Brown + Hudson vs Black Tomato: which is better for a one-off bespoke trip?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
Brown + Hudson is a firm of travel advisors that charges a non-refundable retainer of at least £1,500 for a bespoke trip. Black Tomato designs fully personalised luxury itineraries and publishes from-prices, such as £7,800 per person, based on 2 people sharing and excluding flights, for its 9-night Alhambra and Mezquita trip in Spain.
Brown + Hudson vs Black Tomato: which is better for a one-off bespoke trip?
Brown + Hudson suits travellers happy to pay a retainer of at least £1,500 for a one-off trip designed from scratch, or an annual retainer from £9,700 plus VAT; Black Tomato suits travellers who want a privately guided tailor-made trip with a published from-price, ATOL cover on flight-inclusive trips and a scheme protecting non-flight packages.
What does each company sell?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: A firm of travel advisors that designs immersive travel experiences. Source
- Black Tomato: Designs fully personalised luxury itineraries rather than templates or off-the-shelf tours. Source
How do they handle a one-off bespoke trip?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: For a bespoke trip, it first checks the destination and dates are feasible, then charges a minimum non-refundable retainer fee of £1,500 under a retainer agreement. Source
- Black Tomato: Arranges trips of any length, though it finds trips of at least 4 to 5 nights give the value and creativity it aims for. Source
Who leads or plans the trips?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: Makes all reasonable checks that the guides and instructors it uses hold the right qualifications. Source
- Black Tomato: All its trips are privately guided; travellers never join a scheduled group trip. Source
What do they cost?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: Its annual retainers start at £9,700 plus VAT a year; beyond the retainer, clients pay the price of each trip. Source
- Black Tomato: Its private Alhambra and Mezquita trip in Spain runs from £7,800 per person, based on 2 people sharing and excluding flights, with 9 nights as the ideal length. Source
What is included?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: Trips are priced as complete packages that include partners' confidential contract rates, so costs are not itemised; a final balance invoice covers any extras or options outside the arrangement. Source
- Black Tomato: On its Japan art and history trip, the price includes all accommodation, experiences, guiding and transfers. Source
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: An initial payment of usually 30% of the full price is due at booking and the rest three months before the trip starts. All payments are non-refundable if the guest cancels, the guest is liable for any further costs it incurs and a change can bring a £100 administration charge per person plus costs. If a surcharge takes the price up by more than 10%, the guest can withdraw for a refund less a £500 administrative charge, excluding the retainer fee. Source
- Black Tomato: A deposit is needed to book; its amount depends on the trip, is confirmed before booking and rises to include flights that must be prepaid. Cancelling more than 12 weeks before departure is likely to cost the deposit, though it could be more; after the balance due date the charge is usually more than the deposit, rising towards departure up to 100% of the price. Source
How is my money protected?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Brown + Hudson: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
- Black Tomato: It is an ABTA member (Y6071) and sells its flight-inclusive trips under ATOL 10531 as agent of Hays. Its non-flight packages are covered by a scheme that protects the traveller's money if the supplier fails, under which ABTA will refund advance payments and help travellers not get stranded abroad; other services, such as hotels booked on their own, may not be protected. Source
What do reviewers say?
Each platform's figure for each company, never added together.
- Brown + Hudson: Google: 3.0 out of 5 from 4 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 from 1 review, newest 2 January 2024. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Black Tomato: Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 101 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
Brown + Hudson vs Black Tomato: the questions people ask
How much does Brown + Hudson charge to plan a trip?
For a bespoke trip, a minimum non-refundable retainer fee of £1,500, charged once it agrees the trip is feasible.
Does Brown + Hudson have a membership?
Yes. Its annual retainers start at £9,700 plus VAT a year; beyond the retainer, clients pay the price of each trip.
How much does a Black Tomato trip cost?
Its private Alhambra and Mezquita trip in Spain runs from £7,800 per person, based on 2 people sharing and excluding flights, with 9 nights as the ideal length. Brown + Hudson does not price a comparable trip, so the two are not like for like.
What is the shortest Black Tomato trip?
It arranges trips of any length, though it finds trips of at least 4 to 5 nights give the value and creativity it aims for.
Are Black Tomato trips private?
Yes. All its trips are privately guided and travellers never join a scheduled group trip.
Can I get a refund if I cancel with Brown + Hudson?
All payments are non-refundable if the guest cancels, including the initial payment of usually 30% of the full price; the rest is due three months before the trip starts.
What does it cost to cancel with Black Tomato?
More than 12 weeks before departure, likely the deposit, though it could be more; after the balance due date usually more than the deposit, up to 100% of the price.
Is my money protected with Black Tomato?
Its flight-inclusive trips are sold under ATOL 10531 as agent of Hays. Its non-flight packages are covered by a scheme that protects your money if the supplier fails, with ABTA refunding advance payments; other services, such as hotels booked on their own, may not be protected.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 3 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.