This Global Car Service Turns Any Trip Into A Vacation
Getting from city to city when you're traveling in Europe can be daunting. Depending on where you're going, it can be hard enough to find public transportation, let alone work around unreliable schedules while carrying all your luggage with you. Plus, while you're in the area, it feels sinful to miss visiting some of the iconic landmarks you may pass along the way.
Enter Daytrip, a unique private car service that lets you customize your trip so you can make stops wherever/whenever you want as you head to your destination. Heard of a great shop you have to check out? No problem. Want to explore a specific area? Your local driver will give you an insider's view.
This is such a great idea, which I only discovered when my husband and son started planning a golf trip to Ireland and realized they had to travel hours between cities to play the courses on their bucket list. The logistics, especially with two golf bags, seemed ridiculously complicated until they came across Daytrip, who helped them put together the perfect itinerary, from Shannon to Lahinch to Carne and back to Shannon.
Their trip was so easy and enjoyable and they liked their driver so much, I ended up booking Daytrip myself when I needed to get from my Virgin Voyages cruise ship to the airport in Marrakesh. I wish I'd had time to make some stops to get in a little sightseeing but, honestly, I was grateful to have a ride at all in a city where it can be hard to get one.
Because I'm always intrigued by anything that makes travel simpler as well as more enriching, I reached out to Daytrip CEO and Co-Founder Tomáš Turek to learn more.
Daytrip's founding team (Tomas Turek on left) Daytrip
Tell us a little about the origin of Daytrip.
It all started with a local chauffeur company in Český Krumlov, a small town in the Czech Republic, founded by me and one of my fellow Daytrip Co-Founders. While running this company, we witnessed a growing customer interest in better city-to-city transportation, and quickly realized this had universal appeal. We decided to start fresh with a brand new platform to expand this idea globally, and that's how Daytrip was born. We are actually celebrating our 10th anniversary this year - the company was founded in September 2015.
We started Daytrip on the premise that there has to be a better way to travel between cities. We wanted a service that is more convenient and traveler-friendly, where you can travel on your schedule, and previously set schedules do not overcomplicate your life. The result is a service offering private, door-to-door car transfers with professional, English-speaking drivers, and optional sightseeing stops to help travelers discover hidden gems that are typically inaccessible with public transportation.
What need did you think was not being met in the market?
Customizability and flexibility on long-distance city-to-city transfers. And I would even say, the enjoyment of the actual travel day. Imagine traveling between cities in a foreign country. Instead of stressing over train or bus schedules, language barriers, or how to reach that charming village that is not on any bus route, you simply get picked up at your hotel and enjoy a smooth, comfortable private ride with a friendly local driver, maybe even stopping at a few hidden gems along the way. That is the experience Daytrip offers.
We realized that while local transportation networks primarily serve locals, they often fail to meet the needs of tourists, especially those seeking flexibility, comfort, and the opportunity to explore beyond major hotspots. Traditional options, such as buses, trains, and flights, are limited by fixed routes and timetables, and a single delay can disrupt your entire day. And because these services rarely cater to travelers' actual needs, the journey often feels like lost time, not an enjoyable part of the trip. By offering door-to-door transfers with optional sightseeing stops, Daytrip fills that gap, turning a stressful transfer into a seamless and memorable part of the journey.
Friendly Daytrip drivers create memorable moments on family trips. Daytrip
What makes Daytrip different from other car services?
We provide a seamless blend of holiday logistics and local experience. With uncompromising safety and quality standards for a range of budgets, we offer a layer of experience provided by a knowledgeable, English-speaking driver, along with the opportunity to choose from our carefully curated list of sightseeing itineraries.
Talk a little about the sightseeing aspect of a ride. How does that work?
