Latest news with #VirginVoyages
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
This Global Car Service Turns Any Trip Into A Vacation
Daytrip lets you explore in 130 countries. @ Getting from city to city when you're traveling in Europe can be daunting. Depending on where you're going, it can be hard enough to find public transportation, let alone work around unreliable schedules while carrying all your luggage with you. Plus, while you're in the area, it feels sinful to miss visiting some of the iconic landmarks you may pass along the way. Enter Daytrip, a unique private car service that lets you customize your trip so you can make stops wherever/whenever you want as you head to your destination. Heard of a great shop you have to check out? No problem. Want to explore a specific area? Your local driver will give you an insider's view. This is such a great idea, which I only discovered when my husband and son started planning a golf trip to Ireland and realized they had to travel hours between cities to play the courses on their bucket list. The logistics, especially with two golf bags, seemed ridiculously complicated until they came across Daytrip, who helped them put together the perfect itinerary, from Shannon to Lahinch to Carne and back to Shannon. Their trip was so easy and enjoyable and they liked their driver so much, I ended up booking Daytrip myself when I needed to get from my Virgin Voyages cruise ship to the airport in Marrakesh. I wish I'd had time to make some stops to get in a little sightseeing but, honestly, I was grateful to have a ride at all in a city where it can be hard to get one. Because I'm always intrigued by anything that makes travel simpler as well as more enriching, I reached out to Daytrip CEO and Co-Founder Tomáš Turek to learn more. Daytrip's founding team (Tomas Turek on left) Daytrip Tell us a little about the origin of Daytrip. It all started with a local chauffeur company in Český Krumlov, a small town in the Czech Republic, founded by me and one of my fellow Daytrip Co-Founders. While running this company, we witnessed a growing customer interest in better city-to-city transportation, and quickly realized this had universal appeal. We decided to start fresh with a brand new platform to expand this idea globally, and that's how Daytrip was born. We are actually celebrating our 10th anniversary this year - the company was founded in September 2015. We started Daytrip on the premise that there has to be a better way to travel between cities. We wanted a service that is more convenient and traveler-friendly, where you can travel on your schedule, and previously set schedules do not overcomplicate your life. The result is a service offering private, door-to-door car transfers with professional, English-speaking drivers, and optional sightseeing stops to help travelers discover hidden gems that are typically inaccessible with public transportation. What need did you think was not being met in the market? Customizability and flexibility on long-distance city-to-city transfers. And I would even say, the enjoyment of the actual travel day. Imagine traveling between cities in a foreign country. Instead of stressing over train or bus schedules, language barriers, or how to reach that charming village that is not on any bus route, you simply get picked up at your hotel and enjoy a smooth, comfortable private ride with a friendly local driver, maybe even stopping at a few hidden gems along the way. That is the experience Daytrip offers. We realized that while local transportation networks primarily serve locals, they often fail to meet the needs of tourists, especially those seeking flexibility, comfort, and the opportunity to explore beyond major hotspots. Traditional options, such as buses, trains, and flights, are limited by fixed routes and timetables, and a single delay can disrupt your entire day. And because these services rarely cater to travelers' actual needs, the journey often feels like lost time, not an enjoyable part of the trip. By offering door-to-door transfers with optional sightseeing stops, Daytrip fills that gap, turning a stressful transfer into a seamless and memorable part of the journey. Friendly Daytrip drivers create memorable moments on family trips. Daytrip What makes Daytrip different from other car services? We provide a seamless blend of holiday logistics and local experience. With uncompromising safety and quality standards for a range of budgets, we offer a layer of experience provided by a knowledgeable, English-speaking driver, along with the opportunity to choose from our