The cutting edge travel experts
the people redefining the way we travel
CondĂŠ Nast Traveller
blacktomato.com | +44 207 426 9888 | + 1 646 558 3644
we don ’ t see a planet made up of destinations . we see a world that ’ s filled with experiences and moments .
we want to create travel experiences that excite and offer true rarity .
hello Black Tomato is the award-winning travel company that specialises in creating exceptional tailor-made experiences for its clients. The business started as the brainchild of three friends in their late twenties who left the corporate world to spend their days working on what they loved - travel. These three friends, Tom Marchant, James Merrett and Matt Smith, had spent many years travelling in previous jobs, living in Moscow, Johannesburg and everywhere in-between. Out of these experiences and a love for travel, the idea for Black Tomato was born. Nearly a decade later, Black Tomato has grown into a renowned travel brand with offices in London and New York and clients based all over the world.
a message from our co-founder, Tom Marchant “The three of us shared an instinctive belief that there were many people, like us, who loved to travel and wanted to push boundaries in terms of where they went and what they did. Yet because of increasingly manic working lives had little time to research and plan such trips. More importantly, we understood that those working hard wanted to be assured that every minute away from the office would be spent in the best way possible. The aim of Black Tomato was to address this need and bring truly unique and innovative travel experiences to our discerning clients. We wanted to help people make the most of their precious time off with a range of the best cutting-edge travel experiences around.
But it was more than that. The three of us didn’t want to go about things like everyone else in the travel world. Instead, our aim was to create a travel company with a strong emotional appeal – one with a brand personality with which future clients could identify. Black Tomato strives to cultivate a truly emotional connection with its clients through a shared love of travel but also Tom Ma by conveying an understanding of the challenges of their daily lives. The aim from the very beginning has been to play the part of a good friend who also happens to be in the know (and ahead of the game) regarding where to go and what to do. Above all our highest priority is always delivering exceptional, boundary pushing and intuitive experiences.�
what we believe in Growing from a tiny bedroom-office in West London to an international business hasn’t meant that we’ve moved away from what matters to us:
travel should be mind-set led, not just destination led. focus on what kind of experience you want and that will lead you to the ideal location.
the world may have been discovered but it hasn’t been fully explored. we want to share this discovery with our clients.
why we are different It’s not always about the where. Travel is more than that. We always start by understanding why you’re taking the trip and the experience you seek. This in turn leads to the perfect destination choice. Our trips span the globe and range from stylish city breaks to around-the-world adventure trips, but the uniting thread in all of our experiences is that they’re innovative, luxurious and boundary-pushing.
We don’t believe in packaged or off-the-shelf experiences. Every single trip is made from scratch by our travel experts which means that our clients’ exact needs and desires are catered for.
Our travel experts have lived and breathed these places so we know how best to avoid tourist traps and obvious tick box experiences. We’re obsessed with digging out the next big thing in terms of new destinations and ways to get under the skin of fantastic places.
We can do it all. We really can. We’re flexible and we know how to make planning easy for you. If you’re engaged with no idea of where to go on your honeymoon - we can help. If you’re travelling with the family and can’t figure out what to do to keep everyone happy – we have a trick or two up our sleeve. If you’ve taken some last minute time off work and are panicking on where to go - don’t. We’re here to help.
travel should be exciting and memorable
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getting under the skin of a place is half the fun .
our trips We know the world inside out, but what makes us truly different is our ability to tailor something unique and special for each of our clients. No two trips will ever be the same with us, but here’s just a snapshot of the experiences and special moments that we love to put together for our clients.
Nothing but indulgence in italY Tucked away deep in the heart of the Tuscan Hills, Sandrino’s restaurant in the small village of Sorana has been run by the same family since 1865. Specialities include roast suckling pig, wild boar stew and hare pappardelle – all cooked to perfection. Wash down with local Prosecco wine and a couple of Limoncello chasers and you won’t even notice the customary powercuts throughout.
Feel the pulse of a place In South Africa Photographs alone don’t do South Africa justice; you need sight and sound to taste its true flavours. Head north of the Western Cape and pick up a taste of authentic South African culture from a road-side farm stall, sit down and enjoy a bobotie and Stoney ginger beer along with a view of ostrich farms a few yards behind the stand. All while the wizened hawker holds court with stories of his glorious home.
Ditch the guide book in Sri Lanka High in Kandy and the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, ditch the guidebook and let one of our expert guides show you around their beloved country. They’ll lead you through little known nooks and crannies of the untouched carpets of lush tea plantations. Step back in time as they show you to a colonial train station to board your steamer to the coast. On arrival you’ll be met by a spout of blue whales and herds of elephants. The guide book doesn’t tell you what the trumpet of an elephant, or the breach of a whale sounds like.
Step away from the crowds in Cambodia You don’t just tick “Angkor Wat” off your to-do list. You have to see it in the right way. Head there in the early hours of the morning and you’ll be greeted by an eerily silent and beautifully lit vision of the iconic location. See the temples in private without the daytime crowds and it’s even more magical. Just you and the stillness of Cambodia.
