We have answered the questions we get asked most often below. If there is something else you want to know, just email to [email protected] or send an enquiry and we will talk it through properly.
Creative Escapes was built for people who want more from a holiday than being marched through the obvious version of a place.
Our trips are small, carefully hosted and built around access, atmosphere and experiences with some life in them. The camera is part of that, but not in a gear-chat, technical-club sort of way. It’s simply a way of helping people notice more, experience more and come back with something real.
Just as importantly, we do solo holidays properly. That means thoughtful hosting, no forced bonding, and no feeling like you have signed up to a social endurance test.
Mostly independent, curious people who want to travel well and would rather avoid the usual group-holiday dynamics.
Around 95% of our guests come solo. People join us for all sorts of reasons, but the common thread is usually the same: they want a holiday with more depth, more ease and better company than they would normally find on a standard tour.
And they want what everyone wants from their time away: the proof. Not a thousand snaps nobody looks at. A handful of pictures that actually tell the story.
No. Most people do.
That is one of the reasons the trips work. You are not walking into a couples-heavy group or trying to wedge yourself into someone else’s holiday. The whole thing is designed around solo travellers, so arriving on your own feels normal, not awkward.
Not at all.
Most of our guests are more towards the beginner end. Some have shot more, but people are largely here for the same reason: they love taking pictures and want to use the camera to record what they are seeing and experiencing.
Some come with a cameraphone. Some bring a larger camera. It makes no difference to us. A good shot is a good shot.
Some people want to lose themselves more in the experience. Some want to do more photography. Both are absolutely fine. We just help you turn what you are seeing and feeling into pictures that feel like yours.
Small. Usually no more than 10 guests.
That keeps the trips personal, easier to host properly, and a long way from the follow-the-umbrella version of group travel. It also means there is space to get to know people without the whole thing feeling over-socialised.
We keep it simple. The price includes transfers from the suggested flights, accommodation, guides, permits, licences, all the experiences listed in the itinerary, and a UK-based pro photographer/guide who is with you every step of the way.
Flights and meals are excluded unless specifically stated on the trip page. But in practical terms, the places we go are not expensive to eat in, so you can budget around £50 a day at the absolute maximum for food.
We also help with flights, and you can always check options on Skyscanner. Other than that, there are no hidden extras or surprise surcharges. From the moment we pick you up to the moment you leave, apart from meals, it is all taken care of. That means you are not constantly having to think about logistics, which is usually the most tedious part of any holiday.
No, but we do help you choose the right ones.
We suggest the flights that best fit the trip schedule, usually aiming to get you into the country as early as possible on day one and out as late as possible on the final day, so you get the most time there.
We also try to point people towards good airlines at sensible prices, so you are not turning up exhausted before the trip has even started.
A big part of the trip.
We steer clear of bland hotel food wherever we can. If you have travelled all that way, the last thing you want is something sanitised and forgettable that could have come from anywhere.
So we go looking for the tastiest places instead. Often that means where the locals eat, so you feel more inside the place and less surrounded by tourists. We like food at all layers too, from market stalls Anthony Bourdain would have loved, to local favourites, to the odd gourmet gem. But never anything outrageous in price. We are very good at finding the good stuff without the silly bill.
Food matters because it is a big part of how the trip feels. It is where everyone comes together at the end of the day, so yes, it has to be tasty.
We also cater for dietary requirements. All of the places we use are vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and in most destinations we can deal with gluten-free too. If you have something specific, just let us know before you travel and we will talk it through properly.
Yes, absolutely.
A lot of guests arrive before day one so they are over the jet lag and ready to go when the trip starts. Others stay on afterwards. It really just depends on how much leave you have and how you like to travel.
We also spend a huge amount of time in-country finding the things that make it onto our trips, which means we usually end up with far more good ideas than we can actually fit in. So if you want to extend your stay, we are very happy to suggest other places, experiences and stays that did not quite make the final itinerary.
And if you want, we can usually get our local team to help arrange things for you, so you can just turn up and enjoy yourself. We also set up a WhatsApp group before departure, so quite often someone suggests doing something extra and others join in.
Yes. Lots.
We deliberately give people a good amount of information before they go, because not knowing the shape of a trip is usually what creates unnecessary stress. The itineraries themselves are detailed, so you can see what you are doing each day, and we also list the hotels we often use so you have a feel for where you will be staying.
Around eight weeks before departure, we send out a proper pre-trip pack too. That includes practical things like packing tips, climate, books to read, visa links, tipping, dialling codes, and a link to cheap eSIMs so you can get online easily when you arrive.
We also set up a WhatsApp group before departure, so you can chat to the others, meet your tour leader and get into the swing of things before the trip starts. By the time you leave, you will feel properly prepared.
Quite a lot, actually.
A lot of people stay in touch after the trip, which is one of the reasons so many guests come back. Around 65% do. We also put on regular socials, so if you want to see people again, there is every chance you will.
And because the trips are built around experiences with some life in them, people usually come home with more than just pictures. They come back with stories, memories and often a few new friends too.