Real Experience. Real Expertise. The Story Behind A&A Legacy Travel

_{Written by Elena Alexandra Mihailov
Founder & Luxury Travel Expert
Published: April 2025 • 5 min read}

People often ask me what makes one travel adviser different from another.

For me, the answer has always been simple.

Experience.

Training, certifications and industry events are incredibly important, and I genuinely enjoy every opportunity to learn. But there are some things no course, webinar or brochure can ever teach you.

How a destination really feels.

Whether a hotel genuinely suits families.

How long that "short transfer" actually feels after a ten-hour flight.

Which beach is peaceful in the morning but crowded by lunchtime.

Or the small details that can turn a good holiday into an unforgettable one.

Those are the things you only learn by being there.

That's the philosophy behind A&A Legacy Travel.

Travel Came Before the Business

Travel has always been part of my life.

Long before A&A Legacy Travel officially opened, I had already travelled alone, with friends, as a couple and, later, as a parent.

Every journey taught me something different.

Travelling alone gave me confidence.

Travelling as a couple taught me that luxury means different things to different people.

Travelling with my son completely changed the way I look at holidays.

Today, I don't just notice beautiful hotels or beaches.

I notice how easy airport transfers are with children.

Whether restaurants are genuinely family-friendly.

How practical hotel rooms really are.

Whether grandparents would feel comfortable walking around the resort.

How much there is to do for different generations travelling together.

Those are the details many people don't think about until they're already on holiday.

They're also the details that can make all the difference.

Before A&A Legacy Travel officially launched in January 2025, I spent almost a year working behind the scenes.

I completed specialist destination training.

Attended travel industry events.

Built relationships with trusted suppliers and tourism boards.

Learnt from experienced professionals.

And continued travelling whenever I could.

The business may have officially opened in 2025.

But the knowledge behind it had been growing for years.

Experience Shows You What Brochures Don't

Beautiful photographs inspire us.

They're one of the reasons we dream about travelling.

But photographs rarely tell the whole story.

One experience that has stayed with me happened while visiting a local island in the Maldives.

We'd been told about its bikini beach.

It existed.

But it wasn't quite what we'd imagined.

Part of the beach was hidden behind a wall and, nearby, there was a collection of construction material, household rubbish and everyday debris gathered close to the shoreline.

It reminded me that even paradise has different sides.

That experience didn't stop me recommending the Maldives.

Quite the opposite.

It reminded me why honest advice matters.

Sometimes one island will suit someone perfectly.

Another won't.

Sometimes a private island is the right choice.

Sometimes a local island offers exactly the experience a traveller is looking for.

Understanding those differences only comes through experience.

When I recommend somewhere, I want my clients to know both the highlights and the reality.

Because the best holidays begin with honest expectations.

The Places That Keep Calling Me Back

People often ask me which destination is my favourite.

The honest answer is that I don't think I could choose just one.

Every country has given me something different.

But there are a few places I return to in my mind again and again.

Ibiza, Spain

When most people hear Ibiza, they immediately think about nightlife.

I think about beautiful beaches.

Hidden coves.

Crystal-clear water.

Peaceful mornings.

The historic streets of Dalt Vila.

And some of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen.

Ibiza has a completely different side that many people never discover.

It's one of the destinations I happily recommend to solo travellers, couples, families and even multigenerational holidays.

The secret isn't choosing Ibiza.

It's choosing the right part of Ibiza.

Corfu, Greece

Corfu will always be special to me.

It was there that my love for travel truly began to grow.

I still remember parasailing above Dassia Bay and later completing my scuba diving certification in the crystal-clear waters of Paleokastritsa.

Corfu combines beautiful beaches, green landscapes, history and genuine Greek hospitality.

It's relaxed without ever being boring.

Whether you're looking for romance, family time or simply somewhere to slow down, Corfu always feels like a wonderful choice.

Mauritius

If there is one destination outside Europe that I recommend more than any other, it would be Mauritius.

For me, it comes as close to paradise as anywhere I've visited.

Yes, the beaches are breathtaking.

But Mauritius is so much more than its coastline.

