Break free from the hassle of travel planning
Stop wasting hours trying to research and plan your vacations by yourself.
Get personalized advice from an award-winning travel expert.
Stop wasting hours trying to research and plan your vacations by yourself.
Get personalized advice from an award-winning travel expert.
I know, I know—the Leslie Knope in you wants to muscle through and DIY this
You’re super on top of everything else in your life, so spending hours going down internet rabbit holes and crowdsourcing info is just par for the course, right?
But you’re also no newbie—you’ve traveled a ton.
So you know how much work goes into planning a bomb-ass itinerary that meets your high standards.
On average, people spend 20-30 hours planning a trip—some even spend 40+ hours
What if you had an expert to co-create your ideal vacation with you?
Hola!
I'm Stephanie
As they say, it’s not what you know, it's WHO you know. AND NOW YOU KNOW ME.
I've helped hundreds of clients take the trips of their dreams
I used to plan trips for billionaires.
I’ve been in the industry since 2007 and spent 11 years working at one of the best private tour operators in the world. I’ve planned customized trips for HUNDREDS of demanding, discerning clients (think Succession, but nicer). In fact, I was named a Top Travel Specialist in Condé Nast Traveler in 2021 and 2022.
But whenever I was researching my own trips, I saw a lot of generic travel advice that just focused on fancy hotels or hot-right-now restaurants and missed the rest of the experience—or worse, was crowdsourced from a complete stranger.
That's why now I'm putting my skills, knowledge and expertise to work for YOU.
BEHIND
the COURSE
With gentle encouragement and an art director's eye, I collaborate with my couples to create effortlessly editorial images full of pure love, stunning backdrops, and natural moments (with just enough guidance!)
Light is my biggest inspiration, and I find weddings to be complex, joyous, fashion-filled, emotional, utterly beautiful celebrations that I can't get enough of.
ENNEAGRAM 8, CREATIVE TO MY CORE, ARTIST, ROMANTIC, JANE AUSTIN STAN
Harpers Bazaar / Vogue
Marie Claire / Weddings Magazine
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As a globally celebrated wedding photographer with nearly two decade’s experience, Tec Petaja brings an innate knowledge of composition, mood, and light to every moment he captures.
About
Author
the
Harpers Bazaar / Vogue
Marie Claire / Weddings Magazine
01
With my expert guidance, you’ll cut through the noise and arrive at your destination confident that you have the most interesting and efficient itinerary, while still leaving room for discovery and exploration.
02
I’ll pull from my years of expertise to layer in recommendations for the TOP things to see and do (and eat) each day—so you can skip the internet rabbit holes.
03
Where you spend your downtime is a big part of the travel experience, and you want to know that room is going to be worth what you're paying (hotel prices these days!).
If you want the best rooms, the best value, and the best treatment, you need a pro to book your hotels.
“You always have the best recommendations for travel, restaurants, and local attractions. You were the one who told us to go to a ryokan in Hakone as a stop on our honeymoon and it's now one of my favorite places on earth.”
— Sheila S. | Chicago, IL
I’ll tap into my years of expertise to create an itinerary with the most worthwhile destinations, the best pace, the most efficient logistics, and my top hotel recommendations.
Send feedback on the initial itinerary and I’ll revise it based on your preferences and requirements.
I’ll provide a mix of must-see highlights and insider spots, so you never have to wonder which are the best places; you’ll be free to take them or leave them based on your mood, energy levels, and in-the-moment vibes.
If you hate questionnaires, send an email; if you’re super busy, send a voice or video note; if you want to chat it out, jump on a call or a Zoom. You’ve got preferences, I’ve got options.
Get more out of your trip with cultural and historical context and even useful phrases in the local language.
Practical advice so you're not scratching your head wondering what to pack, how much to tip, what shape the plugs are, which days a site is open, or how to get from place to place.
Fun extras like movies, TV shows, books, recipes, and even playlists to get you excited for your trip and keep the vibes going when you get home.
