Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can travel agents save me money?
A: Sometimes travel agents can save you money, but that’s not the point of working with us. We bring so much more to the table! What we bring is invaluable - our experience, our expertise, our relationships with suppliers, our connections with destination partners, our ability to get you VIP’d, and our customer service. As with all things in life, you get what you pay for. The cheapest option is not always the best option. Our job is to make sure you get the best bang for your buck. Travel is a huge investment - flights are expensive no matter how you slice it. Why pay all that money for a subpar vacation? We help you make the best travel decisions while managing expectations. At the end of the day, we want you to have an amazing trip.
Q: Do travel agents have access to special deals?
A: Sometimes we receive promotions from our suppliers, which we pass along to our clients. However, in most cases, travel agents do not have access to special rates. We book published rates that are set by airlines, hotels, resorts, and cruise lines. If we know what destinations and properties are on your interest list, we can keep an eye out for you!
Q: Can I save money with an Online Travel Agency (OTAs)?
A: OTAs used to offer off-peak inventory, empty seats on planes, and empty hotel rooms at a discount to the consumer. Vendors would offload their excess inventory on OTA sites for a premium commission to the OTA. This business model worked very well for a while but, unfortunately, things have changed. There was a huge rise in the number of OTAs and customers stopped booking directly with vendors. Vendors caught onto this trend - their contracts with OTAs no longer offer discounted pricing. The prices offered by OTAs are now on par with direct pricing on the brand website.
Q: Can I use my points when I book through a travel agent?
A: Unfortunately, you must book directly with the airline/hotel/resort in order to utilize points or rewards. You can accumulate points when you book with a travel agent though! If you want to use your points, we offer custom a-la-carte itineraries.
Q: Why do you charge a consultancy fee?
A: We get asked this question a lot! Sometimes it’s easy for us to pull a quote - in these cases, our clients will not be charged a fee. However, in most cases, we must reach out to our suppliers and destination partners for a quote. This is not a simple process for our partners - a custom proposal requires them to take time out of their busy lives. It is important to us as a company to protect our partners’ time. A consultancy fee ensures that a potential client is committed to working with us.
Q: Do you book airfare?
A: We do! Certain suppliers allow us to package airfare with accommodations. We also work with an amazing air desk.
Please note that our suppliers only work with the major airlines and do not book basic economy. There is a service fee of $100 per ticket.
We can also charter private planes!
Q: Can you book rental cars?
A: Yes! We can book rental cars around the world.
Q: Do you offer travel insurance?
A: Yes! Not only do we offer travel insurance, we encourage it! We work with the most reputable travel insurance companies in the industry, such as Allianz, Travelex, Travel Insured International, and Trip Mate.
Q: How far in advance should I start planning?
A: This depends on the type of trip! As a general rule, we suggest booking at least 6 months in advance. Trips with limited availability (such as cruises to Antarctica, African safaris, a trek to Machu Picchu, Nile cruises, etc.) should be planned a year in advance.
Q: What should I budget?
A: This is such a hard question to answer, as there are so many factors that come into play! Pricing will vary depending on location, time of year, the number of travelers, length of the trip, and how far in advance the trip is booked. If you want to get a general sense of cost, we recommend starting with flights. Roundtrip airfare within the US is generally $300 to $500 per person; international flights are typically $800 to $1,500 per person. Once you have an idea of how much it will cost to get to the destination, you can start building the rest of your budget.
A mid-level hotel will run between $200 and $500 per night, depending on location. A luxury hotel will typically start at $500 per night. Families of 5 or more will most likely require 2 rooms.
A mid-level all-inclusive resort will start at $300 per adult, per night; luxury all-inclusive will start at $500 per adult, per night. Children 0-2 years are usually free, and children 2-12 are typically 50% of the adult cost.
Food costs are hard to calculate, as each individual is different. A very basic budget would be $60 per day, per adult and $45 per day, per child. Large families would benefit from a hotel with a small kitchen or an all-inclusive resort.
Private tours range from $120 to $300 per person. Small group tours are less expensive, but you will compromise on certain elements, such time (since there are more people to accommodate) and quality (you usually don’t get personalized attention). Private driver guides are typically $1,000 to $1,200 per day (driver guides are necessary in countries that lack public transport outside of major cities, such as Ireland).
Entrance tickets also vary - they can range from $10 per person to hundreds of dollars per person, depending on the attraction.
Our team will carefully craft a trip that honors your budget! We know where to save and where to splurge!