Bespoke Getaways

05/06/2024

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It has been fascinating watching the contestants make their way through Asia, from Japan to Indonesia. They have all experienced highs and lows, and at times pushed themselves to the limit, but they all agreed it had been an unforgettable experience. It may have spurred you on to want to visit the r...

03/05/2024

Continuing our trip along the west coast of Norway and into the fjords. We have visited Stavanger, Olden and Alesund. The weather has been getting brighter and will reach 20C by the time we arrive in Haugesund.

30/04/2024

I have finally taken the plunge and joined a cruise. It’s a family event and we are in the Norwegian Fjords.

27/03/2024

Some feedback from last night’s event. Thank you Richard

[Krabi Beach, Thailand] Sorry l wasn’t able to make a rather special city centre event last night. l had parcel collection issues and couldn’t, in the end, leave my house – but ju…

27/03/2024

Wow what a wonderful evening!

So last night, despite the dreadful weather and traffic, our guests made their way to Bandook Kitchen. During the evening there was a presentation about Bespoke Getaways, Hem shared stories of his travel adventures, and we all enjoyed some fine Indian tapas served by Moe and his team.

It made for a very special evening. Thanks to everyone who attended.

12/03/2024

Come and join us for an exclusive event in Bath, and find out how to make ‘your trip of a lifetime’ a reality!

Ask yourself these questions

- Have you always wanted to visit SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali or perhaps India
- Do you find it difficult to decide where to go, how long for, and when is the best time
- Do you hate one of those whistle stop tours in a big group
- Do you want time to immerse yourself in the culture and discover hidden gems
- Do you want to try new things, but in a safe and secure manner, accompanied by someone you can trust
- Do you want to do it all in comfort and luxury

Then join Hem Patel CEO of Bespoke Getaways. He will be talking about his own travel experiences, and how Bespoke Getaways can help create your very own trip of a lifetime.

Come and enjoy the talk and some fine Indian tapas at the award winning Bandook restaurant in Bath.

Register your interest now by sending your details including a phone number to
[email protected] or call 0754151350

Please see below for more details about the event.

Accompanied tours to SE Asia, tailored for you, to create your trip of a lifetime.

11/03/2024

Some more pictures from our stay in Luang Prabang. One of the most fascinating things to do is get up early and witness Sai Bat. You can offer alms to the monks as they walk by every morning.

After you have done this get down to the morning market where the locals go to by their food. You can see the fresh produce, seafood and snacks. Some of the snacks may not be so appealing to a western palate!!

Luang Prabang is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

07/03/2024

Hem Patel CEO will be in Bath on Tuesday March 26th at Bandook Kitchen in Bath!

I can announce that we will be having an exclusive Bespoke Getaways event in Bath later this month. It will be in collaboration with Bandook, recent winner of Bath Life’s Restaurant of the Year 2024.

Hem will be talking about his company, and sharing some of his experiences, living and working as an expat for 20 years in Asia. Enjoy some drinks and delicious Indian Street food!

07/03/2024

Hem Patel CEO will be in Bath on Tuesday March 26th at Bandook Kitchen in Bath!

I can announce that we will be having an exclusive Bespoke Getaways event in Bath later this month. It will be in collaboration with Bandook, recent winner of Bath Life’s Restaurant of the Year 2024.

Hem will be talking about his company, and sharing some of his experiences, living and working as an expat for 20 years in Asia. Enjoy some drinks and delicious Indian Street food!

07/03/2024

We are in the final leg of the tour. What a place to finish. Luang Prabang is in Laos, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It was listed in 1995 for unique and "remarkably" well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage.

It is set in a valley and encircled by two rivers. It was the ancient capital of Laos and whilst it has become more developed recently, it maintains its charm.

There is plenty to see and do. You can immerse yourself in the culture and history, visit the markets, climb to the top of Mt Phousi and witness the dramatic sunset. There are wonderful day trips and excursions. It’s unlike any other place in SE Asia.

Luang Prabang is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

05/03/2024

Obviously anyone coming to Thailand will be aware how wonderful Thai food is. In Krabi it is on another level especially for those who love their seafood.

You can select your seafood from the catch and then choose how it’s cooked, barbecued, steamed, fried it’s up to you. Finally you select which sauces to accompany your seafood. Of course there are plenty of other options, which are not seafood (and delicious!)

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

02/03/2024

A few pictures of the wildlife I have seen on my trips to Krabi. The monkeys can be particularly ‘playful’!

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

28/02/2024

Whilst you can choose to relax and take it easy on Railay beach, Krabi, enjoy the golden sands, the food, perhaps try a massage, there are plenty of activities for those who want to do more.

It’s a great place to learn to do rock climbing, there are some excellent schools who will take complete beginners as well as more advanced.

There are of course multiple islands to discover. Trips to Phi Phi, Maya beach and the the rest of Phang Nga bay. You can do some kayaking, or snorkeling. Enough to keep you busy for a few days.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

25/02/2024

It’s important during any trip to find time to relax. Don’t forget it’s also a holiday, you want to go home with wonderful memories and energised, not totally exhausted and needing another holiday!

