The Agata experience.
We at Agata have spent our lives traveling around and learning from the world. We love the story that travel tells, and we want to share that story with you and help you create your own. At a time when travel can seem daunting, we are with you all the way, from the moment you contact us until the weeks after you return. We create a 360 degree experience you won’t get anywhere else.
Read Lisa’s story...
The client: Lisa
Lisa lives in Nocatee with her husband Michael. She is funny, warm, and open to new experiences (the perfect client!). They have been married for 36 years, and have two grown daughters. They have traveled for their careers, but didn’t really have the time to experience another culture how they wanted to. Lisa is active: she plays tennis, does yoga, helps manage the on-campus store, volunteers at church and runs 2 book groups.
The travel dream: because we ‘gata dream!
Lisa has always wanted to go to Ireland, where Ancestry.com says she has roots around Galway in the west. She is hoping she might even be able to find a distant relative. Michael thinks Ireland is a great destination as he loves to golf at home in Florida, where he lives on his golf cart!
Lisa makes it clear that she wants to travel with Michael but that she’d really love to travel with some other people too.
The experience we create for Lisa and Michael
Lisa’s book group is made up of close friends who not only read together, but go to the beach together, and even the husbands are friends. So, we suggest: why not create a custom adventure for this group of 5 couples? She loves the idea and we send them our Agata Know survey to see what we can create for them. We settle on high end bed and breakfasts and inns, a private tour guide, meals on their own for breakfast and lunch, and group meals for dinner.
90 days before departure
Lisa’s book group chooses one from several books written by Irish authors they have suggested and they begin to immerse themselves in this wonderful country. They decide they’d love to visit the author’s home.
60 days before departure
Inspired by all the ladies are learning in their book group, Michael reads our newsletter and learns more about Irish beer and whiskey. He books a custom online tour of an Irish distillery and meets Gerald, the owner. Gerald and Michael really hit it off, and decide they’d love to meet up in Ireland. Gerald offers to do a private whiskey tasting for the group.
30 days before departure
Lisa and Michael listen to our spotify playlist of Irish ballads & jigs (and dance a little on their patio), review their packing list (bring an umbrella!), and learn a few Gaelic words, like “what’s the craic?”. They know some Irish bars in Dublin that host live music nights that they want to visit.
Arriving in Ireland
The lively group of 10 lands in Dublin and checks into their Inn, within walking distance (as requested) of the Temple Bar district and all there is to see.
Days 1 & 2: Dublin.
Days 3 & 4: Limerick
Day 5: Doolin / Ballyvaughan
Days 6 & 7: Galway
Day 8: Dublin
Old Friends, New Experiences
Over the next week, they visit Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, and walk the Connemara and the Burren. Some golf the greenest greens they have ever putted on, and others tour a working sheep farm. Lisa and traces her ancestors to a small village and though she can’t find any relatives, feels connected to the rolling hills and kind people in a way she has always dreamed of. Michael lives him dream of playing a round of golf one afternoon at a local course. They all drink more Guinness than they will want to admit. Their private guide already feels like an old friend that they are all inviting to visit them back home in Florida.
Back home: Still Creating Memories
They buy Guinness at the store, but it doesn’t taste the same. Lisa and Michael feel connected to their friends and stay in touch with the sheep farmer they connected with. He offers to make sweaters for their grandchildren, should they return to the island again. They sign up for an Irish dance lesson. Their Agata Go Again book arrives, with photos from their trip, and they begin to dream of their Agata Experience. They join the Agata group for Ireland and share their stories with others.