Be at one with nature In Tanzania Get up-close-and-personal with the Big Five whilst in prime position of the famous wildebeest river crossing during the summertime Great Migration. Enjoy a feeling like no other as you saddle-up and ride through savannah grasslands in search of dozing leopards, before returning to one of our favourite private lodges on the uninterrupted banks of the Rufiji River. It’s hard to experience total tranquillity, but with only the roar of lions and the splashing of baby elephants to distract you, this is the closest we’ve found to it.
DISCOVER HIDDEN BEACHES IN COLOMBIA When flicking through our little black book of the world’s best beaches it’s no surprise that the Caribbean coastline reappears every few page turns. Our bookmark usually stays firmly placed four hours north-west of colonial Cartagena in Colombia, via the city of Barranquilla, where the jungle-carpeted peak of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta towers over some of the world’s most remote beaches. A few years ago, we discovered a charming coastal path that leads to Arrecifes Beach with a few secret coves and eco-habs along the way. This is a wild, windswept and coconut-strewn stretch of sand where pelicans fly in V formation over the spray, and egrets, spoonbills and kingfishers stand reflected in a lagoon. The path leads on past Arenilla, where gulls perch on a shipwreck, and you can swim from the gorgeous double cove at Cabo San Juan. This is the lesser known Caribbean at its best.
the care factor In the world of luxury travel, service is key. At Black Tomato we’re always thinking about our clients and what we can do to make them happy. Alongside the insight comes care. We’re slightly obsessive about it (in a nice way). From being on call 24 hours a day should the unexpected occur (missed flight because of a burst tyre? Call us, we will sort out another immediately) to making sure you start the vacation in the best way (we’ll send you some essential extras before you go – the perfect accompaniment for any trip) to easing you back in to the real world with our ‘back to reality’ kits delivered to your door.
how does it all work ?
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The world’s a big place. So choosing the perfect destination for your next trip isn’t always easy. That’s where we come in. We’re there to inspire you with ideas on where and when to travel.
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We’ll work around your schedule, speak at a time that’s convenient to you, discuss your needs and then follow up with some ideas.
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You’ll be allocated one travel expert throughout the booking process. We’ll build your itinerary from scratch and tweak things until it’s completely perfect.
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Once we’ve created the perfect itinerary, we’ll book every element – the airport lounges, the flights, the hotels and the experiences. Still not right or want to add on a couple more days? We’ll continue to be flexible and adjust everything until it’s exactly what you want.
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Once you’re away we’re on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just in case the unexpected happens and you need us.
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On return we like to stay in touch. Not in a spam-email-pushy way but just because we love to talk about travel and want to share our ideas with you now we’ve got to know you a little better.
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And then we start over. Except without the small talk because we remember the details. What you like and dislike, where you’ve travelled and where you want to go. So it’s time to plan the next one. Like we said, the world’s a big place.
in short, we’re experts who care. we know the ins and outs of every destination we recommend and are able to bring an insight that few can match.
PRESS & AWARDS Our trips and our little extras are just a few of the things that we think make us different and why some of the world’s press have come to support us over the years.
Black Tomato are Part
the ones to watch.
of the group of
people re-defining the way we travel.
Black Tomato offers
Black Tomato’s
not just an imaginative
website reflects the most
portfolio of destinations
travelled generation
but innovative
in history
services also.
For years Black Tomato Black Tomato are an online quencher of wanderlust.
has delighted old travel hands with its inventive, bespoke itineraries to various corners of the globe.
Tailor-made travel experiences that truly get under the skin of a country and its people.
Black Tomato – the hip New York based travel agents.
Beyond even the promised ‘authentic experiences’ from fancy travel operators, quite lterally (like) living a childhood dream.
TOP 10 Best Travel Websites
Voted by Conde Nast Traveller readers
Black Tomato are one of the 100 coolest things in the world. Don’t even try to live without them.
around the world.
The VIP
to travel site
Black Tomato?
If time is money, then the team behind luxury travel
Travel like an expert with Black Tomato.
for truly tailor-made trips
holiday treatment
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winner of best website for 2011
A very hip UK and US based travel agency known
service
Black Tomato spends
every second of theirs ensuring yours is well-spent.
The guys who have zipped travel agents into the contemporary.
Black Tomato
has the best in design hotels, cool destinations and savvy travel advice.
Readers’ Travel Awards 2011 top ten best travel websites
2010
what we loved is that we got to experience things we would never have found on our own . black tomato is an asset to any trip .
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY We are very proud of all the press support we’ve received over the years, but even better are the numbers of people who return to use Black Tomato once they have travelled with us.
we are exceedingly impressed with the ideas that black tomato put together. not to mention your expert, friendly help and guidance in organising our trip.
all in all it was incredible... black tomato were great and i couldn’t recommend you guys enough.
one of the best (and most unusual) holidays we’ve ever been on, and everything you arranged for us was absolutely perfect.
we loved the trip and already highly recommended black tomato to everyone we know. you guys have made it hard to travel without you.
suffice to say you have given us the best trip ever, with so many memories and moments of adventure. thank you.
what i loved is that we got to experience things i would never have found on my own. black tomato is an asset to any trip.
blacktomato.com | +44 207 426 9888 | + 1 646 558 3644
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