Inside Cordes Travel, The Dutch Duo Creating World-Class Fishing Adventures Across Continents

If connecting is the goal of travel, then Cordes Travel is a shining example of how enthusiasm, preparation, and customer-focused service can all combine to produce a very successful experience. This boutique travel agency, which is run by Dutch entrepreneurs Linda and Raphael “Raffie” Cordes, has created a highly effective ecosystem for adventurers and anglers throughout Europe in addition to selling sportfishing vacations.

Starting out as a small business in Norway in 2003, it has grown into a reputable worldwide brand that serves more than 3,800 tourists annually. With over 250 vacation homes spread across Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Panama, Costa Rica, Ireland, and the Florida Keys, the Cordes team has built an extraordinarily flexible network that is firmly based on their personal experiences as guides and anglers.

Cordes Travel – Founders, Focus & Reach

First-Hand Knowledge Converted into Outstanding Visitor Experiences

The founders’ active involvement is what sets Cordes Travel apart as a particularly innovative company. In addition to being booking agents, Linda and Raffie are lifelong fishermen who have visited every place they suggest, are knowledgeable about the subtleties of foreign waters, and fish professionally for well-known brands.

Their guests can rely on incredibly dependable setups, from boat specifications to bait tips, thanks to their personal inspections of every vacation home, meetings with local guides, and mapping out fishing zones. Every visitor is given a thorough 40+ page fishing guide that includes advice on gear, tactics, and location-specific information based on Linda and Raffie’s firsthand experience.

Personal Travel Assistance That Isn’t Preprogrammed

Being accessible and responsive can greatly lessen stress when traveling, particularly when complicated logistics are involved. With round-the-clock assistance throughout your vacation and direct access to the individuals who assisted with its planning, Cordes Travel provides something surprisingly uncommon in today’s market.

Guests can anticipate a prompt, knowledgeable response—often from Linda or Raffie themselves—whether they require help modifying ferry schedules, getting in touch with local hosts, or analyzing the effects of weather on fishing conditions. Guest feedback makes this sense of continuity—from booking to post-trip follow-up—very evident, and it is a major factor in the agency’s high rate of repeat business.

A Tour Operator That Offers Services Beyond Fishing

Cordes Travel’s core business is still sportfishing, but they also offer family-friendly retreats and secluded getaways that are ideal for non-anglers. The company offers beachfront homes in Costa Rica and comfortable cottages in Lofoten to suit a variety of travel preferences without sacrificing quality or service.

Trip planning is made easy and frequently significantly less expensive thanks to their alliances with airlines, ferry companies, and major car rental companies like Sixt and Avis. Cordes Travel’s logistical model is incredibly effective and comfortingly comprehensive, regardless of whether you’re fishing for cod or simply yearn for a beach vacation.

A Community Culture—Not Just a List of Clients

The feeling of community that Cordes Travel creates for its visitors is among its most remarkable features. They have developed a global fishing community that comes back year after year through yearly “Cordes Travel Days,” one-on-one consultations, and private coaching sessions.

Visitors not only take pictures but also gain knowledge, make friends, and gain a better understanding of the places they have been. By combining in-person knowledge, instructional materials, and customized correspondence, Cordes Travel functions more like a club than a business, which is precisely how their devoted clientele likes it.

Steering toward innovation with a foundation of trust

With even more carefully chosen residences, improved language accessibility on its website, and group excursions facilitated by Linda and Raffie themselves, Cordes Travel intends to grow its reach in the upcoming years. Although their online presence may not yet be as sophisticated as that of major travel engines, automated platforms are greatly outperformed by their level of care, genuineness, and lived experience.

More than just a reservation, Cordes Travel is a link to life-changing experiences if you’ve ever dreamed of a fishing vacation that’s equal parts adventure and accuracy, guided by people who truly fish, live, and breathe the sport.