A clear, thoughtfully designed process is part of what you're hiring me for — so you always know what's happening, what comes next, and what to expect at every step. Here's the six-step version, from the first conversation through the trip itself and beyond.
How it works,
from before you go to after you're back
The process
You can start with a short note — where you'd like to go, or where you've been thinking about going — or head straight to the inquiry form if you'd rather get into specifics. Either way, the inquiry form is where we begin: it gives me the trip basics, travel companions, dates, and what you're hoping for, all in one place. Once that's in, I'll respond within a few business days. If we need a longer conversation, we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call (or video — your preference). No commitment yet; just a real first look to see if we're the right fit.
The first conversation
step one
step two
Once we're both ready to move forward, you pick the planning package that fits (Essential, Deluxe, or Exclusive) and pay the planning fee. I'll follow up with any additional details I need — passport copies, dietary restrictions, the kind of room you prefer, anything specific to the trip that didn't make it into the inquiry form. Then we're off.
We make it official
Within about two weeks of receiving the full picture from you, I'll send a detailed proposal — hotels, daily plans where applicable, transportation, and any guides or experiences I'm recommending. It's a working document, not a final answer. Tell me what's landing and what you'd like me to rethink.
The proposal
step three
step four
You review the proposal and tell me what's working and what isn't. We iterate (one major round of revisions for Essential and Deluxe, two for Exclusive) until the trip feels right. Then we confirm the bookings, you pay any deposits the providers require, and the trip is officially yours.
Refining and confirming
For Deluxe and Exclusive clients, day-to-day support comes from people on the ground with you. I work with vetted in-destination partners and hotel concierges — the people who actually know the city, the country, the hotel. They handle the real-time things: a restaurant that needs to be moved, a guide running late, an itinerary that needs to shift, a question about the next leg. I'm in the loop on everything and reachable for anything that needs me.
You'll also have a digital itinerary app with everything in one place, including direct contact for your in-destination team.
During the trip
step five
step six
A short follow-up email a week or two after you return — partly to hear how it went, partly to keep notes for next time. I'll capture what worked (and what didn't), what surprised you, what you'd want again, and what you'd skip. The best travel relationships are long ones, and the trip you take next year usually starts with what we learned from the one you just took.
