Context Travel

I’d never thought of myself as the “tour type” until I started working at Context Travel. Travel, for me, used to be about seeing new places and finding the best gluten-free restaurants along the way. On my first trip to Italy in 2019, I tried a few tours but found them either underwhelming or, in two cases, missed the tour entirely because I couldn’t locate the meeting point. I'd spend countless hours planning the perfect itinerary but still ended up wandering aimlessly, missing out on the rich history that I loved so much. That all changed during my second trip to Italy this past February. We were in Rome for our annual company retreat, celebrating 20 years of Context tours, and I finally had the chance to experience what our customers have been enjoying for all this time. I took two private tours and two audio tours, and it completely transformed how I want to travel. The overwhelming Vatican museums became more digestible with insights from an art historian, and I explored Rome with our expert guides in my ear, uncovering hidden gems like the Egyptian obelisks scattered throughout the city—something I would have never noticed on my own. Suddenly, every place had a story, and every landmark had a significance I hadn’t grasped before. Reflecting on my previous travel habits, I now realize how much I was missing. Working at Context has not only opened my eyes to a richer, more informed way of exploring the world, but it has also fueled my passion for helping other travelers discover the same. If you want to travel more intentionally and with insights other travelers often miss, follow us on our social media channel or check out our website for your next trip. www.contexttravel.com https://lnkd.in/grvVcfF8 #BetterwithContext

There’s a lot going on at Context Travel! Our sales team just wrapped up #VirtuosoTravelWeek, our CEO recently returned from meeting with experts in Tokyo and Sydney, and I’m jumping into the #BCorp community to learn from other certified B Corps, and build some relationships along the way. Our teams are already working on 2025 content strategy, ongoing portfolio expansion, and putting even more personal touch and connection behind every interaction, both behind the scenes and on the ground in the 60+ cities we operate in. It’s a lot, but it’s not overwhelming. I’ll tell you why. On my first Context experience in Rome earlier this year, I remember feeling a little bit upset. Upset at the fact that I hadn’t booked a tour as immersive and detailed the first time I visited the city. In 2019, I visited the Sistine Chapel, but I didn’t really understand it. (Which I only realized in hindsight.) This time, I was guided through the Vatican Museums with not just a guide, but an expert Art Historian who was also a native Roman. She gave me insights I would have never known otherwise. Like the fact that restoration technicians purposefully left smoke stains on the ceiling of the Sistine to show the difference in color. They proved that yes, Michelangelo DID paint with vibrant colors, they were just hidden by years of smoke and soot. Or that the Gallery of Maps was incredibly accurate for the time they were painted, and that they were laid out to be geographically correct. When the Pope walked down the hall, he viewed the maps as they would have appeared from a Roman vantage point. This is why Sicily is upside down. These small facts are what make a big experience. I’m so grateful to be able to help other travelers have this type of connection and these “WOW” moments, because this truly is when travel comes alive. So yes, there’s a lot going on at Context. But when I think about the value and the connections we help people build across cultures, I say “what else can we do?” Because everything is #BetterWithContext. 

A heartfelt thank you to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for granting our team exclusive access to your treasure trove of historical archives. What an incredible journey through history we experienced! Behind the scenes, we delved deep into the collection stacks, uncovering gems like the original hand-drawn plans for William Penn's vision of Philadelphia and the very first sketches of what would become the iconic Independence Hall. We were privileged to view rare documents like the petition signatures of Philadelphia merchants against the Stamp Act and the only existing printed instruction manual for deploying this pivotal Act. Each artifact, a silent witness to the shaping of our nation. One of our standout moments was exploring the first handwritten draft of the Constitution – a document that continues to guide and inspire. And let's not forget the impromptu history lesson from our VIP traveler, Henry, who brought early nautical maps of Brazil to life right before our eyes! Our team was truly blown away and amazed to see these hidden gems in Philly.

Come chat with our team in Vegas and discover how our travel experiences can change someone's perception of the world forever!

A Travel CEO’s 17-day Family Vacation to Australia and Japan Well, I promised you stories and learnings from my recent 17-day trip to Australia and Japan, so where do I start? I figure I’ll listen to Lewis Carroll and begin at the beginning, but then have some fun and let you choose where I go next. :) First, some practical tips on booking the flights and hotels: To state the obvious, muti-leg trips to the other side of the world are logistically challenging and expensive. Rather than booking NYC → Tokyo→ Sydney and back, it was cheaper (and kinder to our jetlagged bodies) to nest two roundtrip flights (NYC<>Tokyo and Tokyo<>Sydney). We took a 14-hr flight to Tokyo and spent two nights there before embarking on another 10-hr flight to Sydney. We then spent a week in Sydney, flew back to Tokyo and spent 5 days there before returning home to New York. For those that are curious, we flew American Airlines (not a fan) to Tokyo and Qantas to Sydney. It was our first time flying Qantas and we absolutely loved it. (Great service, great in-flight meals, very on-schedule!) Having time in Tokyo before and after Sydney also allowed us to experience two very different hotels and neighborhoods. For our first stint in Tokyo we stayed at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, which I highly recommend.  The history of this hotel dates back well over a century, acquired by a prime minister who would invite many Meiji-era diplomats to admire his beautiful garden. The property is absolutely gorgeous and my family enjoyed exploring the beautiful Japanese gardens and cooling off during the mist show that occurred every day, on the hour. The only con was that the hotel is in a residential area of Tokyo, and not within easy walking distance to many restaurants, sites, or train station stops. It’s a $10-$20 cab ride to Shinjuku for example, and if you are traveling with young kids that cannot spend the entire day out and about I imagine it would be a hassle to keep cabbing it back and forth to the hotel multiple times a day every day. For us however, since we were only there two nights and we were weren’t planning to do any in-depth exploring of the city during our brief time there it was absolutely perfect. There was a pool, spa, and even an onsen on the property. It was also fairly close to Ikebukuro, which is a great area to walk around, although if it’s your first time to Tokyo it might not be as high on your list as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ueno, or the more quiet sanctuary of Yanesen...... I promised myself that I was to write a post and not a book, so I think I will end here for today… below are a few topics that I had in mind for my next post, let me know your preference by liking the one(s) you want to hear about most!  #BetterWithContext

