frequently asked questions

We are a full-service luxury travel agency and can help you with hotels, tours, villa rentals, yachts, flights, private aviation, custom tours, and so much more! We specialize in custom-designed Africa experiences - and have built many partnerships on the continent during our dozens of visits! We love getting to know you on a personal level in order to design the very best vacation experience for you.

There are numerous reasons to work with us and you may read more about this here. In short, here is how we add value to your trip: we save you time, we bring years of key knowledge and concrete and honest advice and feedback, we have built some of the strongest partnerships to guarantee you an extra level of care and privileges, we will share with you our insider access around the globe, and finally, we are here for you in case something goes wrong during your trip.

Virtuoso is the leading global network of luxury travel advisors, who work with top destinations and a vetted portfolio of the best travel brands globally. Travelers who plan with a Virtuoso member agency like Distinctive Journeys tap into a world of in-the-know expertise, unbelievable travel perks, support throughout their travels, and – most importantly – warmer welcomes, deeper connections, and superior experiences in the places they visit. These exclusive benefits are not something you can attain on your own.

No. Our commitment is to always provide you with prices you would have found online. The same way hotels and suppliers pay a commission to online booking sites, they pay us a commission on public rates.

That depends on the type of travel experience you wish to have. We do not charge a design fee for direct hotel bookings – when you know when and where you’d like to go, and simply reach out to us to benefit from our VIP amenities. You can even book a hotel directly from our website and receive VIP amenities. However, for more complex trips that require additional planning, we do charge a design fee. This fee covers the time and expertise we invest in creating a personalized itinerary that exceeds our clients' expectations. Our design fee is always stated upfront and our clients have found that it is more than offset by the value we consistently provide.

No, there is no set minimum budget as it depends greatly on your trip, the destination, the specifics, and who is traveling. We can help you understand the budget required for your trip so you can decide if we are the best partner for you. Distinctive Journeys is a luxury travel agency, specializing in custom-designed vacation experiences and thus only work with luxury hotels and suppliers to guarantee the highest level of care and safety.

Yes, we are happy to book your hotels for a quick getaway! There is no fee to book a hotel only and we can often add VIP amenities, especially at our Virtuoso preferred partner hotels. Do not hesitate to reach out to us for your next hotel-only booking!

We have access to any high-end hotel around the world. On top of that, we are able to add VIP amenities at select properties like Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Red Carnation Hotels, Singita Lodges & Reserves, The Peninsula Hotels, Belmond Hotels, Aman Hotels & Resorts, Rocco Forte Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Marriott/Hyatt/IHG Luxury Brands, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, and any Virtuoso preferred property.

Yes, we are happy to recommend luxury private homes and villas in the US and around the world. We work with Villas of Distinction and other select suppliers who can guarantee the villas we recommend offer the perfect venue for your getaway - whether your traveling party is 2 or 42.

Yes, we have many solo travelers among our clients. We’d be happy to create your custom-designed trip with a private guide or driver or to suggest small-group tours if you so prefer. Just submit our online planning form to get started!

Yes. We are used to working with clients with special dietary, mobility or other needs and will make everything possible to accommodate your requests and needs. Please make sure to let us know of any requirements early on so we can build your trip with that information in mind.

We do not book air tickets only, but we can book your flights as part of your full travel itinerary. Air ticketing fees may apply.

Yes, we STRONGLY recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your travel investment! We have access to different plans and providers to cover trip cancellation, interruption or delays, medical, dental, emergency medical transportation and evacuation, lost luggage, and more.

We offer a flexible approach and can involve you as much or as little as you prefer. You can submit our online request form, and after an initial phone call, we'll send you our client paperwork for approval, and once received, we'll start working on your trip. We'll create a draft itinerary and make recommendations, which we can amend together until you're satisfied. Before your trip, we'll confirm all arrangements with our partners, and during your trip, we'll be available to ensure everything runs smoothly. After your trip, we'll seek feedback to improve future trips.

In the simplest manner, filling out our online request form will give us the basic information we need. As we move along in the process, we will discuss and form up travel dates, top destinations, who is traveling (including special requirements), type of accommodation you prefer, and more. This is for information only and we will be happy to help you make key decisions along the way based on our expertise and first-hand knowledge.