Essential Planning

I book your hotels, cruises, or multi-day tours and provide recommendations for day tours and activities, giving you the foundation for a great trip.

Essential Planning is a good fit if you:

• Are booking a cruise or multi-day tour (where the cruise line or tour operator handles the main itinerary) and want my help selecting the right option and coordinating any pre/post stays

• Are planning an independent hotel-based trip (whether single destination or multi-city), and are comfortable managing transportation and other day-to-day logistics on your own

• Want to access benefits only available when booking hotels, cruises, or tours through a travel advisor

What's Included

Hotel, Cruise & Multi-Day Tour Booking

• Personalized recommendations that fit your style and budget

• I handle the booking once you choose a hotel, cruise, or multi-day tour

• Preferred partner rates and perks when available (which often include room upgrades, resort credits, complimentary breakfast, early check-in/late checkout, and other amenities depending on the property)

• Ongoing booking support for changes or special requests

Travel Guidance

• Day tour and activity recommendations for independent, hotel-based trips

• Guidance on shore excursions and planning your time for cruises

• Digital itinerary with confirmations for all services booked through me, plus any activities you book independently and send to me for inclusion, so you have everything in one place during your trip

Optional Add-Ons

• Premium cabin flight booking through my host agency's flight desk, Fora Flights ($50 booking fee per passenger, available for any business or first class flight, or international premium economy flights)

• Flight consultation: assistance choosing the best airlines and routing for your trip, including advice if you’d like to use points (fee applies)

• Travel insurance facilitation (no additional charge)

What You Handle

• Booking flights, if not booking through Fora Flights

• Booking and coordination ground transportation (trains, ferries, transfers, taxis)

• Most day tours and activity bookings

• Restaurant reservations

• Booking shore excursions for cruises

• Passport and visa applications

Trip Support

For what I book: For hotels, cruises, and tours I've booked, I'm your advocate if something goes wrong. For immediate issues during your trip, you’ll contact the provider directly first for the fastest resolution, then reach out to me if you need additional support.

For what you book independently: You'll work directly with those companies.

Need more comprehensive support? Full-Service Planning includes expert local partners available throughout your trip to handle real-time logistics, solve problems as they arise, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Investment

Most trips have no planning fees. My compensation comes from commissions paid by hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators.

Exceptions: Planning fees may apply for complex trips, large groups (7+ travelers), or rush requests (less than 6 weeks before departure). Any fees will be discussed and agreed upon before work begins.

Trip Budget: Essential Planning is designed for travelers booking hotels at $300 per night or higher, or cruises/multi-day tours at $1000+ total cost per person. This threshold ensures commissions support the research time I invest in finding excellent options for you. 

Planning Timeline

The earlier you start planning, the better! More time means better availability for hotels, tours, and in-demand activities, and often better rates.

For a trip departing within 6 weeks, a rush fee may apply for Essential Planning.

Ready to get started?

Submit the below form, and you’ll be prompted to schedule a discovery call, so we can talk about your trip!