Swain Destinations Reviews 

This is the third time I've booked a major vacation with Swain and the first timeIhave left a review. Swain has prepared trips for me to Australia, Bora Bora, and now Africa. In three major trips, I've never encountered a single problem. Every recommendation they have provided has been spot on. The companies they partner with for transportation and excursions are professional, friendly, and prompt. Swains experience and knowledge of their specialized regions allows them to suggest excursions I would never consider. On this most recent trip, I insisted on an excursion Swain had never scheduled before, and they made it happen with the same professional care I've come to expdct. I will continue to use Swain to Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and French Polynesia, because they take the stress out of travel. I wish they serviced Europe.

I was lucky enough to be selected to run the Sydney Marathon - and I knew if I was going to make an amazing experience out of it, I needed someone else to handle the vacation/tour side of things.

I worked with a travel agent who worked directly with Swain for all my tour destination needs. George was directly in contact with me before my departure and checking in daily to make sure I was prepared for the next day. When a contracted tour provider cancelled, Swain was in contact immediately to get me booked onto a similar tour so I wouldn’t miss a quintessential Sydney experience. Swain was also able to connect me with another provider quickly when they may have accidentally left me at a tour site.

The experiences were all unique, and I ended up having a number of private, 1 on 1 tours to different locations around Sydney. Most providers would cancel in these cases, but Swain pushed forward - and it allowed me to get to know more about the culture and country through its long-time residents. Just a 44 year old making friends with 60+ something Australian men!

I can usually plan my own vacations, but in the future, I would consider working with Swain again because of their attentiveness, quality tours, and cultivated partner relationships.

I worked with Swain Destinations on a two week trip to Australia. We had the trip of a lifetime! From hotels to tours to transfers to flights and more, Swain Destinations planned everything flawlessly. They were quick to respond to any questions or comments we had, and we felt taken care of the entire trip. Will definitely be working with Swain again soon!

Best trip ever! We asked Swain Destinations to plan a three week tour of the North Island for our teacher daughter's winter break. We specifically asked that free time be built into the tour so we could do our own exploring and enjoy time together. The folks at Swain did not disappoint! Our trip was relaxing, exciting and educational. A big shout out to local guides Donna and Ceillhe for introducing us to New Zealand. We'll be back!! Oh, and thank you to George Swain for touching base with us via text. Much appreciated.

Our travel agent worked with Swain to plan an extension to Australia's Northern Territory after our cruise to Fiji. Using our own hotel reservations, all the details were made including air travel from Fiji through Australia. They selected the boutique Ventures North Safaris for our trip to the Coburg Peninsula where we were off grid in a beautiful camp setting overlooking the water. Our Venture North's guide, Luke, was fabulous! The best guide we have had to date. Luke was tuned to our group, always vigilant about our safety and well being, had a keen eye to spot wildlife, and pointed out significant landmarks. His knowledge of the regional ecology was on point. Luke possessed the unique skill and ability to tell stories relating to aboriginal culture. Making the trip through Kakadu National Park very special. He was also a great conversationalist and most important he was funny and a pleasure to be with. We can not say enough about our experience with Venture North Safaris and how fortunate we were to have had Luke as our guide. By the way, he is also a great cook. We will be going back for sure! Thank you Swain Destinations for making this adventure possible and stress free.

Swain Destinations facilitated our family vacation to Australia and New Zealand with exceptional care and precision, creating an experience that felt both seamless and deeply personal. In Australia, our guides Derek and Rick were extraordinary—thoughtful in their planning, attentive to every detail, and incredibly knowledgeable about the landscapes, history, and culture of their home country. They didn’t just show us Australia; they helped us understand it.
Our time in New Zealand was equally unforgettable. Kristie and Ceillhe, our Māori guides and sisters, were outstanding in every way. They shared the stories, traditions, and living culture of the Māori people with a warmth and authenticity that made every moment meaningful. Through them, we gained a deeper appreciation for the heart of Aotearoa—its people, its heritage, and its spirit.
Thanks to all four guides, the sights, sounds, and soul of both countries came alive for us. Their passion and expertise transformed our trip into an experience we will carry with us for years to come.