I’ll give my top picks for luxury hotels in each of your destinations, based on what matters most to YOU, and book them so you can take advantage of my partnerships and added-value benefits.
Once you've onboarded, the whole process—including initial itinerary, revision, final approval, and booking hotels—takes about two weeks.
Because of the highly personalized nature of this service, I only take 5 clients per month. Make sure you're one of them.
Planning fee starts at $580 for itineraries of up to 10 days. Apply now.
"We'll remember this trip for years to come"
Thank you for your attention to all the details to make our trip so special. I wouldn’t have found the beautiful winery hotel on my own, and it was the most memorable part of our trip. It is truly a special place, and one which we will remember for many years to come.
We will definitely be consulting you for any future trips and will recommend you to our friends.
— Nicole P., Boston, MA
"Our honeymoon was great—everything went smoothly and we really liked the hotels"
The trip was great and everything went smoothly. We really liked the hotels you recommended and appreciated that the ones in Edinburgh were near the train station—your recommendation to take the train to London was a great lower-stress option to flying.
— Adam R., Dove Canyon, CA
"Perfect vacation"
Just returned from a great trip to Maine! The itinerary was perfect, hotels just right, and recommendations spot on. Perfect vacation."
— Mary R., Bellevue, WA
Ready to take your next trip to the next level?
Fill in a few quick details about your trip to get an instant quote and book directly
OR
for my
toe-dippers!
If you have questions or prefer to talk first, book a Destination Discovery Call (I like to call them Disco Calls! 🪩🕺)
* Requires a $75 courtesy fee, which will later be applied toward any service you decide to book
This is for you if:
You don't want handholding while you travel, but you know you need a game plan before you go
Your head is spinning from all the random advice you're finding on the internet and the recommendations you're getting from friends
You want to simplify the travel planning process dramatically
You want to make sure you're squeezing all the juice out of your limited vacation days (but that it also feels like a vacation)
It's probably not for you if...
You prefer to just wing it and don't see the value in pre-planning your trip
You have plenty of spare time, love reading online forums, and know how to judge what is and isn't worth it
You understand the logistics and know how to create the ideal pace, without wasting time OR overloading your days
You don't care what hotel you stay in and are okay with maybe missing the coolest experiences
Between the flights, the hotels, the restaurants, the sightseeing, the shopping, and, let's be real, those new outfits NEED just for this trip (THERE's the girl math! 😜)—you're going to be dropping thousands of dollars on this vacation.
Isn't it worth spending a few hundred more to make sure it's going to be exactly what you want it to be?
When you book your hotels through me, the added-value benefits alone are worth AT LEAST $100 per night—often more like several hundred.
That adds up to WAY MORE VALUE than my planning fee.
So you're actually coming out ahead.
This service includes an optimized itinerary outline with daily recommendations and VIP luxury hotel bookings. Please note that the itinerary outline includes curated suggestions and touring highlights but is not a full, day-by-day itinerary. If you’d like an in-depth destination guide, or for me to handle concierge bookings for restaurants, performances, transfers, etc., you can add those services on. Click here to get a quote.
Charging a planning fee is standard among travel advisors, as it covers our time and expertise.
In my case, you’re getting top-notch advice and recommendations gleaned from my 15 years of industry experience. For 11 of those years, I planned ultraluxury private tours that included the VERY BEST of everything, and I’m giving you access to that knowledge and expertise at a fraction of the cost. I’m also saving you HOURS of research and planning.
I make a commission on hotel bookings, which allows me to keep my fee low. You pay the same price for hotels as if you booked directly.
But by going through me, you get HUNDREDS of dollars worth of added value, like free breakfast, hotel credits, complimentary upgrades, and more, which add up to A LOT more than the cost of my planning fee. So really, you’re coming out ahead (and that’s not even girl math).
Win-win!
Charging for the call benefits both of us because your time is valuable, as is mine.
On your end, it’s really a courtesy fee so I make sure I’m not sitting on an empty Zoom call.
On my end, it’s a way for you to dip a toe before taking the plunge, so I want to make sure you’re getting something out of it. Whether you decide to book with me or not, I want you hang up with your questions answered and a clear path forward.
