Away From The Ordinary

Aeneas crafted a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for my wife and I in Scotland to celebrate our 15-year wedding anniversary and both our 40th birthdays. He first took the time to understand the kind of trip we wanted and the sort of memories we wanted to make, and then charted out a custom 10-day journey starting in Edinburgh, heading north to the Scottish highlands, and finally south to Glasgow. He architected the trip to be a perfect balance of sightseeing and relaxation: he planned out for us touring days at castles, historic sites and natural sites, and handled restaurant, transportation and other bookings for us to ensure we had a smooth and effortless experience. We were most impressed with the accommodations that he prepared for us (which ranged from upscale, urban hotels to luxurious manor homes) and the guides that we connected us with for certain experiences (including a private, after-hours tour of Dunvegan Castle, and a day-long tour of Islays most renowned distilleries). Working with Aeneas was a true pleasure: he is professional, thorough, friendly and accommodating, and his intimate knowledge of Scotland tourism makes him the perfect choice for anyone wishing to visit this beautiful country. Thank you, Aeneas!
Aug 3rd, 2022

Away from the Ordinary created an extraordinary, customized 12-day trip for us in the Hebrides. We stayed on three different islands and explored them -- and an additional three islands -- via private boat rides and drives with knowledgeable guides. Each hotel had its own unique charm (and extremely comfortable beds), and most of the breakfasts and dinners fell somewhere between very good and exceptional. Aeneas' high standards for lodgings, drivers, guides, and food left no detail to chance. Throughout the planning and the trip itself, Aeneas was communicative, polite, and helpful in response to every question and concern. When a problem arose (such as a cancelation due to gale force winds), he emailed us immediately with alternatives, then arranged for our choice to happen. Thanks to him, we were able to cover a lot of ground and take in the history, culture and unbelievable beauty of the Hebrides anxiety-free.
Jul 3rd, 2022

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to Aeneas for all the help and advice for our trip to Edinburgh. Thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great trip, would wholeheartedly recommend the Away From The Ordinary team!
Jun 30th, 2022

I recently returned from a 10-day trip to Scotland organized by Ailsa Young of Away from the Ordinary. I cannot recommend Ailsa and the company enough and would give them ten stars if allowed. I was traveling with one of my best friends from childhood (we are now in our mid-50s) and this was the first extended trip we had ever taken together. We provided Ailsa with some ideas, our budget, our likes (outdoor adventures, culture, food, off-the-beaten path locations, small boutique hotels, etc.) and she structured what was really a perfect holiday. EVERYTHING exceeded expectations: the hotels were fantastic, the itinerary perfect, the restaurants excellent, etc. The drivers and guides were also first-rate: professional and fun with deep knowledge of the local regions' histories, cultures, and geography. My friend and I came away with a love of Scotland, a thousand great memories and a strong desire to return as soon as possible. I credit Ailsa and Away from the Ordinary for making our Scotland adventure so meaningful and unique. Their approach -- bespoke Scottish holidays specific to you and your travel companions, was superior to all other high-quality tour operators I evaluated. I can't wait to return to Scotland and will absolutely call Ailsa and Away from the Ordinary. Thanks again!
May 23rd, 2022

Away from the Ordinary planned a wonderful Scottish and London trip for our 25th anniversary. We shared with Aeneas that wed like to golf, enjoy whisky tastings, and have some amazing meals. We got it all and then some! We played golf at Gleneagles and St. Andrews, and Whisky tastings at some amazing distilleries. The Tour Guides/Drivers were a wealth of information and so courteous and helpful. We highly recommend going through Away From The Ordinary for your Scottish travels. We would definitely use them again for an inevitable trip to Scotland in the future.
Feb 17th, 2022