What is a travel advisor?

A travel advisor is a professional who helps individuals and groups plan and book their travel arrangements. They work with clients to understand their needs, preferences, timelines, and budgets in order to create customized travel itineraries. Travel advisors are knowledgeable about travel destinations, transportation, accommodations, activities, and attractions. They use their expertise and network to make recommendations and provide advice to help clients make informed decisions about their trip. Travel advisors often have access to exclusive travel deals and perks that are not available to the general public. They are a valuable resource for anyone looking to plan a vacation, honeymoon, group trip, or any other type of travel.

Why should I use a travel advisor?

Looking to have a high quality and stress-free travel experience? Look no further than using a luxury travel advisor. We specialize in crafting personalized travel plans that cater to your individual interests, preferences, and budget. We understand that your time is precious, and we prioritize making the most out of your travel experience. We have first-hand knowledge of the most unique and exclusive destinations, accommodations, and activities worldwide. We know what is worth your time and money and can make recommendations that will elevate your trip to the next level, as well as which splurges are worth your investment. We take the time to get to know you and your travel goals to create a tailor-made itinerary just for you. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or an adventure of a lifetime, we will ensure every detail is taken care of. We have a wealth of industry connections worldwide that can help us provide you with top-notch treatment. We can arrange for private tours, exclusive access to experiences and attractions, and top-tier accommodations that may not be available to the general public.

How much does using a travel advisor cost?

If you are just looking to book a hotel and have us add on VIP treatment and perks, nothing! If you are looking for a customized itinerary, we do charge fees to cover the time spent crafting a perfect trip for you. You can read more details about the fees on our Services page. You can also work with the hotel concierge at no additional cost.

How are you able to book hotels for me without charging a fee?

Hotels and other travel suppliers pay advisors a commission on anything they book, at no additional cost to the traveler. This creates a win-win-win situation for the advisor, the traveler, and the hotel/supplier. Everyone is happy!

Does booking hotels through you cost more?

No, the price is the same. Hotels are required to honor price parity, meaning the rate you pay when booking with us is the same as the price you pay when booking their Best Available Rate (BAR) on their website. The perks we can add on this rate, such as free breakfast daily and resort credits, add additional financial value and some of our other perks, such as first priority for upgrades and free early check-in and late checkout, enhance your experience.

Why do hotels offer your clients perks?

Third Party Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), such as Expedia, charge hotels a large commission, up to 30% of the hotel rate! As a results, hotels LOVE direct bookings, as they earn more revenue for the same booking. When they have a direct booking that comes from a travel advisor, they are happy to offer perks to the client because it still costs them less than a booking from an OTA. Hotels love travel advisor bookings in particular, because the clients are usually happier since their travel advisor picked the perfect property for them.

But what about my points?

With some exceptions, we book your reservations directly with the hotel! So you will still earn your points. During the proposal stage, we will discuss which hotel options earn points and we will ask for your loyalty numbers during the booking process.

Why should I book with you instead of sites like Expedia, American Express Travel, or Costco where I can book myself?

Hotels give little priority to third party bookings. Since the hotel is making less revenue from those bookings, third party bookings will get the worst rooms assigned - the rooms overlooking the parking lot, the rooms next to ice machine, etc. Direct bookings are where the magic lies. Hotels will give you the best rooms within your room category when you book direct and, when you book via their preferred partner travel advisors, they will put you first in line for upgrade, early check-in, and late checkout. Even better, they will also give you free perks like resort credits and free breakfast, as a reward for booking directly with a preferred partner travel advisor! While you can book online yourself, using a preferred partner travel advisor drives up the value of your trip through our knowledge of properties, connections, personalized planning, and participation in the travel industry’s leading luxury network and numerous hotel brand preferred partner programs.

Why do you only work with 4 and 5 star properties?

We work with pre-vetted partners that meet and exceed our quality control standards to ensure our travelers have a consistently fantastic experience while traveling. While there are exceptions, it is generally four and five star properties that have the necessary budget available to invest in housekeeping, maintenance, staff training, great chefs, and other elements that typically factor into a great hotel experience.

I’ve already booked my hotels! Can you still help?

Send over the confirmations and I will see what I can do! Some hotels will allow me to add the perks to your bookings retroactively and others may allow us to cancel and rebook.

Why is travel so expensive right now?

2023 has created a perfect storm of circumstances to drive travel prices much higher than previous years. In addition to inflation, rising labor costs, and high costs of fuel, travel demand has increased significantly in 2023 as travelers take their postponed trips from 2020 - 2022. Data from Virtuoso, the travel industry’s leading luxury network, has shown that 2023 bookings are 91% higher than they were in 2019 and 62% higher than 2022. Preferred hotels are showing even higher demand, with bookings 193 percent higher than in 2019 and 77 percent over 2022. Hotel average daily rates (ADRs) are at record-high levels as summer 2023 rates average nearly $1,700 per night, 16 percent higher than in 2022, and 69 percent more than in 2019. This trend is most prevalent in Western Europe in the summer, especially in Italy. Want to travel without record-setting hotel prices? Ask us about destinations that fly under the radar of the typical travelers. Traveling outside of the summer and holiday breaks will also keep your travel costs down.