Inspired by a Better Way to Travel
BFT Tours was created from a simple idea: family travel should feel extraordinary for everyone. It should be inspiring, seamless, enriching, and genuinely enjoyable for both parents and children. Too often, families feel forced to choose between experiences they love and ones that work for their kids. We believed there was a better way.
We saw families trying to create this on their own by bringing trusted caregivers so parents could relax, enjoy meaningful adult time, and know their children were in good hands. It made us ask: why doesn’t a better version of this already exist? BFT Tours is our answer.
We design journeys where children are not simply entertained, but thoughtfully engaged in experiences that help them learn, create, discover, and grow. This is not a typical kids’ club. It is meaningful programming, led with care, where parents can feel confident their children are happy, safe, and thriving.
At the same time, we create space for parents to truly enjoy their vacation. Time to connect, share experiences with new friends, enjoy beautiful settings, and experience the kind of ease that can feel out of reach when traveling with children.
We believe family experiences themselves can be better. Sightseeing should be immersive for all ages. Cultural experiences should spark curiosity. Activities should feel exciting, memorable, and shared. Every itinerary balances movement and rest, discovery and leisure, adventure and comfort.
That is why every BFT journey includes a rich mix of experiences: active adventures, time to unwind, exceptional food, hands-on cooking, local culture, shopping, and opportunities to learn together in unforgettable places.
Most importantly, BFT Tours allows families to spend less time managing logistics and more time doing what travel is meant for: exploring, relaxing, connecting, and making memories together, with every detail, including their children’s care and experience, thoughtfully handled from start to finish.
BFT Tours was founded by Maria Conkey and Rob James, lifelong musicians, passionate travellers, and natural planners who believed family vacations could be far more joyful, seamless, and meaningful than what already existed.
BFT Tours began in the most personal way possible. Maria and Rob wanted to help create unforgettable trips for the people they love, especially making sure their closest friends and their children had the very best experience. What started as a thoughtful solution to a real-life problem became a bigger idea: reimagining family travel so everyone gets to enjoy the journey.
Our Founders
Maria Conkey
Co-FounderMaria Conkey is a classical musician and arts leader who has spent years taking choirs and ensembles on tour around the world. From building itineraries and coordinating performances to managing the countless moving pieces that come with group travel, she developed a sharp eye for what makes a trip truly work and what gets in the way. Along the way, she often found herself thinking, there has to be a better way to do this. At BFT Tours, Maria brings that same creativity, precision, and people-first approach to designing experiences families will never forget.
Rob James
Co-FounderRob James, known to many as one half of the Canadian pop duo McMaster & James, has spent his career performing for audiences around the world. Years of touring gave him a deep appreciation for the magic of travel: the places, the people, the energy of discovering somewhere new, and the moments that stay with you long after you return home.
Rob brings warmth, personality, and a gift for creating memorable experiences that feel both effortless and special.
Your Better Family Trip Starts Here
Your next great family escape starts with a few simple details.