FAQ
What is the difference between a travel designer and a travel agency?
A travel agency sells packages and ready-made solutions. A travel designer builds a Personalised Travel Programme from scratch, around you: starting from how you like to travel, your budget and the time you have. That is how I work. I listen to you and design the trip day by day, with stops, places to stay and experiences I have tried myself.
There is also a difference in who does the booking. With the design service you receive the Personalised Travel Programme and book yourself, directly, using the links and contacts I give you: you avoid intermediary costs and pay the real price. If you would rather I take care of everything, there is the Travel design service, with a higher budget.
How does the service work, step by step?
With the design service it works like this. You tell me about the trip you have in mind and I send you a free preliminary proposal. If needed, we have a 15-30 minute video call on WhatsApp. If you decide to go ahead, I send you the invoice and, once you have paid, I create your Personalised Travel Programme. You receive it as a digital document, you book on your own and I answer your questions.
If you would rather I handle the bookings too, there is the Travel design service. As well as designing the trip, I book flights, places to stay and transport for you through the tour operator that provides my technical direction. You receive a personalised, complete and insured travel package, and all that is left for you is the luggage. The budget needed is higher than for the design service alone.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the length of the trip. The price covers one person or a couple, and children are free.
- Short trip, up to 10 days: €389 (extra adult: +€194)
- Medium trip, 10-15 days / multi-country or very complex itineraries: €429 (extra adult: +€214)
- Long trip, 15-20 days / multi-country or very complex itineraries: €469 (extra adult: +€234)
- Extra long trip, 20-30 days / multi-country or very complex itineraries: €519 (extra adult: +€254)
For each additional adult the amount shown is added, up to 4 adults in total. You can also find everything in the Costs section.
What does the price include?
The price covers all the design work: a 15-30 minute video call to talk things through, if you want one, and the Personalised Travel Programme, built around your interests, your travel style, your budget and my first-hand experience of the destination. It is organised day by day, with timings and transfers optimised.
You receive it as a digital document to consult, with characterful places to stay, transport, activities, direct links and the practical information you need before leaving and on the ground: documents, insurance, SIM, money, luggage. Before the final delivery you can ask for changes to adapt the trip to your preferences.
Dedicated support is also included, with the option of writing to me up to a couple of times before or during the trip (best in a single message once you have received the programme), and a check-in before departure, during the trip and afterwards. For more help there is extra support, charged separately.
Do you book the flights and stays, or do I?
With the design service you book: flights, places to stay, transport and activities are yours to book and pay for, following my guidance. If you would rather I take care of it, there is the Travel design service. In that case I book through the tour operator that provides my technical direction, and the budget needed is higher because it covers the whole trip, as with the packages of an agency or a tour operator.
How much do you save compared with an agency?
Because you book every part of the trip yourself, under my guidance, you avoid the intermediary costs of traditional agencies and pay the real price. For example, a trip that might cost €4,000 through an agency can come to around €2,000 with my method. The cost of the trip itself is the same, whether you book on your own or with me.
What support do I get before and during the trip?
Dedicated support is included in the price: you can write to me up to a couple of times, before or during the trip, with questions or doubts. I ask you to put all your questions in a single message, once you have received the programme. I reply in detail, including with voice messages, but there is no round-the-clock assistance. If you need more support, there is the extra support service, charged separately.
Do I need a video call?
No, it is optional. It lasts 15-30 minutes on WhatsApp and helps me understand your needs and your travel style better, or answer a few questions. One video call is included: if you need further conversations, extra video calls can be requested for a fee.
Can I request a trip for more than one person?
Yes. I organise trips for solo travellers, couples and groups, adapting the programme to the number of people and to everyone's needs. Tell me how many of you there are and where you would like to go, and I will prepare a free preliminary proposal.
Do you organise honeymoons and family trips with children?
Yes. I organise honeymoons, family trips with children and trips for every kind of traveller, adapting to your needs. Tell me who you are and what trip you dream of, and I will build it around you.
How can I contact you?
Write to me from the Contact page. Tell me where you want to go, when, how many of you there are and what budget you have in mind. If you prefer, you can also write to me at info@theoceanomads.com.