FAQs

I love talking about strategic travel planning! As your Travel Advisor, I help you develop a 3-5 year travel plan, optimizing savings and maximizing experiences.

This approach to travel planning allows me to listen to your dreams, suggest new places, and plan bucket list trips like safaris and expeditions which can require planning a year or more in advance. When I understand your travel dreams, I can keep you informed of exclusive offers and will always share my exciting finds with you! Working together, we will consider milestone life events, graduations, anniversaries, and more to help you fully explore your travel options for the next 3-5 years.

What is strategic travel planning?

10.

There’s an array of destinations ideal for school-aged children (5+). I love weaving classroom learning into personalized itineraries, experiences with your school’s curriculum, for an engaging and enlightening journey. There are some destinations where activity levels or age/height restrictions make them better suited for older children. Rest assured. I will help advise you on the best plan for achieving your family’s travel goals.

Do you still have babies you don’t want to leave at home, but you also need a little R&R? I have an extensive selection of properties with kid’s clubs to recommend. I’ll work with you to ensure your experience is everything you are looking for and more!

How young is too young? When can I take my kids abroad?

09.

While DeFehr Travel isn’t an authorized travel insurance provider, I strongly advise securing travel insurance for your trip. I’ll gladly provide you with travel insurance quotes from a reputable and trusted source. Your peace of mind is my priority.

Do you sell travel insurance?

08.

My advantage in booking luxury travel lies in the thorough vetting of all represented properties. I maintain strong relationships with villa companies worldwide. These villa companies are vetted and often provide concierge services. Furthermore, I have direct supplier connections to address any issues that may arise during your stay.

While I can book properties outside of my portfolio, I cannot guarantee their quality or recommend room categories beyond what’s available online. This poses reputational risk for my agency. Additionally, I’m unable to provide the preferred amenities that enhance your stay, such as breakfast, room upgrades, or resort credits.

In the rare instance that a room reservation is non-commissionable, I charge a 15% fee of the total room rate, before taxes per reservation. I will always let you know ahead of time if this is the case. See our booking policies for more information.

Do you book VRBOs and AIRBNBs?

07.

There’s no set minimum spending or nights required to book with me. I provide options, whether it’s a quick escape or an extended stay. Often the resort credit through Virtuoso is per booking, not per night. This amenity can add considerable value for short stays at Virtuoso properties. My specialty, however, centers on premier four and five-star hotels, villas, cruises, safari camps, and accommodations. If this doesn’t align with your budget, don’t hesitate to get in touch - everyone’s vacation is different. I’m happy to discuss. If I can’t service your needs with my expertise, I’m happy to refer you to someone who can.

minimum spend or a minimum number of nights required?

06.

In most cases you should still earn points with your preferred hotel group. Additionally, if you use reward points for a night or two, I can seamlessly arrange the rest of your stay, ensuring your access to exclusive benefits for the remaining nights. Just be sure to communicate your plan, so I can coordinate it smoothly with the supplier.

What about loyalty points?

05.

Lately, my response is often “yesterday.” With a surge in advance bookings and current occupancy trends, this pattern is likely here to stay. Booking early means better choices for you.

When should I book?

04.

Typically, yes. I may consider exceptions in specific cases, but I can only assist with what I’m informed about. To ensure a seamless experience for you, it’s essential that I have full awareness of your travel plans at every stage.

Do I need to book all hotels with you?

03.

Sometimes, online rates don’t include city fees, resort fees, or taxes, or they involve prepayment or tough cancellation rules. Often, lower rates result from wholesalers reselling less preferred rooms. Such rates lack the perks and VIP amenities I provide. If you find a lower rate than my quote, share it with me before booking. I’d love the opportunity to match it, but can also often explain the difference (room category, fees, inclusions etc.).

Why are your rates sometimes higher than other websites?

02.

Yes. For highly curated itineraries, there's a planning fee. Check Services & Booking Policies for details. Hotel-only and direct cruise bookings are complementary services. There’s no set minimum spending or nights required to book with me*. I provide options, whether it’s a quick escape or an extended stay. Often the resort credit through Virtuoso is per booking, not per night. This amenity can add considerable value for short stays at Virtuoso properties. My specialty, however, centers on premier four and five-star hotels, villas, cruises, safari camps, and accommodations. If this doesn’t align with your budget, don’t hesitate to get in touch — everyone’s vacation is different. I’m happy to discuss. If I can’t service your needs with my expertise, I’m happy to refer you to someone who can.
* In some cases, hotels may require minimum stays. In these situations, the resort policy, including length of stay, is applicable to my bookings.