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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DOES OUTLIER JOURNEYS EARN AN INCOME?
A common misconception is that by utilizing a travel agency / tour provider, a traveler winds up paying far more than if you book the trip yourselves. That’s not how the travel industry works. Boutique lodges and guiding outfitters work with planners like ourselves and pay us a commission because we remove the burden of customer service from their plates and they can focus on what they do best - providing amazing experiences. We generally can offer the same price on a trip that you would receive if booking direct, but we save you hours and hours of research and planning, often add value in the form of amenities, upgrades and more, and most importantly, are there to support and trouble shoot when needed.
DO YOU CHARGE FEES?
We charge a modest custom planning fee starting at $300 per couple/$500 for family for full-service trip planning. This is a nonrefundable fee that is not applied to the cost of your trip, but covers the many hours that we put into researching and designing a custom trip proposal that fits your interests and budget.
For trips departing within 4 weeks of initial contact, we charge an additional $700 rush fee.
HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT VISA OR COVID-19 RELATED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
We touch upon this in our initial consultation call to ensure that travelers understand the current entry requirements for a destination and are able to comply. For resources on country-specific information, check out our post "Dust Off Your Passport: Tips to Get You Travel Ready After a Long Hiatus"
CAN YOU BOOK ONLY HOTELS?
Yes! As members of Serandipians by Traveller Made we have access to exclusive rates, perks and amenities that aren't otherwise available at many of the world's finest independent luxury hotels. Think complementary room upgrades & breakfast, late check-in/check-out and F&B credit. If you know your travel dates, your destination and would like us to check rates and availability at a property, please reach out. There's no additional fee for a hotel-only booking.
HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER?
First - complete our travel request form. Once the form is received we'll schedule an initial 30-minute consultation to get to know you personally and determine that we are a good match for your needs. After you pay the custom planning fee, we craft a detailed itinerary proposal, complete with hotels or lodges, privately guided experiences and transportation. Once you've approved our proposal we require a deposit to confirm your trip, typically around 25% of the overall trip cost, with final payment due 90-60 days prior to your departure. In the meantime we can assist with air fare, travel insurance and all manner of pre-trip preparation so you can sit back and anticipate your next adventure with excitement!
WHAT KIND OF TRIPS DO YOU PLAN?
We put great care into getting to know you and understanding your style (and we are up front with would-be travelers when our travel styles are not in alignment.) Our personal style - as exemplified in our Signature Journeys - is a blend of immersive adventure, approachable luxury and sustainable travel with a positive impact. We don't book large cruises, big group tours and try to steer our travelers away from large, international chain hotels or big all-inclusive resorts and towards locally-owned properties with an authentic sense of place.