Beyond the Brochure

Absolutely! The old "order-taker" model is gone, but today's travel advisors are true experience designers. We focus on building relationships and crafting personalized trips you can't easily find online. More and more people are realizing the value of expert guidance, not just for planning, but for seamless trip execution, too. So, yeah, we're definitely still a thing – and a pretty awesome one at that!

Are travel agents still a thing?

We are an accredited agency through IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network), a member of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and a member of ASTA (American Association of Travel Agents).

We are also registered with all States that require Seller of Travel registrations:
● California – CST #2116049-40
● Florida – Seller of Travel License #ST41301
● Hawaii – Certificate of Authority
● Washington – UBI #603 388 563

Our owner/founder, Deborah Miller, is also a Certified Travel Associate (CTA) which is an industry-recognized accreditation given through The Travel Institute.

What licenses and/or accreditations do you hold?

Nope! We plan it all – honeymoons, family getaways, weekend escapes, big adventures, and everything in between. We especially love crafting unique, immersive trips that push boundaries, but honestly, we're more about building relationships than sticking to a specific type of trip. So, if you're sleeping anywhere but home, give us a shout! If we're not the perfect fit, we'll tell you straight up.

Do you only plan big trips?

While we specialize in custom itineraries, we also partner with select tour operators and cruise lines—like Windstar, Seabourn, and Natural Habitat Adventures—that meet our high standards. Booking these through us often unlocks extra perks and amenities at no additional cost. So, whether you're seeking a bespoke adventure or a curated tour, we've got you covered!

Is everything you do custom, or can I book pre-packaged tours through you?

In short, yes, we're a full-service agency, so airfare is sometimes included in your trip package. If it's not, our air department can still help with research and ticketing (fees apply), or we can advise on schedules and let you book directly—whatever works best for you. We can't book flights using points or miles, but we're happy to help you find the perfect flights to complement your itinerary.

Unfortunately, we do not book flights as one-offs or outside of a full itinerary that we’re working on.

Do you book flights?

It’s a good question and, while we do play favorites with some of the destinations and types of travel that we personally enjoy, what we usually say is that we really specialize in our clients. Building relationships and then working on not just one trip, but MANY over years is what we enjoy most.

Honeymoon to babymoon to family vacations to anniversary trips… A full lifecycle of experiences and all of the beautiful getaways and life-events in-between!

Below is a current map of places our clients have explored…

Are there any destinations you specialize in?

Payment schedules can vary, but generally conform to what you'll find outlined in our Booking Terms page. We'll always keep you informed about the specific payment schedule for your personalized adventure.

How do payments work?

We would love to meet in person with all our clients, but unfortunately there just aren’t enough hours in the day! In addition, we are often on the road ourselves, so instead, we make the most of this digital age we live and work in.

During your trip design process, we will primarily use email for communicating. We’re working on a client portal for future rollout which we think will make providing information and keeping things organized even better for both our team, overseas partners, and our clients.

You are always welcome to schedule time with us – either by phone or Zoom. You can use our Contact page to select a time that works for you!

Do you meet with clients, or is everything by phone/email?

This is one that gets people! Nearly all of us have cards that carry “travel insurance” as one of the included benefits. Yay. But we still pick up a separate policy specifically for the trip. Why? Because what the credit cards offer is pretty much the lowest benefit options possible.

This isn’t surprising because, let’s face it, they’re a credit card company – they’re not going to pay for premiums that are going to give the best coverage. That’s not their fault – it’s just good business for them. It’s nice to have for domestic trips (you know, in case your luggage gets stolen or your flight is delayed) but it’s not going to be much help when you’re in another country where automatically the costs of any sort of disruption or interruption of your plans will be greater than you might expect. We’ve learned this from experience!
In addition, there are a number of things that is usually hidden in the fine print (that dang fine print!) that would be good to keep in mind or read through.

For example:
● You may be required to purchase the ENTIRE trip on the same card to qualify
● Many policies only the primary cardholder (not all travelers)
● Pre-existing condition look back periods are usually a lot longer (up to 6 months)
● “Covered conditions” can be greatly limited and often doesn’t include things like supplier financial default

My credit card has a travel insurance benefit - isn't that enough?

A lot of people think that if you have medical insurance in the US, you're covered if you're traveling overseas. However, our US policies may or may not actually cover everything that could arise while you're in a foreign country if you run into any issues.

We've seen on more than one occasion medical needs come up while traveling (for instance, you or one of your traveling companions gets sick or seriously injured) and suddenly you find yourself operating outside of your originally planned itinerary.

Most US medical plans will cover some, but not all, of the medical costs. But even doctors visits and medication aside, the real lifesaver is often the additional expenses you don't even think about until they're staring you in the face! Travel insurance will step in and not only take care of any expenses not covered by your US medical policy (up to your coverage amount), but will then also cover things that may need to be changed, adjusted, or cancelled. The can include things like changed or cancelled flights, extra nights in hotels, and even meals up to your coverage limits.

Be sure to call your insurance company beforehand to ask if your plan includes overseas health insurance. And if it does, what exactly does it cover?

The US State Department suggests some questions to ask your insurer, including:
● Does my plan cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I become seriously ill?
● Do you require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
● Do you guarantee medical payments abroad?

While we can't speak to what your specific insurance policy will cover overseas, here are the general policies of a few major insurers.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield does offer travel coverage, but draws a line between "urgent care" and "emergency care." Emergency care, Anthem says, is requires by an injury or condition severe enough to result in "placing the Member's physical and or mental health in serious jeopardy; serious impairment to bodily functions; or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part."
"Urgent care," on the other hand, "may not be covered to the same extent as emergency care." For example, Anthem says, a fever not higher than 104° is considered urgent, not emergency care.

Aetna states that "emergency care is covered 24 hours a day, seven days a week – anywhere in the world." An emergency, Aetna says, "is a situation in which you could reasonably expect that the absence of immediate medical attention could result in serious jeopardy to your health, or if you are a pregnant woman, to the health of your unborn child."

Cigna advises members to check their policies: "Outside of the U.S., coverage is limited to emergency services as defined in the policy."

In short, your definition of "emergency" may differ from your insurer's definition, and you may find yourself on the hook for medical expenses you thought were covered. That's why buying travel insurance is so important as it "can help fill any gaps in domestic health insurance coverage." (Source: U.S. News & World Report)

Sources: Allianz Global Assistance, US News & World Report, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, US Department of State

Doesn’t my medical insurance cover me when I’m traveling?

Trip pricing varies depending on the type of adventure we're crafting.

For most multi-day trips, we bundle everything into a package—accommodations, activities, and more—allowing us to leverage our industry connections for the best possible rates.

Cruises and small group tours (like safaris or treks) have set pricing, but we'll always explore potential discounts and perks.

Our custom itineraries are also packaged, including most essentials, so you'll know the total cost upfront, simplifying your budget and giving you peace of mind knowing we're supporting you every step of the way.

How are trips priced?