Swain Destinations

Specialties

Whether celebrating a special occasion such as a milestone anniversary or simply looking to go on a one-​of-​a-​kind vacation, clients enjoy booking through Swain Destinations from start to finish for the personalization and ability to tailor the travel experience. The knowledgeable travel consultants not only map out and plan the itinerary, but also follow up with customers, leading up to and after returning from their trips. «People always want the best for their family, and we feel like our customers are an extension of our family,» Swain says. «We treat everyone with that level of care and service to ensure that they have the most incredible experience.»

Swain Destinations creates tailored travel packages to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Africa, Asia, and India. Trip genres include Adventure, Diving, Indigenous, and Wildlife for intrepid travelers; Beach, Luxury, Romance, and Spa/​Retreat for leisure vacationers; and City, Culinary, and Culture for cosmopolitan tourists.

History

Established in 1987.

Customizing the travel experience, Swain Destinations is the leading U.S. provider of completely personalized exotic vacation experiences. Since 1987, Co-​Founders Ian and Linda Swain, and their dedicated team of destination experts have offered American travelers the opportunity to design distinctive trips to intriguing international locales, including Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia, India, and Africa. From adventure-​packed trips to leisurely getaways, Swain Destinations curates itineraries based on each individual’s travel preferences. Dynamic experiences range from a chef’s table dining extravaganza on Hayman to a safari journey across the East African Plains. The family-​run business presents North American tourists with personalized service from veteran travel specialists, many of whom hail from the fascinating locales they sell. «We’re creating dynamic itineraries from scratch for each and every client,» Swain says.

Meet the Business Owner

Ian S.

Business Owner

The seeds of what would become Swain Destinations were sowed in Swain’s native Australia. The self-​described «true blue Aussie» was born in Brisbane and showed a knack for entrepreneurship by launching a career in banking before he’d even left high school. After quickly progressing through the ranks, he left to pursue a new challenge in the insurance industry and started a brokerage company when he was just 19.

Swain then met and married Linda, an American with a penchant for international travel. Two years into their marriage, and seven years into the insurance business, they decided to relocate to Philadelphia, where Linda was raised. With his knowledge of the South Pacific and her understanding of the American traveler, they started Swain Australia Tours (now Swain Destinations) in 1987. «Americans were interested in visiting Australia but didn’t know where to start, so it was the perfect opportunity for us to share our combined passion,» he says.