“We’re creating dynamic itineraries from scratch for each and every client”: Swain Destinations

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.

Mission and Vision

To exceed expectations in providing unique travel experiences while operating with the unwavering core values of a family business. To utilize the company’s destination expertise and passion for travel, develop customized trips that create lasting memories, broaden the awareness of other cultures and enrich the lives of its clients.

A voyage through the History of Growth

Planning international travel with Swain Destinations, the leading U.S. provider of customized vacation experiences, starts with a blank piece of paper. The trip is tailored from the very start by Ian Swain and his dedicated team to offer American travelers the opportunity to create a completely customized trip to far-flung destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia, India, and Africa.

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. Over the course of the next 10 years, Swain Destinations became the largest seller of South Pacific travel on the East Coast. The company has since expanded to include destinations in Southeast Asia and Southern and Eastern Africa, as well as India. Branching out into other destinations was a natural step, and the perfect solution to being able to continue creating unique travel experiences around the globe. Again utilizing local experts from those destinations, Swain quickly became a force with these exotic destinations.

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow”

From leisure groups and corporate clients, to large groups of family and friends, the Swain Destinations’ Groups Department has been customizing unique group-friendly itineraries since its inception. It has the knowledge to customize itineraries for all realms of group travel, putting time and care into every itinerary to accommodate all of the travelers. Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime for 200 of your company’s most important sales people, or an intimate group of ten, Swain Destinations Groups Department is not only flexible; it understands the different needs of a variety of clients.

Seeking an adventure filled vacation or just an adventurous day? Swain Destinations adventure activities, itineraries and lodging are just for you. It helps in cultivating your complete itinerary. Jet boating in New Zealand, climbing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge in Australia, a rafting safari in Thailand or sand boarding in South Africa. Get your adrenaline pumping and blood flowing, or enjoy a more relaxed adventure such as a scenic bike ride, or surfing.

From Africa to the South Pacific Islands

Immerse yourself in a wonderful range of cultural experiences, scenic delights and exotic cuisines that exist outside of your home country. Get to know the local practices and people, explore the history and heritage, and find yourself leaving more culturally enriched than when you embarked on your journey. Each world destination has a story to be told, a rich history to be learned and an identity to be discovered. At Swain Destinations they will pair you up with local guides who are eager to share their insider knowledge to ensure that you get to know your new locale inside and out. Obtain a better understanding for the nature, people and places you visit, the perfect way to truly get to immerse yourself in the local culture. Many of the Swain Destinations consultants hail from the destinations they sell and convey their passion, knowledge and insider advice to all of the travelers. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself the unique foods, diverse languages or the enriching cultural experiences that are to be encountered along the way, Swain Destinations can ensure that you not only visit a destination, but that you truly experience it.

Meet the passionate mind

Ian Swain, President and 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.

“What makes a trip booked through Swain so remarkable is our level of customer service. Many of our travel consultants have been with us nearly from the start, and they’re from the destinations they’re selling. We get excited to get others excited for visiting our native lands.”