We believe a well-planned trip should feel clear from the start—not confusing or overwhelming. Below are answers to the questions we hear most often, so you know exactly what to expect when working with Laura B. Dugan Travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three things, mostly. First, real, current knowledge of the places I recommend. I keep up-to-date through ongoing supplier meetings, industry conferences, and visits when I can — and for the destinations I haven't been to personally, I rely on my colleagues' firsthand experience and the destination management partners I trust on the ground. Second, partner relationships: through my agency network, I can offer VIP amenities at an extensive network of hotels worldwide. The specific perks vary by property, but typically include a complimentary upgrade, breakfast, a hotel credit, or early check-in when available — at no additional cost to you. Third, support: if something goes wrong on your trip, you have a real person in your corner who can fix it.
What's the benefit of working with a travel advisor?
Both ends of the luxury spectrum: boutique stays — independent hotels, design-led hotels, the small properties with real character — and the big luxury brands my clients know and trust (Four Seasons, Rosewood, Belmond, Auberge, Aman, and similar). What ties them all together is a sense of place, character, and (where it matters to you) a proper bathtub. For families and bigger groups, I usually recommend connecting rooms or multi-bedroom suites where I can guarantee the configuration — that way you get the shared experience without losing the hotel's service, partner perks, and on-site amenities. As a general rule, I stick to four-star and above. Not because I'm snobby about it, but because that's the level where my partner perks tend to apply consistently, and where the service is reliable enough to deliver the trip I promised.
What kind of hotels do you book?
Yes — luxury river and ocean cruises across all the major lines, including expedition cruising. I usually book the pre- and post-cruise hotel stays as well, since that's where the matchmaking work really matters. Cruise planning works a little differently from the standard packages, so the fee structure is its own conversation.
Do you book cruises?
Villas and serviced apartments: yes, but selectively. For most families and groups, I find a great hotel with connecting rooms or multi-bedroom suites delivers a better trip — you get shared space without giving up the service, partner perks, breakfast, and the concierge desk. My favorite villa setup is one that's actually on the grounds of a luxury hotel — you get the privacy of a villa with the service of the hotel attached, and I'll find the right one for your destination. When a hotel villa isn't an option, I'll plan a standalone villa or apartment when the trip genuinely needs one. When we go that route, I book through professionally managed partners with concierge service available on request. VRBO and Airbnb: no. Those are individually managed properties, and I can only stand behind professionally managed partners.
Do you book villas, apartments, VRBO, or Airbnb?
Sooner is better, especially for peak-season travel. For full itinerary planning (Deluxe and Exclusive packages), I don't take on trips with less than two months of lead time as a general rule — but if you're not sure where you fall, just ask. Hotel-only bookings (Essential) are more flexible and can often be handled on shorter timelines. Six to nine months out is comfortable for most international trips. For complex multigenerational travel, holiday travel, and high-demand destinations — Japan in cherry blossom season, the Greek islands in July, African safaris, Christmas markets in Europe — I'd say nine to twelve months. The best hotels and guides book up early.
How far in advance should we start planning?
By the complexity of the trip — number of legs, number of travelers, number of nights, and how close to departure we're starting. My published fees ($250 / $500 / $750 by tier) are starting points; complex multi-country itineraries and last-minute requests are quoted higher. The fee covers the actual planning work — the research, the matchmaking, the proposal drafting, the back-and-forth. Worth saying directly: working with me isn't about finding the cheapest possible rate. I sometimes have access to negotiated rates and partner perks (breakfast, credits, upgrades) that can add up to more than the planning fee — but the real value is in saving you time, stress, and frustration, both while planning and once you're traveling. If you want the absolute cheapest booking, a discount site will get you there. If you want a custom-made, seamless experience and a real person to call when something needs fixing, that's where I come in.
How are your planning fees calculated?
Not for booking, no — I can't redeem your credit card points or airline miles on your behalf, for either hotels or flights. Points bookings go through the credit card or loyalty channel, which means the partner perks and pre-arrival relationships I bring to a booking can't be attached, and there's no record of the booking on the agency side — which means no one to call if something goes wrong on the trip. The good news: you can still accrue points and miles on bookings I make for you. Your hotel loyalty number and frequent flyer number go on the reservation as usual, and you earn on the stay or the flight. If your trip strategy depends on redeeming points and miles, the honest answer is that I'm probably not the right advisor for that trip.
Can I use my credit card points or airline miles for the trip?
Yes, through my agency's Air Desk. I work with an experienced air team that specializes in complex international itineraries and business-class fares — they're also the people to call if a flight gets cancelled or rerouted mid-trip, so you're never stuck on hold with an airline. Air ticketing fees apply. For simple domestic flights, you're often better off booking direct.
