Not necessarily. In many cases, the hotel rates I offer are the same as the best flexible rates available directly through the hotel. The difference is that my clients often receive valuable complimentary amenities that aren't available through online booking sites.

Depending on the property, these benefits may include daily breakfast, resort credits, room upgrades (subject to availability), welcome amenities, and other VIP privileges that add significant value to your stay.

For more complex itineraries, I may charge a professional planning fee that reflects the time, expertise, and personalized service involved in designing your trip. Any applicable fees are discussed transparently before planning begins.

Yes, you can save money using third-party services, but you are losing the human factor! You will always end up speaking to a robot or call center when you book through a third party booking channel — often frustrated and without a resolution to your concerns. When you use a travel advisor, you have a real human with real travel knowledge at your disposal 24/7.

A luxury travel advisor is your personal travel consultant, advocate, and concierge throughout the entire planning process. Rather than simply booking hotels and flights, I design customized itineraries tailored to your interests, budget, and travel goals.

My services may include:

• Destination recommendations

• Hotel and villa selection

• Cruise planning

• Private transfers

• VIP experiences

• Restaurant reservations

• Guided tours

• Travel insurance recommendations

• Ongoing support before and during your trip

The goal is to create a seamless, stress-free vacation with thoughtful recommendations and personalized service.

No worries! Send an email to sarah@sarahsmoaktravels.com with your confirmation information and I will be happy to check if your reservation is eligible for a “takeover” booking, adding perks and amenities to your reservation for no additional cost! This service is available for most 4 and 5-star hotels/resorts, but some exclusions do apply.

I am happy to assist with flights, but please note that an additional $50-75 ticketing fee may apply. Flights can sometimes be bundled with “sun and sand” destinations, all-inclusive resorts, etc.

THE EARLIER THE BETTER! Travel levels are at an all-time high! For Europe, I recommend initiating the planning process around 8-10 months before your expected date of departure. For other regions, 6-8 months can suffice. For high volume travel periods such as Christmas and New Years, we recommend 12 months in advance when possible.

Preferred partnerships allow me to provide my clients with enhanced value at many of the world's finest hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and tour operators.

Depending on the property, these partnerships may include complimentary amenities, exclusive offers, personalized service, and VIP recognition throughout your stay. They also provide me with direct relationships with hotel management, allowing me to better advocate for my clients before arrival.

Planning fees compensate me for the time spent researching, quoting, presenting, and confirming your travel services as well as time spent for on-going travel support post-confirmation. All planning fees are non-refundable.

I can assist with almost all travel related inquires — from hotel-only bookings to full service international itineraries, safaris, yacht charters, villa rentals, private jets, cruises (river & oceanic), private touring, private transfers, airport VIP services, adventure trekking, group travel, wedding room blocks, and corporate room blocks. If you aren’t sure if your request falls into one of these categories, I would suggest reaching out with the details of your inquiry and I will assess if I am a good fit for your request. Please note that I do focus on the luxury industry and mostly work with 4 and 5-star hotels, private tours, and private transfers.