carefully curated list of sightseeing itineraries. Talk a little about the sightseeing aspect of a ride. How does that work? It's pretty simple. When booking a transfer with Daytrip, you can select a variety of offered sightseeing stops that can be done on the way, or you can even add your own. You can also adjust the duration to suit your preferences. This ensures that you have as much time as you need at the stop. Depending on the nature of the stop and your preference (it can be a castle, a winery, or an entire town), your driver is waiting for you, can help you translate, buy tickets to attractions, recommend things to see or even walk around with you - even if they technically aren't actual tour guides. While you are at the stop, you can also leave your luggage in the car while exploring, which means that you do not have to carry heavy bags around. Ultimately, our main goal is to make transfers between cities more convenient and to help travelers explore further by adding sightseeing stops. Can you order a driver/guide for a day to see the sights and get the local scoop? Yes, you can do that with our recently launched day trips. These allow travelers to explore the hidden gems as part of a trip that brings them back to their original location. This service can be used in instances where travelers disembark from a cruise but need to return to it ahead of their departure, or when they are in a city and want to visit smaller towns, castles, and other nearby attractions, but return to the city on the same day. Whether you opt for a day trip, a transfer with sightseeing, or a plain A to B transfer, our English-speaking drivers are locals, so they will happily talk with you about and share local insights and secrets while you are on your transfer. How has Daytrip evolved over the past decade? Since 2015, we have expanded our operations globally, now operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. Additionally, we rolled out day trips in March 2025, and you can already experience 1,000 unique itineraries across 300 destinations. And we are rapidly expanding to new destinations! Over the years, we have maintained a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor. Daytrip started as a B2C company, catering to the end customer. As we continued to grow, we realized the value of partnering with established key players in the travel industry. This step was crucial for expanding the B2B channel and offering our services to an even broader range of customers. Over the years, we have continually expanded the range of services we offer to our customers, with the most recent addition being the launch of day trips. We have also invested heavily in the scalability and automation of our support processes to ensure that our customers and providers always receive a fast and relevant response, 24 hours a day, year-round, and can reach a human agent whenever needed. How do you choose your drivers? We have developed a process that enables us to identify the top drivers in each country. This includes a personal interview with every one of them by our trained representative. We require our drivers to speak English as we want all our passengers to be able to communicate with their driver throughout the trip to feel comfortable and at ease. Moreover, our representatives always make sure drivers are also good storytellers, so that our customers can enjoy a long trip with them and receive a rich, locally immersive experience . Another part of this procedure involves reviewing the driver's background (e.g., traffic records) and also asking them to provide details about their vehicles to ensure customer safety and comfort. As a standard practice, we require that cars are less than ten years old and are in excellent operating condition, and are fully insured. Is Daytrip available in the US? We are running pilot operations and testing the market in California and Florida, with a possible US-wide rollout planned for the near future. The most typical use case for our US customers is in long-haul destinations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, where they appreciate the cultural and experiential aspects of the service the most. What have been some of Daytrip's most popular routes? Our most popular destinations are Italy, France, Croatia, or Spain. Depending on the season, we see different trends. For example, during the winter, we see a higher demand for trips in Latin America, specifically in Mexico. We also keep an eye on emerging travel trends and adapt our offerings accordingly. One example is gig travel, a term widely used in the travel