Trip Planning Process
Let's Talk
Every trip starts with a phone call. You ask us questions, we ask you questions, and generally we get to know one another. Heck, you can call us right now if you want. +1 416 628 1272. Or use our Get Started form, or email us to get the ball rolling.
When, Where, How
To begin with we address the big questions. Perhaps you already know exactly where you want to go and when. Or maybe you haven’t got a clue. Maybe you know exactly how you like to travel, or maybe you want ideas. No worries either way. We’ll be in listening mode and asking you a lot of questions, prompting with ideas, giving you time to talk. The aim is to figure out what you’re looking for, whether we can help, and how to get started.
The Broad Sketch
Having heard you out, now it’s our turn to come up with ideas. So we’ll get to work on a high level sketch for your trip – an outline. We’ll be focusing on the big picture but with detail to enable you to make choices and navigate your options. Think of it as a blueprint; an accurate yet incomplete picture. We might bring in multiple planners, line up extra phone calls, make totally unexpected suggestions… We’ll propose places and describe experiences we think you’ll like, working up the broad strokes of a trip we think really fits your request. We’ll complete this step, if you’re keen to proceed, by gathering some personal information and collecting a deposit ($500).
Building The Trip
This is where we really roll our sleeves up. You sit back while we hammer away at a fully detailed itinerary. We’re booking accommodation, flights, train tickets… talking to guides, researching ideas … buying permits and making appointments. At the end we’ll deliver a fully detailed itinerary that tells the story of the trip day by day, along with an accurate price, and drawing your attention to choices and decisions still to make – everything you need to decide to go ahead or rethink things. When you’re ready to pull the trigger, we’ll collect a confirmation deposit which amounts to 30-40% of the total trip price, to allow us to confirm things definitively.
Fine Tune
At this point, all arrangements are secured and your trip is confirmed. But fine tuning, additions or changes are to be expected. Maybe a new restaurant opens, or you decide you want to do that guided hike after all. Perhaps you prefer to cut the bungy jump on deeper consideration. Not a problem. We’ll happily adjust arrangements and continue to fine tune, making any changes to the trip price if applicable. 90 days prior to the start of the trip, we’ll send you a final itinerary, and collect full payment.
Get Your Piglet
A few weeks before you depart (less if it’s a last minute trip or there are changes late in the game) we’ll send you your Trip Piglet, in both pdf and booklet form. The Piglet is your definitive and highly personalised travel bible, a combination of precise logistics, in-depth suggestions, and contextual background information, unique to your trip. It gives you all the day-by-day details you need (contacts, times, meeting points), background information to help you travel informed and in the right frame of mind, and plentiful suggestions to enable and encourage you to explore under your own steam along the way. Piglet in hand, we’ll review with you to make sure it’s all clear, and that you’re set up and excited, ready to concentrate on the calvados not the car hire.
Hit the Road
Off you go. It’s time for all those plans to unfold, time to focus on the fun. Your Trip Piglet will guide you through each day and we’ll be keeping a close eye on things every step of the way. If you need help, we’re only a phone call away and totally committed to supporting your trip until the moment you get home.
Bring It Home
Naturally, we’re keen to hear all about your journey. We’ll collect your feedback online, by phone, or in person—whatever works for you. Your candid comments help us improve our service and plan better trips. Sure, we like positive feedback, but petty and precise help us even more. They also help us get to know you even better, ready to give ideas on where to go next.