Mixing Business with Pleasure

Im currently thinking about combining my passion for travel & enjoyment of planning & booking my own trips away, by maybe venturing into this as a business idea.

My Idea is to act as a Travel Agent in a way.

I will design & create my own packages - accommodation, activities and transport in some cases. Things for short breaks away in U.K, europe and possibly worldwide, obviously I have to start small first. Possibly ideas for Stag/Hen do's, Birthdays, Adventure Breaks, corporate outings, extreme sports and also regular holiday trips. including Train trips across Europe e.g London - Turkey.

Activites so far im considering are:
Sky Diving
Rafting
Bungee
4x4Jeeps, Quads
Go Karts
Paintballing.
Cycling

I really want to create my own, but also I was thinking that, I could use+book Itinerarys that other companies have on offer already and sell these to others with a small fee attached, so that I have more choice to offer. Theres still an awful lot of people who still buy package holidays rather than arranging everything and thought maybe this was an area in the market I could somehow fill in some ways.

Does anyone have any words of encouragement or some advice or ideas which could help me. Some good activities in places in U.K or europe that many people dont realise are there. Im looking to have out of the ordinary ideas which I can use to attract people and to see what else I offer.
Once Ive got some ideas etc, i will probably make a quick website &try marketing it.

Obviously at this stage, im gathering ideas, potential destinations, what already existing itinerarys i could use and also create some of my own and prices.

Im still unsure though, how to book flights, considering they have £30+ name changing charges for the budget airlines. do tour operators normally book these once they have interest rather than booking when the flights are available.
I suppose if i got cheap flights, I could add on the name change charge when necessary.

Firstly Im thinking of using Ryanair&Easyjet destinations, as everyone throughout the country has an airport close by that goes to these places. I can add on some accomm & maybe an activity or two to entice people to want to go.

Id really like peoples opinions and help. advice on all my ideas and brainstorms. or where you think i should start first.

Over the last 5years, ive travelled to over 20destinations.many of which were on my own. Organised my own 5week trip to Oz+other places. For many years ive always wanted a business idea, this way i link in my passion+interest of travel which should make it enjoyable for me and something to do on a part time basis and see if it takes off. I have lots of ideas buzzing away, just need opinions to gauge whats best and incorporate some sort of structure.

I have been to

Hong Kong, Singapore,Bangkok Thailand - koh samui,Kuala Lumpur Australia (sydney,cairns,ayers rock,brisbane) U.S.A (new york, new orleans, florida-twice),Canada (toronto+niagara), Spain (mainland and various islands),France,Greece,Italy,tour of Sri Lanka, Mexico, Egypt - Cairo &Luxor (Africa), Egypt - Sharm El Sheikh (Asia) (twice),The Gambia,Kenya,Carribean - Cozumel & Gran Cayman,Dubai (twice),Tunisia,Portugal, Reply to this

In a previous life, I was a Director of several travel companies - and, although I travelled extensively to over forty countries during thirty years in the business, I would rather be the passenger than the operator any day! My advice would be: don't get into inclusive tours because legislation, liability, licensing, and insurance are all things you'd also be getting into once you start including flights! You would also have to contend with some of them if you only handled things from overseas airport back to overseas airport, but at least you might be able to sleep at night. Actually, you'd probably make as much money with a website, supported by appropriate advertisers, which just offers advice based on experience and provides links to outfits which pay you commission. That would leave you time to do your own travelling into the bargain.

Anyhow, good luck with whatever you do - and keep smiling! Reply to this

hi there--i'm co-founder of a travel site that promotes exactly what you are trying to do. you can create an account and post as many advertisement web-pages as you like via our automated forms and we'll promote them to travelers coming to your area. check out our site at www.stepuptravel.org

good luck. i'd love to see each one of your activities advertised on our site--totally for free.

james Reply to this