industry over the past year, referring to people traveling long distances to attend various concerts. Last year, for instance, was a significant year for gig travel, as Taylor Swift embarked on her world tour in Europe. There is also the set-jetting trend, where people visit their favorite movie and TV series locations. In line with this trend, we have launched day trips to allow travelers to explore the locations featured in The White Lotus , with more to come. Recently, the computer game Kingdom Come: Deliverance has made waves across the gaming industry, and we have introduced day trips for fans of the game to explore the Czech Republic, which served as inspiration for the game. Daytrip is perfect for both business and personal travel. Daytrip Any plans for future changes? We are currently working on a new idea that is being tested, and we hope to launch it across the entire brand in the near future. With AI being extensively discussed, we continually explore new ways to integrate it across our products and workflows to keep up with industry trends while ensuring that we continue to deliver a 5-star experience to our customers. We are rapidly expanding the availability of day trips, covering new destinations, various tour types, and even thematic itineraries that follow cultural trends. We are introducing new vehicle tiers to cater to various budgets across multiple destinations. We continue to view our mobile app as the primary touchpoint, both before your trip for inspiration, planning, and booking, and to enhance your experience during and after the trip. We are investing heavily in its further improvement. Anything else you'd like readers to know? If you are dreaming of or planning to travel to a new destination, be sure to check our mobile app. Even if you don't end up using Daytrip this time, it is a great tool for travel inspiration, itinerary planning, or simply browsing pictures of beautiful places around the world.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Murder, mysteries, and martinis: Virgin Voyages launches true crime cruise
Forget listening to true crime podcasts on your commute, now you can get your forensic fix on a cruise. Virgin Voyages has launched a new sailing aimed at amateur sleuths and podcast junkies. The adult-only cruise line has partnered with production company iHeartPodcasts for a five-night True Crime Voyage in the Caribbean. Departing on 10 October from Miami aboard Valiant Lady, passengers can enjoy a five-night Caribbean sailing that promises 'a haunting experience on the high seas.' Prices start from £1,265 per cabin based on two people sharing. When not exploring the white-sand beaches of Puerto Plata or relaxing on Virgin's private Bahamian island, guests will be able to watch live recordings of true crime shows, take part in behind-the-scenes workshops and attend meet-and-greets with top hosts. The podcasts on board include Betrayal, which follows the stories of individuals blindsided by the people they trusted most and their journey to find justice. Forensic investigator Paul Holes and true crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson are bringing their Buried Bones podcast onto the ship, giving guests an insight into riveting, real-life cases. Passengers can also hear from the hosts of the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know podcast, which has an episode bank of more than 1,300 shows that unpack history's most bizarre events, such as government cover-ups, eerie cults and lost civilisations. The itinerary also includes a lineup of Halloween-inspired events such as costume contests, bar crawls, eerie entertainment and a special edition of the ship's Happenings Cast show. Nicole Huang, senior vice president of fleet experiences at Virgin Voyages said: 'We're always looking for ways to craft experiences as bold and original as our sailors. 'This True Crime Voyage is a perfect expression of that, blending the intrigue of incredible storytelling with the indulgence of elevated travel. We're taking everything our guests already love about Virgin Voyages and adding a twist for the Halloween season. It's going to be mysterious, glamorous and like nothing else at sea.' Themed cruises are becoming increasingly popular. Virgin Voyages also has a comedy cruise departing from Portsmouth in August, with shows compered by Jack Whitehall. Music fans can go back to the 1990s on Marella 's Electric Sunsets cruise this October, which features performances from Bewitched and The Honeyz. The cruise line has even launched a West End musicals themed cruise for October 2026.
