Direct Booking
Simple bookings. Exclusive benefits. No cost to you.
You know exactly what you want: a specific hotel, cruise, or escorted tour. I'll handle the booking and secure exclusive perks you can't get booking direct, all at no additional cost.
Why Book Through Me Instead of Direct?
When you book through me, you gain access to preferred partnership programs that offer benefits unavailable to the general public: complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, resort credits, spa treatments, early check-in, late checkout, and VIP recognition.
My compensation comes entirely from supplier commissions, so you pay the same rate as booking direct (sometimes better) while receiving significantly more value.
Partnerships
Through my affiliation with Fora Travel, I'm a member of exclusive advisor programs that provide benefits to my clients. This isn't a complete list, but gives you a sense of what's available.
Hotels
I'm a member of Virtuoso and preferred programs including Hyatt Privé, Marriott STARS and Luminous, Hilton for Luxury, Accor HERA, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Rosewood Elite, and many others. These memberships give my clients access to benefits like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, property credits, spa amenities, and flexible check-in and checkout times.
River, Ocean & Expedition Cruises
My Virtuoso membership provides access to partnerships across many cruise lines. Most sailings include benefits like onboard credits and other perks. Select sailings also offer Virtuoso Voyages benefits like complimentary shore excursions, cabin upgrades, and exclusive onboard events.
Lines with Virtuoso partnerships include Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Tauck, Explora Journeys, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Celebrity, Princess, and Virgin Voyages, among others.
Escorted Tours
My Virtuoso membership provides access to benefits with select escorted tour operators. These may include tour credits, exclusive experiences, room upgrades at tour hotels, and special amenities. Tour operators with Virtuoso partnerships include Tauck, Abercrombie & Kent, Insight Vacations, Belmond trains, and Backroads, among others.
Specific perks vary by property, cruise line, and program, but the value typically ranges from $300 to $800+ per stay, tour or sailing. When you book through me, I also serve as your liaison with hotels, cruise lines or tour operators, handling questions, special requests, and changes, and ensuring you get personalized service without needing to hunt down contacts or spend time on hold with call centers. I’m also your advocate if any issues arise with what we’ve booked.
Not sure which hotel, cruise, or tour to choose?
Essential Planning, also a free service, is perfect if you’re not entirely sure what you’d like to book. I'll provide personalized recommendations based on your preferences and budget, then handle all the bookings and ensure you receive any available perks and benefits.
Investment
No fee. My compensation comes from commissions paid by hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators. In most cases, you pay the same rate you'd find booking direct, but with added benefits.
Direct Booking provides the most value when I have partnership benefits available, which is the case at most luxury properties. Many hotels at lower price points don’t offer benefits when booking through a travel advisor, making this service less helpful to you for those stays.
Not sure if I have benefits where you want to book? Request a quote and I'll let you know what perks are available.
Timeline
The earlier you book, the better the availability and rates. Another advantage of early booking is that if you book a refundable rate, my booking platform alerts me if the same room becomes available at a lower price, and I can rebook you to secure the savings.
If you know exactly what you'd like to book, Direct Bookings can be requested for stays as soon as 24-48 hours in advance.
Ready to Book?
If you know what you'd like to book, complete the below quote request and I'll get back to you with availability, rates, and any available perks.
Not sure if Direct Booking is right for your trip? Email me at jen@jenniferellistravel.com.