Thank You for Trusting Me With Your Travels

First things first, thank you for trusting me with something as special as your vacation. Whether it’s your family’s next magical Disney getaway or a long-awaited cruise, I know how important these experiences are. Your vacation isn’t just a trip! It’s an investment in memories, connection, and joy. That’s why I take my role in planning your getaway so seriously.

When you work with me, you’re not just booking a room or park ticket, you’re gaining a dedicated travel partner who handles every detail with care and intention so you can focus on making the memories that matter most.

Why I Charge a Planning Fee

Many of the suppliers I work with like Disney, Universal, and various cruise lines do offer a small commission to travel advisors. However, that amount depends on the type of booking and rarely reflects the hours of behind-the-scenes work that go into crafting a seamless, one-of-a-kind vacation.

My planning fee ensures that I’m compensated fairly for my time, energy, and expertise, and it allows me to focus entirely on your best interests rather than any supplier incentives. This structure means you’ll never feel like I’m trying to “upgrade” you to something unnecessary. It’s all about finding what truly fits you.

Included in your planning fee is much more than just booking your vacation. It covers:

  • Customized quotes tailored to your family’s preferences

  • Booking your vacation package and managing any modifications or cancellations

  • Assisting with dining reservations, tours, and special experiences

  • Customized itineraries and vacation guides tailored to your needs

  • Planning calls to walk through details together

  • Ongoing support before, during, and after your trip

But the real value? Peace of mind knowing I’m in your back pocket every step of the way, ready to handle the details so you don’t have to stress.

What the Planning Fee Covers and Pricing

I believe in full transparency, so here's how my pricing works:

Planning Fee: $150 per adult, $50 per child (ages 3–17), with a $250 minimum per booking. Children under 3 are always free.

This fee applies no matter what type of trip you're planning — Disney, Universal, a cruise, or beyond, because what you're paying for is my time and expertise, not the destination. It covers comprehensive, high-touch planning: customized itineraries, dining and tour reservations, personalized guides, and ongoing support throughout your entire planning journey.

For example: a solo traveler or a parent traveling with one child pays the $250 minimum. A family of 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 3–17) pays $400, since that total already clears the minimum.

Your planning fee is due after our complimentary consultation call, before I begin researching and building your custom vacation package options. These fees are non-refundable, as they compensate for the time and work invested in your personalized planning experience.

Faq’s

  • For many advisors, travel planning is a part-time side gig which is completely valid! But this is my full-time career. Charging a planning fee allows me to dedicate the proper time and care your vacation deserves while still running a sustainable business.

  • Even if you choose not to move forward, the planning fee covers the time and expertise I’ve invested in research, quote creation, and trip customization up to that point. HOWEVER, your initial consultation call is complimentary to ensure that we’ll be a good fit before we begin.

  • For most of my clients, nope! Once your planning fee is paid, you won’t owe me anything else for my services. No hidden costs or surprises.

    The only time an additional fee may be charged is in the case of an extreme change in planning. For example, if we start out planning or booking a cruise and then pivot to doing a Disney World Trip instead, OR you book a trip and drastically modify/push out to new dates more than twice, I may have to instate an additional fee for the additional research and booking management.

    Minor changes like adding a day or two to your trip, or deciding that you want to add a few days of Disney to the end of your cruise would NOT incur any extra fees as they are all part of your original vacation.

  • Once we've had our consultation call and you're ready to move forward, I'll send your planning fee invoice directly through Tern (Our Client Management System). You'll receive a secure email invoice — from Goofy Getaways, the agency I'm affiliated with — with a link to pay by credit card, and you'll get an automatic receipt once it's paid. This payment ONLY covers the planning fee, it's not how you'll pay for your vacation package.

    When you're ready to book your vacation, I'll send over my client intake form to collect the details I need to secure your booking — guest names, birthdays, addresses — and get your Terms & Conditions signed. From there, you'll authorize your payment method directly and securely through your Tern trip itinerary, and I'll use that authorization to book your trip directly with the supplier and make your deposit on your behalf.

  • I don’t waive fees, but I do keep them as fair and accessible as possible while ensuring that every client receives exceptional service, attention, and support from start to finish.