Let's Start With You

When you’re planning a trip, it’s easy to start with the obvious questions:

• Where do you want to go? 

• When do you want to go? 

• What’s your budget?
  

Those are important. But they’re not enough to figure out what will actually work for you.

Before I recommend a cruise, hotel, resort or itinerary, I ask a lot of questions. Not because I’m trying to make the planning process complicated, but because the answers help me understand what will make the trip a good fit for you.

What Makes You Want to Go There?

Sometimes the destination itself is the dream. Other times, there’s something specific drawing you there.

Maybe you want to sit on a beach and do absolutely nothing. Or maybe there's a particular experience you've been dreaming about.

Understanding why you want to go helps me understand what parts of the trip matter most to you.

That can change which hotel, cruise line, location or itinerary I recommend.

Who Is Actually Traveling?

Every traveler matters.

A family with young children has different needs than a couple traveling without kids. A group with teenagers may care about completely different things than grandparents joining the trip.

I want to know who is coming, what they enjoy and whether anyone has special needs or considerations that could affect the experience.

The right choice is the one that works well for everyone traveling together.

What Does Your Budget Need to Include?

When someone gives me a budget, I don't just look for a trip that comes in under that number.

I want to understand what you expect that budget to cover.

Are flights included? What about meals, transfers, excursions, parking or other expenses?

Are you comfortable with some costs being additional, or do you want as much as possible included upfront?

A trip that looks affordable at first can feel very different once you add everything you actually need.

That's why I look at the overall cost and value, not just the initial price.

When Are You Traveling?

The time of year can make a bigger difference than many travelers realize.

Certain destinations have rough weather season. Others have particularly busy spring break weeks, major holidays or peak summer crowds. Weather, seasonal closures and pricing can also vary significantly throughout the year.

Sometimes your dates are flexible, and sometimes they aren't. Either way, knowing what is happening at your destination during those dates helps me set realistic expectations and find the best options available for your situation.

What Might Affect the Experience?

This is where experience and research really matter.

There may be things about a hotel, cruise line, destination or itinerary that aren't obvious when you're simply comparing prices online.

Maybe a resort is beautiful but isn't the right fit for your travel style. Maybe a cruise line has an atmosphere that doesn't match what you enjoy. Maybe a particular location is convenient for one part of your trip but creates challenges for another.

I want to identify those things before we book, not after you're already committed.

Familiar Doesn't Mean One-Size-Fits-All

I may have booked the same destination hundreds of times, but I won’t recommend the same trip to every client. Your priorities, budget, travel style and who’s traveling with you all matter.

I take what I know about the destination and curate it around you. And the more we work together, the smoother that process becomes. I learn what matters to you, where you like to splurge and what isn't worth the extra cost.

Good travel planning isn't about finding what works for everyone. It's about understanding you and finding what works for you.