I think Krabi, and Railay beach especially is the perfect place to unwind. The scenery is truly spectacular, golden beaches and the warm emerald sea. For those that can’t sit still there’s plenty to do. Snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing or just enjoying cocktails at sunset, you choose! Finally you have glorious seafood freshly prepared in Thai flavours what a perfect place.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

22/02/2024

Final day in Kanchanaburi. Time to explore the national parks and surrounding areas before we head to the beach!

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

20/02/2024

Today was very different from any of the other days we have spent on our trip. As we are in Kanchanaburi we wanted to pay our respects to the fallen heroes of WW2, to those of all nationalities who died during the building of the bridge from Thailand to Burma under Japanese occupation. Also known by many as the Bridge over the River Khwai.

We visited the War Cemetery and Death Railway Museum and then drove further north to the Hellfire Pass. These are all very moving and emotional places.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

17/02/2024

Wow what a day. We are in Kanchanaburi,3 hours from Bangkok. We spent a day at the elephant sanctuary.

Here they rescue elephants who have been logging, performing etc and give them a safe and secure home. We were able to help with their daily activities. Preparing their feed, giving them their food, later they had a mud bath and washed them off in the river. It was so amazing being able to interact and get close to these remarkable animals.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

15/02/2024

We arrived in Kanchanaburi having picked up a car in downtown Bangkok. It’s a 3 hour drive. Fortunately having lived in Bangkok as an expat I’m used to the traffic and driving! At least it’s the same side of the road! Once you get out of Bangkok the roads are pretty quiet and the drive is pleasant.

The boutique hotel we are staying at is on the River Kwai, glorious sunsets, and a great happy hour. We will be here for 3 days exploring the National Parks, understanding the history around WW2 and the Death Railway and getting close to the elephants! Keep following for updates.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

14/02/2024

The second stop on our tour is Hoi-An. A UNESCO World Heritage. It is a well preserved ancient town which was an important trading port from the 15th to the 19th century. As well as the picturesque streets and buildings you can arrange trips to see Marble Mountain and Hai Van pass. Danang the nearest airport is a short flight from Hanoi.

For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

12/02/2024

Some feedback from clients from our first tour of 2024. Thanks David

11/02/2024

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Plan ahead and beat the winter blues with a trip of a lifetime

11/02/2024

Today the group learned about Thai cookery. We attended a half day session at one of the best cookery schools in Bangkok.

We began by going to a local fresh market to find the ingredients we would need, and familiarise ourselves with some new and unfamiliar items you wouldn’t find in Tesco!

It was a hands on session and we can choose up to 4 dishes to prepare. I chose

Som Tam
Green curry
Mince chicken with holy basil
Pad Thai

We were also shown how the dessert mango with sticky rice is made. Of course we were able to sample it too.

It was a great morning and in the afternoon we visited Jim Thompson’s beautiful teak house.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

09/02/2024

The next leg of the tour brings us to Thailand. First stop is Bangkok. It can be an intimidating place if you have never been there. The heat, traffic, noise can all become overwhelming. However with help this can be overcome by staying in the right location and carefully planning your schedule. Then it can be a truly memorable place.

Thailand is full of wonderful cultural experiences to open your mind and senses.

Make lasting memories by trying unique adventures and activities.
For more unique travel advice, be sure to give my page a follow!

02/02/2024

One of the best things about a holiday in Vietnam is discovering the food. Everyone probably knows about pho, the noodle soup. Even then you will learn that each region has its own variation. The spring and summer rolls are deliciously crunchy. The Bun Cha with noodles will make your mouth water and the list goes on. Don’t forget the egg coffees.

If you're looking to make the most of your holiday whilst feeling completely confident on your travels, you should travel with someone who knows the country inside out.

By travelling with me, you will experience Vietnam to the fullest extent in a way that suits YOU!

For more information on achieving your tailored experience of a lifetime, DM me the word ‘TRAVEL’.

29/01/2024

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Our first trip of the year! A fully bespoke 21 day trip which will take us to Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. What a way to spend January and beat the winter blues. Follow our updates on Facebook and IGas we make our way across SE Asia. The first stop will be Hanoi.

One benefit of travelling accompanied by a personal guide? ✈️

You will never get lost! 😂

Travelling with a guide to a new destination will save you time, money and stress.

It also means you no longer have to worry about getting lost in a new location.

With over 20 years of experience living, working and travelling in SE Asia I know many regions of South East Asia intimately.

29/01/2024

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29/01/2024

Not only is HoiAn in Vietnam a charming ancient town to meander around and take in the historic sights. From here there are some day trips not be be missed. One of which are the Marble Mountains. You will see amazing Buddha statues set in the caves and pagodas. It will require a bit of effort climbing the steps but it’s well worth it.

One benefit of travelling accompanied by me? ✈️

You get to change and adjust your very own bespoke itinerary exactly the way you like.

I will work with you to devise the perfect plan that allows you to discover South East Asia in your way.

Whether it's enjoying the sandy beaches of Thailand, visiting the bustling cities of India, discovering yourself in Vietnam or learning the history of Cambodia; I want to make your dream a reality.

Ready for an experience of a lifetime? DM ‘TRAVEL’ for more information about how I can help you.