I'm Shelby.
If you’ve reached out to me, you’re probably somewhere between “We really need a vacation” and “There are way too many choices, and I don’t have time to figure all of this out.” Or, you just don't want to DIY it.
That’s where I come in.
My job is to take the research, comparison, logistics and decision-making off your plate so you can spend less time planning and more time looking forward to your trip.
And honestly, you can be on vacation as soon as we talk. Start looking forward to your trip now, instead of fretting over getting it planned right.
Once we’ve had our consultation and I begin working on your trip, you no longer have to carry the whole thing around in your head. I’ll take what you tell me about how you want to travel, what matters to you, your budget and your priorities, and use that information to narrow down the choices and recommendations personalized to your actual needs.
This guide will walk you through how I work, what my planning fees cover, what you can expect from me, and a few important policies and expectations.
Take a few minutes to look it over before our consultation. Then fill out your intake form and choose a time on my calendar. You'll see the links at the bottom.
I’m looking forward to getting to know you and hearing what you’re dreaming about.
— Shelby Davidson
The first step is to complete my inquiry/intake form and schedule your complimentary consultation.
The form gives me a head start before we talk, by gathering the basics about your trip, your travelers, your preferences and what you’re hoping to accomplish.
If you’ve already scheduled your consultation, simply complete the form before our call so I can make the most of our time together. You'll see the link below.
Our consultation is a conversation—not a sales pitch.
Our call will last anywhere between 15-30 minutes, depending on where our conversation takes us.
We’ll talk about where you’re thinking of going, who is traveling, what you want this vacation to feel like, what you absolutely do and don’t want, and what your budget looks like.
I’ll also explain how I can help and the planning fee that applies.
I don’t believe in recommending a trip simply because it fits a number. I want to understand what you actually want and then be honest with you about whether your wish list and budget line up.
Sometimes that means finding the perfect fit. Sometimes it means adjusting expectations or looking at another option.
Either way, you’ll get an honest answer from me.
You can expect a recap of our conversation via email and next steps clearly communicated.
Once you decide to move forward and your planning fee is paid, that’s when the planning begins.
Once you've decided to work with me and your planning fee is paid, I get started on personalizing your trip recommendations.
I take everything we discussed and get to work researching, comparing and narrowing down the options.
There are a lot of resorts, cruise ships, room categories, destinations and itineraries that look good online. My job is to help you figure out which ones are actually right for you.
I’ll use your priorities, budget, travel style and the details from our conversation to create personal recommendations for you to review.
You won’t get a giant list of 27 possibilities and be told to pick one.
You’ll get thoughtful recommendations based on your trip needs.
Timely feedback from you is important during this stage. Making your decision within 24-48 hours is best. Travel availability and pricing can change minute to minute, and the options we discuss are not guaranteed until they are booked and confirmed.
Once you’ve chosen your travel arrangements, I’ll coordinate the booking process and help make sure the necessary details are handled correctly.
Depending on your trip and how far away your departure is, this may involve a deposit, payment in full, or other supplier-required payments.
You’ll receive the applicable payment information and deadlines for your trip.
Once everything is confirmed, I’ll continue helping you prepare for your vacation. Through various touchpoints, you'll get your questions answered, important information as you trip draws near.
You also will get access to your own trip portal, viewable through an app called Trip Plans. View the short video below to see what you get in the app.
And then?
You're in vacation mode! You get to stop planning and start anticipating.
Travel planning should feel personal.
You’re not just another booking number to me, and I’m not interested in throwing a generic itinerary at you and moving on to the next person. That's NOT how I work.
I want to know who is going on this trip and why the trip matters.
Maybe you need time away as a couple.
Maybe your kids are growing up far too quickly and you want to make some memories while you still can.
Maybe you’re bringing multiple generations together.
Maybe you simply need a few days where nobody needs anything from you. Time you can just show up and enjoy yourself.
Those details matter because they direct the way I plan.
You want to be heard. I want to understand.
What makes a trip feel worthwhile to you—not just what destination you typed into a search bar?
I also believe in being straightforward. If I think something isn’t a good fit, I’ll tell you. If I think your wish list needs to be adjusted to fit your budget, I’ll tell you that, too.
My goal isn't to sell you the most expensive vacation, the one you saw on social media or the one your neighbor just went on.
My goal is a personalized vacation, tailored to you and actually fits what you need.
My goal is to help you make a confident choice with your time and money and create a trip you’re genuinely excited about.
My planning fees cover the time, research, coordination and personal attention that go into planning your trip.
You are not paying me simply to click the "book" button.
Your fee covers the work that happens before that button is ever pushed—listening and understanding your needs, researching options, comparing choices, making recommendations, coordinating details, keeping track of deadlines, pre-trip touchpoints and important reminders and reducing the risk of costly or frustrating mistakes.
The right level is based primarily on the complexity of your trip, number of travelers, accommodations and destinations.
INCLUDED WITH EVERY PLANNING SERVICE
Best for straightforward trips.
Personalized planning and booking for:
This is a good fit when your trip is relatively simple and doesn't require extensive research or coordination.
