Boutiquetravelexperts Reviews

Perfect 10 day trip to Brazil

Elena planned a perfect 10 day trip to Brazil for our family of 2 adults and 2 children ages 8 and 11 Given the length of time she expertly suggested we visit Rio Ilha Grande and Paraty and we absolutely loved each destination Her communication- phone and whatsapp- was super timely and thorough The itinerary was perfectly paced the private guides fun and responsive and the boutique hotels just gorgeous This is far and beyond the best family trip we have ever taken and we can t wait to plan the next one with her

Effortless travel experience

The trip was effortless and fully delivered on all promises

Amazon jungle survival excursion

I had a very specific request to create a once in a lifetime experience for a group of entrepreneurs I called it a survival type excursion We eliminated the comforts of home and chose to sleep in hammocks and integrate with a local indigenous tribe in the Amazon The guides were very knowledgeable We slept in hammocks in the jungle went hunting with the local tribe swam with pink dolphins fished for and ate piranha The guides helped create our camp including building fires to cook the most amazing food and display it beautifully When the rain started the guides got up and put tarps over our group to keep us as dry as possible After a night of intense rain I woke up to coffee going over a fire in the rain Amazing experience

Recommended

Elena organized two great trips for me The hotels were special and the guides she organized were great

OUTSTANDING SERVICE

I ve just come back from THE most fabulous trip to Brazil organised by Boutique Travel Experts BTE and I felt compelled to sing their praises They have already won multiple awards but I can now totally understand why I originally stumbled upon this company by doing a search on the internet and instantly loved the look and feel of their website Beautiful prose and exquisite photos I am very visual and outstanding photography is a big draw for me I also loved the fact that BTE wanted to promote the lesser known side of Brazil and didn t settle for the more classic tours I wanted to work with someone who would be as excited as I was about exploring a lot further afield and I certainly found a kindred spirit in Elena the Director The pousadas she promoted were very quaint and so different from the clinical aspect of the chained-brand hotels all of this really appealed to me From day 1 Elena was very approachable and very quick to respond to my queries often late at night too bless her - which you won t get from the bigger travel agencies who stop trading at 6pm I had already done a lot of research on what I wanted to see but she had first hand knowledge of the destinations I was interested in having lived in Brazil for several months herself She really understood the logistics involved in making my dreams come true another big brownie point I wanted to spend 1 week in Jalapao and 1 week in Lencois Maranhenses and she worked with my budget without compromising on the boutique aspect that I so valued She patiently sent me MANY drafts until we had reached the perfect itinerary and then she kept in touch practically every day I was in Brazil checking that everything was running smoothly Now considering that she lives in France and that I was 5 hours behind time-wise it was no small feat and showed quite a lot of dedication to her clients satisfaction This kind of service was something that I had never experienced before as most travel agents stop all contact once they have made the sale right and I may add here that I have already visited 82 countries so I have dealt with a LOT a LOT of travel agencies so when I say that BTE is of the highest calibre trust me it means something Also the local contractors that BTE partners with were absolutely fantastic very welcoming and caring my cousin I felt pampered throughout Yes private tours are more expensive but what you get out of them is SO much more special you can go at your own pace ONLY focus on what you want to maximise your time and keep on tweaking things if your local guides make further suggestions based on our particular interests I know that Elena personally vetted all these partners and checked their work ethics which was really important especially in the North East as so few foreigners go there I could go on on but you get the gist of it In depth knowledge on-going dedication BTE has exceeded my wildest expectations I m not planning to deal with any other travel agent from now on 2nd best won t do anymore