It's pretty simple. When booking a transfer with Daytrip, you can select a variety of offered sightseeing stops that can be done on the way, or you can even add your own. You can also adjust the duration to suit your preferences. This ensures that you have as much time as you need at the stop. Depending on the nature of the stop and your preference (it can be a castle, a winery, or an entire town), your driver is waiting for you, can help you translate, buy tickets to attractions, recommend things to see or even walk around with you - even if they technically aren't actual tour guides. While you are at the stop, you can also leave your luggage in the car while exploring, which means that you do not have to carry heavy bags around. Ultimately, our main goal is to make transfers between cities more convenient and to help travelers explore further by adding sightseeing stops.
Can you order a driver/guide for a day to see the sights and get the local scoop?
Yes, you can do that with our recently launched day trips. These allow travelers to explore the hidden gems as part of a trip that brings them back to their original location. This service can be used in instances where travelers disembark from a cruise but need to return to it ahead of their departure, or when they are in a city and want to visit smaller towns, castles, and other nearby attractions, but return to the city on the same day. Whether you opt for a day trip, a transfer with sightseeing, or a plain A to B transfer, our English-speaking drivers are locals, so they will happily talk with you about and share local insights and secrets while you are on your transfer.
How has Daytrip evolved over the past decade?
Since 2015, we have expanded our operations globally, now operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. Additionally, we rolled out day trips in March 2025, and you can already experience 1,000 unique itineraries across 300 destinations. And we are rapidly expanding to new destinations! Over the years, we have maintained a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Daytrip started as a B2C company, catering to the end customer. As we continued to grow, we realized the value of partnering with established key players in the travel industry. This step was crucial for expanding the B2B channel and offering our services to an even broader range of customers. Over the years, we have continually expanded the range of services we offer to our customers, with the most recent addition being the launch of day trips.
We have also invested heavily in the scalability and automation of our support processes to ensure that our customers and providers always receive a fast and relevant response, 24 hours a day, year-round, and can reach a human agent whenever needed.
How do you choose your drivers?
We have developed a process that enables us to identify the top drivers in each country. This includes a personal interview with every one of them by our trained representative. We require our drivers to speak English as we want all our passengers to be able to communicate with their driver throughout the trip to feel comfortable and at ease. Moreover, our representatives always make sure drivers are also good storytellers, so that our customers can enjoy a long trip with them and receive a rich, locally immersive experience . Another part of this procedure involves reviewing the driver's background (e.g., traffic records) and also asking them to provide details about their vehicles to ensure customer safety and comfort. As a standard practice, we require that cars are less than ten years old and are in excellent operating condition, and are fully insured.
Is Daytrip available in the US?
We are running pilot operations and testing the market in California and Florida, with a possible US-wide rollout planned for the near future. The most typical use case for our US customers is in long-haul destinations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, where they appreciate the cultural and experiential aspects of the service the most.
What have been some of Daytrip's most popular routes?
Our most popular destinations are Italy, France, Croatia, or Spain. Depending on the season, we see different trends. For example, during the winter, we see a higher demand for trips in Latin America, specifically in Mexico.
We also keep an eye on emerging travel trends and adapt our offerings accordingly. One example is gig travel, a term widely used in the travel industry over the past year, referring to people traveling long distances to attend various concerts. Last year, for instance, was a significant year for gig travel, as Taylor Swift embarked on her world tour in Europe.
There is also the set-jetting trend, where people visit their favorite movie and TV series locations. In line with this trend, we have launched day trips to allow travelers to explore the locations featured in The White Lotus , with more to come. Recently, the computer game Kingdom Come: Deliverance has made waves across the gaming industry, and we have introduced day trips for fans of the game to explore the Czech Republic, which served as inspiration for the game.
Daytrip is perfect for both business and personal travel. Daytrip
Any plans for future changes?
We are currently working on a new idea that is being tested, and we hope to launch it across the entire brand in the near future. With AI being extensively discussed, we continually explore new ways to integrate it across our products and workflows to keep up with industry trends while ensuring that we continue to deliver a 5-star experience to our customers.
