WELCOME GUIDE
& CLIENT HANDBOOK
I am so happy you’re here.
Hi there and thanks so much for entrusting me with the task of helping you achieve your travel dreams!
Caio. Aloha. Bonjour. Ola. Hola. Hello.
I'm ecstatic to welcome you into our Wishes to Waves Travel Co community, where together we can make something extraordinary. It's an honor to get to know you, and it means everything that you've chosen me as your go-to Travel Agent. Please take a moment to browse through this guidebook; it'll help both of us better understand each other & how exactly we'll work as a team and what you can expect moving forward. So here's to new beginnings.
Your trust and confidence mean everything to me, so please take a few minutes to read through this packet of information that will empower both of us to have an incredible, seamless experience working together! Consider this your handbook on how we’ll collaborate to create your dream vacation.
On this page, you’ll find the details on how to get in touch, give me feedback, and maximize your vacation planning experience.
We’re officially in this together,
and I’m thrilled to be on your team!
How we will
COMMUNICATE
HOW
After our initial discovery call or meeting, communication during your trip planning process will be mainly through email. If you would like to discuss your trip to any extent by phone, I am more than happy to do so and we can schedule a call to do that. To ensure my attention is focused completely on you and your vacation, please preschedule calls when possible by booking it through my calendar here: CALL CALENDAR (Also, I understand completely if an urgent concern comes up, so exceptions will be made, of course!)
TRAVELJOY
We will communicate primarily through TravelJoy email. Your emails are always important to me and I will always answer them as promptly as possible. I prioritize emails by current travelers first, followed by confirmed travelers. Please refrain from text messaging questions or information. Keeping our communication completely through email helps keep a running history of our conversations and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
OFFICE HOURS
My office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:30pm CST.
However, if you are traveling, I am available around the clock for you.
Please be mindful, I may not always pick up the phone or respond to you right way, particularly on the weekend as this time is allocated to clients who are traveling. However I always try to get back to you within one business day.
Step by Step Planning Timeline
1
2
Client Onboarding
Once your ready to move forward with your travel plans, you will be onboarded which is really just a fancy way of saying you fill in a booking form, make payment of the planning services fee if necessary & I add your dates to my client calendar.
3
Research & Proposal
This is where the fun begins - everything from destination research, creating custom itineraries & even supplier negotiations is all done for you.
4
Travel Presentation
Soon I will be ready to present your custom itinerary & pricing proposal for your review. At this point you will have the opportunity to request adjustments to get everything just right.
5
Your Vacation
Lets start things off with what your ultimate vacation looks like. I I will ask alot of questions because I want to get to know you, your preferences & how I can help you.
Booking & Next Steps
Once you are happy with the proposed travel plans I will commence the booking process & advise next steps for payment schedules, necessary travel documents & other relevant info.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Perfecting your trip is my goal, and it is most easily achieved by focusing on three key elements.
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HONESTY
Your honesty and feedback throughout the entire process ensures we are creating the perfect vacation for you. I can only know you as well as you allow me to know you, so please, let’s be fast friends!
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SPECIFICITY
The more specific you can be about yourself and your desires for your vacation, the better chance I have to get it right for you.
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TRUST
Trust is essential to any relationship, and ours is no exception! Even though we will certainly be collaborating, your trust in my knowledge, experience, and expertise is what allows me to create meaningful, delightful vacations specific to each of my clients. There is no point in both of us doing the same work, so please allow me to do what I’ve been trained and hired by you to do!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
When will I receive my travel documents?
A: The most convenient option for your documents will be my completely electronic itineraries. These e-documents can be accessed on your smartphone at all times on your trip and shared with loved ones who want to know your itinerary as well. When the time comes, I will send you instructions on how to utilize them to the fullest. If you prefer a hard copy of your itinerary, just let me know, but more often than not, my clients end up choosing the electronic versions.
How do I make payments?
A: Once we confirm your itinerary and you are ready to make a deposit, I will send over a secure credit card authorization form and invoice through TravelJoy. Your credit card isn’t charged immediately upon authorization, but what this does is give me all of the information I need as well as permission to make charges on your behalf. Your information is then saved, so you can easily revisit your invoice and make future payments quickly and easily.
Can I make changes to my trip?
A: Yes, absolutely! After you’ve looked everything over, you and I can talk through any changes that you would like to make. I offer 3 complimentary changes to your itinerary.
How can I reach you?
A: After our initial consultation call, the best way for us to communicate is through message/emailss on TravelJoy. If you have something more urgent to discuss, we can find a time to schedule a phone call. Of course, while traveling, you will have my personal contact information so that I'm only a phone call away to help should a need arise. This information will be provided with your final documents and farewell email.
Do you book AirBnbs?
A: No, I am not able to book with Airbnb for my clients. Because of Airbnbs protection policy for their owners, the person staying at the home must be the one who books. Additionally, Airbnb negatively impacts the economy and culture of the destinations I book most often, and has caused many problems in major cities around the world. Because of this and my lack of ability to properly vet and vouch for an Airbnb property, I do not include booking Airbnbs as a service.
What if I need to cancel my trip?
A: In today's travel climate, I understand how important flexibility and the option to cancel your trip has become. Part of my job as your travel advisor is to educate you about each aspect of your trip's cancellation policy. The tour guides, hotels, properties, and experiences I curate for my clients often have their own unique set of cancellation policies, so I will include all cancellation details clearly in your trip proposal.
Do you promise the cheapest price?
A: My job is to find you the best value on vacation, although not necessarily the lowest cost. Pricing, while very important, is only one of many factors I consider when putting together the best package. I take my clients’ budgets very seriously and treat them with the same respect I would want my own vacation budget treated, but ultimately I keep your best interest in mind and make my travel recommendations with all relevant factors considered. Also, I am unable to provide line-item pricing, as your package consists of many components.
