Global Basecamps - Excellent Source for Unique Lodging Options
March 31st, 2008 by Jeremiah Gall jeremiah@flipkey.comYou know that list you keep of countries and travel destinations that you’d like to visit. Probably tucked away in your mind and pops up when you’re finally taking time to plan your vacation or someone has just returned from theirs and is telling you about their “trophy trip.” Instead of missing the next must-do destination and reading about it later in the NYTimes travel section, take a moment to check out a new travel service Global Basecamps (GBC).
I met with one of the founders a few months ago, and these guys are passionate about unique travel, having worked in high-end travel consulting for years. With Global Basecamps they have taken their accumulated knowledge and first-hand world travel experience and created an online service for discovering and booking unique accommodations. These are accommodations that have been hand-picked and verified by GBC.
Searching for a Remarkable Trip
This summer I am planning a vacation and looking to blend a little adventure with some high-quality getaway time. I know I’d like to be on the coast, so I begin by searching through the Coastal Basecamps on GBC. Quickly, it’s apparent that GBC has done their homework and ensured that the quality of the lodging options is top shelf. In fact, even though several features on the site are under development, it’s difficult not to linger on the site and enjoy discovering new destinations and adding to my list of pending vacation spots. Eventually, I settle on Little Palm Island, a private island reachable only by boat or seaplane.
Through GBC I get a nice editorial on the location and am able to check availability without having to leave the site. I also have the option of calling directly and working a GBC “travel specialist” to complete my trip.
Niche Marketing Opportunities
Travel is a massive and dynamic segment of the internet and niche services such as Global Basecamps offer niche marketing opportunities. Vacation homes are unique and often located in destinations where hotels are not an option. You probably don’t consider your properties as “basecamps” but think about your inventory and whether certain stand-out properties fit the Global Basecamp model. This could be an excellent marketing channel for you to reach new consumers in the wheelhouse of your target audience: travelers searching for unique lodging options.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:04 am
One of my great enjoyments of experiencing a memorable trip is the process of discovery that place. When you’ve put in some real effort to find a place, perhaps on a hunch or through trial and error, you get a feeling of being a true adventurer.
This new service should help you discover a hidden gem without putting in much groundwork. That’s probably what many time-scarce families want, but I’d rather book a flight to somewhere out of the ordinary and then see where it leads me.