NY Times recognizes InTouch Travel for tours connecting travelers to a city’s “immediate buzz”

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 15, 2006 -– Whether it’s a pub crawl in Berlin or a peek into the hidden courtyards of Paris, adventurous travelers are increasingly choosing “lifestyle” tours that give them instant access to a city’s culture, writes Gisela Williams in The New York Times. Her article in today’s Travel section profiles half a dozen such tours and points readers toward InTouch Travel to book others.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and we’ve had dozens of email inquiries,” says InTouch Travel’s founder Andrea Nims. “More and more travelers want to experience something new, and a couple of days of cultural immersion is very appealing.”

One of the InTouch Travel hosts, Henrik Tidefjard, was featured in the Times article. The founder of Berlinagenten, he takes his private clients on a one-night, five-course “gastro-rallye.” His InTouch guests accompany him for two days and nights as he prowls the city and its neighborhoods, gathering material for his website.

Another InTouch host, photographer Josef Schomburg, recently hosted a couple from New York City for two days while he did historical research for his “behind closed doors” walking tours of Paris.

InTouch Travel was launched less than a year ago to provide a variety of opportunities for “cultural travel.” The company offers the services of 75 hosts in 12 countries. They are fluent English speakers in a wide range of professions, from journalists to university professors.

Travelers pay a flat rate of $650 per guest per day, which covers all meals and expenses as well as a stipend to the host. Hotel accommodations can also be arranged for guests.

For more information, please contact:
Ronald Holden
Cornichon Communications
206-770-9567
ronaldholden @ hotmail.com

ABOUT INTOUCH TRAVEL

InTouch Travel, www.InTouchTravel.com, was launched in March, 2005, by Andrea Mielke Nims, a travel executive with over 15 years of industry experience in her native Germany, the UK, Mexico and the US. “I sensed that many travelers missed getting to know local residents, and that there was a growing interest in traveling for personal enrichment.”

InTouch Travel offers two-day programs of intense cultural immersion to independent, experienced travelers.

The company features a roster of 75 hosts in 12 countries. They are active, educated outgoing people with a passion for their jobs and their families, and pride in the culture and history of the place they call home.

InTouch hosts have expertise in a variety of professions, often with advanced academic degrees, with careers in teaching, journalism, tourism and the arts. Many are native-speakers of English who have settled into lives abroad.

Prospective InTouch clients can search for hosts compatible with their interests and travel plans online, at www.intouchtravel.com/hosts, both by location and by professional specialty. They then request a two-day visit for their preferred dates and fill out a short personal profile. If they wish, InTouch Travel also arranges their lodging in neighborhood hotels of B&Bs recommended by the hosts.

Andrea Nims
Andrea @ InTouchTravel.com
Tel: 1-866-396-5102
International callers: +1 425-396-5102

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