Our Story
Interess Tours came about as an idea to share the passion of cultural and immersive travel and discovery in lesser known places with other like-minded travelers. Interess Tours are designed for those who might not have a travel partner, those who want to explore and get off the beaten track, those who have been to a country but only to the "top destinations" and want a more in-depth travel experience, those who don't want to hassle with the details of planning and for those who have a passion, hobby or interest and want to explore it in a foreign country.
Our travel philosophy is to experience local culture and take it a step further by exploring beneath the surface. We connect you with locals and their culture and facilitate interactions, help you decode the culture and answer questions in real time. Explore lesser known destinations for a more authentic experience, discover new interests and find inspiration!
Patty Brownlee, Owner & Operator
Patty is an avid traveller with degrees in art and intercultural relations. She has been working with international visitors coming to Boston, MA (USA) for over 30 years, organizing homestay and intercultural experiences. She spends time in Turkey and Europe every year and lived in Austria.
Tanja Westfall-Greiter, Cultural Insider
Tanja, an American, has lived in Austria over 30 years, where she works in the field of education and, since 2017, as a market gardener. She has travelled throughout Europe, as well as in Turkey, Chile and Indonesia. Tanja not only speaks German, she also understands Austrian dialects and cultural cues.
We Go Back a Long Way
In 1993, we met in Innsbruck, Austria at the Austro-American Society. The rest is history with a long list of professional and private collaborations!
​​In 1994, we both had traveled extensively around Europe and wanted to step outside of our comfort zone. We hopped on a plane, without a guide book, much information or knowledge of the language, and traveled to Turkey.
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Looking back, it was transformative in many ways (and where we both discovered the love of "slow travel").
Our first travel and cultural collaboration was developing and facilitating an academic tour program in Boston and New York designed and organized for university students in Innsbruck. ​​​​
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Since then, our travel adventures together have taken us throughout Austria, to different regions of Italy, to Prague, the Istrian coast of Slovenia and several times to the Aegean coast of Turkey. We are also fans of European thermal spas.
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What we share is a passion for travel and learning. We are both avid gardeners, foodies and makers! Our interests include gardening, food and wine, cooking and baking, art and handicrafts, writing and history. We create tours we love ourselves!
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We look forward to welcoming you to an insider's view into Austrian culture!
Exploring Bologna, Italy
