I plan trips for families and a lot of friends of friends.
I grew up on my dad's tour buses in Western North Carolina, and I've been doing some version of this ever since. Book a hotel through me and you pay the hotel's own flexible rate, the same as booking direct, and the hotel adds something for my clients: usually a better room, breakfast or a credit.
It takes about four minutes. Nothing gets booked or charged — it's just how I figure out whether I'm the right person for your trip.
Alden Schell, New York
When you work with me, you're getting more than me:
- Fora's air desk
- If you ticket your flights through me (Fora charges $50 per person per booking), you get a 24/7 line for emergencies within 24 hours of travel.
- Someone on the ground
- In-country, and they speak the language. Whenever I can, that's a local company or a guide from the place itself, so what you spend there stays there. I can't be there with you; they can.
- The advisors I trade notes with
- I'm a Pro advisor with Fora, which puts me alongside advisors all over who share what they've seen firsthand: the hotel that's slipped, the guide worth booking, the local team that actually picks up. If I haven't been somewhere, someone I trust has.
When something changes mid-trip — a cancelled connection, a villa that doesn't look like the photos — these are the people who handle it.
A big winter storm threatened my sunny beach vacation in Mexico and Alden reached out with alternate itineraries to be sure I skipped the storm and not my time by the pool. She anticipated the travel hiccup and supported me through rebooking which made my vacation smooth and easy.
Most trips are seamless, and that's because of the relationships and work that happen months before you leave. I'm calling those folks early, laying the groundwork for a successful, easeful trip. You won't see most of it (which is sort of the point).
What I'm checking
- Which room you're actually getting
- “Connecting rooms” can mean guaranteed or it can mean requested. We'll know before you're standing at the front desk with the kids.
- Whether it's open
- Pools and restaurants can be seasonal, and the thing you picked the hotel for might be closed the week you're there. I check before you book.
Full trip design
Hand it to me
Starting at $750 per week of travel
Give me dates, who's coming and a budget. I plan it, book all of it, and step in if something goes wrong while you're there. Three rounds of revisions included.
An expert check
The Second Opinion
$350
You've planned it and you're stuck. I check the rates, tell you what I'd change, and tell you when you've already got it right.
Rooms and access
The Hotel Desk
Free
You know where you're going. Send me the hotel and dates. The hotel pays me, and you usually get more: a better room, breakfast, a credit.
Mostly families, plus queer travelers and couples. I only take a few trips a month, so I can actually do all of this well.
How each one works →Alden was incredible to work with! She recommended the perfect options based on my needs and the neighborhoods I wanted to spend time in and ultimately helped me pick the best hotel for my budget and trip agenda.
Tell me about the trip.
Send me your dates (or a rough window), a destination if you have one, and about what you want to spend. I'll tell you what I'd do and what it would cost. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you that too.
Tell me about the tripI read every form myself and usually reply within two business days.