A friendly guide to how we price and plan your journey — the questions clients actually ask, answered honestly, with real numbers.
The two questions I get most often are some version of "what does this actually cost?" and "what do you even do that I can't do myself at midnight with fourteen tabs open?" Both are fair. So here it is — the whole thing, in plain language, with real numbers.
No pressure, no sales pitch. Just the same conversation I'd have with you over coffee before we ever talk dates.
What Does A Travel Advisor Actually Do For You?
At the simplest level, I plan your trip. But what that really means is that I become the person who carries the mental load so you don't have to.
I research the destinations, compare the hotels, check the transfer timing, read the fine print on cancellation policies, and chase down the reservation when something shifts. I know which properties actually deliver on the photos, which guides are worth the splurge, and which "must-see" experiences are better skipped in favor of something quieter.
I also have access to rates, room types, and perks that aren't available when you book online — and relationships with general managers, on-the-ground teams, and tour operators that help when plans need to change.
Most importantly, I'm your advocate before, during, and after the trip. If a flight is canceled, a room isn't ready, or a restaurant falls through, you have one person to call instead of a string of 1-800 numbers.
Our End-To-End Service
Every PaylorMade itinerary is built from scratch. Nothing comes from a template, and no two trips look the same. Here's what's typically included when we design your journey:
Custom itinerary design — built around your dates, budget, travel style, and the kind of moments you actually want to have.
Hotel selection and booking — hand-picked properties with the right room category, location, and vibe for your group.
Private transfers and transportation — drivers, trains, ferries, flights, and anything else that gets you from A to B without friction.
Experiences and excursions — private guides, skip-the-line access, special reservations, and the kind of local touches that turn a trip into a memory.
Dining reservations and recommendations — from hard-to-book tables to the casual neighborhood spot you'll want to tell people about.
Travel documents and day-by-day details — a clear itinerary, confirmations, contact numbers, and notes so you never have to dig through emails at the airport.
Support while you travel — if something shifts on the ground, we're a text or call away.
The Six Steps From First Email To Wheels Up
1. We get to know you. You share where you're dreaming of, who's traveling, what you loved (or hated) about past trips, and what matters most this time.
2. We design a proposal. I put together a first-draft itinerary with hotel options, experiences, and an investment range — usually within a few days.
3. You refine it. We tweak the pace, swap hotels, add a day, remove a day, or chase a specific experience until it feels right.
4. We confirm every detail. Once you approve the plan, I book the hotels, transfers, guides, and reservations — and send you one clean itinerary with everything in one place.
5. You travel. You show up. We've already handled the logistics, so you can focus on being there.
6. We follow along. We're there along the way the entire time — before, during, and after your trip. After you return, we check in to hear what worked, what didn't, and what we should remember for next time.
What Do Perks Actually Look Like?
One of the biggest differences between booking on your own and booking through PaylorMade is what happens behind the scenes. Through our preferred partner relationships — including Four Seasons, Rosewood, Hyatt Prive, Leading Hotels of the World, Preferred Hotels, and Rocco Forte — we can often secure:
- Complimentary breakfast for two each day
- Room upgrades at check-in, when available
- Resort or hotel credits — usually $100 or more per stay
- Early check-in and late check-out, confirmed when possible
- Welcome amenities and handwritten notes
- VIP recognition so you're not just another confirmation number
These perks don't cost extra. They're simply the benefit of booking with an advisor who has built relationships with the properties and brands you already want to stay with.
What Kind Of Travel Experience Am I Looking For?
Every PaylorMade journey is built around you — there's no single "right" way to travel. Some clients want a beautifully planned trip with room to breathe; others want every detail handled from the moment they land. To help you get oriented, we think about journeys in three general styles:
Essential — Thoughtful, intentional, and seamless. A well-curated itinerary with quality accommodations, carefully chosen experiences, and intentional free time to explore at your own pace.
Premium — Personalized and immersive. Higher-end accommodations, more private experiences, and culturally rich activities designed around how you love to travel.
Luxury — Exceptional and elevated. Five-star accommodations, entirely private experiences, seamless logistics, and a level of personalization where every detail has been considered.
None of these is "better" than another — they're simply different starting points for the conversation.
What Should I Budget For My Trip?
Because every trip is different, we don't work from a flat price list. Instead, we use a per-person, per-day investment guide so you have a clear starting point before we design anything:
| Investment Level | Per Person, Per Day | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $500 – $700 | Quality accommodations, a mix of private and shared experiences, and intentional free time to explore independently |
| Premium | $700 – $950 | Higher-end accommodations, more private tours, culturally immersive activities, and greater personalization |
| Luxury | $1,000 – $1,200+ | Five-star accommodations, private experiences, seamless transportation, exceptional dining, and full customization |
These figures are a starting point, not a quote — think of them as a shared language for the first conversation, not a final number.
Why Per-Day Instead Of A Flat Price?
A flat number doesn't account for how different two "10-day trips" can be. Pricing per person, per day lets us set honest expectations from the start and then shape the details — hotels, guides, dining, pace — around what matters most to you.
What Affects Where My Trip Lands In That Range?
A few things typically move the number:
Destination and season — peak travel dates, high-demand destinations, and limited availability can push pricing up; shoulder or off-peak season often stretches your investment further.
Group size and makeup — multi-generational or larger group trips involve more coordination and more moving pieces.
Priorities — if an incredible hotel matters most to you, we'll weight the budget there. If it's private guides, unique access, or extraordinary meals, we'll prioritize those instead.
Is There A "Right" Investment Level For My Trip?
Not really — there's the level that's right for you. Our job is to understand what you care about most and help your investment go toward the things that will actually make the trip memorable, rather than spreading it evenly across everything.
What's Typically Not Included In These Figures?
International airfare is generally not included in these estimates unless we've specifically discussed and added it.
Is There A Separate Planning Fee?
Yes. Because every itinerary is completely custom, we charge a non-refundable trip planning fee: $150 for two travelers, $250 for four to six travelers, and $350 for groups of seven or more. This covers the time and expertise it takes to research your destination, coordinate with our trusted partners around the world, compare the best options, and design a personalized itinerary around your travel style, preferences, and budget.
How Does Payment Typically Work?
Once your itinerary is confirmed, a deposit secures your reservations, with the remaining balance generally due 30–45 days before departure. Exact timing can vary slightly by supplier, and we'll walk you through the specifics for your trip before anything is booked.
Should I Get Travel Insurance?
We recommend travel protection for most trips, especially as your investment grows — it's a simple way to protect the time and planning that's gone into your journey. We're happy to point you toward options once your itinerary is set.
Curious What Your Dream Trip Might Cost?
One of the tools I use to help clients get oriented is InstaQuote — a quick itinerary builder that generates a sample multi-city trip with estimated pricing in just a few minutes. It's a great starting point if you're trying to picture how a trip might flow (say, a few days in Rome, then on to Florence and Venice) and roughly what that could run.
Keep in mind: this gives you a general ballpark, not a personalized quote — that's where I come in. And in the interest of full transparency, this is an affiliate link tied to my business, so I do earn a small commission if you use it.
Where Do We Go From Here?
These ranges are meant to open the conversation, not close it. The next step is simple: reach out and tell us a bit about where you're dreaming of going. From there, we'll set up a conversation to talk through your destination, dates, group, and priorities, and recommend the approach that makes the most sense for your journey — walking you through exactly what's included before anything is booked.
Megan Paylor
PaylorMade Travel