If you don’t, I’ll refund the call fee.
And if you do decide to book my services, the cost of the call will be applied toward the final payment.
I’ll tap into my hotel partnerships to get you added-value benefits like free breakfast, complimentary upgrades, spa credits, and more. I'll also reconfirm the booking a couple weeks ahead to make sure everything is in order, and VIP you before you arrive to request extra-special treatment.
Yes! I only work with 5-star hotels (or best-available, depending on the destination) since they're my expertise and where I can provide added value through my partnerships. BUT, there's a range within that, and I’ll help you find the right luxury hotel for YOU.
Technically the benefits may be the same on paper, but the relationships are where it’s at. THAT'S how you get the best rooms, the upgrades, and the personalized, VIP treatment.
Consider this: whereas you may only stay at a hotel once, I’m potentially booking it again and again, so they want to keep me (i.e. YOU) happy.
And if you’re part of a hotel loyalty program, why not book through me and STACK your benefits?
I can point you in the right direction, but this service doesn’t include these kinds of arrangements. If you need these, I recommend booking my Concierge Travel Planning service instead.
Yes, as part of this service, I can book small luxury cruises that essentially serve as hotels during part of your trip. Examples would be cruises on the Peruvian Amazon, in the Galapagos, or on the Nile. I work with these regularly and know the products well.
I’m also happy to book villas that are part of a larger resort, which I believe provide an ideal “best of both worlds” option. However, I do not book private or independent villas.
It really depends on your comfort level. For this kind of trip, most services will be refundable (I will make sure you have clear cancellation policies from each supplier), so you may not need it. However, trip interruption or delay coverage can still be helpful.
I can book travel insurance for you; feel free to email me with questions and I’m happy to help.
For most destinations, I think about 6 months out is the sweet spot to ensure availability and avoid disappointment. Some destinations and peak seasons may require planning a year in advance. That said, working with a pro can be extra helpful for last-minute trips (please note that I charge a supplement for crunch-time arrangements).
If you have questions about timing your trip, feel free to email me or book a Destination Discovery Call.
Absolutely—I’ve talked MANY clients through this over the years! I recommend booking a Destination Discovery Call so I can get to know you and what you want for your vacation. Then I can recommend some destinations and give you next steps.
Pretty much. I haven’t been everywhere, but I know a lot about a lot of places, and if I don’t have the answer, I have the resources and connections to get it. If I can’t help you, I’ll refund you.
I’ve been in the travel industry since 2007 and have won awards for my expertise. At my previous job, top travel advisors came to ME for their most important clients.
So if you want to know you’re getting TOP-NOTCH recommendations and planning, I’m your girl.
Yes ma’am! In fact, that’s the perfect reason to work with a pro: I can eliminate the hassle of researching and make sure your itinerary includes EXACTLY what you want.
I totally get the thrill of planning your own trips—it’s part of the adventure!
But imagine pairing your vision with my expertise to co-create an unforgettable journey. I’ll streamline the logistics and cut through the noise, saving you countless hours of research and ensuring you get the BEST experience and value.
Then you’ll get to focus on the exciting parts of crafting your trip, like exploring the history, culture, and culinary delights of your destination.
Possibly, but doing all the research yourself takes a LOT of time and effort, and the results of any of the above options would still be unvetted (and sometimes ChatGPT just makes shit up).
If you want an amazing trip, you need expert guidance and great recommendations.
And if you were already planning to splash out on this trip, then all the more reason to hire an expert. (In fact, I would argue that the more you’re spending, the more help you need.)
You want to make sure that money’s well spent, not wasted on poor logistics, crappy hotel rooms, or mediocre restaurants.
Ready to take your next trip to the next level?
Fill in a few quick details about your trip to get an instant quote and book directly
OR
for my
toe-dippers!
If you have questions or prefer to talk first, book a Destination Discovery Call (I like to call them Disco Calls! 🪩🕺)
* Requires a $75 courtesy fee, which will later be applied toward any service you decide to book