Why should I use a Travel Advisor?

As a professional travel advisor, I will provide a service to you throughout the entire travel experience. It starts by getting to know YOU as a traveler – your travel dreams, preferences, activities that interest you, and your style of travel. And it doesn’t stop at booking, as I will be your behind-the-scenes director, ensuring that all of the carefully crafted plans run smoothly and any bumps in the road are quickly and efficiently addressed.

Creating a stress-free itinerary doesn’t just include accommodations and activities, but also managing transfers from the airport, airline services, understanding baggage requirements, and providing information on visas, vaccines, or other destination requirements. When traveling internationally — especially one where you may experience a language barrier — having a point person you can contact easily can bring a great sense of comfort.

I assist in weeding through the overwhelming number of options -- everything from accommodations, tours, transportation, and cultural & culinary experiences to assist you in making well-informed decisions. Traveling is one of the best investments you can make, let me help you make the right buying decisions to ensure the most value for that investment.

Not only do I offer valuable assistance to the overall planning and design of creating an itinerary, but I am your advocate! I work for you, my client, to get the best and most value for every component of your trip. I work directly with suppliers that I know will provide my clients with the best service and can provide me with status updates while you are on your trip. I work hard to establish personal relationships with my key suppliers to your benefit!

As an affiliate of Andavo Travel, who is a member of Virtuoso, I have access to an extensive network of global experts and boots on the ground partners. Not only do these valuable contacts bring first-hand knowledge about a destination, but also insider knowledge on hidden gems, off-the-beaten-path sites, rich and authentic culinary & cultural experiences and so much more.

They have access to unique, one-of-a-kind activities not available to the public and can secure VIP access to in-demand venues avoiding long lines or arranging private guided tours. Or how about securing dinner reservations at that exclusive restaurant? This means that no location, experience, or activity is out of reach!

Booking international flights can be a complex and costly decision. Having access to additional flight routing not available online allows me to evaluate the best options based on a range of factors that could impact your itinerary including layovers, connection times, luggage restrictions, seating availability, etc. 

In most cases, I can put flights on hold for 24 hours to make sure the rest of the itinerary flushes out. If you book a flight on an airline or other website, you may be forced to finalize flights within minutes which may cause a hasty and potentially costly decision.

In case of emergencies or travel issues that arise, I will be able to offer reliable support and assistance. In addition, for many custom trips, you will have an in-country concierge, emergency phone numbers and/or WhatsApp contacts should immediate or after-hours assistance is needed, giving you peace of mind throughout your journey.

I have access to thousands of accommodations that have been vetted through a rigorous process which also includes a program to make sure they stay up to par. In many cases, booking a Virtuoso preferred accommodation also includes several valuable VIP perks depending on the property such as – free daily breakfast, upgrades, hotel credits for use on food, beverages, or spa treatments, complimentary parking and/or Wi-fi, and early check-in or late check-out when available.

In addition, these reservations are given higher priority than those booked online. That could result in a room with a better view, a higher floor, or another perk even for the same class or type of room as one booked online.

Booking cruises, whether for an ocean cruise, a European river cruise, or an expedition cruise may include valuable perks as well. Some of these include shipboard credits, private shore excursions, VIP status, and the Virtuoso Voyages Program. In addition, I’ll have access to insider knowledge on things like cabin selection to accommodate certain preferences, exclusive shore excursions, and dining recommendations or reservations. This may be especially useful if you are traveling with a group.