We did it! We finally launched BackyardTravel.com. And we couldn’t be more excited. To think: On a warm, spring day in Bangkok last year, during a long brainstorming session, we dreamed up the idea of this company and this site.
We wanted to create a new angle on travel. The question driving that desire was: “Why buy a holiday from someone halfway around the world, when you can go direct to travel specialists on the ground, with the most up-to-date local knowledge and advice?”
Now, almost a year later, we are seeing that dream come true. The past 11 months have been a whirlwind of work — creating, designing, refining, you name it. When we look back and reflect, it’s no wonder we find ourselves saying, “Wow, what a journey.”
It’s kind of like that feeling you get after you’ve returned from that long trip you started planning well before you even packed your suitcase. There’s a sense of accomplishment from all you’ve seen and tasted, and a sense of gratification from all the inspirational people you’ve met. You’ve experienced something you’ll never forget. You’re stronger. And you’ve learned a lot more than you ever thought you would.
We love that about travel. Actually, we love everything about travel. It’s our passion. And we love Asia, too. It’s our home. It’s our backyard. Combine those two facts and you understand where the inspiration for Backyard Travel came from.
Who are we exactly? Well, you could call us a tour company. But the description would fall short. More specifically, we’re travel specialists who live, work and play in the destinations we serve. That means when you book a trip with us — a culinary journey of Vietnam, a family adventure in Thailand — you’re embarking on a tour of, well, our backyard. You’re gaining access to the people, places and things that give our destinations their true character.
With this blog, we aim to provide you with provocative glimpses into this world we know so well, through fun profiles of travel specialists and fresh perspectives on some of the planet’s oldest and most alluring regions. If you like the sound of that, if what we’re saying feels as good as the breeze in Bali, bookmark this page. Check back often.
In the meantime, click around. Start exploring. There’s so much to see in our backyard.