Our travelers’ favorite coastal trips around the world

We love hearing all about our travelers’ trips around the world, and the tailor-made itineraries they embarked on that opened doors to authentic travel experiences. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest traveler stories for coastal vacations taken this year so far. From Croatia’s idyllic shores to Ireland’s dramatic coastline, these are the escapes our travelers loved making with help from our local experts.

Traveler stories round-up: tailor-made coastal vacations

Shaila Kondru’s trip to the Philippines

My recent trip to the Philippines, traveling from Manila to Puerto Princesa and on to El Nido, was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Everything was arranged through TravelLocal, and the entire journey ran incredibly smoothly from start to finish.

One of the standout aspects of the trip was how seamless the transport was. Every transfer was coordinated, which made moving between destinations stress free and allowed me to fully relax and enjoy the experience.

The activities throughout the trip were truly wonderful, offering a great mix of adventure and natural beauty. A definite highlight was snorkeling at Shimizu Island, where the crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life made for an unforgettable experience. It was easily one of the most magical moments of the trip.

From the bustling energy of Manila to the natural wonders of Puerto Princesa and the breathtaking scenery of El Nido, this itinerary offered the perfect balance of culture, relaxation, and adventure. I would highly recommend this trip and TravelLocal for anyone looking to explore the Philippines in a well organized and memorable way.

Patrick Watters’ trip to Ireland

May of 2026 we took our driving tour of the Causeway Coast and Wild Atlantic Way. Arranged via TravelLocal and our agent Claire did a top notch job of seeing to all our wants and needs; from accommodations to sights and amazing guides.

Connemara is a beautiful region of Ireland with yet another National Park and the beautiful Kylemore Abbey. We had a long visit there before highlight visits to Killary Sheep Farm for lambs and Border Collie demonstrations. Then on to DK Oyster Farm for a private tour and tasting.

The next day we were up early to catch the Aran Islands Ferry in Rossaveel and an all day tour of Inishmore. Another favorite adventure was a private “pony cart” with Thomas Faherty, lifelong resident of this island… not to be missed! After the ferry back we enjoyed a great seafood supper out toward the pier in Barna at Donnelly’s. We also visited the home town (Fanore) and gravesite of beloved John O’Donohue. In the evening we did a Cliffs of Moher cruise (Doolin Ferries).

If you prefer independent travel with local experts assisting in plans, you can’t go wrong with TravelLocal.com and those agencies they connect you with.

Marinsa Harper’s trip to Iceland

This was a fantastic experience of Iceland. Our agent was great, not to mention the company through which we booked. I was updated on a regular basis and I really appreciated the bon voyage and welcome back messages. Thank you TravelLocal, we will be back.

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

Patrick Heller’s trip to South Africa

Our trip through South Africa and Eswatini was perfectly organized from start to finish – a true labor of love! A huge thank you to [our local expert] Bettina for the outstanding planning, the attentive service, and the seamless organization.

Every accommodation was thoughtfully chosen, the route was wonderfully coordinated, and the experiences were simply unique. It was an absolute dream vacation that we will never forget.

We can wholeheartedly recommend Bettina to everyone – with her, Africa becomes a truly unforgettable experience.

Kathy Benage’s trip to Croatia

Outstanding service from Sara and with her help, we were able to see so many interesting towns/cities in Croatia. We had wonderful hotels, outstanding guides/tours and drivers who were knowledgeable and proud of their country. We received so much support from Sara in our upfront planning as well as during our trip. She was always available to us and her response time was uncanny! Based on Sara and our fabulous Croatia trip, I would highly recommend using TravelLocal.

Sonia Gervais’ trip to Indonesia

It was our first time in Indonesia and Carolina was listening to all our requests making the perfect trip for us! We didn’t know at all what to expect and the discovery was such a wonderful experience full of beauty and kindness and people always happy to answer our questions!

All guides and drivers were always ready to share their culture and knowledge. Every day Diwan our contact was texting us to know if everything was ok and to give us advice for our next adventure. We fondly recommend it to everyone who wants to get the full experience without worrying about transportations, hotels and so much more!

Read more: Our travelers’ favorite multi-country trips around the world

Make it happen

Yearning for the chance to explore the world’s best coastal vacations? 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 coastal vacations of your own…