What does a travel advisor do exactly?
We take the exact same logistics used to run traveling Hollywood film crews and apply them to your vacation. Your only job is to actually enjoy your time off.
Beyond Booking: What does a travel advisor do differently?
If you have ever spent hours reading online reviews only to show up at a hotel that looks nothing like the photos, you already know the risks of doing it yourself. When you work with Gilded Travels, you get a dedicated human advocate. Whether we are architecting a complex family vacation, a private couples getaway, or a seamless remote executive escape, the standard is the same. We build your trip entirely from scratch. We verify the properties through our personal network. Then, we secure exclusive perks through our official Virtuoso partnerships. Most importantly, we handle the unexpected. If severe weather causes sudden flight delays at 2 AM, you are not stuck on hold. We are already fixing it for you.
How does a travel agent work? Our 5-step process
1. The Inquiry
You are asking yourself, “what does a travel advisor do for me” and want to find out more. You fill out the Gilded Travels trip inquiry form, and we personally review your travel goals. In the meantime, you schedule the Discovery Call with us at a date and time that’s convenient for you.
2. The Hello
We jump on our complimentary Discovery Call to dive deeper into what you want to get out of this trip. The goal is for us to get to know each other and make sure your travel expectations are aligned with the service we can provide. We’ll talk about balancing the adventurous days with genuine downtime so everyone is happy.
3. The Proposal
The green light is given, the design fee is handled, and we begin work as your custom travel itinerary planner. We build the initial blueprint of your bespoke travel experience. Then we have an honest conversation to tweak the pacing, logistics, and locations until the itinerary is exactly what you envisioned.
4. The Booking
After you approve the final proposal we secure the reservations, lock in your VIP upgrades, and handle the deposits. You also get access to the Gilded Travels Trip App, which keeps your daily schedules, offline maps, and confirmations in one place right on your phone.
5. The Journey
It’s time to enjoy your vacation! While you travel we monitor the moving parts from behind the scenes. If there is a weather delay or a sudden logistical hiccup, we handle it before you even have to ask, without interrupting your vacation with unnecessary emails. By the time you come home you’ll never ask “what does a travel advisor do that an AI or big-box site can’t” ever again.
Transparent Custom Planning Fees
You may be wondering, what does a travel advisor do to earn their fee? Planning a great trip takes a lot of time and deep industry connections, all of which we leverage to protect your time and your investment. Because we do not sell cookie-cutter packages, we charge a clear, upfront planning fee to build your trip. This covers the hours we spend checking the logistics and actively managing your travel while you are in the air. More often than not hotel perks, private access, and custom experiences we get for you end up covering the cost of the fee itself.
The Value of a Human Advocate
The balance was perfect; a fantastic mix of planned activities and personal time to explore. The meetings to pre-plan the trip were concise, helpful and relevant. Lots of great moments. Petra and Bethany by the Jordan were both highlights. It exceeded my expectations.
Russ H.
Jordan
I HIGHLY recommend Steven for your travel needs. His attention to ALL details was invaluable – even the ones that I would never even have thought of! He had tremendous follow up for the few issues that popped up during the vacation, which helped ease my concerns quickly. We will use him over and over.
Jeri R.
France
I had the pleasure of working with Steven at Gilded Travels to plan a fantastic trip to Rome and Malta, the experience was nothing short of amazing! Steven went above and beyond in creating a customized itinerary that perfectly suited our interests.
Brian P.
Malta and Italy
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a travel agent if I already know where I want to go?
Yes, absolutely. Even if you know your exact destination, the real benefits of using a travel agent come down to execution and access. When people wonder what does a travel advisor do if the flights are already picked out, the answer is that we elevate the entire on-the-ground experience. We secure unlisted room upgrades, vet the daily logistics so you do not waste time in transit, and act as your safety net if something goes wrong while you are traveling.
What is a typical investment for a Gilded Travels itinerary?
While every vacation is entirely custom, we do have baseline starting points to ensure we can deliver the level of service and quality you expect. For our custom-designed journeys, investments begin at $500 per person, per day. For simpler getaways such as small group tours, all-inclusive resorts, and cruises, investments begin at $300 per person, per day. Please note these baselines typically exclude international airfare.
Can I get an itemized cost breakdown of my custom itinerary?
No, we do not provide line-by-line pricing for our trips. We work closely with our global partners and Destination Management Companies to secure confidential, wholesale rates. This allows us to provide you with a much better overall value, meaning your trip is invoiced as one complete, seamless package.
If I already booked my flights and hotels, can you just plan the activities?
If you have already secured your own flights, that is completely fine! However, if you have already booked your hotels, we cannot take on the rest of the trip. To guarantee our strict quality standards and provide true 24/7 support, we must manage the complete on-the-ground architecture of your itinerary, which always begins with vetting and securing the properties you stay in.
Do you book Airbnbs or VRBOs?
No, we do not book peer-to-peer home rentals. We simply cannot guarantee the safety, cleanliness, or reliability of an unvetted property. However, if you are looking for a home style experience with plenty of space, we utilize a heavily vetted global network of private luxury villas and premium serviced apartments that meet our strict quality standards and include dedicated on-the-ground support.
Can you book my flights using my credit card points or frequent flyer miles?
No, we cannot book flights using your personal points or reward miles. Airline security policies and terms of service require the primary account holder to manage and authorize those transactions directly. However, if you plan to use points for your flights, you can absolutely book those yourself, and we will gladly design and manage the entirety of your on-the-ground itinerary.
Do I need to purchase travel insurance?
We highly recommend it. Your upfront planning fee and many trip components are non-refundable. Travel insurance protects your financial investment against unexpected cancellations, medical emergencies abroad, and severe weather delays. We will gladly provide you with a custom insurance quote during the booking process.
How far in advance should we start planning our vacation?
For international trips, reaching out 6 to 9 months in advance is the sweet spot. If you are planning travel around major holidays, spring break, or a specific milestone event, reaching out 10 to 12 months ahead ensures we can secure the best guides and boutique properties before they completely sell out.