August 2024 Amazon Rainforest Tour

August 2024 Amazon Rainforest Tour Elena was super responsive to our needs and desires as we planned this week long trip to the Amazon Jungle and she continued to be available during the trip for any questions We were very pleased with the pace of both seeing and doing with enough down time to not feel rushed We spent 3 nights in the beautiful Opera Hotel in Manaus where we enjoyed very good food and excursions with the very knowledgeable Francisco who spoke excellent English and was quite considerate The next 4 nights we spent at the Trapiche Eco Lodge which we traveled to by car and boat We felt very safe and well cared for at all times Our guide while at the Trapiche was also extremely knowledgeable about history plants animals and life on the Rio Negra Amazon Andre spoke adequate English but didn t always understand our questions We were warmly welcomed at the lodge by the owners and were surprised to discover we were the only guests While they were super attentive to caring for us and Dora made us 3 delicious meals a day with great variety it would have been nice to have been able to meet and chat with fellow travelers For sunrise on the river and other beautiful peaceful excursions it was actually nice to be the only ones as we had no distractions from the sights and sounds of nature which were an incredible experience Swimming with the pink dolphins was a super sweet highlight but honestly there was not a single activity which we did not enjoy The Trapiche was rustic as described There was a small AC unit in our room as well as fans which provided some relief from the 90 degree heat in the August afternoons I took a portable baby fan which helped a lot even on the jungle hike We had WiFi in the lounge but not in our cabin There was only cold water in the shower which was OK in the heat The room was clean but the linens were thin worn sparse and the foam mattress could use a nice pad under the fitted sheet Best touch was the hospitality provided the day our host met us on an island where a BBQ lunch of fresh fish was prepared hammocks were hung on a stretch of white sand beach for our siesta and we were treated like royalty Fortunately Andrea was always near to translate for us since he was the only English speaker at the lodge What would have been nice to know The price of all beverages at the Trapiche we barely had enough cash at the end to cover the very inflated cost of the few beers and drinks we had while there To bring field glasses to better see birds and wildlife A better estimate of how and when to tipWhat we were surprised by How little wildlife we saw some but I imagined there might be a lot more How few mosquitos there were Elena told us but I could scarcely believe they were nearly non-existent How clever various guides were in getting great pics for us How wonderful the fish fruit sides and the Caipirinhas were How much fun it was to shop from local artisans How delightful it can be to try a trip a little out of our usual comfort zone Thank You Elena for a VERY Memorable Trip

The Traveling to Madagascar

We travelled with BTE Boutique Travel Experts to Madagascar in October November 2024 for 15 days What an unforgettable journey The standout moments were definitely the visits to the Avenue of Baobabs at sunrise and sunset absolutely magical Further south the breathtaking beaches crystal-clear lagoons and surreal baobab forests were out of this world We then returned via Isalo National Park and the Ranomafana rainforest While there were long drives some over eight hours the stunning views were worth it The accommodations like the cozy Five Senses Lodge and luxurious Jardin du Roy were excellent providing comfort and great food after adventurous days while others were simpler but still nice The lemurs were so fun to see up close and the beaches were like paradise Honestly it s one of the best trips we ever made

A Memorable Journey with Boutique Travel Experts

Our trip to Brazil was a beautifully organized adventure that allowed us to explore the country s rich culture stunning landscapes and vibrant hospitality From the seamless booking process to the carefully curated itinerary Boutique Travel Experts ensured a remarkable travel experience The level of professionalism and responsiveness from Elena and the team was unmatched Every guide and driver added value to our journey with standouts like Felipe Gabriel Danielle and Neuza providing exceptional service and deep insights into Brazil s history culture and natural beauty Despite minor challenges like language barriers and some logistical improvements needed at certain accommodations the overall experience was outstanding Highlights included the charm of Paraty the idyllic setting of Ilha Grande the elegance of Fazenda Allian a and the breathtaking Iguazu Falls Each location was paired with top-tier guides who made every moment unforgettable The accommodations like Windsor Leme Hotel and Belmond das Cataras stood out for their quality and comfort Brazil left a lasting impression with its warm people incredible biodiversity and enormous tourism potential Boutique Travel Experts deserves high praise for their thoughtful planning attention to detail and dedication to creating unforgettable memories Overall Rating 9 10

well organised good local contacts

We had a fantastic time traveling in NE Brazil the local organization and communication was fantastic and the places we visited were spectacular and memories we will cherish forever Communication with the team at Boutique Travel and the local team was brilliant and we were always handed off to the next part of the journey in person