Mailing Address

Hand Crafted Travel LLC

5730 N First St.

Ste 105-145

Fresno CA 93710

USA

Telephone

559-447-8441

Fax

408-228-8440

E-Mail

info@ handcraftedtravel.com

Because of my busy travel schedule, the best way to contact me is by e-mail. When you call, keep in mind that I may be half-way around the world from your time zone. If I don't answer, leave a voice mail and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

MORE THAN YOU REALLY WANTED TO KNOW

The we in Hand Crafted Travel LLC is almost entirely me, Bryan Smith, founder and managing member.

I was born and raised in California, but for the last 25 years I’ve been living and traveling in Europe. Initially I was just like every other tourist, wide-eyed with wonder and confused by cultural differences, trying to makes sense of all those zeros on the Italian money.

I’ve changed roles now, from tourist to guide. Since 1992 I’ve been helping others understand the art and history of the places we’re visiting; enjoying the wonder of seeing sights again (and again), each time for the first time, through my tour members eyes. Thankfully Italy has switched to the Euro, and I no longer have to deal with all those zeros (but I miss being a billionaire).

I now divide my time between two continents, half in Europe and half in California, and I am equally at home in both.

I speak fluent German, decent French and Italian, and enough Spanish to get into trouble. I can successfully order a beer and find the bathroom, usually in that order, in seven languages.

I also have a strong interest in the art and history of Europe. While I don’t have any formal training as an art historian, I have spent nearly a quarter of a century satisfying my own rampant curiosity, and I've learned a few things along the way.

In 1992 I chucked a sure but boring future in the corporate world for adventure and insecurity as an entrepreneur. Building on my love of travel and experiences living overseas I opened a small travel specialty store, called Bon Voyage! Travel Books & Maps.

Initially it was just a retail store, providing travel guidebooks, maps, luggage and other essentials to travelers. I quickly developed a local reputation as the European travel expert, someone who had actually been there, done that. Questions from customers about where to go, where to stay, and what to see soon grew into organized travel seminars, selling European railpasses and preparing independent trip plans for Europe-bound travelers. From there it was a short hop to actually organizing and leading my own tours.

By 1999 my travel services business had overtaken the retail store, and on January 1, 2000 I split that business off from the retail store as its own company, Hand Crafted Travel LLC. Late in 2003 I decided to close the retail store. The stress of running two businesses, including trying to stay on top of a retail business when I was out of the country for months out of the year, was just too much.

While I miss the daily contact with my retail customers, I now have more time to provide the best, most up-to-date travel information on Europe. I continue to guide tours in Europe about four months out of the year, provide trip planning help for independent travelers, and offer the best deal on European railpasses, rail tickets, and Eurostar reservations.

If you are planning a trip to Europe, either on your own or as part of a guided tour, I'd be happy to help you have the best experience possible.

Bryan Smith

Founder and Managing Member