Frequently Asked (and Brilliantly Answered) Questions
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. The world of travel planning can seem a bit mysterious, but it doesn’t have to be. Our goal is transparency and collaboration. Below, we’ve answered some of the questions that might be bubbling up as you consider your next grand adventure.
The Lowdown on Working with Us
Q: What exactly is a travel advisor? Is that just a fancy term for a travel agent?
A: Think of a travel agent as an order-taker and a travel advisor as a master architect. While a traditional agent might book a pre-packaged trip, a travel advisor designs one from the ground up, just for you. We’re your personal travel connoisseur, your logistics wizard, and your advocate on the road. We take the time to get to know you—your passions, your pet peeves, your travel dreams—and then we use our expertise and global connections to build a journey that’s uniquely yours.
Q: Why shouldn't I just book my trip online myself?
A: The internet is a magical, chaotic place, isn't it? You can certainly spend hours, days, or even weeks sifting through a sea of conflicting reviews and "deals." But your time is precious, and your vacation is an investment.
Working with us replaces all that stress and uncertainty with peace of mind and exclusive perks. We have personal relationships with partners around the world, which often translates into complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, resort credits, and other VIP treatment you simply can’t get by clicking "book." We handle the complexity so you can focus on the fun.
Q: Who is the ideal Follow the Goose Travel client?
A: Our clients are curious travelers who value their time and crave authentic, seamless experiences. They are busy professionals, adventurous families, and discerning couples who understand that the how of travel is just as important as the where. They aren’t looking for the cheapest deal; they’re looking for the best value for their investment and a journey that will leave them with stories to tell for years to come.
The Nitty-Gritty: Our Process
Q: I'm interested! What are the actual steps to working with you?
A: We're thrilled to hear it! Our process is designed to be collaborative and enjoyable.
The Conversation: It all starts with a consultation call. We’ll chat about your travel style, your initial ideas, and what a dream trip looks like to you.
The Curation: This is where the magic happens. We take your vision and tap into our expertise to design a custom proposal with a sample itinerary.
The Collaboration: We’ll review the proposal together and fine-tune every detail until it’s absolutely perfect. Want to add a cooking class in Tuscany or swap a museum tour for a market visit? Done.
The Confirmation: Once you’re delighted with the plan, we handle all the bookings and confirmations—flights, hotels, tours, transfers, you name it.
The Countdown: Before you depart, you’ll receive a beautiful, detailed final itinerary with everything you need, all in one place (and accessible on our handy travel app!). We’re here for any last-minute questions and will be checking in behind the scenes throughout your trip.
Let's Talk Money
Q: Do you charge a fee just to get started?
A: A great question, and we believe in full transparency from the very first hello. To kick off the official, in-depth research and bespoke design process, we do have a $100 initial consultation fee.
Think of this as our way of making our partnership official! It allows us to dive deep and dedicate our professional time to mapping out your perfect journey right from the start.
And here’s the best part: this isn't an extra fee, it's a deposit on your future adventure. When you confirm your booking with us, that $100 is applied directly as a credit to your trip. It’s simply the first step in making your travel dreams a reality.
Q: How do you get paid? Are your services free?
A: Ah, the million-dollar question (that thankfully doesn't cost a million dollars to answer!). Our compensation comes from two primary sources, depending on the trip:
Built-In Commissions: For many hotel, cruise, and tour bookings, we are paid a commission by the supplier after you travel. These commissions are already built into the public price, so you are not paying more to use our services. In fact, thanks to our partnerships, you often get more value (like those room upgrades and credits we mentioned). Think of it as the supplier thanking us for sending them such a wonderful client—you!
Planning & Design Fees: For crafting complex, multi-part, bespoke itineraries, we charge a transparent, up-front planning and design fee. This fee honors the extensive professional work, research, and logistical expertise that goes into designing a completely custom journey from scratch.
We are always 100% transparent about our fee structure from our very first conversation.
Q: Can you work with my budget?
A: Absolutely. Great travel is not about spending the most money; it's about spending it wisely. During our initial consultation, we will have an open conversation about your desired budget. This allows us to make recommendations and design a trip that provides the best possible value and experience for your investment.
Our Travel Specialities
Q: We're thinking of a destination wedding or honeymoon. Can you help with that?
A: Absolutely! This is one of my favorite parts of the job. Planning a wedding is already a full-time gig; planning one in another country can feel like launching a rocket. That’s where I come in.
For destination weddings, I act as your logistical fairy godmother. I’ll handle everything from finding the perfect resort and negotiating group room blocks to coordinating the travel for all your cherished (and sometimes-chaotic) guests. My job is to wrangle the travel details so you can focus on the vows, the views, and the champagne.
