About Wildside Travel
WILDSIDE TRAVEL was founded in 2006 as a boredom-buster for founder Andrea Livingston to write and escort her own itineraries. Her first endeavour was the development of Guided Cycle touring in Samoa – offering the very first and very successful 15 day cycle tours over a 4 year period. Cycling is now a very established activity for visitors to Samoa. From this initiative came Event Travel Packages to the Samoa Seas Swim Series, Rarotonga Road Race, Niue Bike Rally, Rarotonga Triathlon, Road Tour of Samoa and recently the Vietnam Mountain Marathon for 'ultra' runners. So the focus is very much ‘Active Holidays for Active people’ and combining holidays with achievements.
Today, WILDSIDE TRAVEL offer a full travel service, alongside a range of Active, Athlete & Sporting event holidays. Whether you'd like to explore on a walking or cycling holiday locally or abroard, attend a sporting event or maybe you seek your own adventure, but need some help to pull it all together, WILDSIDE TRAVEL enjoy the challenge of itineary creation.
For more inspiration, visit our WEBSITE
Go on, take a trip on the Wildside, you'll be glad you did!
Testimonials
I've been traveling the world extensively for over 20-years competing in adventure sport, having competed in 27-different countries. I learned quickly that in order to compete at maximum potential, efficient and smooth travel is a critical component to performance. Wildside Travel has provided our team with smooth, well organised and cost effective travel since 2011. The nature of our travel and racing often means our needs change and evolve, we often have to adjust our travel plans while overseas and Wildside are always just an email or phone call away, always jumping to action to help us out. We wouldn't consider traveling to race without Wildside support. The highlight of our relationship was a trip in 2012 that incorporated races in China and France, which earned us the World Championship Title, again in 2014 for a second World Championship Title in Ecuador and again in 2015, a third Title in Brazil and a 4th in Australia 2016.
NATHAN FA'AVAE & TEAM SEAGATE (NZ ADVENTURE RACING TEAM)
Over the past six years I have been multisport and adventure racing all over the world. The adventurous nature of the sport often takes me off the beaten tracks. Andrea at Wildside is fantastic at ensuring I'm at the right place, at the right time, every time. Allowing me to focus on the racing.
TREVOR VOYCE, TEAM SEAGATE
Wildside Travel has been fantastic to deal with, organising all my overseas travel for the last couple of years. Andrea was extremely helpful re-booking my flights back to NZ and sorting out my insurance claim after I injured myself competing in Colombia.
CHRIS FORNE, TEAM SEAGATE
I've been involved with Andrea at Wildside travel since our team started racing internationally 6 years ago. Our sport has taken us to all sorts of obscure places through China, Europe, South America and Central America. Andrea always sorts our itinerary out without a hitch. She's fun and friendly to deal with, and has more than once got us out of a pickle at extremely short notice. I'd recommend Wildside travel to anyone.
SOPHIE HART, TEAM SEAGATE
View our Website for more feedback from our clients
Blog
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How long have you been with TMG? How long have you been in the travel industry?
Since December 2019. In the travel industry 27 years.
What's your best memory/favourite moment being a member of TMG?
Finally feeling I had a wrap around family of support and back up. After years as a lone wolf I had forgotten how lovely that is!
Do you still have any clients from when you started in travel/with TMG? How long have they been clients of yours?
Yes, 15+ years
What makes them a special/loyal client?
I like to think it is because they are dealing with someone who understands their style as well as their needs.
What is the most memorable trip you have booked for a client?
There are a long line of them! The ones that stand out as rewarding for both me and clients have been long long trips (2months+) where we are connecting FIT detail to far flung places. This takes an awful lot of collaboration and discussions - this is where partnerships and loyalty really come into play. When this process is fun, educational and bonding you could say! A group of 10 tramper/friends heading off to Africa to climb and walk as many peaks as possible in 6 weeks, A Mother/Daughter Gap-year duo spending 3 months around Europe - cycling weeks, hiking weeks, tours, museums, theatre; everyday booked to the gunnels.
What is the most impactful customer service you have offered?
It is the emergencies you get to deal with! The speed and effortlessness you create to get things back on track without involving the customer is the key to impress. The 'leave it to me' approach. I have a team of Adventure Racers who often remind me of the time connecting flights/riots/demonstrations were going to prevent them form getting to the start line of a World qualifying race....I hired a transfer, purchased new tickets from another airport, lodged Insurance claims, refunded original tickets and had them on their way in under 3 hours.
What are the best thanks you have received from a client?
I don't usually get gifts, but are always blown away by the feedback and testimonials people give.
What has been the biggest change/challenge you have experienced in the travel industry in the last 20 years?
Social Media impacts. TripAdvisor - where everyone drops their opinions. These have massive influence on people who don't take the time to research or think things through. These word of mouth promotions (or not) can be definitive for people. Everyone is a travel agent these days (until they get stuck!). I think it is sorely misguided.
If you've answered Covid to the above, is there anything else significant you've found has impacted the travel industry in the last 20 years?
Covid is obviously significant - but social media is a core root of that evil too!
How did you deal with this?
I have chosen not to try and compete but stick to my knitting and continue with magazine advertising that target my audiences and works for me...and not succumb to the guilt of not posting 10 times a week.
