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How our trip planning works

By the Upfront Travel planning desk. Research and drafts are prepared with AI assistance, and every quote is checked against live prices before you pay anything.

You tell us where you're thinking of going, roughly when and who's going. We do the research and hand you a plan you can book in an evening. Here is exactly what happens, step by step.

1. You send a trip idea (free)

Use the Plan My Trip form or the free itinerary builder. Two minutes. "Somewhere warm in February" is a fine answer. Never send card numbers, passport numbers or passwords. We never need them.

2. You get a first draft (free)

Within one business day you get a first draft with:

• Three options: budget, balanced and premium, each with an estimated trip total.
• A day-by-day outline paced so no day runs longer than about 9 hours of activities.
• Season notes: for example, Caribbean hurricane season runs June through November.

These are estimates from typical prices, clearly labeled.

3. You approve a written quote

When you like a direction, we check live prices and send a written quote. It shows the confirmed trip total and the planning fee.

The planning fee is a dollar amount on your quote, based on your trip. It applies to individual and group trips. You see it on the quote before you pay anything.

4. You get your ready-to-book package

After the fee is paid, you receive the package:

• your final day-by-day itinerary;
• the exact hotel, flight and tour choices with booking links;
• deposit and final-payment dates;
• cancellation terms for each booking;
• a pre-trip checklist.

Two rounds of changes are included.

5. You book directly, and we stay in touch

You book and pay airlines, hotels and tour companies yourself, so your money goes straight to them and their protections apply to you. We send a checklist 14 days before you leave and a final-details note 3 days before. After you're home, we check in.

Want ongoing help?

Travel concierge is $49 a month. It covers changes, rebooking help, disruption alerts and price watching for people who travel often.

What we never do

• Book or charge anything without your written OK.
• Hold your card, passport or password details.
• Promise a price before it's checked live.