 A look at El Camino’s travel site |
I just wrapped up covering the winter markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas, and I had a blast. Not only did I get to return to a city I like and explore a new one, I got to see all of the vendors’ insanely creative new products. Massive buildings with never-ending hallways full of eye-catching home decor and gifts — it’s heaven, and you can’t help but want everything you see.
Once I got home (and my feet stopped hurting from walking so much), I immediately unpacked my suitcase — a task that fills me with relief. Traveling is typically not my favorite thing to do. As a Taurus, I am a true homebody; I feel most comfortable in my daily routine and my safe haven (my house). However, since I’ve been home, I can’t stop thinking about planning another trip, hopefully to somewhere warm and tropical.
I told my fiancé, Cole, that I had gotten the travel bug and want to start traveling more. Whether that’s just a weekend road trip or around the world, I’m itching to get going. Hey, that’s what life is all about, right? Traveling, seeing the world and learning about different cultures. We only live once, and there is so much beauty to see. Plus, I don’t have the responsibility of kids — yet.
He recommended checking out El Camino Travel. When I Googled it, I found that it is highly regarded among some big names: Conde Nast, Vogue, The New York Times and more. I was pretty excited to learn more about this travel site.
El Camino, whose philosophy is to be “a traveler, not a tourist,” was founded by Katalina Mayorga about four years ago as a curator of one-of-a-kind immersive itineraries that rounds up adventurers in small tailored groups.
The company’s website says Mayorga was inspired to start the company while on a business trip to Guatemala. No one there was truly engaged with their surroundings. “At very beautiful spots, all of the tourists were on their phones the whole time,” Mayorga said. “Everyone was looking at these beautiful volcanoes around us through the screens of their phone, including myself.”
She wanted travelers to get off their devices and actually experience the real culture of a place.
I know I am guilty of this — focusing too much on getting the perfect envy-inducing photo to share on social media instead of enjoying where I am and disconnecting with the life I left back home.
So El Camino takes care of that millennial drive to capture every amazing moment by adding a professional photographer to every group trip. Each night, the photographer sends 30 photos to each guest so they can then share on social media or elsewhere. They’ll even capture the selfies, too!
El Camino begins by sending you a travel questionnaire and scheduling an individual chat before the trip to better understand your desires and provide the perfect trip for each traveler. Then, El Camino curates your daily travel plans. No more searching on Yelp only to be disappointed by ending up at the most touristy place possible. Its itineraries take you to authentic local spots that immerse you in the culture and community of your destination.
I believe these travel inclinations mirror the way millennials decorate their homes.
Similar to the personalization and raw experiences offered by El Camino, millennials are charting their own course when it comes to home design. We want décor with character that cannot be found at a typical retail store — items that have a story behind them and are from different places around the world, perhaps tokens from travels. We’re also into DIY projects, technology advancements, sustainability and minimalism, more than generations before us.
When it comes to purchasing furniture, authentic brands that give back or benefit the environment are important to millennials, according to Fortune poll.
Millennials want their fingerprints on every life decision — whether it’s adventurous travel or authentic home décor — so it’s critical that companies catering to us make sure our experience is personalized and positive.