It's dramatic mountains.

Waterfalls.

Wildlife.

Botanical gardens.

Local markets.

Exceptional food.

Different cultures living together.

And some of the warmest, kindest people I've ever met.

It's also one of the few destinations I genuinely recommend to almost everyone.

Solo travellers.

Couples.

Honeymooners.

Families.

Multigenerational holidays.

Luxury travellers.

Adventure seekers.

Mauritius somehow manages to offer something meaningful for all of them.

It's one of those rare places that people return to time and time again.

My own family certainly does.

Singapore

Singapore surprised me in the best possible way.

It's modern, incredibly clean and wonderfully organised, yet every neighbourhood has its own personality.

Within minutes you can walk from futuristic skyscrapers into colourful streets filled with history, culture and incredible food.

And the food deserves a section of its own.

Some of the best meals I've ever eaten weren't in luxury restaurants.

They were in Singapore's famous hawker centres.

Simple.

Authentic.

Full of flavour.

Singapore is a destination I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys culture, food and discovering somewhere completely different.

Still at the Top of My Bucket List

Even after visiting 29 countries, there are still destinations I dream about.

At the very top are French Polynesia and AlUla.

French Polynesia has fascinated me for years.

Not simply because of Bora Bora.

I want to experience Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and the smaller islands properly, taking time to understand their culture, landscapes and way of life.

I've already completed specialist training with Tahiti Tourism and become a certified Tahiti Specialist, but I still believe nothing replaces seeing a destination with your own eyes.

That's exactly why we've postponed our own journey.

When we finally go, we want to spend at least three weeks exploring French Polynesia properly rather than rushing from island to island.

AlUla inspires me for different reasons.

Its dramatic desert landscapes, ancient history and unique experiences make it unlike anywhere else I've visited.

Like French Polynesia, it's a destination I want to understand deeply before recommending it from personal experience.

Learning Never Stops

One of the biggest misconceptions about being a travel adviser is that we simply book holidays.

In reality, much of our work happens long before a client ever gets in touch.

We're constantly learning.

Attending webinars.

Meeting hotel managers.

Speaking directly with tourism boards.

Visiting destinations.

Building relationships with trusted partners.

Learning about new resorts before they open.

Discovering new airline routes.

Hearing about experiences months before they're announced to the public.

That's one of my favourite parts of this profession.

Every course.

Every industry event.

Every destination visit.

Every conversation.

Adds another layer of knowledge that eventually benefits my clients.

I don't continue learning because I have to.

I do it because I genuinely love travel.

A Family Perspective

Travelling with my son since he was just six months old has taught me things I never noticed before becoming a parent.

Flight times matter.

Transfers matter.

Hotel room layouts matter.

Shade around the swimming pool matters.

Children's menus matter.

Family-friendly beaches matter.

And sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference.

Those experiences now help me advise other families with confidence because I've been in many of the same situations myself.

The Standard Behind A&A Legacy Travel

When someone chooses A&A Legacy Travel, I don't want them to receive a list of hotels copied from a brochure.

I want them to receive honest advice.

Recommendations based on experience.

Ideas they may never have considered.

And reassurance that someone has taken the time to understand what's important to them.

Sometimes that knowledge comes from my own travels.

Sometimes from specialist training.

Sometimes from trusted supplier partners.

Often it's a combination of all three.

And if I haven't personally visited somewhere yet, I'll always be honest about that too.

Trust is far more valuable than pretending to know everything.

Watch My Story

I've included a short video below where I share more about the journey behind A&A Legacy Travel, why I founded the business and why real experience continues to shape every holiday I plan.

Let's Create Your Next Chapter

Whether you're dreaming of relaxing on a beach in Mauritius, discovering the quieter side of Ibiza, exploring Corfu, tasting your way through Singapore or planning a journey somewhere completely different, I'd love to help.

Every traveller is different.

Every story is different.

Your holiday should be too.

At A&A Legacy Travel, every journey begins with a conversation, honest advice and a genuine passion for creating unforgettable experiences.

If you're ready to start planning your next adventure, I'd love to hear your story. Let's create something unforgettable together.