Who we are
Not Your Basic Travel Agency designs personalized trips to your budget, pace, and style. Every journey includes end to end care and real local insight, so you can relax into the trip and the culture without the stress. Aneta and PJ have lived and traveled in many places and want you to experience the beauty of unique destinations—including spots that aren’t on most people’s radar.
Why NYB?
See every trip through local eyes. We prioritize unique paths, handpicked stays, and local traditions that rarely make the first page of a guidebook. From planning to on the ground support, we make authentic local travel effortless.
What sets us apart
Handpicked stays – scouted, vetted, and personally stayed in by our team.
Local‑first – guides, family‑run restaurants, markets, cheese huts, and artisans we actually know.
Two ways to travel – Private Customized Travel (your dates, your pace) or Small Group Trips (set itinerary & date).
Wellness woven in – thermal spas, alpine hikes, cold‑plunge lakes, forest walks, and slow food experiences.
We do everything – planning, bookings, confirmations, changes, and on‑trip support—24/7.
Thoughtful footprint – train options, local drivers, shoulder‑season travel, and small businesses at the center.
Our Promise
We’ll immerse you in real local life—authentic, un‑basic, and unforgettable. You handle the memories; we handle everything else, 24/7.
Our Story
NYB began when PJ and Aneta compared notes from the road and saw a pattern. The most memorable trips were simple, local, and personal. We now design those trips for you. We curate our own networks, from mountain villages in Southern Poland to city corners across Europe and the US.If you found us, that is the most searching you will do. NYB is authentic by design and never basic.
Aneta Leja — Co‑Founder
Aneta grew up in the Chicago suburbs as a first-generation Polish American, spending summers with family in southern Poland. After a brief attempt at university in Poland, she returned to Illinois, then mapped out a life that mixed study, work, and travel: Boulder, the island of Utila, Malta, back to Boulder to finish her undergraduate degree, and finally Madrid for a Master’s in International Management. Those years of living on the ground—testing routes, finding great stays, and meeting people she now calls partners—led her to start Not Your Basic Travel Agency. She also holds a B.A. in Psychology and spends her free time scuba diving, snowboarding, and chasing outdoor adventures.
What Aneta brings to your trip
Meticulous planning, from airport transfers to dinner reservations
Local relationships with guides, drivers, chefs, and hosts
Clear, calm communication and on‑trip support
An eye for comfort—without losing the soul of a place
PJ Carney — Co‑Founder
PJ grew up in Oakland, California and studied Business at UC Riverside. A semester abroad at SKEMA led him to Antibes, France, where he worked the Cannes Film Festival and returned the next two years to help deliver world-class guest experiences. That stretch in France sparked a bigger move. PJ headed to Spain to teach English, planning on one year and staying for two because he loved the culture, the pace, and the people. Summers were all about travel education and service: first as a counselor on a pre-college program in Florence, Italy with West Coast Connection, then on a volunteer program in Costa Rica. During that summer in Italy he met a mentor in the industry and began working at a travel agency. The work clicked. It inspired the idea to build something of his own that puts people first and designs trips that feel original, not tourist-trappy. Today, as Co-Founder and Client Experience Lead, PJ brings that path—Oakland roots, European know-how, and hands-on coordination across three countries—into every itinerary.
What PJ brings to your trip
Thoughtful communication and quick follow-through from first inquiry to wheels-up home
Concierge level coordination across drivers, guides, dining, and special requests
Calm problem solving and round-the-clock availability while you travel
A welcoming, detail oriented mindset that keeps everything on track
Where We Work Now
We design trips in destinations we know deeply. Places we’ve lived or scouted in person.
Current specialties
Southern Poland: Tatras, thermal baths, mountain huts, lakes, village suppers, artisan studios
Colorado: National parks, wine country, coastline, and mountain escapes
Malta: History‑forward itineraries with food and art at the center
Honduras: Specific for scuba divers.
Mexico: Beach time to reset and Mexico City for history and cuisine
How We Work
Start – Tell us how you like to travel (quick form + discovery call).
Design – We craft a custom plan with options across stays, food, and activities.
Book – We secure your accommodations, transport, and experiences.
Enjoy – Trip brief, insider tips, and support while you travel.
Two ways to book
Private Customized Travel: Your dates, your budget, your pace—planned and executed by us from end to end so you don’t have to lift a finger.
Small Group Trips: Curated itineraries on set dates—just pack and go.
Our Values
Ditch the obvious, do the unforgettable - where it’s worth going (not just posting).
People over checklists – fewer “must‑sees,” more meaningful moments.
Personal, not templated — trips built for you, not the algorithm.
No logistics, no worry.Just go.
Get in Touch
Email: info@notyourbasictravelagency.com
Media & partnerships: info@notyourbasictravelagency.com
Credits & Partners
Photos on Colorado page and throughout the website by @erick_hernan. Erick is a PhD student at CU Boulder and is a hiking enthusiast.