Tokyo in Context - A few things I learned from our Expert Guide Rafael Balboa Thanks all for your comments and votes on my last couple of posts. It seems like quite a few of you were keen to hear more about what I learned from Rafael during our 'Tokyo in a Day Tour', and I'm excited to share. I happen to be a very visual learner, and so I was immediately intrigued and delighted when Rafael picked us up from our hotel, introduced himself, and promptly proceeded to pull out a notepad. He asked us if we would mind sitting for a few minutes before we began our stroll through Yanesen, Ueno and Asakusa -- he would draw for us, and give us some context (pun intended) on what we were about to see that day. These pictures were simple and quickly sketched, but wow, they truly were worth a thousand words. I've handpicked a couple of my favorites that really put the place, history, and culture into perspective for me. Stay tuned for more explanations, but I am curious what you see in the drawings below.

As the CEO of Context Travel, a lover of life and learning, and the proud parent of a 12-year-old that is a beautiful mix of ten different ethnicities, I often find myself talking about world wisdom. The idea that we must never think our own way is the only way. That discovering unfamiliar history, culture and lives expands our minds and our hearts. I lead an organization that helps curious people participate in deep, thoughtful travel. We pair thoughtful travelers with local experts and academics. I’m very aware of what a privilege it is to be part of people’s explorations. I hope that when people return from a Context experience they continue to share the nuanced thinking they’ve discovered. That they continue understanding and celebrating differences. That they continue looking for context everywhere. Last week, my family and I returned from a 17-day trip to Sydney and Tokyo.  It was our first time  in Australia and over 15 years since my husband and I were last in Japan.  We walked (a lot), ate (a lot), and learned (a lot). We created memories together that I hope my daughter will treasure for a lifetime, and we all figured out how to best get along in a tiny room where our beds were only a foot apart. :) Huge shout out to my entire team for the coverage while I was out, and to our amazing experts in Sydney and Tokyo that brought their beautiful cities to life for my family.  Mel, Kayla, and I return to New York well rested, with a bit more world wisdom, and even more gratitude for the opportunity we’ve had to experience all that we did abroad. Over the coming days I’ll share some of the places we visited and the things we learned. As always, I welcome any and all comments and questions along the way!

For all the self-explorers out there, Context Travel welcomes you! Whether you are keen to stroll the streets of Venice stopping to enjoy a bite and aperitif or learn about the history of Broadway in New York with a musical theater historian in your ear, our passionate storytellers will whisk you beyond the beaten path and inspire curiosity at every turn. In addition to the exceptional, expert-led tours that we operate around the world, we believe audio guides fill a need for many travelers, particularly for those planning last minute, who are more budget conscious, or those eager to reduce the impact of over-tourism by exploring lesser-known destinations. We're proud to partner with VoiceMap Audio Tours to continue to provide flexible solutions for travelers. https://lnkd.in/gY5SbfgN #traveltrends #tourcompany #audiotours #privatetours

"Always look through open doors because you never know what can be hiding right behind them! The history of Paris is literally written into its streets and buildings, and there are so many cool parts of the city’s past that can be hiding in plain sight… when you know where to look. My favorite examples are the Cour du Commerce Saint-André and the Rue Monge entrance to the Arènes de Lutèce. In both cases, rather unassuming doors open portals into Paris d’autrefois." - Lindsey, Paris Ambassador What does it mean to be a Context Ambassador? Our Context Ambassador Program is designed to empower our local experts to take on an active role in building a stronger, more connected community. By organizing events, facilitating training, and fostering collaborations, our ambassadors help shape an enriching environment that enhances communication and delivers authentic experiences for both experts and clients. #ContextTravelTips #TravelTuesday

We're passionate about helping you craft the perfect itinerary, one that helps you reach the heart of a destination. Think local tapas joints you can’t find on your own, a tour guide who becomes a friend, or an eye-opening revelation about an artwork you’ve seen in history books but never really understood. It all starts with great planning, so we’ve rounded up a few of our top tips from two of our Client Experience managers, Corrie and Brittany. It’s like having a travel advisor’s best insights right in the palm of your hand! Read more here: https://bit.ly/3yuqJyM