For trips with more moving parts.
Personalized planning and booking for:
This level is a good fit when you need more research, comparison and coordination to put the pieces of your trip together.
For complex or highly customized trips.
Personalized, complex and highly detailed planning and booking for:
This is designed for multi-destination, multi-generational or otherwise more involved trips that require additional research, coordination and attention to detail.
The more moving parts your trip has, the more time it takes to plan well. My goal is to take those details off your plate and make the process as seamless as possible.
Planning fees are separate from the cost of your vacation.
Your planning fee pays for my professional time and expertise. Your actual travel arrangements—such as cruises, resorts, hotels, airfare, transfers, activities and all other trip components—are purchased separately and are subject to the pricing, availability, payment schedules and terms of the applicable travel supplier.
Travel prices and availability can change until arrangements are confirmed and a deposit is made to secure booking.
My goal is not to compete with an online booking engine on price alone.
The value of working with me is in having someone who listens, researches, filters, coordinates and helps you make a confident decision rather than leaving you to sort through hundreds of options yourself.
When preferred rates, amenities or other supplier benefits are available, I’ll look for those opportunities as part of planning your trip.
Most of what you need for your trip will be covered by your selected planning service. Occasionally, a request falls outside the scope of that service or requires significant additional time.
In those cases, an additional service fee may apply. I will let you know about any additional fee before the work is performed.
Examples may include:
Rail ticketing — $50 per order
Attraction or event ticketing — $50 per order
Theater ticketing — $50 per order
Car rental only — $50 per booking
Airfare-only or complex airfare requests — from $75 per person
Hotel-only research — from $50 per trip
Special requests requiring extensive supplier follow-up — from $50
Other services requiring substantial additional research or coordination — from $50
Other fees may apply depending on the request and will be disclosed before the service is performed.
All professional planning and service fees are nonrefundable once the applicable planning or service work has begun. These fees compensate for my time, expertise, research, and planning provided, regardless of whether travel is ultimately booked. Additional service fees incurred throughout the planning process are also nonrefundable once services have been rendered.
Your travel supplier determines the deposit, final payment and cancellation deadlines for your vacation.
However, my payment schedule may be different from the supplier's payment schedule.
For planning purposes, I generally set my client payment dates approximately 2–4 weeks earlier than the supplier's scheduled payment deadline.
Why?
Because I want enough time to process your payment successfully and address any issues with your card information before the supplier's actual deadline arrives.
For example, if a supplier's final payment is due on June 15, your payment to me may be scheduled for an earlier date, for example, June 1.
This does not change the supplier's actual payment deadline or cancellation policy. It simply gives us a little breathing room to make sure your payment can be processed and your booking remains in good standing.
Your specific payment schedule will be communicated to you once your trip is booked.
Good communication is important—but there is a difference between being responsive and being available 24/7.
My regular business hours are:
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
I may occasionally offer limited evening availability by appointment or exception when needed, but I do not operate as a 24/7 concierge service.
Messages received outside regular business hours will generally be answered during the next business day.
If you are traveling and experience an urgent issue, your itinerary and supplier documentation may include appropriate after-hours contacts.
When possible, I work with suppliers that offer 24/7 support while you are traveling.
Depending on the situation, the travel supplier may be the best and fastest resource for an immediate operational issue.
I will always do my best to be responsive, but I also want to set realistic expectations from the beginning so you know how I work.
There are two separate sets of cancellation terms to understand:
My professional planning/service fees
The cancellation terms of the travel suppliers providing your trip
My planning and professional service fees compensate me for the time, research and work performed on your behalf. They are nonrefundable once the applicable services have been started or provided.
Your cruise line, resort, hotel, airline, tour operator or other supplier may also have its own cancellation penalties and deadlines.
Those supplier policies are separate from my fees and may apply even when a trip is canceled well in advance.
Before you approve and confirm travel, I will provide or direct you to the applicable supplier terms and conditions. It is your responsibility to read and understand it. It's my responsibility to provide it and answer any questions to help you fully understand the terms.
Agency Cancellation Fee
In addition to any cancellation penalties charged by your travel supplier, an agency cancellation fee may apply when you cancel confirmed travel. This fee is separate from supplier cancellation penalties.
In addition to any supplier penalties, a $250 cancellation fee applies when you cancel your trip or any major portion of your booked travel.
If you are canceling only a small travel component, (examples: rental car, transfer, tour, excursion, other activities) I reserve the right to reduce the cancellation fee based on the amount of time involved.
If you need to cancel or change your trip, please contact me as soon as possible.
These fees are separate from and in addition to supplier cancellation penalties.
If you have purchased travel protection, please review your policy to determine whether eligible cancellation-related expenses may be included in a claim.
Complete your inquiry form and schedule your complimentary consultation call.
The first step is to complete my inquiry form.
The form gives me a head start by gathering the basics about your trip, your travelers, your preferences and what you’re hoping to accomplish.
Schedule your complimentary consultation here.
If you’ve already scheduled your complimentary consultation, simply complete the form before our call so I can make the most of our time together.