Travel Research and Planning Fee

Royal Journey Travel charges a flat Non-Refundable Research and Planning Fee that is at the discretion of the travel advisor, and is intended to offset the time and resources required to assemble your vacation quote. This fee will vary depending on the cost and complexity of the trip, typically between $100-500.  You will be told up front how much the Research and Planning Fee will be for your specific trip. These fees are consistent with travel industry standards and reflect the additional time and intricacies involved in planning a trip of this nature.  Additionally, charging an up-front fee enables us to truly find you the best deal, as our income is not solely dependent on the cost of your trip and the applicable commission. Please note that this fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, even if you ultimately choose not to book your trip with us.

Your Non-Refundable Planning Fee Includes:

  • A custom itinerary for your trip, reworked as many times as necessary until it meets your exact specifications and realistic budget

  • Booking of all trip components, including lodging, transportation, and all sightseeing

  • Recommendations for restaurants, shopping, special experiences, and hidden gems our team has gathered over decades of international travel.

  • A 1-hour pre-trip meeting (in person in our La Grange or Chicago office, or via Zoom) to go over all details of your trip, as well as general travel expectations specific to your destination. Our clients tell us this is an INVALUABLE service that fully prepares them for their trip.

  • Our signature blue BON VOYAGE BOX, which includes all of your travel documents, applicable tickets/vouchers, and some fun Royal Journey branded travel goodies.

  • In-destination support for any special requests of changes that come up.

  • Post-travel assistance, as needed, in assembling documentation for any travel insurance claims.

Upon payment of the fee, we will research the best options for your trip and create a comprehensive quote. From there, we will tweak the quote, based on your preferences, so that you book the EXACT vacation that you desire, including a detailed personalized itinerary with instructions, destination information and tips, dining suggestions, and on-call assistance while you're traveling.  (Please view a Sample Itinerary HERE) All you have to do is show up! We are confident in our ability to provide you with exceptional service and value, and we KNOW how much you will appreciate the time saved by handing off the research and “grunt-work” to the pros. The overwhelming response from past clients is that the Travel Planning Fee was worth every penny. We hope you feel the same!

International Air Ticketing Fee

As a general rule, we encourage clients to book their own air, particularly if using loyalty points. (FYI, we are not able to book any flights using miles for any airline. Only the loyalty member can do that) In recent years, we’ve seen that booking directly with the airline provides maximum flexibility if plans change or if there are any flight delays or cancelations. We would rather look out for our clients’ best interests than collect any commission on air travel. The only way to ensure that it if our clients have complete control over their flight plans and book flights directly with the airlines.

That said, we also appreciate that sometimes a great deal is just a great deal. Occasionally, we are able to book international flights at reduced rates by booking through our preferred ticket consolidator or through a tour operator who bundles bulk flights with hotel and transfers. If we are able to find such a deal, we will charge a NON-REFUNDABLE $50/TICKET INTERNATIONAL AIR FEE. The client is still obligated to maintain the booking as outlined in our Terms and Conditions. Please Note: The ability to purchase flights on behalf of our clients is at the discretion of the individual travel advisor.

Bottom line, please give us the opportunity to discuss your travel preferences and goals.  If you decide you can do better on your own, all it cost you was a phone call or email.  However, we are confident if given the opportunity, we will win you over for life!