Why use a travel designer?
If you’re planning a trip after the immediate risk and issues of the pandemic have passed, it’s time to call a professional. An excellent travel designer can help navigate through these unusual times and the changed landscape that will be travel - be it domestic or international.
An expert travel professional is there for you. We’re here to help during any emergency that may arise when you’re off exploring some (hopefully) far-flung, exotic destination. We’re also able to advocate for you with our partners and suppliers in ways that individuals just aren’t able to.
Whilst an online travel resource may be filled with data and information where you can ‘do it yourself’, professional travel designers are filled with wisdom, ingenuity and relationships so you can ‘do it the best’.
This is really a discovery that travellers and clients have made during the pandemic. Where some travellers were left out on their own, clients of exceptional, and often independent, travel advisors were assisted through any issues they had.
An example would be my client who whilst on safari in a remote corner of Kenya’s Masai Mara decided they needed to return home to the USA earlier. I worked with all the suppliers involved, from my partner on the ground in Kenya through to Qatar Airways, to get this client back home with minimal issue whilst they were able to enjoy their safari.
The client would not have been able to do this on their own - the remote location, the lack of phone service, the hours spent on hold and liaising with people - it really would have sapped all the great out of a magical African experience.
I think this testimonial from one of my clients really sums it up:
As always, you’ve done an amazing job from start to finish on this trip! We can’t thank you enough for your diligence in getting the perfect itinerary put together, helping us change our dates last minute, and then being there every step of the way to adjust things. You were truly a lifesaver when you helped us move our flights despite them being awards and not booked through you. Sojourns Of consistently goes above and beyond in delivering on the perfect vacation. Thank you for all you do! We can’t wait to book our next trip when we’ve all come out the other side of this craziness.
- US-based client, March 2020
Whilst this example is on the more ‘high touch’ end of the spectrum, other examples include negotiating clients to cancel bookings without penalty, rescheduling entire itineraries without penalty, or expediting refunds where possible.
The key message is that a professional travel designer is there for you.
So what can a travel designer to for you?
Here’s a small list of some of the key benefits of using a travel professional to plan your next vacation. It is by no means exhaustive, but really provides some insight into where a travel professional can add significant value.
Understand where you’re going - we know the world and we know the experts that can bring any destination to life
Leverage insider partnerships and contacts to help you have a smooth trip and maximise your experience - remember, cheapest is not always best value and often expert travel designers are able to get their clients more for the same (upgrades, amenities, hotel credits, etc.) in a world where relationships really are king
Help prepare you for the travel experience - particularly as our ways of travel change
Screen every travel company and partner you may be interested in - this is particularly true for people like myself who are affiliated with Virtuoso and work with select suppliers based on stringently vetted quality
Help you understand the rules of travel - many travellers have been caught out by fine print and we remove any ambiguity
Hold your hand - as loosely or tightly as you need, we’re here to help
Be available to you 24/7 - we don’t work 9-5 and it really is what distinguishes us from the internet, we’re able to quickly jump in and navigate all the roadblocks to try and find a solution
Go the extra mile to help you when things don’t go to plan - we don’t just make bookings, we’re your advocates
Solve your problems - we know where to go and to whom in order to get you the best possible outcome, not only when things go wrong, but when we’re presented with a ‘good problem’ or a tricky travel plan (my favourite type of plan)
Help you secure flexibility or refunds if necessary - no need to spend hours on hold to airlines or online companies trying to work out how to recoup any of your funds, we’re here to help and take care of this, and in many cases get you much more than what other independent travellers may
A professional travel designer has always been one of the best tools savvy travellers have accessed, and this will really become more beneficial as we navigate a new world of travel.
Why Sojourns Of?
I’m a traveller at heart. It’s a love affair that has been at the core of my being since I left home (Sydney, Australia) aged 17 to study at an overseas university. As it turned out, I wouldn’t return home for 11 years. And during this time, I roamed and adventured far and wide and fell in love with the world - the experiences, the sights, the sounds, the smells, every sense really - and every destination I’ve travelled to has captured me in some way.
And so I wanted to share this with others and to help them enrich their lives with travel, the way travel has so enriched mine.
When I searched for the right partner to set up my business, I took my time to make sure I found the right fit not only for me and my aspirations but also who would deliver in moments that matter for my clients.
And that’s what being part of SmartFlyer is all about. We deliver in these moments. Whether it is a smooth, stress-free, everything goes right vacation, or in moments like we’re in now where everything seems to go wrong. Our relationships with our partners and suppliers can help to maximise every aspect of your travel arrangements.
Through the many affiliations open to me be it the highly-valued Virtuoso program or individual hotel and supplier preferred partner programs, I am able to maximise value for my clients. And it doesn’t stop at the plane and the accommodation, through my on the ground relationships with the very best local providers, I’m able to help turn what might have been a good trip into a great one.
Travel is what I love, and travel is what I do. Get in touch and let’s work together on creating the perfect sojourn of you.