Our Service
G’day,
Please make sure you read over this list very carefully. I know it is a long read, but I have put it together so you understand what you will get when you choose to work with us.
Please note that we are a Canadian Travel Company. All payments will be in Canadian Dollars.
Thanks,
Dianne.
Step 1: Initial Inquiry & Discovery Call
We understand that planning a trip is a big decision, and we want to ensure we are the right fit for each other before moving forward.
How It Works:
• First, reach out to us via email. Let us know where you’re looking to travel, your ideal timeframe, and any key details about your trip.
• We will assess if your trip aligns with our expertise and if we are a good fit to work together.
• If we mutually agree to move forward, you will be invited to schedule a 30-minute Discovery Call.
• This is not a detailed itinerary consultation—this call is an opportunity for us to understand your needs and for you to learn how we work.
• Discovery Calls are scheduled at a mutually convenient time (we do offer some weekend availability).
📌 Once we mutually agree to proceed, the next step is paying the retainer, after which you will receive our detailed pre-trip questionnaire.
Step 2: Reserve Our Service With a Retainer
We charge a non-refundable retainer of (Canadian) $1200.00 per couple if traveling for under 10 days in one country for One carefully crafted itinerary (no multiple versions). If you travel for longer or multiple countries, there may be an additional charge for the extra time it takes to design.
We only work with clients with a budget of (Canadian) $20000.00 or more per couple for the land portion, i.e., your hire car, land transfers in the country, accommodation, and some touring.
The land portion excludes international and domestic airfares, meals, fuel, travel insurance, and personal expenses.
Please note that the budget above does not constitute the minimum cost of a trip. It all depends on the level of accommodation, time of year, length of travel and touring, etc.
This retainer will be deducted from the cost of your trip when you make the final payment.
For trips longer than 10 days in either country, your budget will likely reach the threshold of CAD $20,000 per couple.
Why do we charge a retainer?
An itinerary can often take around 80 or more hours of work, especially now with the extended duration due to the pandemic. This involves extensive communication with the client, offices Down Under, and suppliers.
We found that sometimes the public had their itinerary designed and then decided to go to Mexico instead!
We believe our clients who have paid us deserve our time and service.
By requiring a retainer, we can ensure that we dedicate real time to those serious about traveling, rather than dealing with inquiries from people who may not end up working with us.
Important Booking Policies
• We do not book airfare-only trips. Our services are designed for fully customized itineraries that include accommodations, transfers, and experiences.
• We only book four-star and above accommodations unless there is no alternative (e.g., a remote area where only basic lodging is available for a one-night stay). We work with apartment stays, hotels, bed and breakfasts, boutique properties, and luxury lodges.
• We do not book Airbnb or unverified accommodations. Every property we book has been personally inspected by us, our trusted in-country partners, or industry professionals such as tourist board representatives. If a property is unfamiliar to us and does not meet our standards, we will not include it in your itinerary.
Loyalty Program & Rewards Information
• Hotel loyalty points and perks (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors) will not be available for bookings made through us, as these must be booked directly to receive benefits.
• Car hire bookings will not qualify for rental loyalty program benefits (e.g., Hertz Gold, Avis Preferred) under our contracted rates.
• Airfare booked through us may qualify for frequent flyer points if the fare class allows.
Step 3: The Retainer has been paid, and the Excitement of Watching Your Trip Fall Into Place
Once your retainer is paid, we’ll begin working on your detailed questionnaire and itinerary design. After we learn your preferred travel style and interests, we will create one carefully crafted itinerary (no multiple versions) just for you.
We work closely with our associate offices in all countries to ensure that the places we choose for your trip are perfectly suited to you—i.e., do you need a walk-in shower because of a back injury, or is the hotel undergoing renovations when you visit?
Because of the important ongoing relationships we have with our local operators, they prioritize working with our clients.
Once we have designed an itinerary, we will send it to you for review. Please note that our itineraries can be viewed online via a computer or a Travel App on your phone. This allows us to provide live updates, and you can access them even when you are on your trip.
After doing this for over 35 years, we generally know the right questions to ask our clients in our first itinerary to get what they want. If not, we will work with you until it’s right.
Your itinerary comes as one bulk package price. We receive special rates from our travel partners in the South Pacific, but our contracted rates include non-disclosure agreements. Therefore, there is no itemization on your land portion, but your flights will be quoted separately.
We have been doing this for so long that we can usually give you an idea of your expensive items and will always explain the benefits of why we have chosen a particular place for you. I.e., a central, secure location.
Then, it’s time to make all required payments and prepare this trip to roll!
Step 4: Have an Amazing Holiday
Besides answering questions during the designing process, we also support you with packing tips, how to get through airport tips, and anything else that we feel will be helpful to you for your trip down to our stomping ground.
We re-confirm everything before your trip to ensure it is as up-to-date as possible and that your flights, transfers, and tour times are still correct. We also confirm any special requests (e.g., a food allergy) with the tour supplier. Add our In-Country Support office details and our WhatsApp contact information.
Your final documents will be inside your Travel App approximately seven days before you depart, and we will send you a detailed step-by-step video to watch.
Off you go on your trip of a lifetime—but remember, we and our support offices are still here for you!
What Your Trip Includes:
✔ Tailor-made itinerary creation—one carefully crafted itinerary (no multiple versions)
✔ Personalized guidance throughout the entire process—from planning to travel
✔ Exclusive local expertise & insider knowledge—details only locals would know, based on 35+ years of experience
✔ Premium accommodations—handpicked 4-star and above properties
✔ Private airport transfers for seamless arrivals and departures
✔ Car hire (if needed)—excludes insurance, fuel, etc.
✔ Handpicked small-group and customized touring experiences
✔ 24/7 in-country emergency assistance—for urgent matters only
✔ Digital itinerary stored in an App—easy access with live updates
✔ Step-by-step video walk-through of your itinerary before departure
✔ WhatsApp access to us during your trip—for non-emergency questions (we are available but do try to sleep!)
Comprehensive Pre-Travel Guidance:
• Visa requirements & entry/exit procedures
• Immigration and customs guidance—clear instructions to make your airport arrival seamless
• Airport guidance—easy-to-follow tips to navigate check-in, security, and your destination airport
• Packing recommendations, local customs, and what to bring
• Phone & SIM card setup for seamless connectivity
• Tipping etiquette, banking, currency, and essential travel tips
• Driving instructions—clear guidelines for navigating roads, local driving laws, and tips for a safe, enjoyable journey
• Travel insurance guidance—recommended providers and key questions to ask to ensure full coverage
• Airfare guidance—even if you book your own flights, we’ll advise you on the best routes to ensure a smooth journey, so you spend more time doing what you love instead of sitting on a plane
Ongoing Oversight & Support:
✔ Your trip is personally monitored by us and our trusted in-country partners.
✔ We don’t just ‘hand you off’—we remain actively involved to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Who Is Our Service For?
- If you are serious about traveling to Australia/New Zealand or the South Pacific Islands.
- If you want to avoid the hassle of spending hours organizing everything, only to find out you chose the wrong season or your hotel is undergoing renovations.
- You see the value in working with a company whose staff have been specializing in this region for 30+ years and were born and raised in the region.
- You can enjoy a stress-free peace of mind, knowing that everything is taken care of and assistance is available if something goes wrong and is out of your control.
- You trust that we know what we are talking about and that we always have your best intentions in mind.
- You are not on a tight backpacking budget. We only work with minimum Four Star Accommodation.
- You are departing from Canada or the USA.