about
Open the world to adventurous travelers
...Start with the hidden gem, Taiwan.
Online trip planning service to make authentic travels available to adventurous travelers.
mission
Tired of tour groups and copy-paste tourist itineraries?
We love authentic and personal travel experience just like you do. We want to know how YOU like your trip to be, powered by our local travel insights, and turn it into an amazing travel experience.
We are here to save you tons of time- & energy-consuming research and to provide you with a real travel experience, while you maintain 100% autonomy and spontaneity on your trip.
about founder
AuthenTravel Founder
Mandy Chen
Rock-climber, surfer, diver,
bubble-tea addict, but mostly adventure lover with a curious heart
Hi! My name Mandy. I am a big outdoor fan who loves going on adventures and exploring the world.
The kind of travel I'm into
When I travel, I always try to find the most authentic experience with the things I enjoy. I love the outdoors, nature, local markets, delicious food, checking out stuff that is unique to the destination, and meeting local people.
Problems I struggled with as a traveler
When I was running a multi-million-dollar sports business for an international company, I was extremely busy and found it impossible to take time and plan for my precious holidays. I ended up taking a lot of spontaneous trips, which was cool in its own way, but I've also had time wasted and missed out on some stuff I would really have loved to do.
As an adventurous outdoor lover, I always prefer traveling with friends, or going solo and meeting people along the way. I have never been a fan for large tour groups, and I couldn’t find the kind of trip I wanted from tourist agencies.
I realized many of the people I know, regardless of nationalities, also face the same dilemma---that you either follow a tour group with set itinerary, or you do everything by yourself---there seems to be no service/help that comes in between.
It's about people, and what each of us loves
I've always loved helping friends having an amazing trip with my travel knowledge. It makes me so happy every time seeing their eyes light up, talking about their magical experience.
So I quit my corporate job, and founded AuthenTravel to be that kick-ass local friend for more travelers who love to venture on their own. My goal is to help people experience an amazing, magical time traveling around Taiwan, doing things they love, just how they love it.
I believe there's no one perfect trip for everyone, but there are ones that are perfect for each one of us.
The Idea Behind Every Authen Trips
Authentic trips beyond the common tourist agenda, enjoy the true local experience.
Personalized travel at your own pace, centered around your hobbies and interests so you can spend your time on the things you enjoy.
Eat what you like and never miss out on amazing food wherever you go.
Rest wherever you feel most relaxed; from camping, hostels through quirky B&Bs and all the way to ultra luxurious villas! We’ve got you covered.
Intimate journey with no tour groups (unless that’s your thing, of course!). Just you and your loved ones sharing the moment.
Meaningful trip planning for those truly special experiences. We can help you bring to life your idea of the perfect trip or once-in-a-lifetime occasions.
Responsible & Sustainable ways of interacting with the local culture, forming connections with local people and environment through better understanding.
FAQ
Why can't i just plan the trip myself?
Yes, of course you can!
But your challenge is to find the relevant info for your trip since there's tons of information scattered online nowadays. Even for people who have planned countless amazing trips, planning a new trip can still be time and energy consuming.
Although many of us consider planning trips part of the fun, it can be less enjoyable or nearly impossible with the busy lifestyle we have sometimes.When juggling between work, spending quality time with friends & family, while making time for our daily routine and hobbies, trip planning could quickly become another heavy “to-do” task.
And sometimes, some information are just out-of-reach if you don’t know the language, or if you don't have a local friend to point you where to go.
This is when our trip plans can help you, save you time and find hidden gems.
is it a tour group? is there a tour guide?
No, it is a self-guided trip (the one you go by yourself). There is no tour guide, and you are not going to travel with a group with strangers (unless you request to).
does the trip plan include accommodation, transportation?
No, not at the moment. It is the trip plan which you have 100% autonomy to decide where your money goes to. AuthenTravel is here to give you the best, unbiased suggestions for your trip like how a good friend would make suggestions, not depending on which business is giving commissions.
However, if you'd like help with booking, it's available as an add-on service.
In the future, we are looking to promote small local businesses who really help travelers have amazing experiences, while maintaining transparency and let travelers make their own decisions.
real travel, real easy.
The Good Trip Policy
100% satisfied or 100% Money back guarantee FOR ALL TRavel PLANS.
Because you trust us with your holiday, and we want you to have a good trip. It's that simple!
100% satisfied or 100% Money back guarantee FOR ALL TRavel PLANS.
Because you trust us with your holiday, and we want you to have a good trip. It's that simple!
