We live in an age of instant gratification – where rushing to tick off bucket list places and squeezing must-see sights into an already overloaded weekend away is the norm. However, this may leave you feeling more burnt out and exhausted than before you left on your trip. We get it – which is why we offer single-hub vacations – where you stay in one location for the duration of your trip. When you’re not changing accommodations every other day, there’s more time to explore lesser-known spots, delve deeper into the local culture, chat with the locals and get a real sense of what a region is like. So, read on as we share the benefits of single-hub vacations.
Your ‘home away from home’
Heading out on our single-hub vacations can give that comforting “home away from home” feeling because it allows you to settle into a familiar space, night after night, where you can fully unpack and get used to your surroundings. We also go out of our way to choose long-standing, family-run, cosy and welcoming accommodations for our single-hub vacations which boost that warm feeling you simply can’t get when you’re hopping from place to place.
We pride ourselves in having strong connections with the people who run the local accommodations, like the welcoming Acampora family, at Hotel Due Torri we use on our Walking the Amalfi Coast trip – one of our best-selling vacations. Established in 1983, Hotel Due Torri remains one of our longest-standing hotels for good reason, and it’s because the Acampora family and staff all exude a certain warmth and hospitality, which larger hotel chains often lack. Giving travelers a taste of la dolce vita, they make every one of their guests feel like part of the family, serving authentic Campanian dishes each night that will set you up for the following day hiking around the Amalfi Coast. The hotel even offers lively pizza-making demonstrations, for travelers who are keen to learn to make Neapolitan pizza, the traditional way.
Less Time Traveling, More Time Exploring
If long bus rides and overnight trains sound stressful, consider a single-hub vacation instead. Thanks to the strategic location of the hotels, our itineraries are designed to optimize daily travel time, with usually short transfers required. On some days, you may be able to set off on your adventure straight from your doorstep.
On our eight-day Classic Dolomites: Premium Adventure, you’ll be staying in the 4-star, family-run Hotel Adler, located in the village of Villabassa in the Pustertal Valley. All of the guided routes, which take you to beautiful viewpoints including the magnificent Lago di Braies, Tre Cime di Lavaredo (The Three Chimneys) and the summit of Monte Piana, can be easily accessed from your base for the week.
Our eight-day Mont Blanc Highlights involves staying in either Chalet Chocolat, Chalet Chalpua or Chalet Bediere. These wonderful chalets situated in and around the town centre of Chamonix offer the perfect base to explore the French Alps. Our itinerary involves a varied selection of fantastic day hikes, which covers Col de Balme, the Carlaveyron Natural Reserve, Aiguillette des Houches, the Bonatti Refuge and a circular hike to Lac Blanc, which boasts incredible views of the Mont Blanc massif. Again, there are no long transfers with this trip – but you can choose to travel in style on your free day, with a return trip on the Aiguille du Midi lift. On this lift, you’ll enjoy close-up views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley, with panoramas extending to peaks like the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa range on clearer days.
Step Into The Heart of Local Living
On our single-hub vacations, you get more time to immerse yourself in the region you’re visiting. Our expert guides know their region inside-out and can suggest the best family-run restaurants and small local businesses to visit while your there, so you not only get to taste the regional cuisine but have a chance to mingle with the locals and gain insight into their day-to-day life.
On our Discover Tuscany: Culture, Food & Wine tour, we stay at Hotel Le Renaie, a family-run hotel in the village of Pancole. Over the course of the next eight days, we ensure you discover some wonderful local businesses, with organised wine tastings and a pasta-cooking class with a local chef. On our Sierra de Aitana Trek, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to taste the delicious local produce. Staying at the Hostel Rincon de Pepe in Benimantell, Alicante, you can enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast during the winter season and homemade olive oil, harvested and bottled from trees in their garden. Your leader, Jose Miguel, who has been an Exodus guide for over 20 years, also takes a keen interest in local cuisine and is known for preparing deliciously stacked homemade sandwiches for picnics surrounded by impressive limestone peaks.
Your Gateway To Adventures on Your Doorstep
The beauty of our single-hub vacations is that they’re based in great locations that are in easy reach to either nature reserves, lakes and small towns or attractions in bigger cities. Our itineraries are designed with your accommodation in mind, so you can explore interesting places around you without having to constantly change hotels or spend long hours on buses, trains and other public transport.
On our Walking in Tuscany trip, you get to unwind in the evening at Agriturismo Braccicorti, a beautiful stone farmhouse located in the heart of the Garfagnana Valley. Offering the perfect base for the week to explore the beautiful Tuscan landscapes, you can choose from our Activity Level 3 and Activity Level 5 walks, depending on your ability. This trip also takes you away from the crowds to Tuscany’s lesser-known mountainous region, taking you through Orecchiella National Park, Apuane National Park and Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park, where you’ll pass lush, sweeping valleys, shepherd villages and breathtaking medieval market towns en route.
When travel feels rushed, single-hub vacations offer travelers a refreshing alternative and a more immersive experience. If this has inspired you, take a look at our trips here.
