I'm Matt Appleton, founder of Appleton Travel. I plan trips where the details decide whether the experience is great or just okay.

Where the experience comes from

I've ridden the climbs most cyclists only watch on TV: Col de la Loze, Galibier, Mont Ventoux, the Tourmalet and Hautacam. I've followed the Tour de France on my own and with a group, moving from stage to stage, finding roadside spots and figuring out where to sleep when every hotel near the finish is sold out.

I've also run marathons and triathlons, so I know what a race weekend needs. You need a hotel close to the start, a plan for packet pickup and a way to get your bike there in one piece. You also need a dinner reservation that won't wreck your race.

Outside of sport, I've traveled across France and Europe on my own and gone as far as Cambodia by way of Vietnam. Every one of those trips taught me something I now use for clients.

What I do

Sports travel. Cycling trips, Tour de France and cycling travel, marathons, triathlons, Ironman, HYROX and race weekends. I plan the logistics so you can focus on the event.

Custom trip planning. Multi-city routes, tricky airfare, river cruises, family trips and anything with more moving parts than a booking site can handle.

Group travel. Hotel blocks, transportation and coordination for teams, clubs and event groups.

Why work with me

Booking sites show you options. I tell you which one I'd pick and why, because I've stood on that roadside, stayed in those neighborhoods and dealt with the problems that never show up in a listing.

Through my Fora partnership, my clients get access to preferred hotel perks like upgrades when available, breakfast and property credits. You can stack those with your credit card benefits. Through the Client Portal, you can browse hotels on your own and bring me in whenever you're ready.

I'm based in Pittsburgh and plan trips for clients everywhere.

Have a trip in mind? Let's build it the right way.