We are rapidly expanding the availability of day trips, covering new destinations, various tour types, and even thematic itineraries that follow cultural trends. We are introducing new vehicle tiers to cater to various budgets across multiple destinations. We continue to view our mobile app as the primary touchpoint, both before your trip for inspiration, planning, and booking, and to enhance your experience during and after the trip. We are investing heavily in its further improvement.
Anything else you'd like readers to know?
If you are dreaming of or planning to travel to a new destination, be sure to check our mobile app. Even if you don't end up using Daytrip this time, it is a great tool for travel inspiration, itinerary planning, or simply browsing pictures of beautiful places around the world.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
AI Startup ChatBlu Secures $500K in Pre-Seed Funding to Automate Inventory for Online Retailers
ChatBlu has raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding to launch an autonomous AI agent that automates inventory management across platforms for multi-platform e-commerce. Founded by 20-year-olds Kristian Lukauskis and Alexander Dillon, the startup is backed by Matador VC and angels from Google and Courtesy of ChatBlu LONDON, Aug. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChatBlu, a rising artificial intelligence startup founded by Kristian Lukauskis of Miami and Alexander Dillon of London, has announced the close of a $500,000 pre-seed funding round. The company is building an autonomous AI agent designed to eliminate manual inventory management for e-commerce sellers operating across multiple platforms. The round was led by Matador Venture Capital, a firm known for backing several Y Combinator X25 companies. It included participation from angel investors associated with Google and Amazon Web Services. The funding will support ChatBlu's product development and go-to-market rollout, which is planned for September 2025. ChatBlu was incorporated in April 2025 and aims to solve a widespread pain point in digital commerce: syncing listings, managing stock, and adjusting pricing across storefronts like Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, and WooCommerce. By enabling store owners to issue simple, natural-language commands, the AI agent executes all backend tasks autonomously across channels. 'E-commerce has evolved, but inventory management hasn't kept up.' Said Dillon, 'ChatBlu is here to change that and set a new standard for how stores operate across platforms.' Industry research estimates that poor inventory coordination results in $1.8 trillion in lost revenue for retailers every year. ChatBlu's team believes their product can help merchants increase conversion rates by up to 20 percent through intelligent listing optimization and real-time inventory control. The company was developed within the 2024–2025 cohort of the Genoa Entrepreneurship School, a European accelerator program that boasts a 75 percent funding success rate. Supported by mentors such as Douglas Leone of Sequoia Capital, Genoa provides students with access to capital and global networks. ChatBlu's technical development is led by CTO Sairam Vangapally, a former Amazon and Shutterfly engineer. Additional team members bring experience from Apple, Meta, Adidas, and Xbox. ChatBlu will initially serve English-speaking markets, with expansion into the Hispanic e-commerce sector planned for 2026. Learn more about ChatBlu's technology and upcoming launch at About ChatBlu ChatBlu is an artificial intelligence company building the first autonomous AI agent for multi-platform inventory management. Founded by Kristian Lukauskis, Alexander Dillon, and Sairam Vangapally, ChatBlu has received $500,000 in funding to automate backend retail operations for digital merchants. The startup is backed by Genoa Entrepreneurship School and Matador Ventures Capital, which has several Y-Combinator startups in its portfolio. Its founding team brings experience from companies including Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Adidas. The company's vision is to eliminate manual inventory processes through intelligent automation. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Kristian Lukauskis, CEOOrganization / Company: ChatBluCompany website: Email Address: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘National Geographic' Documentarians List Their 11-Acre Santa Cruz Ranch for $4.3 Million
Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom, a husband-and-wife creative team who have produced stories for National Geographic, travel to some of the most stunning locations on the planet. But it's their Santa Cruz estate, which they've owned for three decades, that may be their favorite spot of all. 'We have documented many of the most beautiful places on our planet for National Geographic,' Lanting said in a statement. 'But every time we come back from abroad, we marvel at the place we call home.' More from Robb Report Larry Ellison's Old McLaren F1 Could Fetch $23 Million at Auction Inside a $14 Million Greenwich Manor That Oozes Old-World English Grandeur Soho House Just Opened a Wellness-Focused 'Farmhouse' in Ibiza Despite this, the couple is listing their property—dubbed Rancho Refugio—for $4.3 million, with Tim Allen at Coldwell Banker Realty holding the listing. Over the years, Lanting and Eckstrom have transformed the 11-acre spread into a home for not just themselves but also more than 150 species of plants and animals, such as coyotes, deer, and rare birds. RELATED: This Coastal California Home Was Designed for a Family of Surfers The centerpiece of the nature-focused retreat, just five minutes from Highway 1 and 90 minutes from San Francisco, is the two-bedroom, two-bath main residence. The contemporary Craftsman was inspired by the work of Greene & Greene, the influential early 20th-century Pasadena-based architecture firm well known for their Arts & Crafts style. Natural accents adorn the home, including century-old redwood beams across the ceiling, stained pine flooring, and Douglas fir and maple touches. A gas fireplace anchors the living room, adjacent to the chef's kitchen with granite countertops. The primary suite, meanwhile, includes a bathroom where the soaking tub looks out on the Pacific Ocean. A courtyard connects the main house to a two-bedroom guest house with its own kitchenette, laundry, and library shelving. A smaller and more contemporary caretaker's studio is a stone's throw away, with a full kitchen and bath, plus a fun sleeping loft accessible by ladder. Among the structures, there's a hot tub that looks out on the meadows, a wildlife pond that attracts frogs and birds, and more than 2,000 square feet of decks, pathways, and paved terraces for taking in all of the outdoors. For those looking to build on Lanting and Eckstrom's work on the property, there's a garage/workshop and a detached greenhouse for seasonal cultivation and propagation. Currently, the on-site habitats include seasonal wetlands, redwood forest, oak woodland, and coastal prairie, with much land still available for whatever you may want to do with of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Franklin's Wyelea community on the Harpeth River completes phase 1 of construction
Wyelea a 600-acre, multimillion-dollar community in Franklin, has officially entered Phase 2 of the project. The residential community and private members club was originally unveiled in 2023. The land that the 68 lots reside on was first purchased from the Ingram family for $28.1 million. 'It's such a beautiful piece of land, and it needs to be treated thoughtfully,' said Trevor Cross, the project's principal developer. The scenery around the planned community helped give birth to its name, a combination of the words wye and lea. Wye is "an old English word for a place where two rivers come together,' Cross said, "and this project, or this property, rather, has two miles of river frontage on the West Harpeth River. The second part translates to a high meadow.' Phase 1, which consisted of construction of roads and utilities, has been completed. Additionally, the first homesite closings have begun, with over 40% under contract. "This is an exciting moment for Wyelea,' Cross said. 'It's not just progress on paper. You can see the roads, walk the lake's edge, and feel the rhythm of the site coming to life. We're proud of how far we've come and are equally committed to doing it with care. This place is unlike anything else, not only in Middle Tennessee, but across the country, and that is resonating with our future residents and members.' Phase 2 includes additional roads and infrastructure under construction in preparation for The Commons, Wyelea's central amenity village. Construction of Wyelea's club amenities is set to begin this fall. This area is designed to be the heart of the community, with spaces that balance wellness, gathering, dining and recreation. The amenity village will also be home to Hale House, where residents can expect to indulge in a state-of-the-art fitness center designed in partnership with Technogym, a thermal spa with hot pools and cold plunge, infrared sauna, steam room, red-light therapy, and numerous treatment rooms. 'Designing for Wyelea begins with listening to the land,' said Scott Torode, lead architect and principal at Pfeffer Torode. 'At The Commons, that meant creating buildings that felt quiet and natural, with a rhythm that responds to how people actually want to live — spaces for wellness and gathering that feel warm, not overly programmed.' Homes are now in design review, with the first permit submissions projected for late summer. For more information or updates on the Wyelea development, visit This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wyelea community in Franklin finishes phase 1 of construction Solve the daily Crossword
