Stress-free travel planning services for people who want authentic experiences without the overwhelm.

Whether you’re dreaming of New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes, Portugal’s hidden villages, or a relaxing cruise, we handle every detail so you can focus on the excitement of your upcoming adventure—not the stress of planning it.

Our Travel Planning Services

Custom Itineraries

Personalized travel planning services tailored to your dreams, preferences, and pace.

We craft detailed day-by-day itineraries that take you beyond the typical tourist experience. Every trip is designed around your interests, travel style, and the authentic experiences you’re seeking.

What’s included:

Comprehensive destination research and recommendations
Day-by-day itinerary with timing and logistics
Accommodation bookings (every room with a view if possible!)
Activity and experience reservations
Restaurant recommendations and reservations
Ground transportation arrangements
Detailed travel documents and mobile app access
Pre-departure consultation and trip preparation
24/7 support during your travels

Best for: Travelers who want a fully customized experience, those visiting multiple destinations, or anyone seeking unique local experiences beyond standard tours.

Our specialties: New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Alaska, Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands), Peru, Costa Rica

Cruise Planning & Booking

Expert cruise planning with exclusive perks you won’t get booking direct.

As a cruise specialist, we match you with the perfect cruise experience and secure valuable extras that enhance your voyage.

What’s included:

Personalized cruise line and itinerary recommendations
Cabin selection guidance (location matters!)
Exclusive onboard credits and amenities
Pre- and post-cruise land extensions
Dining and shore excursion planning
Group coordination for celebrations
Embarkation and disembarkation support

Cruise types we specialize in:

Ocean cruises (Virgin Voyages, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, and more)
River cruises (Avalon Waterways, Emerald, Viking, including Portugal’s Douro River)
Expedition cruises to remote destinations
Small ship luxury experiences

Why book with us: Access to exclusive perks, onboard credits, cabin upgrades (when available), and expert guidance.

Guided Group Tours

Carefully curated group tours with trusted operators—plus our expert support.

We partner with premium tour operators like Globus, G Adventures, Brendan Vacations, Exoticca and Inspiring Journeys to offer group experiences that balance structure with flexibility.

What’s included:

Tour operator selection and recommendations
Guaranteed departure dates and availability
Pre- and post-tour extensions
Travel insurance guidance
Pre-departure preparation support
Our continued support throughout your tour

Why book tours through us:

We’ve personally vetted these operators
You get our expertise in choosing the right tour for your style
We handle all the details and paperwork
We’re your advocate if anything goes wrong
Often the same price, or better, as booking direct, but with expert support

Multi-Destination & Complex Itineraries

Seamless planning for ambitious trips spanning multiple countries or regions.

Want to combine Portugal and Spain? Add a New Zealand stopover to your Australia trip? We excel at creating cohesive multi-destination experiences with smooth logistics.

What we handle:

International and domestic flight coordination
Visa and entry requirement research
Logical routing and timing
Regional transportation (trains, ferries, private transfers)
Accommodation variety (hotels, boutique properties, unique stays)
Pacing to avoid travel fatigue
Cultural considerations and etiquette guidance

How We Add Value to Your Trip

Every Room Has a View

We don’t just book accommodation—we carefully select properties and request specific rooms. If you live with a view at home, you should travel with one too. This attention to detail transforms your entire experience.

Unique Local Experiences

We arrange the experiences that locals know about but tourists miss. Private wine tastings, after-hours museum visits, cooking classes with local chefs, meeting artisans in their workshops—these are the moments that make your trip unforgettable.

Insider Knowledge & Time-Saving Insights

We’ve been there. We know which ferry to catch, where to park, which days museums are closed, and how long things actually take. This insider knowledge saves you hours of research and prevents costly mistakes.

Upgrades, Perks & VIP Treatment

Our industry relationships mean complimentary room upgrades (when available), early check-in, late checkout, welcome amenities, onboard credits, and priority reservations. These perks add significant value to your trip.

