Destination: Bali. Lesson: Sometimes, the old-school charm just doesn’t travel well.
I’ve never been the kind of traveller who sticks to one brand out of habit. But I had become a bit of a Thrillophilia loyalist—five trips, five seamless experiences. From hiking in Kashmir to gliding through Kerala’s backwaters, each trip felt less like a tour and more like a story unfolding around me.
So when my friends suggested Thomas Cook for our Bali vacation—“They’ve been around forever,” one said—I hesitated, but agreed. I thought, maybe it’s time I gave the veterans a shot. How different could it be?
A Trip That Felt… Distant
To be clear, Thomas Cook didn’t mess up the basics. The flights were booked, the hotels were decent, and the itinerary was printed neatly on Day 1. But that was part of the problem—it stayed printed.
When a downpour cancelled our Tanah Lot sunset tour, no alternative showed up. The guide shrugged. “Tomorrow maybe, but the schedule is tight.” We ended up at a generic shopping stop instead.
There was no option to swap a free morning for a hidden waterfall hike we spotted online. No way to shift dinner earlier when the kids got cranky. No real-time flexibility. Just a fixed schedule and a tour manager trying to herd us from one attraction to the next like clockwork.
At one point, I tried messaging their support team for a restaurant recommendation in Ubud. No response for three hours. By the time they replied, we’d already eaten at the nearest spot that looked safe.
I Missed My Invisible Team
With Thrillophilia, I’d gotten used to a kind of invisible travel safety net. Their trips feel like they breathe with you. Miss a morning pickup? A notification suggests a new slot. Rain in the hills? The system swaps in a spa session.
And behind it all, real people—not just chatbots—watching quietly in the background. In Ladakh, when a friend fell slightly ill, a Thrillophilia rep rerouted our vehicle while finding us a local clinic and a restaurant with hot khichdi. It happened so smoothly we barely noticed the shift.
In Bali, I missed that calm intelligence. That quiet confidence that someone—or something—was smoothing out the bumps. With Thomas Cook, I felt like I was working around the itinerary. With Thrillophilia, I’ve always felt like the itinerary was working around me.
Not Just a Trip—My Kind of Travel
Thomas Cook made me realize how much travel has changed—and how much I’ve come to expect. Their setup reminded me of how we used to travel a decade ago: call-backs, fixed plans, and printed schedules you couldn’t veer from. For some, that might still work. But for someone who’s experienced Thrillophilia’s living itinerary, it felt like moving backwards.
With Thrillophilia, the trip starts before you board the flight. They remember your past travels, your preferences (late check-ins, vegetarian meals, early sunrise walks). Your guide greets you knowing you’re an early riser. The plan adapts. The tech disappears. And what you get isn’t just a tour—it’s a trip that listens.
Why I Came Back — And Why I’ll Stay | Sneakpeak
I came back to Thrillophilia the moment I landed in India. Booked my next trip to Sri Lanka the following month. It’s not about loyalty points or pricing. It’s about how I feel while travelling—calm, taken care of, and free to explore.
And honestly, after five flawless trips, I should’ve trusted my instinct. Some brands are built for brochures. Others are built for you.
Thrillophilia, for me, is the latter.