How I work, what to expect, and how your journey comes together.
Fully private, made-to-measure journeys rather than packaged tours. That can include flights, hotels and villas, private guides and drivers, river and expedition cruises, luxury yachts, rail journeys and the kind of experiences you won't find online.
I plan for couples, families and multigenerational groups, and every itinerary is shaped around your pace and style. As an independent affiliate of Departure Lounge, a Virtuoso member agency, I can also secure preferred amenities at many of the world's finest hotels.
With a conversation. Book a private consultation or send me a note, and we'll talk through where you'd like to go and how you like to travel.
Once we agree we're a good fit, a planning fee secures my time and I design a proposal just for you. We refine it together, and I take care of every booking, confirmation and detail behind the scenes.
Booking a cruise only? There is no planning fee for a straight cruise booking. And for a hotel stay or rental car on its own, you are welcome to use my private booking portal. Email or text me for the access code, and once you have booked, send me your confirmation so I can make sure the hotel welcomes you as a VIP.
Yes, for every journey. I work with trusted insurance partners and can provide quotes and plan options that fit your itinerary.
I am not an insurance company and can't give legal or medical advice, but I'm happy to walk you through the choices so you can select the cover that's right for you. If you decide to travel without insurance, I will ask you to sign a waiver.
Of course. Dietary requirements, mobility needs, religious observances, a milestone birthday or anniversary: I build them into the plan from the very first conversation and share them with your hotels, airlines and partners on the ground, so you feel looked after from start to finish.
Most payments are made by secure credit card link through my host agency, Departure Lounge, and all major cards are accepted. For larger itineraries, bank transfer can also be arranged.
Your payment schedule is set out clearly in your proposal and invoice before anything is charged, so there are never any surprises.
The earlier the better, especially for the most sought-after experiences. For safaris in peak season, villas, suites at the most popular hotels, expedition voyages and luxury yachts, nine to eighteen months ahead is ideal, as the best options are limited and book early.
For most other journeys, three to six months gives us plenty of time. If your dates are closer than that, please still reach out. Relationships with my partners often open doors that look closed online.
Virtuoso is a by-invitation network of the world's leading luxury travel agencies and advisors. As an independent affiliate of Departure Lounge, a Virtuoso member agency, I can book you at more than 2,000 Virtuoso partner hotels, resorts and cruise lines.
At participating hotels, benefits typically include daily breakfast for two, a property credit, an upgrade on arrival and early check-in or late check-out when available. The real value, though, is the recognition: the hotel knows you are arriving as a valued guest.
Online, you get a booking. With me, you get judgment. I have stayed in many of the hotels I recommend, I know which rooms to request and which to avoid, and I have personal relationships with the people who run them.
I also see the whole journey: how the flights, transfers, guides and timing fit together, so you can simply enjoy it. And when plans change, you have a person to call rather than a call center.
Usually not, and often it costs less. My rates for hotels and cruises are frequently the same as, or lower than, what you will find online, and they come with added benefits you would not receive on your own. My partners pay me a commission when you book.
For fully designed journeys, planning fees begin at $250 and cover the time and expertise that go into your itinerary. If you love to plan on your own, I also offer itinerary consultations at $100 per hour, with a two-hour minimum. There is no planning fee for a straight cruise booking, and every cost is set out clearly before anything is charged. Full-service planning includes two rounds of revisions, and changes after booking are $50 each, plus any supplier fees.
You are never on your own. You will travel with my contact details and those of my trusted partners on the ground. If a flight booked through me is cancelled or changed, or a connection is missed, I work on it with you and my partners to keep your trip moving. Please note that I am not able to change flights you have booked yourself.
I can also offer 24-hour support, and we will agree how that works for your journey when we plan. This is also where travel insurance matters, and why I recommend it for every trip.
Not at all. The destinations on this site are the places I know most intimately, but I plan luxury journeys worldwide. When a destination is outside my personal experience, I work with specialist partners I trust and draw on Departure Lounge and the Virtuoso network, so every recommendation is still well informed.
Email me at jen@timetidetravel.com or call +1 646 250 1981. If you would rather talk, book a private consultation at a time that suits you.