The short answer to that question is “yes.” We have a menu of fee-based services that we provide based on your needs, ranging from $35 to $750. These fees cover our time in the research, development, and booking phases of your travel planning, much in the way you would compensate any professional for their services.
NOTE: Our independent affiliates set their own policies and fees. The information below pertains to any bookings made DIRECTLY with Ships 'N' Trips Travel.
Our Process
Your perfect vacation is unique to you, and we will work with you to make that happen. Since no two travel experiences are the same, expect an itinerary tailor made just for you and your travel style. Here is our process:
We start all travel planning with a COMPLIMENTARY one hour consultation, during which we meet with you (in person, by phone, by Zoom, etc.). During this consultation we will discuss your travel plans, needs, desires, preferences, travel history, and any preliminary research you have conducted yourself. With a few questions we will determine your interests, comfort level, travel style, and wish-list to recommend the best fit for you. We will discuss some options and general price ranges and you can ask questions.
At the end of the consultation, if we are a good match to work together, we discuss the next steps to be taken, including the exact fees involved for your specific travel needs. We provide you with our Fee-Back Guarantee and Waiver, Booking Terms & Conditions, and invoice for any fee(s). Once our fees have been paid, and the signed waiver and booking T&Cs returned, we move to the planning and booking phase. Depending on the type of travel request, we will present up to 1-3 itineraries, and review all of your options with you. We will make any necessary adjustments until your dream vacation is just right. Once we have your itinerary finalized, we will take care of booking the entire trip for you. Depending on your travel request, this may include airfare, accommodations, cruises, transfers, sightseeing tours, rental cars, etc.
Our support does not end when you depart on your trip. We are your travel partner during your entire trip, providing emergency 24/7 hour support.
After you return home, we will follow up with you to make sure everything went smoothly. If things go wrong, we do want to hear about it. If we don't know, we can't improve on it. And of course, we love seeing your travel photos!
We do endeavor to work within any realistic budget, with the belief that travel does not have to be outrageously expensive in order for it to be rewarding and memorable.
Our Fee-Back Guarantee
We offer a money-back guarantee which applies to our service fees only (it does not apply to actual travel costs). After your travel is completed and you have returned home, if our services were not performed as promised, you can request a refund of many of our service fees. Certain fees are nonrefundable, such as our cancellation processing fees or change fees..
NOTE: Our independent affiliates set their own policies and fees. The information below pertains to any bookings made DIRECTLY with Ships 'N' Trips Travel.
Our Process
Your perfect vacation is unique to you, and we will work with you to make that happen. Since no two travel experiences are the same, expect an itinerary tailor made just for you and your travel style. Here is our process:
We start all travel planning with a COMPLIMENTARY one hour consultation, during which we meet with you (in person, by phone, by Zoom, etc.). During this consultation we will discuss your travel plans, needs, desires, preferences, travel history, and any preliminary research you have conducted yourself. With a few questions we will determine your interests, comfort level, travel style, and wish-list to recommend the best fit for you. We will discuss some options and general price ranges and you can ask questions.
At the end of the consultation, if we are a good match to work together, we discuss the next steps to be taken, including the exact fees involved for your specific travel needs. We provide you with our Fee-Back Guarantee and Waiver, Booking Terms & Conditions, and invoice for any fee(s). Once our fees have been paid, and the signed waiver and booking T&Cs returned, we move to the planning and booking phase. Depending on the type of travel request, we will present up to 1-3 itineraries, and review all of your options with you. We will make any necessary adjustments until your dream vacation is just right. Once we have your itinerary finalized, we will take care of booking the entire trip for you. Depending on your travel request, this may include airfare, accommodations, cruises, transfers, sightseeing tours, rental cars, etc.
Our support does not end when you depart on your trip. We are your travel partner during your entire trip, providing emergency 24/7 hour support.
After you return home, we will follow up with you to make sure everything went smoothly. If things go wrong, we do want to hear about it. If we don't know, we can't improve on it. And of course, we love seeing your travel photos!
We do endeavor to work within any realistic budget, with the belief that travel does not have to be outrageously expensive in order for it to be rewarding and memorable.
Our Fee-Back Guarantee
We offer a money-back guarantee which applies to our service fees only (it does not apply to actual travel costs). After your travel is completed and you have returned home, if our services were not performed as promised, you can request a refund of many of our service fees. Certain fees are nonrefundable, such as our cancellation processing fees or change fees..
Do all travel professionals charge fees?
Although many professionals do charge fees as we do, not everyone does. Travel professionals that do no charge fees solely rely on their travel suppliers to compensate them. If your travel plans involve a lot of components that do not include suppliers that pay commission (airlines, bed & breakfasts, independent tour operators, etc.), these travel professionals end up not being compensated for their work. The only options they have are to limit their business to only working with suppliers that pay commission (which may not be the best fit for your needs), or charging clients a fee (upfront or built in and undisclosed).
