I charge a 10% service fee on the total trip package price for personalized itinerary design, supplier sourcing/booking, perks requests, and full support before, during, and after travel. To begin work I require a Planning Retainer based on trip complexity; the retainer is credited to your 10% service fee at booking. Supplier deposits are separate and due after accepted proposal.

What your service fee/planning retainer covers

• Personalized consultation to understand preferences, budget, and trip goals
• Custom itinerary design tailored to client needs (day‑by‑day plans)
• Supplier research and price comparison across lines/operators
• Securing reservations, holds, and optimal room/cabin categories
• Negotiating perks, upgrades, and value‑adds on the client’s behalf
• Managing complex logistics (multi‑city routings, transfers, visas)
• Coordinating special requests (dietary, mobility, celebrations, accessibility)
• Preparing documentation: booking confirmations, itineraries, tickets, and travel notes
• Payment management and invoicing (deposit scheduling, supplier payments)
• Travel insurance sourcing and claims assistance guidance
• On‑trip 24/7 support and problem resolution (rebookings, supplier issues, emergencies)
• Post‑trip follow‑up, feedback collection, and account preference updates
• Access to vetted local guides, exclusive experiences, and trusted supplier contacts
• Monitoring and advising on schedule changes, travel advisories, and entry requirements
• Concierge services (restaurant reservations, event bookings, special arrangements- if available at venue.)

Planning Retainer Tiers & Criteria (Planning Retainer is due upon signing/within 48 hours of proposal acceptance).

• Quick Getaways / Simple Bookings — Retainer: $150
  Criteria: single‑city hotel + flight or standard cruise cabin; minimal customization; fewer than 2 supplier holds.

• Standard Custom Trips — Retainer: $250
  Criteria: multi‑city packages, guided tours, family itineraries, or cruise + land combos; some customization; 2–4 supplier holds and up to several proposals.

• Complex / Multi‑city / Group & Luxury — Retainer: $450
  Criteria: multi‑country routings, private guides or villas, group coordination, luxury/expedition bookings requiring extensive research and multiple supplier holds.

How fees work

• Service fee: 10% of the total trip cost (air + land + cruises + supplier‑charged components).
• Retainer application: The Planning Retainer you pay is applied (credited) to the 10% service fee when you book.
• Remaining service fee: If 10% of the trip exceeds your retainer, the remaining balance is due at booking. If the retainer equals or exceeds the calculated 10% service fee, the retainer is retained as the earned service fee.

Supplier deposits (separate)

• After you accept a proposal, supplier deposits required to confirm reservations must be paid in addition to any remaining service‑fee balance.
• Supplier deposits go directly to the supplier (collected and forwarded by us) and follow the supplier’s refund/cancellation rules. They are not part of the advisor service fee unless you instruct us to apply your retainer toward a deposit (see Exceptions below).

Payment timing & confirmation

• Proposal accepted → Advisor issues invoice showing: retainer credit, remaining service‑fee balance (if any), and required supplier deposit(s).
• Payment due:  To secure reservations, supplier deposits are due within 72 hours. For time‑sensitive availability or special promotions, deposits may be required within 24 hours; we will notify you if a shorter deadline applies. Bookings are confirmed once required payments are received and suppliers confirm availability. 

Refundability & substantive work

• Retainer refundable only if no substantive work has been performed (substantive work includes supplier research/availability checks, provisional holds, detailed proposals, or more than 45 minutes of dedicated planning). Once substantive work begins, the retainer becomes non‑refundable and is treated as earned/credited to the service fee.
• Once supplier payments are issued, any related amounts (including retainers applied to supplier deposits) are subject to supplier refund rules.

Examples

• $2,500 trip → 10% service fee = $250. If Standard retainer $250 paid → service fee covered; client owes supplier deposit(s) and remaining trip balance.
• $6,000 trip → 10% service fee = $600. If Complex retainer $450 paid → remaining service fee due at booking = $150; plus any supplier deposits.

Questions / payment assistance
Email jw@curationoftravel.com or call (318) 250‑5123 for custom quotes, group pricing, or payment plan requests.