We had an extraordinary experience with Swain Destinations, who took care of every detail of our visit. Everything was on point and perfectly coordinated. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, fascinating, personable and tailored our excursions to our interests. Swain Destinations and their guides allowed us to appreciate the meaning of what we were experiencing and gave us a private window into glorious New Zealand. Highly recommended.

Swain did a fabulous itinerary for our 3 nation African adventure. The camp venues and the tours, particularly in Capetown SA were superb. Our guides and transfers all went seemlessly, as arranged by Donna Blumeris and her Swain team. The length of the trip was perfect, although the 2 night stay in Victoria Falls required one additional day. That is only a minor issue as we packed in all we could in Zimbabwe. The 4 nights in Sabi Sabi game reserve was a truly great crescendo to a fabulous trip. I recommend Swain highly.

Great choices of hotels in NZ and Australia. Interesting activities, but nothing out of the ordinary.

From the very beginning, we were thrilled with Swain Destinations. Rehana asked many questions and listen to our own outlined desires. She personalized a trip of a lifetime and accommodated our needs perfectly. She was in constant communication throughout the months of planning. The Swain app was a valuable resource and laid out our day by day itinerary. Throughout the trip, this was followed up daily by George Swain with the next day’s activities, pick up times, and meeting places within walking distances of our hotels (if not on site). Our three accommodations were centrally located, with beautiful views and luxury amenities. Each guide, whether it be private tour or small group, was knowledgeable and engaging, and kept our interest in a relevant manner. Changes of plans were handled seamlessly and quickly. Jan provided reassuring and enjoyable banter with any questions or concerns that we had. Flights between cities were seamlessly planned and executed. We honestly had not one negative experience in the entire three weeks. We definitely would recommend Swain as the only way to travel to a far away destination.

What a great trip! Swain took care of us from the minute we arrived to the minute we landed back in the US. We never worried about any excursions, connections or lodging. Their choice of guides and adventures fit our life style and age perfectly. We hope to use Swain again in the near future.

True to Swain's word, this truly was "The Trip of a Lifetime". From the very beginning of planning our trip with my husband and another couple to New Zealand and Australia, Swain was absolutely fabulous every step of the way. Our travel specialist, Rehana, really listened to us and put together an epic trip based upon our interests and passions. She was so responsive and her guidance will be forever appreciated. The whole trip I kept thinking, 'wow, she really got us!"
Everything we experienced was superior, including the many guides and drivers we met throughout our journey. Their knowledge and enthusiasm was so evident and the four of us learned more than we ever expected to.
The Swain app was extremely helpful and was enhanced by George who personally checked in at every turn from Australia which added an additional level of comfort.
Every accommodation was outstanding, be it a wilderness lodge or a city hotel. The hospitality of those we met in both countries was warm and welcoming.
I thought this trip would take care of my New Zealand/Australia bucket list but now that I have had this experience, all I want to do is to go back! When and if we do, it will be with Swain all the way. We can't thank you enough!

This is the second time our travel agent has used Swain for us. Swain was top notch in every aspect. We did a 2+ week trip and safari to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Every step of the way, we had a contact that reached out. From accommodations to drivers to guides, everything was fantastic. Travel between cities was easy and well planned out. Even though we had a weather related issue in Cape Town that cancelled a tour, the guide suggested other activities and made sure that he knew what funds were available for the new activities. When we had a weather delayed flight issue on our departure (our own arrangements), Swain reached out to us to see how they could assist. We highly recommend Swain!

This was an intimidating trip to plan and a friend recommended Swain to us - they took our preferences and created a wonderful itinerary. Our transportation, lodging and activities were all meticulously planned and 3 weeks of travel in Australia & New Zealand were seamless! We met wonderful people in group activities as well as the drivers and guides which really enriched our experience. We highly recommend the Swain team!

