Our travelers’ favorite trips: unforgettable New Year journeys

We love hearing all about our travelers’ bucket list trips around the world, and the tailor-made itineraries they planned that opened doors to authentic travel experiences. Here, we gathered a selection of reviews from travelers who embarked on life-changing adventures with us in the New Year, each one diving into what it was about booking with TravelLocal that made their vacation even more special. Tempted to plan one or more bucket list trips of your own? Read on for all the travel inspiration you could need…

Bucket list trips: our travelers’ best travel experiences for the New Year

Anne Lockwood, traveled to Costa Rica in February

I used TravelLocal for a 3 week trip around Costa Rica. I contacted them while in the early planning stages. I gave a rough outline of what we wanted to do. Maria gave me some excellent suggestions and options to consider. She then patiently helped me tailor make our personal itinerary.

It was an excellent itinerary and completely suited our needs. The accommodations booked were to a high standard and met all our requirements. The transport provided was first class. All the drivers were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Maria kept in contact throughout the trip and any questions were answered very promptly. I would highly recommend this company and would use them again without any hesitation.

Alison Smith, traveled to Vietnam & Laos in January

Another Outstanding Experience with TravelLocal! This was my fourth trip booked through TravelLocal, and once again, it exceeded expectations. This time, my travels took me to Laos and Vietnam, and everything was seamlessly arranged through TravelLocal’s trusted local partner.

Hien, our point of contact, was exceptional from start to finish. She crafted a thoughtfully designed itinerary that perfectly balanced cultural experiences, relaxation, and exploration. She was responsive, patient, and incredibly thorough, answering all of our questions promptly and making adjustments whenever needed. Working directly with an in-destination expert truly makes a difference, and TravelLocal’s model shines because of professionals like Hien.

The journey itself was culturally rich and incredibly rewarding. In Laos, our time in Luang Prabang was an unexpected highlight. The city’s peaceful charm and welcoming people made it unforgettable. Participating in the morning alms-giving ceremony with hundreds of saffron-robed monks was a deeply moving and memorable experience. Our local guide was knowledgeable and passionate, adding meaningful context to everything we saw and did.

Vietnam offered wonderful contrast and diversity — from the vibrant energy of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to the magical floating lanterns in Hoi An, to cruising along the Mekong Delta. Each destination brought something unique and captivating. We also enjoyed visits to a buffalo dairy farm and a bee farm, which added even more cultural depth to the experience.

Our accommodations were excellent, and our drivers and guides were professional, safe, and informative throughout the trip. Everything ran smoothly, which allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. TravelLocal continues to impress me with its ability to connect travelers with knowledgeable local experts who truly care about delivering meaningful travel experiences. This was another fabulous journey, and I look forward to booking my next adventure through TravelLocal.

Read more: Our travelers’ favorite trips in 2025: the year’s best travel experiences

Mary Orth, traveled to Australia in January

We enjoyed individualized attention to detail with our Australia trip planning. [Our local expert] Rebecca made several really good recommendations for our trip which really enhanced the experience. We stayed at several amazing places (Lady Elliot Island, K’gari, and Noosa) which we would not have planned on our own.

There are many highlights: so many cool places, biking in Sydney, commuter ferry to Manly Beach, flight to Lady Elliot Island, rainforest hike in K’gari and swimming at Lake McKenzie, where the sand was like baby powder…! Also, amazing beaches in Noosa, the Great Ocean Road tour (12+ hours but worth every minute), and koalas, wallabies and kangaroos. The Aussies are SO friendly, we felt right at home.

Thanks for making the trip seamless!!

Karen Gamow, traveled to Costa Rica in February

I can’t recommend these folks more highly. I’m a fussy traveler, and have many little details that I enjoy getting just right for a great trip. But it’s exhausting to do yourself, and you rarely know enough to make the best choices. We just finished an amazing 10-day trip to Costa Rica that I could NEVER have arranged even 30% of on my own, and not nearly as beautifully. We were blown away by every hotel and every activity that was planned for us.

I’ve been planning all of our travel for 40 years. Accidentally, I learned of this company online while I was researching a trip to Costa Rica. I felt inspired to reach out to them. Have NEVER used a travel agency before. I shared our time frame, interests (wildlife), our physical capabilities (easy hikes), vegetarian food, 1 big adventure a day with free time afterwards, etc. They sent us a very detailed 10-day itinerary with suggested hotels and activities. We corresponded back and forth a bit to refine, and then they finalized the whole trip. EVERY DETAIL. All we had to do was fly there.

We were met at the airport by a driver and a sign with our name on it. From there till we were ready to fly home, there wasn’t a detail that we needed to think about for 10 days. That’s a real vacation. Local guides and drivers met us at our hotel each day to take us on a wonderful adventure. We’ve NEVER travelled like this before. EVERY adventure and EVERY hotel greatly exceeded our expectations. Our travel agent, Yuliana, was wonderful. And we felt very happy to be supporting local businesses as part of this process. Super happy with these folks. I’ve been telling everyone I know about them.

Christine Cunningham, traveled to Morocco in February

We have traveled internationally many times, and our tour of Morocco was our favorite! It was the perfect blend of adventure, culture, and history. It was mountains and gorges and desert and cities and town and villages. We had constant communication and contact from beginning to end. We were unnecessarily hesitant at first to book with a new company- DON’T BE!!! They were beyond professional and competent!!! No one better!!

We were picked up promptly at the airport and our driver offered full support every step of the way. Our bags were brought to our hotel room, he checked us into our hotels, he delivered us to local guides, and when tours were over he was right there to pick us up. We were never left wondering or waiting! He could answer questions about every inch of the 1200 miles we covered driving from one city to the next. His knowledge of Morocco was unparalleled!

The driver accommodated our every need and even accommodated some pivoting along the way. Any time we had a language barrier (which was often) Mohamed jumped in to assist us. The local guides were fantastic. The riads, hotels, and desert camp were all very nice with wonderful staff. Easiest, best, and most culturally fulfilling trip!! Could no more strongly recommend a tour or driver/guide.

Read more: Our travelers’ favorite trips to Europe: Austria, France and more

Frederick Hollenbach, traveled to Indonesia in January

I would like to personally thank [our local expert] Diwan who made our trip to Indonesia hassle free and so smooth. We were so impressed with the fast response on WhatsApp. All our guides were happy and helpful and made us feel so at ease.

Make it happen

Our local experts are ready to help you discover new and fascinating parts of the world on a very special, uniquely personalized trip. Pin down your next adventure with their help: simply by reaching out to them, you’ll soon be whisked away on dreamy bucket list trips of your own…