Plan with us
How this actually goes
No mystery about the process, and no surprise about the money. Here is every step between your first message and the moment you land, and what each one costs.
Step by step
The planning process
Six steps from first message to the trip itself. You will know what happens next at every point.
01
Inquiry
Tell us where you are headed, who is traveling, and what matters most to you. The form takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
02
Consultation
A 30 minute conversation to get specific about your priorities, your pace, and a realistic budget. Nothing is designed yet, and nothing is owed yet.
03
Proposal
Your planning fee opens the research phase. A designed itinerary follows, usually within 7 to 14 business days.
04
Invoicing
A clear breakdown of costs, deposits, and payment dates. Nothing is confirmed until you have seen all of it.
05
Travel
You go. We stay reachable for the length of the trip, not just until the deposit clears.
06
Post review
We ask what worked and what did not, because the next journey should be better than the last one.
Planning fees
You are paying for the thinking, not the booking
Anyone can book a room. What takes time is working out which room, in which neighborhood, on which night, and what to do with the day either side of it. That research happens before a single booking is made.
So there is a planning fee, quoted after your consultation once the scope is clear. It is what keeps our recommendations honest: we are paid for advice rather than steered by whichever supplier pays the most commission.
Planning fees are set per trip rather than from a price list, because the work varies enormously: a week in one city is not the same job as a multi-country itinerary with internal flights and a wedding in the middle. We quote yours at the consultation, once we both understand the scope.
The fee
What it covers
Covered by the planning fee
- The consultation and everything that follows from it
- Destination and route research specific to you
- Property comparison, and the reasoning behind what we recommend
- A designed day by day itinerary
- Booking and confirming every element
- Revisions to the proposal within reason
- Documentation you can use offline while traveling
- Support for the length of the trip
Not covered
- The cost of the travel itself, which is quoted separately
- Changes you make after everything is booked and confirmed
- Travel insurance, which you hold directly
- Anything a supplier charges directly, such as resort fees or levies
Questions
Frequently asked
Why is there a planning fee at all?
Because the work happens before anything is booked. Comparing properties honestly, checking which neighborhood is worth the extra night, and building a route that holds together takes real hours, and those hours happen whether or not you go on to book. A fee means our advice is not steered by which supplier pays the most commission.
Is the fee refundable?
No. The travel planning fee is non-refundable and is not applied toward the cost of your trip.
It covers the time, expertise, research, itinerary design and planning work we do for you. Because that work begins as soon as planning starts, the fee stays non-refundable whether or not you go on to book the trip.
What does a trip usually cost?
It depends entirely on where you are going, when, and how you like to travel, which is why the consultation exists. Bring a range you are comfortable with and we will tell you honestly what it buys in that destination, and what it does not. If the two do not meet, we would rather say so early than design something you were never going to book.
How far ahead should I start?
The earlier you start, the more choice you have on accommodation, flights, experiences and price. We can often help with last-minute travel, but the room to build something good comes from notice.
Custom vacations: three to six months before departure. For international travel, popular destinations, or peak season, six to twelve months is better.
Group travel: six to twelve months for family reunions, milestone celebrations and affinity groups. That gives everyone time to budget, make payments, and secure the accommodation while it is still available.
Destination weddings: twelve to eighteen months. Venue selection, guest invitations, room blocks, travel arrangements and coordination with the resort all take longer than people expect.
If your dates are closer than that, contact us anyway and we will tell you what is possible on current availability.
Do you book flights?
Yes. We book international flights as part of your travel planning.
When flights form part of a vacation package or a custom itinerary we are planning, they are included in the planning service. Airfare and availability move constantly, so we work to find options that fit your itinerary, your schedule and your budget rather than simply the cheapest fare on the day.
If you only need airline tickets and are not booking a package or custom itinerary with us, we offer flight-only booking. A $50 booking fee per ticket applies, covering the research, booking and management of the reservation. Any fee is discussed with you before anything is reserved.
What if I only need part of this?
Tell us at the consultation. Some travelers want the whole trip designed, others want help with one leg or one decision. The scope is agreed before the fee is quoted.
Your dream, our canvas
Let’s design your journey
Tell us where you are headed and who is coming with you. We will take it from there.