Every flight, hotel stay, and the tailored experiences were fabulous! Detailed texts sent daily for activities, car transfers and flights. Very professional and quick to respond to any inquiries I had during the Australian journey!
I recommend Swain to anyone and hope to use their services again in the future.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to New Zealand and Australia April 11-23. All of our tour guides and drivers were fun, professional, courteous, and knowledgeable, making this a memorable trip!
After arriving in New Zealand, Murray was our guide who drove us from Auckland to Hobbiton. His expertise was amazing; he had so much information to share about New Zealand and all the sites we passed on our way to Hobbiton. Big fans of the Lord of the Rings movies, we were so excited to see how everything was so well preserved and enjoyable to visit. Our daughter is a film major, theater general manager, and expert on everything “cinema.” She was totally captivated!
We flew from Aukland to Australia’s Gold Coast after our unforgettable experience in New Zealand. We were placed in the hands of Nikki for a tour of the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Once again, we benefited from her abundant knowledge of the sanctuary, specifics regarding the animals under protection, and Australia’s conservation efforts to protect the land and the environment. We had every opportunity to photograph koalas, kangaroos, wombats, crocodiles, and other wildlife native to Australia. We also enjoyed the Gold Coast beach on our free day.
Next, we flew from Brisbane to Cairns. Reef Magic provided a fabulous snorkel experience on the Great Barrier Reef. The next day, our guide, Gavin, shared his expertise about the tropical rain forest flora and fauna. Our river boat search for crocks with Crocodile Dave gave us the chance to see a big croc, Scooter, and many young crocs. Because of their knowledge, it was an experience we will never forget.
After Cairns, we flew to Sydney for a private tour with Sharon. We learned all about the city and surrounding areas during a spectacular drive around the city. She then dropped us off for an enjoyable tour and dinner at the famous Sydney Opera House.
This was a trip of a lifetime! All hotel accommodations were luxurious, comfortable, and relaxing. Their locations were convenient to restaurants and sights worth seeing. Everything went “as planned” without interruptions. We were met by guides as expected, and stayed on schedule without any concerns. The airport transfers were always timely and comfortable.
Before each day we received a text message from George telling us exactly what to expect for our next event. We couldn’t be more pleased! We are thankful Rachelle used your agency for our wonderful experience. We thank you both for a job well done!

We just returned from 3 weeks in Australia and had an overall excellent experience with Swain. Garry was extremely helpful during the planning process, always responding promptly addressing all of our requests and guiding us with ideas and information. Once we were on the ground in Australia, the operations team was flawless in their execution. All of the drivers and guides were very friendly, knowledgeable and service focused. We enjoyed all of the private and small group tours that were arranged and appreciated the suggestions for days at our leisure. Our hotels were all very well located, clean & provided excellent service. Thank you for making this a wonderful trip for our group of four!

After constructing a itinerary for 3 weeks in New Zealand, filling in all the blanks with actual hotel reservations, bookings for tours, ferries, etc., seemed overwhelming. And even a few months out, things were filling up. Some friends traveled to NZ with Swain's help a few months before, and I gave them a call. Within a day, our coordinator Grant had everything in place for a custom trip--and kept working to put upgrades in place where possible, and suggested a few tweaks that made the plan even better. And when our flight into Auckland got delayed, and we missed our connecting internal flight, their representative explored all the options and got us back on track with our itinerary while we slept in the airport hotel room that he'd arranged while we were still in the air. The attention, professionalism, and coordination among team members was outstanding. And as a result, we had a fantastic trip. We won't hesitate to work with them again.

Amazing ( 2nd experience ) with Swain Australia, we used them for our honeymoon and this time for our 25th anniversary trip! So helpful in every aspect from booking hotels to air to adventures a 10 star rating ! Ans when o needed immediate help during our trip George from Swain was amazing and made our trip a spectacular experience! Highly recommend to anyone to use Swain :) best 2 trips ever !!!!

If you want a professional travel partner that accommodates your needs and travel changes then Swain is for you. Swain over communicates and is highly responsive; what more could you ask for!