What you can expect when you work with me

A travel advisor designs your whole trip around you, then books it and looks after it until you're home. That means more than flights and a hotel. It's how the days fit together, which property actually suits you, which room to ask for, how you get from A to B, and what needs booking first. You'll also hear the term travel planner. Same job, different title!

You don't. Plenty of people book wonderful trips themselves. But an advisor earns their keep when the trip is complicated, expensive or a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, or when you'd rather spend your time looking forward to it than researching it. I'll spot the problems before they cost you: the 55-minute connection in a huge airport, or the gorgeous hotel that's a 40-minute drive from where you wanted to be. And if something goes wrong, you have someone on your side.

You don't need one, but here's what you're missing if you don't: I have relationships with Virtuoso, Design Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels, Preferred Hotels, and Leading Hotels of the World that mean my clients get things a website booking simply can't - room upgrades, resort credits, early check-in, a direct line to the property if something goes sideways.  I've worked in corporate travel, luxury concierge and leisure retail before starting The Curious Traveller, so I know what a booking engine won't tell you.

Honestly, the titles overlap, and plenty of agents do excellent work. The difference is mostly in the approach. A traditional agent often books what you've already chosen. I start earlier than that. I get to know how you like to travel, recommend what fits, and tell you when something won't work, even if it's the thing you had your heart set on. I take on fewer clients so I can do that properly.

I charge a planning fee tailored to the length and complexity of your planned trip, which I'll quote before you commit to anything. I'd rather you hear it from me in our first conversation than find out later! For most of the properties I work with, my rate is the same as booking direct, and often comes with extras you wouldn't get on your own. I'm not the cheapest option going, and I'm not trying to be. I'm the one who makes sure the trip is right.

“Start-to-finish” journeys are my specialty, to ensure continuity and that your holiday investment and runs smoothly. I’m also a flight specialist, and my passion niche is expedition cruising. I plan everything from a two-week private trip through Japan, to a honeymoon in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives, to a special stay with VIP status at your favourite luxury hotel (or one you’ve never heard of that I think would match you perfectly). If you want something considered rather than the cheapest fare going, we’ll get along well!

Luxury is part of it, but really what I offer is personalised. Some of my favourite itineraries have been in expedition cruising and off-the-beaten-path corners of the world, not five-star everything. If you want it done properly and want someone who's actually been there, that's the fit.

Yes, and they're some of the most rewarding to plan. They're also where a planner makes the biggest difference. Three generations rarely want the same pace, and the details matter: room configurations, children's policies, who's happy to walk and who isn't. I sort those out before you book, not on arrival. I work with families, extended family reunions and small groups of friends. 

Absolutely. Honeymoons, anniversaries and milestone birthdays are a big part of what I do. I'll tell the property about the occasion ahead of time so they can do something thoughtful, and I'll steer you to places that suit the way you actually like to celebrate, whether that's a quiet island or a very good dinner in a very good city.

For most international trips, three to six months gives us the best access to availability and rates, especially for smaller luxury properties and expedition cruises that sell out early. That said, I've pulled together beautiful trips on much shorter notice too; it just means fewer choices.

Sometimes, yes. It depends what's already locked in and with whom. Get in touch and I'll tell you honestly whether I can add value from where you're at, rather than take on a booking I can't actually improve.

It depends on the terms of each booking, which is why I check cancellation and change conditions before you commit and tell you plainly what you're agreeing to. Where I can choose flexible rates, I'll flag them. If something changes, let me know as early as you can. I'll deal with the airlines, hotels and suppliers and push for the best outcome. I always recommend travel insurance, and I'll explain why for your particular trip.

This is genuinely one of the biggest reasons to book through an advisor rather than a website. If a flight's cancelled or a property has an issue, you call me, not a call centre on the other side of the world. I have direct contacts at the properties and suppliers I use for exactly this reason.