Find Your Vibe - Travel The Other Way
Travel isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a mood, a rhythm, a way you like to feel in a place. These “vibes” are our language for that feeling—so we can design around you, not a template.
When the Itinerary and the Heart Don’t Match
I’ve felt that ache of wanting more from a trip. In 2008, I was on a tour bus skirting past Mount Vesuvius on the way to Sorrento. My heart kept pulling toward the volcano—an active, living mountain right there—and I asked the tour conductor if we could stop. “It’s not in the itinerary,” he said. “You won’t get conveyance back.” We rolled on.
Fast forward to Bali. I went chasing that iconic “swing” photo everyone imagines. What I found: lines, costumes on hangers, a stage built for social media. The rice terrace it overlooks (at least in May) felt flat; the view from Kalyana Ubud—quiet, green, honest—was far more moving. Later that day at Tirta Empul, I stood knee-deep in cold spring water, rain on my head, chanting “Om.” No performance. No queue. Just presence. And that felt like joy.
Not everyone wants the same thing from travel. For some, the end picture matters. For others, the whole experience does. Neither is “wrong,” but they are different vibes. And when your itinerary doesn’t respect your vibe, you end up with a lovely trip that somehow missed you.
Travel is a feeling. The itinerary is just choreography.
Our Philosophy: Design for the Feeling First
The Other Way (TOW) was born because we believe every traveler is different, and craves different moments—silence or skyline, ritual or rush, a tribe or a trail. A “perfect itinerary” means nothing if it doesn’t match the way you like to move through the world.
So we created a simple, flexible language—four vibes—to start the conversation. They aren’t boxes. They overlap. You can be a Seeker at dawn and a Catcher by midnight. They just help us translate your heart into a journey.
Our Vibes
Seekers
Catchers
Explorers
Tribers
Seekers - Soulful. Restorative. Unhurried.
Seekers love the best of comfort—the finest properties and thoughtful service—but they want more than amenities. They want the wellness, the ritual, the quiet that resets the nervous system and brings them back to themselves.
You might be a Seeker if…
- You crave mornings that begin with breath, water, or sky.
- You’d trade three activities for one meaningful ritual.
- You want to feel recharged, complete, and calm when you return.
Moments that warm a Seeker’s heart
- Meditating with monks at sunrise, a bell lingering in the air.
- Sound healing that quiets the thoughts you didn’t know were loud.
- Yoga on a cliff edge, wind and horizon for company.
- Forest baths, hot springs, steam and stone.
How we design it
Fewer hotel changes. Longer stays. Suites with privacy. Spa sanctuaries. Unrushed transfers. Hosts who love silence as much as conversation.
Catchers — Alive. Electric. In the moment.
Hearts on fire, shoes by the door. Catchers chase the pulse of a place—the rooftops, the sets, the thrill. They love boutique comfort, but they want the city’s heartbeat and the land’s adrenaline.
You might be a Catcher if…
- You feel homesick for places you haven’t seen yet.
- You love late starts because the night ran beautifully long.
- You’re happiest when the day holds a “wait, we’re doing what?” twist.
Moments that light a Catcher up
- Secret speakeasies and behind-the-bar tastings.
- Desert sunset drives and star-washed night swims.
- Bioluminescent bays, canyon ziplines, sea caves you wade into at dusk.
How we design it
Flexible nights, recovery mornings, driver-on-call, guest lists handled, adventure with safety dialed in, and space for spontaneity.
Explorers — Culture. Craft. Story.
Explorers look for the unbeaten path. Comfort is nice, but meaning sits in the alleyways, ferries, markets, and conversations with people who live there. They collect stories, not checkmarks.
You might be an Explorer if…
- You want to know how something is made, not just how it looks.
- You find beauty in walks, rides, and wrong turns.
- You talk to strangers and come home with recipes.
Moments that define an Explorer
- A heritage walk guided by a community storyteller.
