As our economy becomes increasingly reliant upon more than national politics — global policy, trade agreements and technology, to name a few — Americans have undeniably changed way they budget and spend their money. Rather than snapping up big-ticket items, more and more individuals are seeing the value of experiences, and travel in particular.
Whether you’ve had the travel bug for years or are just now looking to dip your toe into international waters, globe-trotting startup Noken just made your life (and your next adventure) a lot easier.
Co-founders Emily Brockway and Marc Escapa first met at Harvard Business School and, as fellow travel-lovers, began building the concept of Noken. It dawned on the pair that, despite the sheer size of the travel industry, there was so much that just wasn’t working. Whether it be clunky booking sites, egregiously expensive travel agents, or just the sheer amount of independent research necessary to have a passable time away from home.
“It’s always been a big point of contention in my life — I want to travel more, but I find that the anxiety of planning a trip actually keeps me from traveling,” explained Brockway.
Noken solves all of these issues — and more — with its clean, user-friendly interface that provides would-be travelers with curated itineraries, quick and easy airfare and hotel booking, as well as completely transparent pricing. Once a trip has been purchased, Noken pushes its custom app to your phone, which gives you an easily accessible view of your itinerary.
Unlike other full-service travel bookers, don’t expect Noken to drag you around on bone-dry tours from sunrise to sundown. While Noken does organize certain must-see excursions, your schedule is curated to remain flexible and allow for independent sightseeing and off-the-cuff exploration. If you’re unsure where to head next, Noken’s app — customized for each trip — can help to inspire and keep you organized en route.
Because we think through the whole trip from touchdown to takeoff, it creates an enhanced experience."
“We craft your experiences from end to end,” explained Brockway. “Because we think through the whole trip from touchdown to takeoff, it creates an enhanced experience — and we’ve lived the experiences you’re going to live,” added Brockway, referencing the heavily-worn passports owned by both Escapa and herself.
For all of Noken’s exclusivity, expect to pay just a $5 service fee (per person, per day) to Noken’s team. Not a bad trade-off, right?
The company itself is located in one of the most desirable travel destinations of all: New York City. Though both founders had experience working in the Silicon Valley startup world, as well as the Boston tech scene, they opted for the travel and e-commerce hub of NYC.
Currently, Noken offers excursions in Iceland and Colombia, but Escapa noted that Noken’s primary goal in the coming year will be to add more destinations. Currently, Noken trips to Vietnam, Portugal, Myanmar and Cuba are all in the works. What’s more, Noken is working to enhance the level of customization and control users have on their trips.
If traveling was a major to-do on your 2018 agenda, you’ll want to make sure that Noken is the one leading the way.
