Planning Fees
Why I charge what I charge
Every trip begins with a complimentary consultation, a chance to talk through your travel style, your goals, and whether we're the right fit for each other.
Behind the scenes, every itinerary is built differently. Depending on the destination and type of trip, I may work directly with hotels, partner with destination specialists, or collaborate with trusted on-the-ground operators, whichever will deliver the best experience for your specific trip. Once I'm engaged to plan it, I handle the booking for everything we've discussed so the whole experience stays coordinated.
Hotel & Resort Bookings
If you're simply looking for the right hotel or resort, I'm happy to help. Standalone hotel bookings typically come at no additional cost and include preferred partner amenities such as daily breakfast, hotel credits, upgrades when available, and VIP recognition, benefits you won't find booking directly or through points.
If additional planning or coordination becomes part of the trip, I'll always discuss any applicable planning fees with you in advance.
COMPLIMENTARY IN MOST CASES
Custom Trip Planning
For more involved trips, this covers building your itinerary, including touring, transportation, and experiences coordinated through my destination partners, along with hotel coordination, confirmations, and support before and during your trip. Pricing reflects the actual planning involved rather than the length of your trip, a simpler itinerary with just a few stops often lands close to the $500 minimum, while a more built-out, day-by-day itinerary across several stops scales up from there. When a trip involves multiple travelers with their own documents or preferences to manage, additional coordination may apply.
$500 MINIMUM | STARTING AT $100 PER DAY
PLANNING + ADDITIONAL CONCIERGE SERVICES: STARTING AT $150 PER DAY
Every trip includes day-to-day details that round it out, most often spa appointments and dining reservations. If you'd like me to manage these directly, planning starts at $150 per day total, instead of $100. If you'd rather handle these yourself, or a particular reservation requires it (some restaurants now require guests to confirm terms and provide their own card directly), I'm always happy to connect you straight to the concierge instead.
Trip Planning Notes: Fees are quoted per itinerary or household. This fee reflects my time and expertise, not a credit toward the cost of your trip, and doesn't guarantee the availability or confirmation of any specific hotel, flight, or reservation until it's booked. It includes up to three rounds of itinerary revisions once we've locked the framework together; additional rounds beyond that may be quoted separately.
Cruises & Set Departures
If you already have a cruise or small-group tour in mind, I'm happy to book it at no additional cost, along with any preferred partner perks like onboard credit, cabin upgrades, or amenities that come with booking through me. If you'd like custom pre- or post-tour travel built around it, that portion follows my standard planning fee.
COMPLIMENTARY IN MOST CASES
Air
$50 PER DOMESTIC TICKET | $100 PER INTERNATIONAL TICKET
Domestic and international flights can be arranged through the SmartFlyer Air Team, including multi-destination and complex itineraries.
Points, Rewards & Self-Booked Elements
If you've booked your own flights, I can build them into your itinerary with clear confirmation, though working through the SmartFlyer Air Team lets me manage things more efficiently from start to finish. Combining elements that you've booked directly, including with points, with elements I'm managing can complicate the plan, so I generally don't take these on unless I know from the beginning. The earlier you tell me what you're handling yourself, the smoother everything goes.
ADDITIONAL COORDINATION MAY APPLY
Trip Additions
Some things come up after a trip is already planned, whether that's a boat day discovered once you've arrived, a local guide added at the last minute, or another detail that falls outside the original scope. These are handled within your existing planning tier when possible or quoted separately depending on timing and complexity.
VARIES BY SCOPE
Group & Custom Projects
Some travel involves more than an individual itinerary, for example:
Destination weddings
Group travel and room blocks
Corporate retreats
Off-site events and celebrations
Contract negotiations for accommodations, meeting space, or logistics
Always scoped and discussed with you in advance.
QUOTED INDIVIDUALLY
Planning fees are separate from the cost of your trip and apply regardless of how individual components are booked. Changes after a trip is confirmed may require an additional planning fee depending on the required adjustment. Supplier cancellation policies and penalties are separate from my planning fee, which is why travel insurance is always worth considering.