24/7 Travel Support

When you’re traveling, you have direct access to us and our in destination partners. Flight delayed? Need to change a reservation? Found an amazing restaurant and want to add it to your plans? We’re here to help, not just during business hours, but whenever you need us.

Our Process: How We Work Together

1. DREAM → Share Your Vision

Book a complimentary 60-minute consultation where we’ll discuss your travel dreams, preferences, budget, and any concerns. This is a pressure-free conversation to see if we’re the right fit.

2. PLAN → Receive Your Custom Itinerary

We’ll create a detailed itinerary blending must-see highlights with hidden gems. For cruises and tours, we’ll match you with the perfect experience and secure exclusive perks.

3. BOOK → Confirm with Confidence

Review your itinerary, ask questions, request adjustments. Once you’re thrilled with the plan, we’ll secure all bookings with simple, secure payment processing.

4. TRAVEL → Enjoy Your Stress-Free Adventure

Receive detailed travel documents, pre-departure support, and 24/7 assistance during your trip. We’ve got you covered from the moment you leave home until you return.

Investment & Planning Fees

We believe in transparency about how we work and what you can expect.

Professional travel planning takes expertise, research time, and careful attention to detail. We charge planning fees for all our services because we believe every trip deserves our full professional attention—and we’ve found that clients who invest in expert planning have significantly better travel experiences.

Our Planning Fee Structure

Custom Itinerary Planning: Starting at $150

Simple trips (single destination, straightforward logistics)
More complex itineraries range from $250-$500+ depending on:
- Number of destinations and trip length
- Complexity of bookings and coordination required
- Level of research and customization needed
- Number of travelers

Cruise Planning: Starting at $150

Includes cruise line and itinerary selection, cabin recommendations, booking coordination, and securing exclusive perks and onboard credits

Group Tour Planning: Starting at $150

Includes tour operator selection, guaranteed departure coordination, and all booking arrangements

International Flight Bookings: Starting at $150

For clients who need international airfare coordination, even if we’re not planning the full trip

We’ll discuss the appropriate fee for your specific trip during your complimentary consultation—no surprises, just honest conversation about what your trip will require.

What Your Planning Fee Covers

Think of your planning fee as hiring a professional advisor, because that’s exactly what it is. Your investment includes:

Unlimited consultation time during planning
Expert destination research and personalized recommendations
Detailed itinerary creation tailored to your interests
All booking coordination – we handle everything
Exclusive perks – upgrades, amenities, VIP treatment (when available)
Travel documents prepared and organized for easy access
Pre-departure support so you’re fully prepared
24/7 assistance during your entire trip

Why Professional Planning Fees Matter

Here’s what we’ve learned: When clients invest in professional planning, they’re more engaged in the process, trust our expertise, and ultimately have better trips. Your planning fee ensures we can dedicate focused time to crafting something truly special rather than juggling dozens of “free quote” requests.

The value typically far exceeds the fee. The perks we secure, the mistakes we help you avoid, and the insider experiences we arrange often save you more than the planning fee costs—not to mention the hours of research time and stress you save.

How Payment Works

Planning fees are due after our consultation call when we begin working on your trip. This ensures we can dedicate the focused time your trip deserves. Your planning fee is separate from the actual cost of travel (flights, hotels, activities, cruises, etc.).

The cost of your actual travel (accommodations, flights, activities, cruises) is paid directly to suppliers according to their payment schedules, typically with a deposit at booking and balance closer to travel.

We’ll outline everything clearly during your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.

Who We Serve Best

Anxious Travelers

If travel planning makes you nervous or overwhelmed, you’re in the right place. We specialize in creating calm, confident travel experiences with every detail thoughtfully arranged. Many of our clients are anxious travelers who’ve discovered that expert planning transforms travel from stressful to joyful.

