Why Should I work with Emily Dell Travel?

Working with us goes far beyond assistance with booking reservations. Clients of Emily Dell Travel unlock value, exclusive access, and trip personalization.

• Relationship-first approach: We invest time in getting to know you - this includes everything from your travel style, preferences, and goals so every trip feels like it was designed just for you (because it was!). Our goal is to be your trusted travel advisor for years to come.

• Exclusive access: We have relationships with the world's top hotels and local partners. This means our clients gain access to VIP treatment, hard to get reservations, behind the scenes experiences, and top local guides. Our partners span across the globe!

• Time savings: Planning the perfect trip takes time! On average, we invest at least 10-20 hours in planning each bespoke itinerary. Trip planning via internet searches and AI tools can be time consuming and these recommendations are not customized to your unique interests and preferences.

• Additional $ value on your trip investment: When you book through us, you will often receive VIP amenities (complimentary daily breakfast, priority room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, and resort credits). Depending on your trip specifics, these benefits can add hundreds of dollars in value to your stay - often times exceeding your investment in our planning fee.

Do you charge a planning fee? And if so, why?

Yes, we charge an upfront planning fee. We, along with the majority of our Virtuoso colleagues, charge a planning fee in order to properly allocate the time and resources involved in crafting bespoke itineraries.

Emily Dell Travel is a professional travel advisory firm. Similar to a financial planner or interior designer, we work with you on a consultative basis to create and tailor your trip to your desires and preferences. Our planning fee reflects the many hours of work we devote to your unique itinerary and serves as a commitment on both our parts to honor each other's time and investment in planning and executing a fabulous trip!

Planning fees are charged after the complimentary Discover call before planning commences.

For more information on our fees, click here.

I only need to book a hotel - why should I do this through Emily Dell Travel?

We are happy to book hotel-only stays and can add value beyond booking directly yourself.

We apply our travel expertise and knowledge of your preferences to recommend an optimal hotel for the goals of your trip. While so much information is available online, much of it is unvetted. Even for a simple booking, we can guide you to the right location, hotel, and room category that best fits your needs. This can save you hours of time researching and provide peace of mind in your trip investment.

In advance of your arrival, we communicate with the hotel staff to ensure they know all your preferences which will allow them to create the best possible experience for you.

Wherever applicable, you will have access to exclusive VIP amenities which typically include:

• Complimentary breakfast

• Resort credits of $100+

• Early check in/late check out, based on availability

• Highest priority for room category upgrades, based on availability

For more information on our hotel booking services, click here.

What if I want to use my credit card points?

We love credit card points and their travel benefits!

While we cannot book a hotel on your behalf using your points, they are a great way to maximize value when booking airline tickets. Many of our clients choose to book their own airline tickets using points and work with us on all other parts of their itinerary.

However, you can earn hotel rewards points linked to your loyalty account on a stay booked with us.

Do you book air travel?

Yes! We partner with an experienced air team who excels at finding the optimal flight itinerary.

If anything goes awry (think: flight delays, cancellations, change of plans), instead of spending your precious time on hold with an airline, you’ll have direct 24/7 access to a human specialist to assist in rebooking and rerouting as needed. 

If you prefer to book airline tickets yourself (or use points), please feel free.

Please note this service is only offered with custom itinerary design. For more information on our airline ticket fee structure, click here.

Do you book villas and private homes?

Yes! This is a great option and can be particularly helpful when a large friend group or multiple generations of a family are traveling together. We work with private property managers around the world that deliver the highest luxury experiences, many of which are not publicly available online.

Please note that we do not book properties with AirBnB or VRBO because we cannot vet and guarantee the quality of these properties.