Why do we charge fees?
We have accumulated years of education, training, and personal experience, and have cultivated strong personal relationships with our supplier-partners. These relationships and our expertise have value, and we want to focus that value on clients that are serious about working with us through the whole travel process.
More importantly, we work for YOU not for our suppliers. We focus on your needs, and what suppliers are the best fit for you. If we relied solely on being paid commission, then we would focus only on those suppliers that paid us (especially those that paid the best commission or offered bonuses). If a tour, Bed & Breakfast, airline, or other travel component would be a better fit for your needs, we want to be able to offer it to you, even when there is no commission involved. We want you to be assured we are working for you and with your best interests at heart.
It might also help you understand our services by explaining our philosophy of doing business. If your only objective is to get the cheapest price possible, we may not be the best fit for you. We strive to provide value and incomparable service, in crafting memorable travel experiences customized just for you. We utilize our own experience, training, and perspective to craft our recommendations. And we recognize that we may not always be able to offer the cheapest price. Most travelers are savvy enough to know that the room booked at a given hotel on Expedia or Hotels.com and a room booked through a preferred agent who has a relationship with that hotel are two very different rooms. We usually confirm reservations directly with each property, involving the Sales Manager or General Manager in flagging you as our VIP client, often negotiating extra amenities, upgrades or special inclusions. Our travelers appreciate this level of personal involvement and enjoy the special recognition they receive.
While our trips may not be the cheapest, we believe that value beats price every time. We welcome the opportunity to put our expertise to work for you.
Although many professionals do charge fees as we do, not everyone does. Travel professionals that do no charge fees solely rely on their travel suppliers to compensate them. If your travel plans involve a lot of components that do not include suppliers that pay commission (airlines, bed & breakfasts, independent tour operators, etc.), these travel professionals end up not being compensated for their work. The only options they have are to limit their business to only working with suppliers that pay commission (which may not be the best fit for your needs), or charging clients a fee (upfront or built in and undisclosed).
Why do we charge fees?
We have accumulated years of education, training, and personal experience, and have cultivated strong personal relationships with our supplier-partners. These relationships and our expertise have value, and we want to focus that value on clients that are serious about working with us through the whole travel process.
More importantly, we work for YOU not for our suppliers. We focus on your needs, and what suppliers are the best fit for you. If we relied solely on being paid commission, then we would focus only on those suppliers that paid us (especially those that paid the best commission or offered bonuses). If a tour, Bed & Breakfast, airline, or other travel component would be a better fit for your needs, we want to be able to offer it to you, even when there is no commission involved. We want you to be assured we are working for you and with your best interests at heart.
It might also help you understand our services by explaining our philosophy of doing business. If your only objective is to get the cheapest price possible, we may not be the best fit for you. We strive to provide value and incomparable service, in crafting memorable travel experiences customized just for you. We utilize our own experience, training, and perspective to craft our recommendations. And we recognize that we may not always be able to offer the cheapest price. Most travelers are savvy enough to know that the room booked at a given hotel on Expedia or Hotels.com and a room booked through a preferred agent who has a relationship with that hotel are two very different rooms. We usually confirm reservations directly with each property, involving the Sales Manager or General Manager in flagging you as our VIP client, often negotiating extra amenities, upgrades or special inclusions. Our travelers appreciate this level of personal involvement and enjoy the special recognition they receive.
While our trips may not be the cheapest, we believe that value beats price every time. We welcome the opportunity to put our expertise to work for you.
We provide the following services
Air Travel Assistance – If your itinerary includes air travel, and when we book the air travel for you, we ensure you are getting the best possible scheduling for your personal travel needs. and travel protection plans. All Travel Booking – We will book all necessary components of your itinerary including: transportation (airfare, rail,.transfers, rental cars), accommodations (hotels, resorts, villas, etc.), private and group guided tours, day trips, unique experiences, cruises (ocean and river), Quality Control – we ensure your vacation plans are accurate from start to finish including dates of travel, locations, name spellings, and other small details. Support & Connections – You will benefit from our experience and education as well as our supplier connections. These connections are valuable in locating favorable rates & benefits, and for resolving any issues it they arise. During & Post Travel Assistance – our support does not end when you depart for your trip, but continues while you are away and after you return. Concierge Services – we can arrange dinner reservations, limo or private car transportation arrangements, show ticket reservations, shore excursions, golf tee times, and special events. |
How to pay our fees
We strive to provide convenience for our clients wherever possible. Our fees can be paid by credit card, check, PayPal, or cash. Let us know your preferred method of payment, and we will let you know the necessary steps to make your payment. Gift Cards are also available You can purchase eGift Cards online or if you'd prefer a traditional plastic gift card, contact us to facilitate the purchase (please note there is a $3 fee per card when purchasing plastic gift cards to cover processing & shipping costs). Note that gift cards can only be applied towards our professional fees, and not towards actual travel costs. |