Introverted Travelers

We understand that not everyone wants group tours with 40 strangers or loud, crowded tourist experiences. We excel at creating quieter, more intimate experiences that let you connect with destinations authentically without feeling drained.

Authenticity Seekers

If you cringe at tourist traps and crave real local experiences, we’re your people. We focus on authentic connections with places and cultures, not checking boxes on a generic itinerary.

Celebration Travelers

Honeymoons, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, retirement trips—we love planning once-in-a-lifetime celebrations where everything needs to be perfect.

Time-Conscious Professionals

You value your time and would rather spend evenings excited about your trip than drowning in TripAdvisor reviews. We handle the research so you don’t have to.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

We’re LGBTQ+ friendly and welcoming to all travelers. We can recommend safe, inclusive destinations and accommodations where you’ll feel comfortable and celebrated.

What We Don’t Do (Setting Expectations)

To ensure we’re the right fit, here’s what we typically don’t handle:

Ultra-budget trips – We specialize in comfortable, well-curated experiences
Domestic flights only – We can help you with international flights, but not domestic flights
Visa applications – We provide guidance but don’t file paperwork on your behalf

If your travel style or needs don’t align with our services, we’re happy to point you toward resources that might be a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I start planning?

For international trips: We recommend starting 9-12 months in advance, especially for travel during peak seasons or to popular destinations like New Zealand during their summer.

For cruises: 6-12 months ahead gives you the best cabin selection and early booking perks.

For domestic trips: 3-6 months typically works well.

That said, we’ve worked magic on shorter timelines when needed!

Can you work within my budget?

Absolutely! During our consultation, we’ll discuss your budget openly and honestly. We’ll let you know what’s realistic for your destination and desired experiences, and we’ll design within your parameters. If something isn’t feasible, we’ll tell you and suggest alternatives.

What if I need to cancel or change my plans?

Life happens! Changes and cancellations depend on the policies of airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for this reason. We’ll guide you through the change/cancellation process and advocate on your behalf to minimize fees when possible. We can assist with a Travel Insurance quote once you have your deposit paid too.

Do you offer payment plans?

Many of our travel suppliers offer payment plans. For custom trips, we typically require a deposit to secure bookings, with the balance due closer to travel. We’ll outline the payment schedule clearly before you commit. And yes, it is possible to make payments towards your trip prior to final payment date.

What destinations do you NOT plan trips to?

We can technically plan travel anywhere, but we’re most effective with our specialty destinations (New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Alaska, Pacific Islands, Peru, Costa Rica, Austria). If you’re headed somewhere outside our wheelhouse, we’ll be honest about whether we’re the best fit or if you’d benefit from a specialist in that region. We have a worldwide supplier network and will tap into that if your destination isn’t one we’ve serviced before. So far we’ve booked trips to Italy & Switzerland, as well as Germany, which we hadn’t done previously, and our clients returned loving their trips.

Do I have to live in San Diego to work with you?

Not at all! We work with clients across the entire USA. Most of our planning happens via email, phone, and video calls. Distance doesn’t limit our ability to create an amazing trip for you.

What makes you different from using a travel website or booking myself?

Three things: expertise, personalization, and support.

We’ve traveled to our specialty destinations personally or we have very strong relationships with the suppliers in those regions. We know which hotels have the best views, which tour guides are exceptional, and which “must-see” attractions are actually skippable. We create personalized itineraries based on YOUR interests, not generic templates. And when things go wrong (and occasionally they do), we’re your advocate with 24/7 support—not a faceless website chatbot.

Plus, our industry relationships often secure perks and upgrades that save you money while elevating your experience.

Ready to Start Planning Your Dream Trip?

Let’s have a conversation about where you want to go and how we can make it extraordinary.

Whether you’re drawn to New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes, Portugal’s authentic charm, or you’re not quite sure where to go yet—we’d love to help you figure it out.

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Karen Cherrett | Relaxed Travel Escapes Network LLC
California Seller of Travel #2063964-50
An Affiliate of Travel Planners International