Professional Services



My services are not limited to simply booking your trip. 

I work closely with you to determine how I will design your trip so that it will be perfectly tailored to you. I have curated close relationships with my wonderful supplier partners all over the world and amassed decades of experience booking, traveling to and studying the destinations I specialize in.  I know where to look and who to call to design a trip that will be uniquely memorable for you.  I work with my partners and in-destination experts on the best options, styles and experiences that will make your trip exceed your expectations.

I am not elevator hold music and 25 people ahead of you in the queue, and you are not just a number to me.  I have your back while you’re traveling and long after you return in the event any issues arise, and I am personally available should you have any questions or concerns. 

While I work hard to design an amazing travel experience that fits within your budget, I do not focus on price.  Rather, my focus is on value.  My focus is on the overall experience you will have, from our initial consultation, throughout your trip, to long after you return home.  I very likely will not meet or beat the prices you may see on the online travel sites used to DIY a vacation.  But they most certainly cannot beat the value I bring to your overall travel experience, nor can they beat my service.  So while I can’t and won’t compete with them, they can’t compete with me, either.  If you’re looking for the best “deal”, I may not be your gal.  If you’re looking for the best experience, I’m here for you!

Our Professional Service Fee Policy
Updated January 1, 2021

Travel Advisors are compensated by a modest commission from most hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, wholesalers and other travel vendors and suppliers for the work we do on their behalf performing research, advising and booking, and remaining knowledgeable about their product, polices and procedures.  My services go beyond the work I do for my supplier partners.

Initial Research, Consultation & Design Fee

Following a complimentary discovery call providing the opportunity to chat about your trip and your specific needs and desires, about how I work, and about my initial ideas and findings for your trip, Vacation Design Travel collects a $350* Research, Design, Planning & Concierge (RDPC) fee.  This fee is per room per trip.  In the case of multiple rooms, the fee is reduced to $75 per room for additional rooms after the first.  Our services include, but are not limited to:

  • ~ Personalized trip consultation, design, planning and execution
  • ~ Research, booking, maintenance, reconfirming and servicing all elements of your trip
  • ~ Monitoring of flight reservations for schedule or itinerary changes, completing seat assignments & online check-in where applicable
  • ~ Customized digital itinerary containing all trip details and confirmation information, including a personal travel app for easy access
  • ~ Providing important personalized information, tips and instructions along with all necessary travel documentation prior to your trip
  • ~ Monitoring your flights for delays and cancellations en-route, and re-accommodating where necessary
  • ~ Advising and remaining abreast of continually changing Covid protocols that might affect your trip

*  the Research & Design Fee for destination weddings and groups begins at $950

Other ("A la carte") Fees

There are instances in which you might like our assistance in researching and booking components which are not commissionable to travel advisors.  In these cases, we collect additional "a la carte" fees for our services on the components listed below in our "A la carte" Fee Menu, when not combined with full trip packages


"A la carte" Fee Menu

Vacation Rentals

Booking
from $450 per rental
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $50 per destination

Flights*

Booking $35 per ticket for domestic flights; $75 per ticket for international flights
  Including research and booking of one destination  
Additional Services $25 per ticket for domestic flights; $45 per ticket for international flights
  Maintenance, information, seat assignments, online check in,  
  in-travel monitoring and reaccommodation when necessary  
Research for more than one destination $25 per destination

*Fees waved when flights are combined with commissionable or fee based accommodations of three nights or longer

Car Rentals*

Booking $75 per rental
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $25 per destination

When combined with commissionable or fee based accommodations of three nights or longer

Booking $25 per rental
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $25 per destination

*Fees waived when combined with commissionable or fee based accommodations of seven nights or longer

 

Non-Commissionable Hotels, B&Bs and Other Accommodations

Booking from $450 per room/family per stay
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $50 per destination

Any Hotel Only Stay of Less Than Seven Nights

Booking $150 per stay
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $25 per destination

Any Hotel Only Stay of Seven Nights or Longer

Booking $75 per stay
  Including research of one destination, maintenance and information  
Research for more than one destination $25 per destination

Customized Day-by-Day Itinerary Planning

Per Trip Day from $25 per trip day

 

Change and Cancellation Fees

Once a booking has been secured with payment, changes will incur a fee from $25 per change.  Cancellation fees from $50 per component (flight(s), hotel(s), car rental(s), activity(ies), etc.), with a maximum of $250 per booking, will be incurred should you need to cancel your booked trip.  These change and cancellation fees are in addition to any fees incurred by airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other suppliers associated with your booking.

Professional Fee Refund and Application Policy

While our service fees are not refundable, we understand that in many cases plans change for any one of a number of reasons.  If this trip doesn't work out, our RDPC fee is discounted to $50 for one subsequent trip inquiry.  Once a booking has been made, your RDPC fee will only be applicable to that trip.  If your booked trip is cancelled, the RDPC fee is forfeited and a new fee will be required upon a new trip inquiry.  "A la carte" services fees are not refundable and are not applicable to subsequent inquiries. 

Optional, but highly recommended travel protection insurance, offering a variety of important benefits and protections, may cover your investment, including my professional fees, should you need to cancel your booked trip for certain covered reasons.

All fee amounts and policies are subject to change without notice

  
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