For travel to Europe, Latin American and Asia, I recommend you reach out 4-6 months prior to your travel date; for travel to Africa or River Cruises 12+ months. Mexico or the Caribbean, about 3-4 months prior. For travel during peak times (spring/summer break, the December holidays) and with large groups, I recommend planning as far in advance as possible to ensure better availability and pricing. 

I charge a $200 planning fee after our complimentary consultation and before we begin the design process for multi-destination trips and $100 for single-stop vacations. This covers research, itinerary design, and logistics. Travel costs (flights, hotels, tours) are billed separately.  

The planning fee is non-refundable, as it covers the time, research, and expertise that go into designing your custom itinerary. That’s why I always start with a consultation—to make sure MH Curated Travel is the right fit for your vacation before moving forward.

Deposits and final payment schedules vary by destination, hotel, and tour operator. I’ll outline everything clearly during the planning process so there are no surprises.

Absolutely! I include three rounds of revisions to fine-tune your itinerary. Additional changes can be made as needed, with clear communication along the way. Once your trip deposit is made, each tour operator has its own policies regarding changes, and I’ll walk you through those details during the planning process.

Travel protection (insurance) helps safeguard your vacation investment if unexpected changes or disruptions occur. I never travel without it—and neither do most of our clients.

Depending on the coverage you select, it may reimburse you for lost luggage, missed flights, or illness while abroad. It’s also important to know that many U.S. medical plans don’t cover international care, making travel protection essential. In some cases, we can secure “cancel for any reason” coverage for extra peace of mind. As your advisor, I’ll give you the tools to choose the right protection for your trip.

The biggest benefits are time and trust. You could spend hours researching across dozens of sites and still end up with conflicting advice. Reviews? They’re based on someone else’s priorities—not necessarily yours. Bloggers and influencers? Often just a few days’ stay and photos built for clicks.

As a certified travel advisor, I partner with vetted, in-country specialists who live and work in the country you’re visiting. Together, we get to know you—your style, your aspirations, your must-haves and design journeys that truly fit. And if the unexpected happens—flight delays, cancellations, weather closures, even civil unrest—I have the connections and solutions to keep your trip on track.

With luxury travel, it’s all about what - and who - you know: I call the General Manager at the hotel you’re about to check into in Paris to see if an upgrade is available. I’m on a first-name basis; you, on the other hand, probably are not. If a hotel’s website says it’s fully booked, there’s a good chance that I can still secure a reservation.

Bottom line: Travel advisors have way more connections than you. When we are not working (i.e., after-hours), there's almost always a 24/7 in-country service number you can call. That is one of the things that distinguishes a travel professional from the internet; whether it's a flight cancellation, issues at a hotel, an unexpected illness, or a train/ferry strike abroad, a travel professional has the best connections and can quickly jump in to navigate the roadblocks to find a solution.

Great question! Virtuoso is a by-invitation-only network of the world’s most coveted hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and travel advisors. Each is carefully vetted and continually re-evaluated for excellence.

For you, this means access to exclusive perks—like complimentary upgrades, special amenities, and one-of-a-kind experiences—that aren’t available when booking on your own. Through our Virtuoso affiliation, I can open doors to the most luxurious and thoughtfully curated travel experiences across the globe.

While we like to say we can handle almost everything, there are a few things outside our scope. I don’t book owner-direct rentals like Airbnb or VRBO since I can’t vouch for the quality or on-site support. However, I do have access to vetted villa and residence options that come with concierge-level service.

I don’t take on flight-only requests or one-off transfers or tours for trips you’ve planned independently. Our industry partners work on full-package arrangements reserved for clients booking full vacations with me. That said, I’m happy to recommend reputable companies if you’d like to book standalone tours on your own.

Lastly, while I know many clients love using points or miles, I can’t accept them as payment. Those must be redeemed directly through your loyalty program.