And when it comes to honeymoons, I’m a passionate expert in the art of romance. Forget generic beach packages. I specialize in crafting bespoke, story-worthy honeymoons that are a true reflection of you as a couple—whether that means overwater bungalows in the Maldives, a culinary adventure through Italy, or a cozy cabin under the Northern Lights.
Q: Can you book trips for large groups or special events?
A: Yes! I love planning multi-generational family trips, celebratory getaways, and small group adventures. Please reach out to me with the details of your group, and we can discuss a customized approach.
Q: Do you only plan vacations, or can you handle corporate travel?
A: While crafting dream vacations is my passion, I apply the same principles of precision and panache to the world of business travel. I absolutely offer full-service planning for corporate and incentive trips.
For standard corporate travel, I provide an efficient, high-touch service for busy executives who require seamless, stress-free arrangements.
For incentive trips, I specialize in designing those truly unforgettable "thank you" experiences for your top performers. These aren’t just trips; they are powerful motivational tools and brand-defining moments. From a buyout of a luxury lodge for your sales team to a custom-designed cultural immersion for your executives, I handle every detail to ensure your company's goals are met and your team returns inspired.
All About the Trip
Q: What happens if something goes wrong while I'm traveling?
A: This is one of the most important reasons to work with an advisor! Should any unexpected hiccups occur—a delayed flight, a missed connection—we are your primary advocate. You won’t be stuck navigating foreign call centers. You have a direct line to us, and we will work tirelessly behind the scenes to get your trip back on track as smoothly as possible.
Q: I have a mountain of credit card points. Can you help me use them?
A: Ah, the coveted mountain of points! We love a savvy traveler. And we have some fantastic news on this front: we are now beginning to offer services to help our clients get the most out of their credit card and airline loyalty points. Since every loyalty program has its own set of quirks, this is a highly specialized part of our planning service. The best way forward is to mention your points stash during our consultation call so we can craft a strategy that works for you.
Q: Do I really need travel insurance? And why do you recommend Faye?
A: Let’s be frank: travel insurance has a reputation for being complicated and, well, a bit of a bore. But protecting your investment—and more importantly, your peace of mind—is one of the smartest things you can do. Life happens, and you want to be covered if it does.
That's why I exclusively provide my clients with a quote from Faye Travel Insurance. Think of Faye as your trusty, tech-savvy travel sidekick. They’ve replaced confusing paperwork with a brilliant, easy-to-use app that does it all—from sending real-time flight alerts to helping you file a claim in minutes. If you have a common travel snafu like a delayed bag, they can even send you instant reimbursement funds through their Faye Wallet, so you can buy what you need without waiting. It’s modern, it’s human-centric, and their customer care is fantastic. Simply put, their service reflects the same high standards I have for your entire journey.
Q: My premium credit card already has travel insurance. Why would I need a separate policy?
A: This is such a smart question, and it's a topic where a little expert advice goes a long way. While it's great that premium cards offer some protection, thinking of it as comprehensive insurance is one of the biggest pitfalls in travel planning.
The best way to think of it is with an umbrella analogy. The coverage on your credit card is like a small, compact travel umbrella—it’s handy in a light drizzle, but it won’t hold up in a real storm. A dedicated policy from a partner like Faye is a full-coverage, storm-proof canopy.
Here are the key differences that truly matter:
Primary vs. Secondary Coverage: Most credit card plans offer secondary coverage. This means if you have a medical issue, you have to file with your personal health insurance first, pay your deductible, and then battle for whatever isn’t covered. A Faye policy provides primary coverage, handling the issue directly and saving you a world of paperwork and out-of-pocket costs.
The "Right" Reasons to Cancel: Credit cards have a very strict, narrow list of covered reasons for trip cancellation. A standalone policy covers a much wider range of real-life scenarios. More importantly, it gives you the option to add "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) coverage, which provides incredible flexibility if your plans simply change.
Serious Medical Protection: This is critical. Credit card coverage for emergency medical expenses is often very low, and it almost never includes emergency medical evacuation. An evacuation can cost over $100,000. For true peace of mind, this is a non-negotiable, and it’s a core feature of a proper insurance policy.
Real, Human Support: When things go wrong, do you want to be navigating a bank's automated call center? Or do you want to be on a simple, modern app chatting with a support specialist dedicated to travel problems? That's the Faye difference.
Our job is to ensure you're protected from every angle so you can travel with genuine, stress-free confidence. A dedicated policy is the only way to achieve that.
Have a question we didn’t answer?
Every great journey starts with a simple conversation. We’d love to hear from you.