Travel Weekly
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Virgin Voyages launches a true-crime-themed cruise
Virgin Voyages is a debuting a themed voyage for fans of true crime podcasts. On Oct. 10, it will host a five-night true crime voyage with podcasters onboard from the shows "Stuff They Don't Want You to Know," "Betrayal" and "Buried Bones." The Valiant Lady sailing will feature live podcast recordings, meet and greets and podcasting lessons. Guests will travel round trip from Miami with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Virgin's Beach Club on Bimini in the Bahamas. Virgin Voyages has previously hosted themed cruises for holidays including Halloween, Valentine's Day, New Year's and Christmas. It has also hosted Nicky Jam, who will return in December for a sailing dubbed "Olas de Fuego," which will include a lineup of Latino and Caribbean artists. The true crime sailing will also feature Virgin's Halloween-themed events, including a costume contest and a Halloween show.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This Virgin ship takes the cruise rule book and rips it up
The stateroom My Sea Terrace room on Deck 10 is the perfect home base. The so-called Seabed can be converted into a lounge setup during the day, but I keep mine as a bed. It feels more like a holiday when you can sit on your bed with a book or laptop. Smart storage – deep drawers, a streamlined wardrobe, and hidden nooks – keep everything tidy. The private balcony is a highlight while the room itself has had a cosy seating area. A bedside tablet controls everything from lighting to curtains with a tap. Food For a lively night out, Gunbae is my standout. This Korean barbecue spot makes dinner an interactive experience, with guests on communal tables grilling marinated short ribs and juicy prawns right at the table. Over at Pink Agave, the rib-eye steak is perfectly grilled and paired with a zesty salsa. Beyond the sit-down restaurants, quirky food spots add to the fun. Lick Me Till Ice Cream (yes, that's its name) serves rotating flavours like Ube coconut and Key West Lime Pie. Entertainment The Red Room theatre offers immersive shows that blend live music, high-energy dance, and jaw-dropping technology: think immersive projections, and digital backdrops that create a whole new world. Scarlet Night, which takes over the upper decks on the second night, is a highlight, when the whole cruise ship dons their best (and glitteriest) red attire. The verdict Valiant Lady takes the cruise playbook and rips it up — in the best way. If you're into edgy design, elevated food, and adults-only fun, you'll love it. If you're after bingo and buffet lines… maybe not. The essentials Valiant Lady sails from her home port of Miami on a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. My four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees starts and ends in Miami, with stops at Key West and in Bimini, Bahamas. Solo fares for this cruise typically start at $US880 ($1351), while cabins for two start from $US1272 ($1952). Prices vary by season and availability. See Our rating out of five ★★★★ Loading The writer was a guest of Virgin Voyages. Swell Between the many chic spaces and endless activities, this cruise is all about offering moments for personal escape as well as group bonding. Not so swell The Virgin Voyages app, used for everything from daily schedules to personal bookings, occasionally encounters glitches, making planning and booking difficult.
The Age
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
This Virgin ship takes the cruise rule book and rips it up
The stateroom My Sea Terrace room on Deck 10 is the perfect home base. The so-called Seabed can be converted into a lounge setup during the day, but I keep mine as a bed. It feels more like a holiday when you can sit on your bed with a book or laptop. Smart storage – deep drawers, a streamlined wardrobe, and hidden nooks – keep everything tidy. The private balcony is a highlight while the room itself has had a cosy seating area. A bedside tablet controls everything from lighting to curtains with a tap. Food For a lively night out, Gunbae is my standout. This Korean barbecue spot makes dinner an interactive experience, with guests on communal tables grilling marinated short ribs and juicy prawns right at the table. Over at Pink Agave, the rib-eye steak is perfectly grilled and paired with a zesty salsa. Beyond the sit-down restaurants, quirky food spots add to the fun. Lick Me Till Ice Cream (yes, that's its name) serves rotating flavours like Ube coconut and Key West Lime Pie. Entertainment The Red Room theatre offers immersive shows that blend live music, high-energy dance, and jaw-dropping technology: think immersive projections, and digital backdrops that create a whole new world. Scarlet Night, which takes over the upper decks on the second night, is a highlight, when the whole cruise ship dons their best (and glitteriest) red attire. The verdict Valiant Lady takes the cruise playbook and rips it up — in the best way. If you're into edgy design, elevated food, and adults-only fun, you'll love it. If you're after bingo and buffet lines… maybe not. The essentials Valiant Lady sails from her home port of Miami on a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. My four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees starts and ends in Miami, with stops at Key West and in Bimini, Bahamas. Solo fares for this cruise typically start at $US880 ($1351), while cabins for two start from $US1272 ($1952). Prices vary by season and availability. See Our rating out of five ★★★★ Loading The writer was a guest of Virgin Voyages. Swell Between the many chic spaces and endless activities, this cruise is all about offering moments for personal escape as well as group bonding. Not so swell The Virgin Voyages app, used for everything from daily schedules to personal bookings, occasionally encounters glitches, making planning and booking difficult.
