This section should answer many of your questions up front and explain more in detail what my offer is all about! I will continue to add on to this page, so please come back to learn more...
Why should I choose your services vs. a traditional travel agency?
Traditional travel agencies offer a lot of advantages, no doubt about it. The most prominent difference between my offerings and those of a traditional travel agent is that: I TAILOR the journey COMPLETELY around YOU. It is all about YOU: your budget, your chosen destination(s), your travel focus (a specific topic), your special requirements, your special interest, your special needs. You will NOT be put in a group, it is always individual. It might happen that in some situations, like a locally guided tour, you may spend some hours with a random group of people, however overall the journey is YOURS.
Why do I need to fill out a detailed form before the consultancy call?
Filling out the form before the call helps all participants to remember all relevant topics and details for the planning. Additionally, based on the answers on the form, I can prepare important points for our call, so that it can be as effective and efficient as possible. A real time saver!
Why do you offer solutions only for a limited number of participants?
This is what I do best and what works best: focusing on the specific interests and needs of a small group (up to 6 max.) allows for the best planning, least stress among the group, highest flexibility and customizing options.
What services can I expect from you?
The range you can expect depends on how much you want me to do. This is one of the things we discuss in the assessment call. However, it goes from outlining a possible itinerary to including the details to the itinerary. Additionally, I can take care of the reservations for you: (with the exception of flights and rental cars), and send you a very detailed hand-out for your trip. Finally, in addition to the above I can accompany you for the whole duration or only part of your journey.
Why are flight and rental car reservations not included?
There is nothing unique in choosing flights or rental cars and I would not be able to offer you better prices than your local travel agency or an Internet platform or booking directly on the airline's website. I chose to focus the scope of my service on the elements that will truly make a difference.
How much does it cost, is there a price list?
I do not publish a price list because of the uniqueness of each individual journey and the level of service you require. Costs can be as little as ~100 € (~US$125) for an itinerary proposal to several thousand € if I accompany you for the entire journey.
Why should I pay for your service if I can find all I need on the Internet?
That is correct, most of it is available online. However, there are also many reasons for using my paid services. For one, time is money: your time is surely better spent doing what YOU can do best and pay me for doing what I can do best for you. Secondly, but not less important, time is rare and precious: your family and friends will appreciate you spending quality time with them instead of browsing the Internet to plan your trip. Unlike traditional travel agencies, I am completely independent of any vendor (hotels, restaurants, special services, tour guides, transportation companies): I do not receive any commissions from these suppliers because I choose them based on YOUR needs and preferences, not based on commissions they'll pay me. This guarantees that the choices are not steered by financial advantages - they are solely steered by YOU. Finally, I have been traveling Europe extensively over the last 30 years building up knowledge and experience that you can benefit from for your customized travel experience.
Anything else I should know?
I believe it is important for you to know that I do not offer standard tours like "10 cities in 10 days" or "Europe's highlights in one week" - your local travel agent can offer you those better than I can. What I offer you is the possibility to be a traveler, not a tourist. You will be able to discover the less known, the hidden gems, the adventure off the beaten path. It is not chain hotels and mass tourism, but quaint places with unique characteristics. Finally, and most importantly, it is all designed to fit YOU.