common questions

Whether you have worked with a travel advisor before, or if it’s your first time, I want you to be comfortable to ask any questions. Understand how I work, how I can help you, and why you’ll hopefully enjoy your travels more when you work with me.

How are you compensated for your services?

This is a common question that I never want clients to have any mystery around. I am compensated for my time and expertise in two main ways: travel fees (outlined here) and in commissions from partners. In most cases, you don’t pay more for these services and I always look for opportunities to add to the value you receive in the form of hotel credits, free transfers, complimentary meals, and more. If you ever have questions on this, please don’t hesitate to ask. I aim for full transparency and want you to feel confident I am always making the best recommendations for you.

What budgets do you work with?

I don’t have any set minimums for my Express Booking service, but do ask that Custom Trip requests do have a mininum noted. This is a rough threshold where I’ve found I can really make the most of elevating your travels with unique experiences and distinctive stays. My focus is squarely on 4-5 star travel. This is where I have chosen to invest time on partnerships and knowledge with properties or vendors. As a result, I can properly pair you with the right hotels and tours, while also providing increased impact to change a situation if something isn’t up to par during your travels. I am also here to be great stewards of your budget, so I ask that you are transparent on your goals here. If I don’t feel I can deliver on a certain level of experience, I will be honest about that.

Do you book flights too?

I only book international business or first class flights when I feel I can get you better pricing than you have access to. For all other flights, I’m happy to advise on flights questions you may have (connection times, airports to fly in/out of, etc) on a complimentary basis when you are doing a custom trip plan.

Can I earn points and miles at hotel and airline brands when I book with you?

In most cases - yes! You will receive a Client Profile where I will ask for any relevant rewards information so it can be included in bookings. There are certain instances when I have access to 3rd party pricing where you will not be able to earn points or miles. I’ll be sure to let you know this, but often times when this is the case, the savings may be worth forgoing the status perks.

Where do you plan travel to?

I have the relationships and knowledge to plan a trip anywhere in the world. My services encompass everything from hotel bookings to reserving a private cooking experience in a remote village in Greece. That said, if you come to me with a request that for some reason I feel I can’t do justice to, I have a deep network of colleagues to refer you to. Some of my favorite places to plan custom travel to are Hawaii, London, Italy, France, Greece, and Costa Rica. But, whatever trip I’m currently planning tends to be my favorite!

Do you plan Honeymoon trips?

Absolutely! I love the privilege of being a part of such a milestone trip. I also know you’re going to have a lot on your plate leading up to your big day. I thoughtfully work with my honeymoon clients to reduce any trip-related stress so you can focus on your wedding day and then jet off to a fabulous adventure. And don’t worry - you can bet I’m letting every partner I work with know this is a BIG occasion for you! I typically recommend we start talking about 9-12 months before your travel date, but I can certainly make magic happen in less time too.

How far in advance do I have to contact you?

That can vary a lot by the destination, what you’re looking to do, and what my current client commitments are. For full service planning trips, I ask for a minimum of 3 months to curate your itinerary and execute the bookings. Expedited fees may be charged when there is less time than this. For most trips, drop me a line about 9-12 months out from your goal trip date so we can stay ahead of peak travel times, set realistic budget goals, and I can begin to arm you with helpful information from the start. That said, I know life isn’t always as well-planned as we’d like it to be. So if you’re looking at a more narrow window of time, don’t hesitate to reach out. If I believe I can execute your trip, and do it without sacrificing the experience of my other clients, I will happily dive in.

What is all this talk about VIP Perks?

I get this can sound like a bit of an empty buzzword, but there’s real substance behind this. Because of the travel relationships my host agency Departure Lounge has, and its affiliation with the highly regarded Virtuoso travel consortia, many travel brands offer special benefits to clients that utilize our services. This can range across properties, but often involves a combination of complimentary daily breakfast for 2, $100+ in hotel property credits (use for dining, spa, and more), room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out requests, etc. And similar to how airlines prioritize upgrades - hotels do as well. So you truly are at the top of the list for VIP treatment just for booking through me.

Have you traveled to all of the places you recommend or plan trips to?

I am working on it! While I have traveled extensively and am constantly planning my next adventure, the reality is that I haven’t been everywhere. Even if I had, destinations and properties change over time. When I don’t have firsthand knowledge, I have a team of over 100+ colleagues and a global network of industry leading partners that I turn to. This ensures you’re getting expert insight and information that affords far more certainty than your own internet searching. That said, I am thoughtfully picking destinations to travel to that I believe my clients will love and absorbing as much as I can so I can share first hand experiences when possible.

How can I get started?

We hoped you’d ask that! Reach out to us when you’re ready to talk travel - can’t wait to get your next adventure on the books.