Meet Best Teo
Travel Designer. Systems Thinker. Story Seeker.
I believe every great journey begins with a simple idea.
Everything is connected.
A hotel is not just a place to sleep.
It determines how far you walk, how easily you move around a destination, how much time you spend travelling, and even how you feel at the end of the day.
A train is not simply transport.
It shapes the scenery you experience, the rhythm of your journey, and sometimes becomes one of the most memorable parts of the trip itself.
Every decision influences another. Accommodation, transport, pacing, experiences and even meal timings work together as one connected system.
Perhaps this comes from my background in software development, where I learnt to see relationships, dependencies and how small decisions influence the bigger picture. Today, I apply the same systems thinking to designing journeys.
My role is to understand those connections and thoughtfully bring them together into one complete journey.
The result is a journey that simply feels right. Every destination, hotel, train, experience and transition flows naturally into the next, not by chance, but because every connection was carefully designed before the first booking was made.
That is what travel design means to me.
Not simply creating an itinerary.
But designing a journey where everything is connected.
Why I Became a Travel Designer
I didn’t become a travel designer because I simply love travelling.
I became one because I saw a gap in the way people travelled.
On one end of the spectrum are traditional group tours. Everything is arranged for you, but flexibility is often sacrificed. The itinerary is designed for the group, not for you.
On the other end is independent travel. You have complete freedom to travel your way, but every decision rests on your shoulders. From researching destinations and comparing hotels to planning transport and navigating unfamiliar places, you’re on your own. When things don’t go according to plan, whether it’s a missed connection, unexpected weather or a transport disruption, experience often makes the difference between a minor inconvenience and a holiday that unravels.
I believed there should be a better way.
A journey where you enjoy the freedom of independent travel, while having an experienced travel designer looking after the complexity behind the scenes.
A journey where you can travel exactly the way you envision, knowing an expert has your back if plans need to change.
That is what travel design means to me.
I believe everyone has their own way of travelling.
Some travel to reconnect with family.
Some seek nature and quiet.
Some dream of scenic train journeys through the Alps.
Others simply want to slow down after years of working hard.
There is no single “perfect itinerary.”
There is only the journey that is right for you.
Everyone works hard and deserves to travel in a way that reflects who they are.
My role is to understand your vision and bring it to life through thoughtful travel design, so you can enjoy the freedom of independent travel with the confidence that an expert is looking after every connection.
The Journeys That Shaped Me
Every travel designer has journeys that leave a lasting impression.
Mine began with Switzerland.
In 2000, I visited Switzerland for the very first time. It was only a short stay, but I still remember waking up before sunrise at a small bed and breakfast in Interlaken. The morning air was crisp, the sound of cowbells echoed through the valley, and for the first time, I understood why people fell in love with the Swiss Alps.
Later that journey, I experienced snow for the first time at Jungfraujoch. Like many first-time visitors, I was completely captivated.
Although the trip lasted only a couple of days, it planted a dream that stayed with me for more than two decades.
If Switzerland inspired me to dream, Taiwan shaped me into the travel designer I am today.
For more than a decade, I had the privilege of designing hundreds of customised journeys throughout Taiwan for couples, families, seniors and multi-generational travellers. Every itinerary taught me something new about pacing, logistics and the countless small details that transform a good holiday into a seamless journey.
It was also where my travel design philosophy was tested and refined through real client experiences. The heartfelt reviews and returning travellers over the years reinforced a simple belief that continues to guide me today.
Travel isn’t about seeing the most places.
It’s about designing the journey that is right for you.
Without Taiwan, there would be no Best Teo as a travel designer.
Today, Taiwan continues to hold a very special place in my heart, and I remain deeply grateful to every traveller who entrusted me with their journeys.
Read more about my Taiwan travel design approach.
Twenty-six years after my first visit to Switzerland, I returned with a very different purpose.
Not simply as a traveller, but as a Certified Switzerland Travel Expert.
This time, I wasn’t just admiring the scenery. I was testing railway connections, walking between stations and hotels, experiencing scenic train journeys, exploring mountain villages and understanding how every part of the journey connected together.
It felt like coming full circle.
The destination that first inspired me had become the place where I could fully express my philosophy of travel design.
Everything is connected.
Read how I became a Certified Switzerland Travel Expert.
Today, I continue to travel, learn and challenge my own assumptions because I believe expertise is earned through experience, not simply research.
Every destination I explore, every certification I pursue and every journey I design has the same purpose.
To become a better travel designer for the people who place their trust in me.
Why Clients Choose To Work With Me
Most people I work with could probably plan their own holidays.
Many are doctors, business owners, professionals and executives. They are intelligent, resourceful and perfectly capable of researching destinations, comparing hotels and building an itinerary.
But they also understand something equally important.
Their time is valuable.
Instead of spending countless evenings researching, comparing options and second-guessing every decision, they choose to focus on what they do best and entrust their journey to an expert who does this professionally.
Not because they can’t do it.
Because they believe in leveraging expertise.
They have a vision for their perfect journey and want an expert to bring it to life.
Every traveller imagines their holiday differently.
Some dream of scenic train journeys through Switzerland.
Others picture quiet mountain villages, meaningful family time, unique local experiences or simply slowing down after years of working hard.
My role is to understand that vision and thoughtfully design a journey that reflects the way they want to travel.
They value their time and choose to leverage professional expertise.
Travel design is far more than researching destinations or making bookings.
It is connecting hundreds of decisions into one seamless journey.
My clients understand that their own time is better invested in their families, careers and businesses, while they rely on my experience and expertise to design a journey that feels right from beginning to end.
They want someone who has their back before, during and after their journey.
Travel doesn’t always go according to plan.
Flights are delayed.
Trains are disrupted.
Unexpected situations arise.
When that happens, they know they are not facing those moments alone.
From our very first conversation until they return home, I am there to provide guidance, solve problems and help them navigate the unexpected with confidence.
To me, that is what travel design is really about.
Not simply planning a holiday.
But giving my clients the freedom to enjoy it, knowing an expert has thoughtfully designed every connection and is standing behind the journey every step of the way.
Experience, Backed by Continuous Learning
Travel is constantly evolving.
Railway systems change. Hotels are renovated. New experiences emerge. Destinations evolve.
To design exceptional journeys, I believe learning should never stop.
That is why I continue to travel, conduct on-the-ground research and invest in professional destination training. Every journey is an opportunity to deepen my understanding, challenge my assumptions and become a better travel designer.
My professional qualifications include:
Certified Switzerland Travel Expert & Swiss Travel System Excellence Expert
These certifications represent my commitment to understanding Switzerland beyond the guidebooks. They complement the time I spend experiencing scenic railways, testing connections and exploring destinations firsthand.
Read how I became a Certified Switzerland Travel Expert.
Licensed Travel Agent (Singapore Tourism Board)
As a licensed travel agent in Singapore, I am committed to operating professionally and ethically, giving my clients the confidence that they are engaging someone who meets the industry’s regulatory standards.
While professional qualifications are important, I believe nothing replaces standing on the platform, walking the streets, experiencing the hotels and understanding how a destination truly works.
Experience gives me perspective.
Continuous learning ensures that perspective continues to evolve.
Together, they allow me to design journeys with greater confidence, insight and care.
Everything I learn ultimately serves one purpose.
To become a better travel designer for the people who place their trust in me.
Everything Begins with a Conversation
Every great journey begins long before the first booking is made.
It begins with understanding how you want to travel, what experiences matter most to you, and how every part of your journey can come together as one seamless experience.
If you’re ready to design a journey that truly reflects you, I’d love to help.
Let’s start the conversation.