FAQ
I want to work with you, but I also want to look up rates myself. Is that possible? Yes! Go to Book Hotels for step-by-step instructions on how to check rates and, if you prefer, make reservations yourself. Perks still very much included.
What if the hotel I’m interested in isn’t on Virtuoso? We have a lot of ways to book including directly with providers and through popular sites like Mr and Mrs Smith and even Expedia. Don’t assume we can’t book it if it’s not on Virtuoso.
Do you charge a fee for your services? 9 out 10 times, the answer to that question is no. While the industry is constantly changing and our policies may change in the future, right now we do not charge for booking services. How do travel advisors make money? Whenever you book a hotel or tour, whether it via a large site like Expedia or Hotels.com or Josh Weiss Travel, a small portion is paid to the booking agent. We feel, if our rates are the same, and they usually are, why not support a small business? Right? Plus we usually get some pretty great perks too. Check the benefits page for more info.
Do you book cruises? Yes, we do. We work with both large commercial cruise lines as well as smaller providers, like river cruises, barges, and even yacht rentals.
Can you arrange tours or activities for us? Yes, depending on the location we can book with private vendors, work through the hotel's concierge or other on location partners, or even work with popular tour providers like Viator. Whether you want to do a pizza tour of Naples or dog sled in the Canadian Northwest, we've got you covered.
How could you possibly know every destination? While I try to travel and get as much real world experience as possible at popular destinations, I can’t know everywhere a client might want to go. That’s why I have a network of hundreds of other advisors to ask for advice, hotels, and itineraries. I also partner with vetted local partners all over the world who often have people on location to help out, especially with trickier destinations.
Are your rates lower than booking on our own? Most major hotel brands feature rate parity across sites which means you’ll find the same rate everywhere. However with our supplier connections we can often offer exclusive amenities. These are property specific but often feature free breakfasts and resort credits which will save you money.
Can I use brand loyalty numbers when booking? Absolutely! If you are booking through a favorite brand we will make sure your loyalty information is on the reservation.
What about travel protection? I highly recommend protecting your trip with a travel protection plan. I work with several providers and would be glad to get you a quote.
How does booking flights work? SmartFlyer, my partner agency, has a dedicated air desk that has a direct look at all of the inventory of most airlines worldwide. They are great at crafting multi-city itineraries. The air desk is also there to support you 365 days a year should you have any flight issues. They can often rebook you with another airline if your flight is cancelled or delayed. I do charge a service fee for flight ticketing. Please ask for details.