Here at Go Differently we like to do things… well differently…
We like to think that’s a good thing – and hopefully, you’ll agree.
Why travel with us?
Are all travel companies the same? We don't think so...We care
We really care whether or not you have a great trip and we’ll take time to understand what it is you’re looking for
We know that one person’s holiday of a lifetime is another person’s worst nightmare and we are happy to spend time working with you to make sure that things are just right… for you. Our standard itineraries are there to give you an idea of what we can offer but if you’re looking for something a little bit different, just give us some hints and we’ll do our best to find it – we really do love a challenge!
Why not contact us and see for yourself?
We know what we’re talking about
We specialise in South East Asia because it’s the part of the world we know and love best, and after 12 years operating Go Differently, and many more spent exploring and living in the destinations we offer, we’re still just as passionate about really getting to the heart of each country and sharing that knowledge with others to create truly authentic and unforgettable holidays.
Many of our local hotels, activity providers and guides have become personal friends over the years so if you have a requirement we haven’t yet considered or a question for which we don’t already have an answer, we’ll almost certainly know someone who does.
We’ll save you time (and quite possibly money too)
With so much information available at the click of a mouse button these days, it’s easy to be tempted to “do it yourself” and by all means, if you enjoy doing your research and coming up with your own plans or suggestions, we’ll be more than happy to let you take the lead and help you to find the best way to make your dream holiday a reality.
If, on the other hand, you find yourself a little overwhelmed with all the options out there and would rather cut out some of the indecision and guesswork, we’ll be delighted to come up with some magical ideas of our own, based on your requirements and informed by our experience of what really works.
Not to mention the fact that because we are able to negotiate better rates with many of our local suppliers, you may well be pleasantly surprised to find that our itineraries very rarely work out much more expensive than going it alone (and sometimes even cheaper).
We’ll support you every step of the way (and back)
Our support doesn’t stop once we’ve come up with an itinerary that you love and you’ve decided to go ahead. Before you leave we’ll send you a detailed document including hints and tips to help you get the most out of your holiday, what to look out for when meeting your drivers/guides and local contact details of people in the destinations you’ll be visiting who will be on hand to provide any immediate help you may require whilst you’re away.
You’ll also be provided with a 24 hour support number for our office here in the UK, just in case you need to make any major changes to your plans or further back-up assistance.
We’ll tell you the truth
Homestay accommodation can often be quite basic; volunteering is not always fun; overnight journeys can be tiring; arriving in a strange country for the first time can be a daunting prospect and local customs can be difficult to understand…
All these aspects and more can be turned into positive experiences IF you know what to expect and are prepared for it. We’ll always try to offer advice about the things you really need to know and we’ll also tell you if we think you’re making an unwise choice as to which trip is most suitable to your needs.
Small is beautiful
We’re not a big company and we don’t pretend to be
You’ll almost always speak to the same person from initial contact to the welcome home email at the end of your trip. That person will take time to understand your needs and take a personal interest in ensuring that you get the most out of your experience.
Not to mention the fact that since we don’t have to book hundreds of tourists into the same resorts or onto the same standard itineraries, we are able to take advantage of smaller boutique hotels and other more characterful accommodation which may not be viable for the bigger operators and to take you well off-the-beaten track to places very few other tourists get to experience.
Financial Security
Sadly, we’re all too aware that travel companies have a bad reputation. We could tell you that we’d rather sell our grannies than cheat someone out of their precious holiday money… it’s true (well almost… sorry granny!) but we don’t expect you to take our word for it…
We are not a member of ABTA and nor do we hold an ATOL (mainly because this applies to holidays sold with flights… and we don’t sell flights) but your holiday payments are just as safe as if we were.
Here’s how it works
In order to fully protect your payments, all monies paid by you are held in a Client Trust Account. Your money is not released to Go Differently Ltd until your holiday has taken place or the services comprising your holiday have been paid for. (This protection fully satisfies the requirements of EC and UK law).
What this really means
When you pay money to us, it is paid into a separate account where it STAYS until AFTER your trip has taken place ie. we can’t actually spend your money until you return… which means that in the unlikely event that we were not able to provide your trip for some reason, then the money would be available to be returned to you.
More information
If you have any further queries about this or any other aspect of our holidays, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
With us, responsible travel isn’t just a marketing tactic
We don’t just pay lip service to the idea of responsible travel – it’s something in which we believe – passionately – and it extends to everything we do from dealing with our clients to paying our suppliers.