Original Travel: Luxury Journeys Crafted With Expert Care

Original Travel is a London-based luxury tour operator known for tailor-made holidays, expert planning and thoughtful service. The company serves clients who want more than a standard package trip. Its work focuses on personal travel design, strong destination knowledge and smooth support from the first call to the journey home.

The brand operates from First Floor, 111 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 2TL, United Kingdom. This Putney office is the main customer-facing base. The business can be contacted through +44 20 7978 7333, while another company number used on its official channels is 020 3958 6120. Both connect with the same travel company.

Original Travel Company Ltd is the legal business behind the brand. It is a private limited company in England and Wales, with company number 04437204. It was incorporated on 13 May 2002. The brand began trading in 2003, which explains why some company details use 2002 while brand material uses 2003.

Original Travel Quick Info

Original Travel History and Growth

The company was created by Alastair Poulain, Nick Newbury and Tom Barber. Their idea was simple: build holidays with care, not volume. Over time, the business became a respected name in luxury tailor-made travel.

Its growth has been helped by its expert team, strong service style and focus on creative planning. Today, it designs holidays across 77 countries. Its team includes experts in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, the UK and diving holidays. The company also states that it has 16 Condé Nast Traveler top travel experts, more than any other UK tour operator.

In 2017, the business became part of Voyageurs du Monde, a major French travel group. This gave the company more global strength while keeping its UK identity and boutique style.

Original Travel Services

The company creates private holidays based on each client’s needs. These can include city breaks, honeymoons, family holidays, rail journeys, safaris, sabbaticals, road trips, diving holidays, Nile cruises and multi-generational trips.

Its service often covers route planning, hand-picked hotels, guides, activities, restaurant ideas, airport support, lounge access and local help during the trip. It also provides a 24-hour helpline, which is useful when clients are abroad and need quick support.

This approach suits travellers who value comfort, detail and expert advice. It is also helpful for busy people who want a well-planned holiday without spending hours managing each part.

Family and Expert Travel

Family travel is one of the company’s key areas. The team plans trips for parents, children, grandparents and wider family groups. These holidays can include child-friendly hotels, safe activities, smooth transfers and balanced schedules.

The brand also has strength in adventure travel and nature-led trips. Safaris, diving, rail holidays and flight-free travel are important parts of its offer. This makes the company suitable for clients who want luxury, but also purpose and character.

Original Travel Protection and Trust

Trust matters in travel, especially for high-value holidays. The company gives clients protection through recognised travel bodies. It holds ATOL number 5922 for eligible flight-inclusive holidays. It is also an ABTA member, with membership number Y5632.

ATOL protection helps customers when flights and certain package arrangements are part of the booking. ABTA membership adds standards, guidance and a formal path for complaint handling. These protections give customers more confidence before paying for a trip.

The company also works within the wider travel industry through IATA and other travel partnerships. This supports ticketing, supplier access and professional service delivery.

Reviews and Customer Reputation

The Google Business entry for the Putney office carries a 4.9 rating from 86 reviews. This is a strong sign of customer satisfaction. Many customers value the planning, personal attention and detailed knowledge offered by the team.

The company also has customer feedback on specialist review platforms. Positive comments often focus on clear communication, strong destination advice, well-built routes and support during the journey.

A strong review score does not mean every trip will be perfect. Travel can be affected by weather, flights, hotels and local conditions. Still, the high rating supports the company’s position as a trusted luxury operator.

Original Travel Workplace and Careers

Original Travel has a team of roughly 60 people and a wider LinkedIn employee base above 80 associated members. Its company size sits within the 51–200 employee range. The head office is in London, and the company works in the travel arrangements industry.

The workplace model is hybrid. Employees spend at least three days each week in the office. This mix gives staff space for team work, training and client service, while still allowing some flexibility.

Its benefits include flexible working hours, remote working options and work-from-anywhere weeks. Career benefits can also include annual leave, private medical insurance, pension support, travel insurance, bonus schemes, enhanced family policies, a Cycle to Work scheme, sabbatical options after five years and professional development.

Career Areas

The company recruits people with deep destination knowledge and strong client service skills. Roles may include regional sales consultants for Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. The work suits people who love travel, detail and personal client care.

Staff need to understand hotels, routes, seasonality, budgets, flights and special experiences. They also need to listen well, because a tailor-made holiday depends on the client’s style, pace and purpose.

Original Travel Sustainability and Foundation Work

The company has a foundation that began in 2009. Its aim is to support humanitarian projects in developing countries, with a focus on Africa, Asia and South America.

The foundation works across child protection, vocational training, economic development, cultural and natural heritage, indigenous lifestyles and emergency aid. The company states that nearly £1.5 million has supported nearly 100 projects in 30 developing countries.

This work fits the brand’s travel philosophy. It connects travel with responsibility, local respect and long-term benefit. For clients who care about ethical travel, this adds another reason to consider the company.

Community-Based Tourism

Community-based tourism is one of the brand’s specialist areas. This type of travel can help local people benefit more directly from visitors. It can also create better cultural exchange when done with care.

The company’s wider offer includes flight-free travel and train holidays, which can support lower-impact choices for some routes. These options give clients more ways to travel with purpose.

Why Original Travel Stands Out

The company stands out because it combines luxury with careful planning. It does not only sell hotels and flights. It builds full travel experiences based on the client’s interests, time, budget and comfort level.

Its main strengths are expert staff, wide country coverage, high review scores, recognised travel protection and a long record in tailor-made holidays. The link with Voyageurs du Monde also gives the business added scale and support.

Who Should Use the Company?

This operator is best for clients who want a premium trip with personal design. It suits families, couples, solo travellers, honeymooners, retirees and busy professionals. It is also useful for complex trips with many stops, special activities or remote regions.

Clients who want the lowest possible price may prefer budget travel agents or self-booking. But those who want experience, safety, service and expert planning will find strong value here.

Final Verdict

Original Travel is a well-established UK luxury tour operator with a clear identity, strong customer trust and deep travel knowledge. Its London office, official company record, ATOL and ABTA protection, expert team, foundation work and global travel range all support its credibility.

For travellers who want a refined, personal and carefully managed holiday, the company remains one of the stronger tailor-made travel choices in the UK market.

FAQs About Original Travel

1. What does Original Travel do?

Original Travel designs luxury tailor-made holidays for clients who want a personal travel plan. The company creates trips for families, couples, solo travellers and groups, including safaris, city breaks, rail holidays, road trips, diving holidays and special occasion journeys.

2. Is Original Travel a trusted travel company?

Yes, Original Travel is a long-established UK tour operator based in London. The company is backed by ATOL and ABTA protection for eligible bookings, which gives customers added confidence when booking flights and package holidays.

3. Where is Original Travel based?

Original Travel is based at First Floor, 111 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 2TL, United Kingdom. Its office is in Putney, London, and the company serves clients planning holidays across many global destinations.

4. Who should book with Original Travel?

Original Travel is best for people who want a carefully planned luxury holiday rather than a standard package. It suits travellers who value expert advice, smooth service, hand-picked hotels, private experiences and support before and during the trip.