why it makes a difference.

In short, this is included:

• A personalized trip plan
• Accommodation, transfers, and activities
• 24/7 support
• Expert knowledge

Personalized trip plan

You don’t get a one-size-fits-all itinerary. You get a trip shaped around what you want to do. Prefer food markets over museums? Hiking instead of lounging? Want to skip the crowds or spend longer in one spot?

Your local expert works with you to build a day-by-day plan that matches your interests, pace, and budget. They know what’s worth seeing, and what you can skip. The difference from other types of travel is clear: this isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about making the trip genuinely yours.

Accommodation, transfers, and activities booked for you

Once your trip plan is locked in, your expert starts working on the confirmations. This includes your accommodation, airport transfers, intercity travel, and activities, all of which are booked in advance. You won’t need to juggle apps or chase emails. You still get flexibility, just without the usual travel admin slowing you down.

24/7 local support

Even with the best planning, travel doesn’t always go as expected. Flights get delayed. Plans shift. You get food poisoning and suddenly need a pharmacy, fast. That’s where our 24/7 local support makes all the difference. From the moment you arrive, you’ll have a real person on the ground who knows the area, speaks the language, and is ready to help with anything that comes up.

• Need to change your transfer time? 
• Looking for a good vegetarian restaurant nearby?
• Lost your passport? 

You’re never on your own. Just send a message, and we’ve got your back.

Expert knowledge and insider tips

You could spend weeks reading blogs and still miss what makes a place tick. Our local experts live where you’re going, and they know what actually matters. You’ll get tailored recommendations that go beyond the usual highlights: hidden courtyards, secret viewpoints, and under-the-radar restaurants. They’ll also help you avoid common mistakes, like planning too much or missing key booking windows.

Choosing the right travel expert makes all the difference. It's not just about local knowledge, it’s about finding someone who understands your travel style and can shape your trip around it.

How the process looks from start to finish

Tailor-made travel sounds great, but what does the process actually look like? With Rough Guides, it’s simple, personal, and completely stress-free. You’re not just filling out forms and hoping for the best. You’re working with real people who know the destination and care about getting it right.

How tailor-made travel with Rough Guides works is straightforward: you share your interests, budget, and travel style, and a local expert builds a custom itinerary just for you.

1.Easy enquiry form

It all starts with filling out a straightforward enquiry form, which takes just a few minutes. You’ll share where you want to go, when you want to travel, and what kind of experiences you’re looking for. 

That could mean hiking, food tours, slow travel, beach time, or something totally different. This isn’t about locking you into a rigid plan. It’s simply a way for our local experts to understand what matters to you.

If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay too. You don’t need to have every detail figured out. The form gives your expert a starting point so they can begin shaping your custom itinerary with the right balance of structure and flexibility.

2. Personal consultation with local expert

After you submit your enquiry, you’ll be matched with a local travel expert based in your destination. They’ll ask about your travel style, priorities, and preferences to start shaping your trip. You may hear from up to three experts, each offering a different approach, so you can compare ideas and choose the one that fits you best.

• Do you want to focus on food? 
• Avoid crowds? 
• Travel with kids? 
• Stick to a certain budget? 

Every detail helps them shape a trip that works for you. This isn’t a generic questionnaire or an automated service. It’s a real person who lives locally and knows what’s worth your time.

3. Draft itinerary (curated but flexible)

Once they understand your needs, your local expert will create a custom itinerary built around your interests, budget, and timing. You’ll receive a clear day-by-day outline that includes activities, travel times, accommodation options, and personal recommendations.

Nothing is fixed. You can make changes, ask for alternatives, or add new ideas. Want to spend an extra day in one place or swap a city for the countryside? No problem. This stage gives you a plan that feels solid but not restrictive. You’ll know what to expect each day, without losing the freedom to shape the experience as you go. It’s tailored to you, not just tailored in name.

4. Hassle-free booking

Once you’ve approved your final itinerary, your local expert handles all the bookings. That includes accommodation, guides, transfers, and any pre-arranged experiences. 

There is no need to make reservations on different platforms or worry about confirmations. Everything is managed through one point of contact, and you’ll have clear documentation before you travel. It’s all sorted, so you can focus on enjoying the trip.

5. On-trip support

Even the best travel plans can hit a snag. That’s why you get ongoing support from a local contact throughout your trip. They’re available around the clock if plans change or something unexpected comes up. Flight delayed? Missed pickup? Need a last-minute dinner tip? You won’t be stuck figuring things out on your own. Help is always just a message away.

