about
adventure coordinators
Tom's Story
From a young age I knew I was meant to travel.
I remember in third grade excelling in geography and being spellbound by photos of Victoria Falls and my father's stories about his time in Irian Jaya (now Indonesia) and Australia.
My parents took me all over Europe - I vividly remember hiking in Austria, swimming in Norwegian fjords and the mountains and beaches of France.
As soon as I could, I set out on my own, hitchhiking to Istanbul and Northern Norway and cycling in many European locales.
It wasn't long before I got a job in the travel industry. And after brief stints as outdoor instructor in Sweden, safari guide in Southern Africa and in the hospitality industry in Holland, I found my calling as a travel consultant in 1993 and moved to Canada.
I have since been to over 100 countries and all continents,
I love what I do - I love giving you, the adventurous traveller my personal advice and making sure you get the best holiday ever, every time!
our travellers
Our travellers are adventurous, people who want to explore our beautiful world, who are curious about wildlife and nature, other cultures, food and people. Whether you want to be active or prefer to travel more leisurely; whether you want to stay in family-run hotels or luxury lodgings; and whether you want to travel in a small group with likeminded travellers or travel with your own family, friends or partner; if you have a love of adventure travel, we should talk.
i am different
I have thirty years of industry experience, travelled to 100+ countries (and counting) and to all continents. I have done it all - from backpacking to luxury journeys and everything in between. I have trekked world-famous trails, stayed in some very memorable lodges and hotels and journeyed on just about every conveyance imaginable (ask me about that time I shared a beer with Soviet soldiers in the back of their truck).
I listen to what you need, use my personal experience and knowledge to find you the perfect trip or design a privately guided holiday for you. My service is speedy and delivered with a personal touch.
I make sure each and every vacation is a memorable one.
That is my travel experience working for you.
From the first phone call or e-mail to the moment of departure, while you are enjoying your holiday and even after you come back, I am here to help and put my expertise and knowledge to work for you.
In addition, I advocate for my clients should things not quite go as planned.
Finally, you get lots of extras - reading lists, access to our library of thousands of background articles, free advice and even the occasional joke (sorry, I can't help myself).
We're all in
If you were to book directly with a tour operator you still have to find your airfare, insurance and perhaps additional nights at a hotel. And they will often leave you hanging where it comes to visa & medical advice. I do it all. I am your One-Stop-Adventure-Shop.
And I do it fast and with a personal touch - so different from the call-centre approach of so many companies these days.
fees and earnings
And for none of that I charge a premium. I don't have to as the companies I book you with pay me a commission.
The only fee I employ is a $150 per person professional fee to research, book, issue and service airline tickets. I do this as airlines no longer remunerate me for offering their product, yet I put a lot of time in my research. (Read why this is a good investment for you). I have reasonable administration fees should you change or cancel your booking which I only apply when I find I have a lot of extra work. A typical fee is $50-100 per person, depending on the amount of work involved. Fees are subject to applicable Harmonized Sales Tax in the province of Ontario.
A better world through travel
I strongly believe travel has a role to play in making this world a better place. I do this by working with specialist operators who have shown a commitment to employing local people, charitable giving and minimizing their impact on local cultures and the environment.
It is for this reason I do not book all-inclusive resorts or cruises on large ships*- I do not feel those businesses contribute in a meaningful way to the local economy or the wellbeing of their staff.
To combat the impact our flights have on climate change, I encourage you to invest in tree planting projects on the Niagara Escarpment. I feel this is so important I will even match your contribution. I am truly proud of this, my One Percent for the Future Challenge.
I believe companies have a role to play in helping those in our society who are less fortunate than us and compnaies must be good stewards of the environment. At Adventure Coordinators I do this by supporting (with treasure, time and/or talent) both local and overseas charities. I typically donate 2% of my after-tax earnings and over the years supported a host of charities, including The Toronto People with Aids Foundation, The Sick Kid's Foundation, The Healing & Cancer Foundation, World Vision, The Canadian Red Cross, Melanie's Way, Lifewater Canada, Aurora House, WWF Canada, The Terry Fox Foundation, The Portage Foundation, Wellspring, and the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
* In Antarctica I don't book on ships with more than 200 passengers and recommend to stay with ships under 100 passengers.(You can ask me why - it is a great reason!)
partners
Over the past 25 years I have built up a great network of trusted suppliers. I work with a select group of great adventure tour operators - companies that have an established reputation and that I know and trust.
For my small-group departures I look at each operator’s trips in depth, compare them to similar trips by other operators, and will present you with those that I believe offer you the best experience. The trips listed on this website are all the best of the best, but due to time constraints I am not able to list all of them. Please ask if you do not see a trip you are interested in.
For my tailored-for-you trips (I call them private journeys) I have selected the best destination management companies in the world with long track records and great reputations. I work closely with you and them to design and book your next dream vacation. Read more about our travel styles
team work
Personal travel planners have little time left to do all those other functions that makes a good travel agency run smoothly:
emergency support, marketing, accounting, bookkeeping, contracting, licensing, IT and technical support are all tasks that require experts to do them well.
That is why I have teamed up with Vision Travel where a group of dedicated professionals do all those support functions and more.
And behind the scenes, but always there working hard, is my wife Lynelle.
24/7 support
Despite my best efforts, sometimes things do not quite go as planned. Weather-related delays may throw you for a loop, or a family emergency may force you to come home early. I will do my utmost to personally get any problems solved. And if I am unavailable, my 24-hour support phone number connects you to a team of dedicated travel professionals able to assist you with making those much-needed flight changes.
the virtuoso difference
Adventure Coordinators is a proud member of the Virtuoso network of luxury travel agencies, representing the best of the best in travel. With a portfolio of nearly 1,700 preferred partners - top hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more - I use my global connections to plan the most memorable experiences for you.
the tico difference
Adventure Coordinators is registered with TICO under registration number 50023501. When you purchase your travel services from a TICO registered travel agency you are protected by an industry financed Travel Compensation Fund. Subject to the Regulation, the Compensation Fund reimburses consumers when they do not receive the travel services purchased due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of either an Ontario travel retailer, Ontario travel wholesaler or due to the failure of an airline or cruise line.
It means you can book with us knowing your hard-earned money is safe.