Common Inquiries
Explore comprehensive answers to our most commonly asked questions, and find clarity for your travels ahead. If we missed anything, please reach out to us at kim@traveldv.com.
FAQ
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We charge an upfront planning fee to cover the time invested in researching and designing your custom proposal, which is due before starting work on your proposal and is non-refundable. Our planning fees largely depend on the length of your journey, and you can find an outline of them here, on our services page. If youāre curious about working with us, please fill out the trip design form here, and we can discuss options during a complimentary discovery call.
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Yes. Custom itineraries currently start at a minimum of $600 per person, per day. This is the amount spent on the actual travel experience, including accommodations, tours, experiences, transportation, etc., and is based on the minimum price point that realistically allows us to collaborate with our 4 and 5-star, in-destination partners. This price point ensures a personalized and high-quality travel experience with local support. Please note that trip costs will vary depending on your itinerary and selections.
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No, our approach is focused on crafting comprehensive itineraries where we oversee every detail from start to finish. As an integral part of our service and to ensure the best overall experience, we require accommodations to be reserved through us. We do not offer partial trip designs such as tours, transportation, and/or concierge services on their own.
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No, we cannot redeem points on your behalf for hotel stays. As accommodations are a required component of our services, we are unable to assist with trip designs when hotels are booked with points.
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No, Airbnb and Vrbo properties pose challenges due to their individual ownership, making it difficult to assess their quality, and often come with increased risks like the potential for last-minute cancellations. However, we do have access to luxury villa rentals and exclusive-use buyouts through our network of partners.
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No, we cannot provide detailed line-item pricing due to the confidentiality of supplier contracts. Your trip proposal will include one price for the complete itinerary. In cases where multiple suppliers contribute to your trip, your trip invoice will include the total amount due to each supplier.
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Yes, we can. Airfare services are an optional add-on for any of our other offerings. Youāll be prompted on the trip design form here to let us know if youāre interested in this service and we will add it to your package. Our Air Department charges a service fee of $50 per person, per ticket. This price includes flight research, quotes, ticket issuance, flight change monitoring, flight assistance during business hours, and access to an emergency after-hours service during travel.
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Our Air Department monitors all tickets issued for flight changes and can make changes to tickets in-house so you can avoid long wait times to call centers. You will also gain access to our third-party emergency after-hours service for any extra support.
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We can apply your frequent flyer number to flight reservations to earn miles. However, we cannot redeem frequent flyer miles or credits on your behalf. If you wish to redeem frequent flyer miles or other credits, you may choose to book your flights directly with the airline. In this case, please note that we wonāt be able to assist with flight changes or other communication with the airline.
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We ask that you send all questions and communications through email as this allows us to keep track of all details discussed. Weāll respond to all emails within 48 business hours. We accept phone calls by appointment only and will provide a link to our calendar if you would like to schedule a call.
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Due to the highly customized nature of our services, we require a minimum lead time of 3 months from the time of the discovery call to your departure. Given the high demand for travel to Europe and Morocco, we strongly advise planning at least 6 months aheadābut for optimal rates and availability (especially during the high season from May through September), we recommend starting 9-12+ months in advance.
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Once youāve submitted your trip design form here, weāll be in touch, prompting you to book a complimentary discovery call. On this call, weāll discuss your travel goals in more detail and collect all the information we need to begin crafting a personalized proposal. Following the discovery call, weāll collect all remaining traveler details and our planning fee before starting work on the proposal. Then, together, weāll update and revise the proposal until everything feels aligned with your preferences and aspirations. Once the proposal feels just right, weāll set to work securing all of your reservations and putting together your final itinerary. Youāll have an option for another complimentary consultation before your travel date, where weāll walk you through every detail of your final documents so you can take off with confidence.
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A deposit is often required to confirm services and is payable before the confirmation process begins. However, payment terms vary by supplier. We will provide a clear payment schedule, with specific terms for each supplier, before securing any arrangements on your behalf.
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Yes, weāll be available during our normal business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am-5 pm CST. As differences in time zones may pose challenges in responding immediately, weāll also provide local contacts to assist you with any issues that may arise along your journey.
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