You can travel with confidence, knowing someone on the ground has your back. It’s support when you need it, and out of sight when you don’t, no interruptions, just reassurance.

Why traveling with Rough Guides is authentic

Authentic travel isn’t about checking boxes or following the same route as everyone else. It’s about connection. To the place. To people. To the kind of moments that stay with you. Rough Guides’ tailor-made trips are designed with this in mind. Built by locals, they focus on real experiences that aren’t packaged or performed.

Wondering how to plan a tailor-made trip? It starts with a quick conversation about what you like (and what you don’t). From there, a local expert builds an itinerary around your interests: no templates, just a trip that fits you perfectly.

Trips designed by people who live there

Every tailor-made trip from Rough Guides is planned by someone who lives in your destination. Not a remote travel agent working from a script, but someone who knows the streets, seasons, and small details that guidebooks often miss. They understand what’s actually worth seeing, when to avoid the crowds, and how to pace your trip so it feels effortless.

Instead of standard templates, you get local insight that reflects the reality on the ground. And because these trips are built by locals who care about their communities, they naturally support sustainable travel, think family-run guesthouses, independent guides, and experiences that respect both people and place.

But what does that look like?

• Knowing which festivals are happening
• Finding the best food stall in a quiet alley
• Avoiding crowded tourist traps with better timing

Focus on genuine cultural exchange

Tailor-made travel with Rough Guides is built around real cultural experiences. You won’t just observe life from a distance. You’ll take part in it. That could mean:

• Cooking with a family in their home
• Walking through a village with someone who grew up there
• Sharing a story over tea

These moments aren’t manufactured. They happen naturally because your trip is shaped by people who know how to create the space for real interaction. Cultural exchange doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be a shared laugh, a local recipe, or an unplanned detour that becomes the highlight of your day. 

What matters is that it’s genuine. When travel feels personal, it leaves a stronger impression, one that goes beyond photos and postcards.

Experiences not found in mass tourism packages

Mass tourism tends to follow the same pattern. Visit the big sights, take the same photos, and get back on the bus. A tailor-made trip with Rough Guides takes a different route. You’ll still see the places you’ve read about, but they’re balanced with experiences that feel more personal and less expected. That could be:

• Exploring a local neighborhood
• Visiting a family-run farm
• Joining a workshop most travelers miss

When it comes to tailor-made vs package tours, the difference is flexibility and depth. You're not stuck with a rigid schedule or herded from one attraction to the next; you travel your way.

What makes tailor-made travel hassle-free

Travel shouldn’t feel like work. With tailor-made trips from Rough Guides, you get all the benefits of a well-planned itinerary without the usual stress. We take care of the details so you can focus on the experience. Here’s what takes the pressure off, from start to finish.

• Accommodation
• Airport transfers
• Train tickets
• Car hire
• Guided activities
• Park permits

We handle all logistics and bookings

Once your itinerary is confirmed, we take care of everything behind the scenes. Accommodation, airport transfers, train tickets, car hire, guided activities, and park permits. It's all arranged for you. You won’t have to juggle bookings, compare websites, or chase down confirmation emails. We work with trusted local partners to make sure everything runs smoothly.

If you want a unique experience, your expert will make it happen. Prefer to tweak something before departure? That’s easy too. You get the flexibility to shape the trip as you like, without having to handle the admin.

Local experts are available throughout your journey

You don’t just get a plan and then get left on your own. From the moment your trip begins, your local expert is available to help with any adjustments or questions. Plans can shift:

• a delayed flight
• bad weather
• a last-minute change of heart

Having someone on the ground makes all the difference.

Want to add a stop or get restaurant advice? Just reach out. Your expert knows the area, speaks the language, and can help solve problems quickly. It’s not about hand-holding. It’s about having real support when you need it, so your trip keeps moving forward.

Peace of mind with 24/7 support

Travel is unpredictable, but you don’t have to figure things out alone. Every tailor-made trip comes with round-the-clock support from our local team. If your plans change, something goes wrong, or you just need a quick recommendation, help is always available. You won’t be rerouted to a generic call center.

You’ll speak to someone who knows your trip and your destination. Support is provided by message, email, or phone, whatever works best in the moment. It’s the kind of safety net that gives you freedom to explore without worry, knowing someone always has your back.