FAQs

Wait, you mentioned you’re in England - how do I communicate with you?

We welcome emails and phone calls, whether audio or video, in the manner which suits you best - Whatsapp, Skype, Facetime, or your other preferred communication. Because of the time difference, we do have set business hours. However, if our hours don’t suit your schedule, we are more than happy to schedule appointments outside of business hours. See our hours here.

What happens if I run into an issue during travel?

We are here to help with emergencies 24/7.  Please contact us if you have any issues during your travels, and we will do our best to support you and resolve any issues expediently. We will also provide your local in-country contacts such as your hotel, tour operator, or guide if applicable.

How are you compensated?

We are a fee-based travel company. Because travel budgets and requirements vary from client to client and trip to trip, we have several fee options depending on what you need. Visit our pricing page for more information.

Although many hotels, resorts, and cruise lines may pay a commission, we are not incentivized to steer our clients based on commissions. Our opinions and recommendations are based on research and expertise and are specifically tailored to your preferences, within the parameters that you choose.

Am I only able to book Brownell and Virtuoso preferred hotels?

While we do have preferred partners that are continuously and rigorously vetted to ensure they meet specific standards, we are happy to assist with brainstorming and booking other accommodation that complements your trip.

When my proposal arrives, will the individual trip components be broken down line-by-line, or will the trip cost be one price?

Whenever possible, we break down rates for you to see the cost of individual components within your proposal. This allows you to decide what components you may want to keep, and where you’d like to pare back.

However, some of the world’s best tour operators negotiate confidential wholesale rates with their suppliers and are contractually unable to break down costs for us when pricing a customized tour itinerary. They are more than happy to help tweak the initial itinerary based on budget or trip individual components, but there are circumstances where they cannot legally share the individual negotiated rates of tours, drivers, or in some cases even hotels, with us.

Despite this, we thoroughly vet our suppliers and only work with those who we know are committed to negotiating fair prices for incredible experiences for our clients. While we understand it can be frustrating to not be able to see the cost of individual components (we can’t see it either), this is not uncommon.

Do you recommend travel insurance?

Yes, always. It is too big of a risk when planning a big trip not to purchase insurance to protect your investment. From disease outbreaks to natural disasters to terrorist attacks, there is always the risk of an unforeseen issue, and you may only be covered if you’ve purchased travel insurance. We are happy to give you a quote through our preferred provider, but you can also book through your preferred insurance provider. The important thing to us is that you are covered.

Can I use my frequent flyer number?

Yes - we can include your frequent flyer number if you would like for us to manage your air reservations and tickets. We are happy to work through your airline of choice. Allowing us to manage your flight gives you peace of mind in the event of disruptions such as flight delays, cancellations, or the unexpected.