- Artisan workshops—hands in clay, indigo on your fingertips.
- After-hours museum lights with a curator who unlocks the room.
- Hikes to hidden shrines, boat rides to small islands, a night under stars.
How we design it
Local hosts, layered neighborhoods, trains over planes when it adds texture, and thoughtful pacing that lets curiosity lead.
Tribers — Together, by design.
Triber joy is shared joy. They love a lodge or villa with room to gather and room to retreat. Impromptu dance sessions, chef’s tables, bonfires, stargazing circles—it’s the people that make the place.
You might be a Triber if…
- You plan trips around who’s coming.
- You love moments that become family lore.
- You make friends in a day and keep them for years.
Moments Tribers remember
- A cliffside villa week with rotating chef menus.
- A hosted fire circle where kids and elders share “rose & thorn.”
- A family yacht day ending with songs and a sky full of satellites.
How we design it
Spaces that bring people together (and let them recharge), hosts who can read a room, shared rituals that become tradition.
"But I'm a mix." Good. You're human.
Most of us are. You can be Seeker in the morning, Catcher by night; Explorer this year, Triber next. Seasons of life change the vibe. The point isn’t to choose a team—it’s to choose the feeling you want now, then let us design around it.
What we learned (the hard way)
- Chasing a fad can be perfect for some – and hollow for others.
- Presence beats performance when you heart is asking to be quiet.
- An itinerary that ignores your vibe will always feel slightly wrong, no matter how “iconic” the stops are.
We’re not against the swing photo or the famous sight. We’re for authentic matches – the experience that feels like you.
How we craft a vibe-aligned journey
The Conversation — We listen. What do you need right now—rest, rush, depth, connection? Tell us your non-negotiables and your secret wishes.
Vibe Mapping — We translate that into a primary vibe (and a secondary) so the pacing, access, and accommodation match your energy.
Anchor Moments — We design 3–5 moments that make the trip—the ones you’ll be talking about years later. Everything else supports those anchors.
Breathing Space — We leave 20% unplanned. Magic lives there.
The Fad Filter — We cut “obligatory” stops that don’t serve your vibe, and swap them for experiences with texture—local, thoughtful, respectfully hosted.
Care in Motion — Seamless logistics, gentle timing, and hosts who care—so your nervous system can actually relax and enjoy.
Mini prompts to find your vibe (today)
Seeker: When was the last time you felt truly rested? What helped?
Catcher: What’s a night you still tell stories about? What made it sing?
Explorer: Which object in your home has the best origin story?
Triber: Who do you want sitting by the fire with you on this trip?
Your answers are the start of your itinerary.
Tiny glimpses: same map, different heartbeats
Kyoto
- Seeker: dawn zazen, tea by a moss garden.
- Explorer: indigo-dye workshop, alleyway izakaya crawl.
- Catcher: night jazz basement, late ramen, sunrise at the river.
- Triber: machiya townhouse, private kaiseki with stories from the chef.
Amalfi
- Seeker: terrace breakfasts, boat naps, limoncello at golden hour.
- Explorer: fishermen at dawn, hill town walk, family trattoria recipes.
- Catcher: sunset DJ on the water, cliff jump, midnight granita.
- Triber: villa with a pizza night, Capri picnic, shared gelato politics.
Why this matters
We didn’t create these vibes to sell you packages. We created them to protect your time. To make sure you don’t roll past your Vesuvius moment because someone else’s checklist said “no.” To choose the springs over the swing when your heart needs water, not applause.
At TOW, we don’t do ordinary. We chase that extra bit—the connection, the feeling. Without it, travel is just logistics. With it, travel changes you.
Travel, The Other Way
If any of this resonates—if you’re tired of journeys that miss your heart—tell us your vibe. We’ll design around you: the pace, the pulse, the rituals, the room to breathe. We’ll leave space for surprise and make sure the headline moments are yours, not the internet’s.
