About ExperienceFirst

About ExperienceFirst

Travel that stays with you

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Who we are

At ExperienceFirst, we create unique opportunities for travelers who want to be closer to the places they visit and the people who know them best. We focus on thoughtfully curated private experiences that trade crowds and checklists for insight, access, and genuine connection.

Our approach is simple. We work with exceptional local experts to craft experiences you won’t find on your own, whether that’s a hands-on cooking class, a behind-the-scenes cultural encounter, or a guided tour that reveals what tourists often miss. Our team is deeply involved at every step, offering high-touch customer service and curated itineraries so your visit is effortless and unforgettable.

Our history

ExperienceFirst was founded in 2009 by Andrew Luan, a former Wall Street executive who wanted to show New York visitors another side of Wall Street. The real Wall Street, with its billion-dollar deals and boardroom dramas. He didn’t want people to just see New York — he wanted them to experience it.

That first guided tour quickly gained national attention with praise from outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Geographic. Since this, we expanded to other countries like France and Spain, and we’ve focused our collection on private experiences as a way to offer richer, more meaningful encounters and cultural immersion.

Today, we continue to invite curious travelers to discover new destinations with a local to share its secrets and spirit.

Come explore with us.

Group photo of guests together at the end of a Barcelona cooking class
A sailing boat on the water at sunset off the coast of BarcelonaGuests in Fundació Mescladis aprons laughing as they whisk eggs and cream at a stove during a Barcelona cooking classGuests inside Casa Batlló, looking at Gaudí's curved interior architectureFour guests sitting round a wooden table under a shaded vine terrace, drinking wine with hills behind themGuests raising their drinks in a toast at a Broadway dinner in New York