Frequently Asked Questions

  • Planning personalized travel can quickly become a full-time job—sorting through destinations, hotels, flights, transfers, activities, tours, and fine print.

    When you work with us, you get:

    • A cohesive, thoughtfully paced itinerary, not a collection of separate bookings

    • Vetted hotels, guides, and experiences through our trusted network

    • Routing and timing that make sense, so you’re not wasting days in transit or feeling rushed

    • One point of contact who sees the whole picture and handles the details

    Online booking gives you options. We give you a plan that fits your people, priorities, and pace.

    What this means for you: your time and money go into a trip that’s personalized to you and logistically seamless.

  • We bring firsthand destination knowledge, vetted partners, and thoughtful planning you won’t get from piecing things together online. That means smarter routing, fewer details falling through the cracks, and a trip that fits your people, preferences, and pace. And if something shifts while you’re traveling, you’re not stuck troubleshooting alone—we’re here to support you.

  • We don’t use templates. We put real time and energy into understanding your hopes for the trip, why you want to go, and what will make it feel worthwhile. Then we build the itinerary around your interests, goals, preferred pace, priorities, and preferences—from where you stay to how full each day feels.

    The small details are the work. We’re thoughtful about timing, transitions, room types, things to do and explore, and experiences that feel like you—and we’re willing to go the extra mile to get those pieces right.

    What this means for you: we work through proposal revisions with you until the trip feels exactly the way you want it—intentionally designed around you and the people you’re traveling with.

  • Many advisors can book hotels and tours. Where we’re different is how we think about the trip as a whole. We start with timing, routing, energy levels, and goals, then layer in hotels, experiences, and details so the itinerary actually flows.

    We’re meticulous about logistics: flight times that make sense, transfers where needed, days that balance activity and rest, and experiences that feel meaningful. Behind the scenes, we coordinate with trusted on-the-ground partners so everything works once you arrive.

    What this means for you: your trip runs smoothly behind the scenes, and you’re free to enjoy it instead of managing it.

  • We’re a strong fit for couples, families, and small groups who:

    • Value comfort, good planning, and meaningful experiences

    • Prefer a thoughtful itinerary over “cramming it all in”

    • Want an expert to handle the details so they can simply enjoy

  • For most international trips and peak travel periods, reaching out 6–12 months in advance is ideal. For simpler or off-peak trips, we can work with a shorter window. We understand that sometimes it’s closer to travel—that’s okay too, though trips within six weeks may incur a “last minute” planning fee.

    If you’re even thinking about a trip, it’s worth a conversation so we can guide you on timing and availability.

    What this means for you: the earlier we talk, the more choice and flexibility you’ll have for dates, flights, and preferred stays.

  • Our trip research and planning fees start at $750 per trip and vary based on:

    • Length of the trip

    • Number of destinations

    • Complexity of the itinerary

    This investment covers your consultation, research, planning, and quote preparation. Most clients find the clarity, pacing, and logistics we provide are well worth the fee.

    For a detailed breakdown of our services and pricing, you can refer to our How We Work Guide.

  • Our planning fee allows us to dedicate the time and attention required to build a trip that’s tailored, well-paced, and logistically sound. Our fees are based on the complexity of your trip—including the number of destinations/flight legs, number of travelers and rooms, trip length, and departure logistics. After we review your trip details, we’ll confirm your planning fee clearly before research begins.

  • We’re paid through our trip research and planning fees and through commissions from our travel partners. Commissions are paid on the supplier side and do not increase the cost of your trip.

    Because we work closely with trusted hotels, suppliers, and guides, we can often secure strong value and thoughtful touches within a well-planned itinerary—so your investment goes further in comfort and experience.

    What this means for you: you gain expert planning, support, and access to our network without paying extra just to use an advisor.

  • Sometimes we do have access to preferred or negotiated pricing and added value through our partner network—but the bigger win is usually the overall experience: the right hotel for your goals, better-fit room categories, smart timing and routing, and strong support before and during the trip. We focus on best overall value for your specific trip, not just the lowest number on a screen.

  • In most cases, no.

    We work with trusted destination partners who hold contracted rates with hotels, drivers, guides, and experience providers. Because these rates are packaged, we’re usually not able to provide fully itemized, line-by-line pricing for every component of the trip.

    Instead, we present clear package pricing for your itinerary. We outline the overall trip investment and walk you through what is included—such as accommodations, transfers, guided touring, and activities—so you understand exactly what you’re saying yes to.

    What this means for you: you see a clear, all-in trip investment with a transparent list of inclusions.

  • We plan trips as a complete experience—not a set of disconnected bookings. Many of our in-destination partners work with contracted and packaged pricing for hotels, drivers, guides, and on-the-ground support, which often can’t be broken into fully itemized line-by-line costs. We will always provide a clear total trip investment and a detailed outline of what’s included—so you understand exactly what you’re getting.

  • Additional fees may apply for à la carte services or support outside our standard planning scope—for example, complex changes, certain standalone bookings, or special arrangements. Any additional fees are always communicated upfront.

    You can review full details in our How We Work Guide, including:

    • Service levels

    • À la carte options

    • Fees

    • Cancellation policies

    What this means for you: you’ll always know when there is an extra investment and exactly what it covers.

  • In many cases, yes.

    When we handle your flights, there is an additional ticketing fee of $100 per person for domestic flights and $150 per person for international flights. This covers our time to research options, select sensible schedules, and manage the booking on your behalf.

    If you prefer to research and book your own flights, we’re still happy to consult and offer guidance on routes, timing, and airlines so everything works with the rest of your itinerary.

    We’re not able to book flights using points or miles, as airlines and credit card companies require working directly with the cardholder. If you choose to use points or miles, you’ll book those flights yourself and we’ll plan the rest of the trip around them.

    What this means for you: whether we book your flights or you do, you still get clear advice on what works best so your flights, transfers, and daily plans line up.

  • We’re not able to book flights, hotel stays, or experiences using points or miles. Airlines, hotels, and credit card companies require those redemptions to be handled directly by the cardholder.

    If you’d like to use points or miles for a specific hotel, you’ll book that stay yourself. In many cases, we can still build your itinerary around that hotel, as long as the majority of the trip—additional hotels, touring, and experiences—is booked through us.

    We’re happy to review your proposed flights or hotel stays before you book to be sure they fit with the route, timing, and overall plan.

    What this means for you: you keep full control of your points and miles, and you still get clear guidance and a cohesive itinerary built around them when it makes sense.

  • We don’t book individually managed homes (including many VRBO/Airbnb listings), because we can’t consistently verify quality, service standards, or reliable support if something goes sideways. If you’d like a home-style setup (extra space, living room, kitchen), we can recommend vetted, professionally managed villas or residence-style hotels through our trusted partners.

  • Absolutely.

    If you enjoy the planning process, we’re happy to collaborate. You can bring ideas, articles, and shortlists; we’ll help you:

    • Ground everything in realistic routing and timing

    • Identify what’s truly worth your time and investment

    • Handle logistics, bookings, and confirmations

    You keep the fun of dreaming and discovery. We make sure the plan is realistic and well executed.

    What this means for you: you don’t have to give up control or curiosity—you just don’t have to carry the whole project on your own.Item description

  • Yes.

    We strongly recommend considering travel insurance to help protect your investment from cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events. We can share information and refer you to trusted providers so you can choose a policy that fits your needs.

    What this means for you: if something unexpected comes up, you’re not navigating it alone or unprotected.