When it comes to escaping your insanely busy day-to-day, there are more options available than ever before. And while traveling to big cities provides incredible opportunities — like being able to explore world-famous flea markets and visit crazy gorgeous restaurants — there’s something even more satisfying about setting an out-of-office message when you’re headed somewhere totally off the grid. Imagine planning a vacation that’s so unique, you’ll probably be the first and last person to take it. There’s a company with a new concept that specializes in just that.
Black Tomato, a high-end custom travel company, recently launched a new concept called Blink, and it’s giving us major travel inspo. Essentially, the company will set up an entirely customized pop-up hotel just for your trip, no matter where you’re headed. They specialize in servicing travelers in super remote locations where people don’t usually get to go, making it a seriously one-of-a-kind experience.
So how did they come up with the idea? “Last year, we saw a growing trend in clients seeking hyper-personalized experiences when they travel, whether that was searching for destinations and locations that were so remote that no one had travelled there before, having every part of their accommodation personalized to them, or experiencing tours that no one else has ever taken part in,” explains Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. “We wanted to explore this further, and to give our clients the chance to have the most personalized travel experience imaginable,” he says. Blink allows travelers to “create and design their own luxury temporary accommodation in locations that are so private, pristine, and untouched that no one else will have stayed there before (or again) in the same way.” Sounds pretty awesome if you ask us.
Marchant adds that the concept was also inspired by the trend of pop-up restaurants, bars, and retail stores. Basically, they set out to create a travel version of the pop-up that could be enjoyed for a brief period of time by a small group of travelers, and then vanish without a trace. Blink sets up temporary (but luxe!) accommodations wherever you’re headed, and then totally removes them when the trip is over.
The thing that makes this concept so remarkable is that you can go almost anywhere on the globe with it, from the far eastern islands of Indonesia to the Erg Chigaga sand dunes in Morocco. As for the craziest trips requested so far? “We’ve been working on a request for a camp set up in a seriously remote part of northern Iceland called the Westfjords, where the only way guests can reach the area is by helicopter,” says Marchant. “We have been looking at setting up a camp with several dome tents that have clear side panels so guests can view the northern lights and incredible scenery while lying in bed.” Um, yes please.
Need more inspo? The team has tons of ideas. “We’ve also been working on some requests in Peru and Bolivia, where from the mighty Andes and the ruins of Machu Picchu guests will travel across Lake Titicaca, where they’ll then be able to stay at a temporary bubble camp set up just for them on the Uyuni salt flats. These bubble tents offer an amazing opportunity to experience sleeping under the star-flecked night sky, as the roofs of the bubbles are transparent.” Talk about becoming one with nature. The company also has a ton of sample itineraries to help you figure out where you want to go, including trips inspired by shows like Westworld and Game of Thrones that are perfect for super fans.
If you’re totally convinced that you’ve found your next vacay, here’s how it works: You head over to Blink’s site, fill out a form with details like what region you want to go to, the activities you’re interested in, and what kind of food you want to eat while you’re there. Then, Black Tomato’s travel experts put together an itinerary based on your preferences. The only catch? Since these travel experiences are completely customized and uber remote, they’re not *exactly* budget-friendly. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to get away with the fam or a group of friends and you have a flexible budget, you’re sure to have the trip of a lifetime.
Where would you go if you could create your own pop-up hotel anywhere in the world? Tell us about it @BritandCo!
(Photos via Black Tomato)
