These days, when planning a trip, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, the different ways to book your stay and the wealth of information available online. And when you want to travel responsibly and ensure local communities benefit from your trip, it can be hard to know where to start. To address this challenge, TripConnexion developed the concept of direct travel: a new way of travelling — more authentic, more affordable, and in direct contact with local tourism providers!
Direct travel: what is it?
It's simple: direct travel means planning, building and experiencing your trip with local tourism providers. These can be local travel agencies, independent local guides, activity centres or associations. It is, in fact, an alternative form of travel to the more traditional model involving tour operators who take a commission on trips sold — and a chance to enjoy more diverse and, above all, more human experiences!
Direct travel sits somewhere between a road trip and a classic tour operator experience: a new form of tailor-made travel, in a sense. After all, these local experts are best placed to answer your questions and give you the best advice!
It suits both private trips and small-group travel and, in every case, these are journeys that go off the beaten tourist track: a more authentic, less packaged travel experience. The traveller has the freedom to tailor their stay as they see fit: they can sleep in a resort or with a local family, travel independently and take just one excursion during their stay, etc.
Tailor-made travel (as opposed to packaged, catalogue-based trips) costs on average 15% more, and when you book through a traditional French agency or tour operator, the price includes a commission that can range from 15 to 30% — money that does not flow back into the local economy.
TripConnexion, with its direct travel model, gives spending power back to travellers by enabling trips that are 15 to 30% cheaper, with money going entirely to the local agency. It's a healthy new model that supports local economic development!
In practice, TripConnexion is a free platform for direct travel that generates revenue solely from the local partners it features, who pay a fixed monthly subscription to be visible on the network. TripConnexion currently has over 160 partners across more than 80 destinations! Simply submit a travel request on their site and they will connect you with the right local, French-speaking agencies who can meet all your needs.
Find out more about TripConnexion: https://www.tripconnexion.com/
Direct travel is a new way of travelling responsibly and fairly, contributing directly to the local development of the country you visit!
Convinced? Check out the infographic below on the subject — all the inspiration you need to make direct travel your default for future trips!
