FAQs - General

  • It is all the steps that go into planning, booking, and executing a great trip. And it is customized around you. That’s the design piece.

    Rewire Travel doesn’t sell a limited set of pre-built travel packages — we design personalized itineraries around your goals, your group, and your vibe.

  • Typically yes. We take the hassle out of logistics and planning so you can enjoy the trip. If you take a look at our Services and Pricing page, you’ll see that part of ability to provide our Free tier offerings is by making bookings on your behalf and collecting the commissions from our partners. But don’t worry, you’ll never pay a rate higher than you would if you did it yourself!

  • Fair question. In short, well, because the internet is endless…and overwhelming. We cut through the noise and design an itinerary that fits you, not the algorithms or “must-see” lists.

    We also have access to additional perks and pricing that aren’t available to someone booking on their own, and we make sure we find those extras to give you a phenomenal experience.

    Plus, we’ve personally visited most of the places our clients want to see, so we are able to provide personal touches and experiences that a random search can’t match, and tailor it directly to your style and goals.

  • We have several service categories, depending on what you need. Take a look at our Services and Pricing page to see the options.

  • Well first, we prefer to say how do we build your itinerary. The intent is to have a partnership between Rewire and you.

    So we start with a conversation — about your goals, your group, your timing, and your travel vibe. Then we draw on years of experience and research to build a plan that’s personalized, practical, and inspiring.

  • That’s normal and honestly, the vibe is just a way to frame the conversation around what you truly want to get out of the trip.

    We’ll walk you through the options and help you land on the vibe that feels right for this trip. Or we can take it from another starting point like destination, group size, or even just a single bucket list idea. The point is to have a conversation to better understand you and your travel goals.

  • Not at all. We’ve traveled widely both inside and outside the U.S., and some of the best itineraries are closer to home!

    Plus, as we’ve become parents we have had to relearn how to travel in the States in a whole new and rewarding way (Translation: diaper bags are a pain, but you’ll manage).

  • We can do either. Some people come to us for a full start-to-finish itinerary, while others just need help with a few days, a route, or a special experience. Our job is to make whatever part of your trip we design feel intentional and stress-free.

  • That’s an essential part of the process, because things don’t always go exactly to plan. When we work with you to build an itinerary, we will add options that allow you to flex on the fly. Weather, crowds, or just needing a little more rest can shift the whole day. We’re here to help you anticipate what can change and to roll with it, because the purpose is to enjoy your experience, not just run a race from Point A to Point B.

  • Absolutely. As part of our service, we’ll make sure you have our Rewire Travel travel toolkit, including packing lists, travel advice, and navigation tips.

    And depending on the service package you select, you will get enhanced, custom tailored guides and proactive communications to make sure your trip has exceptional extra touches throughout.

  • It’s our daughter’s favorite animal, so we went with it! We may have to add salamanders and guinea pigs if the others find out…

  • Thanks for noticing! All the pictures you see are from our travels over the past twenty years. So a few of the not so sharp ones are from a little handheld digital camera from 2005. Basically as phone cameras have progressed, so have the pictures.

    Oh, and some of the photos were taken by our travel companions, so those definitely are better than the digital camera in 2005.

  • Yes, and that’s how we are able to get you access to deals and perks from around the world. Rewire Travel is an independent affiliate of Fora, a Virtuoso member agency. When available, Rewire may earn a commission but this never increases your rate.

FAQs - Pricing

  • We get paid the way most modern travel advisors do: through built-in commissions from the partners we book with on your behalf.

    For hotels, cruises, and many tours, the price you see already includes a commission whether you book directly or through an advisor. When you choose to book through Rewire, that commission is simply directed to Rewire Travel instead of a big online agency. You pay the same public rate (and often get extra perks like daily breakfast, resort credits, upgrades when available, and VIP treatment), and Rewire’s time is covered by the partner, not by an added fee from you.

  • Yes, there are situations in which we do charge design fees.. Those include the following:

    • If Rewire Travel does not book commissionable accommodations on your behalf, we charge a 10% booking fee for our services. But we’ll always be up front if a booking is not commissionable.

    • If your trip is more than 7 days, we charge $50 each additional day.

    • If you have overly complex logistics, require Rewire to communicate with a non-commissioned company on your behalf, etc., then we’ll discuss what’s fair.

  • Ambitious Adventures is for the trips that truly are ambitous and complex. These are the big, “we’ll remember this for the rest of our lives” journeys that need serious thought, custom routing, and a trusted partner to pull it all together. Rewire steps in when there are a lot of moving parts and you want one calm, organized point of contact.

    It also includes client trips that require highly detailed daily itineraries, with unique Rewire elements built in.

    Typical Ambitious Adventures include:

    • Highly detailed daily itineraries, including modification options based on weather and energy levels

    • Multi-country or multi-city itineraries

    • Safaris, island-hopping, rail journeys, or road trips with several stops

    • “Above and Beyond” milestone trips (anniversaries, once-in-a-decade family trips)

    • Multiple rooms, generations, or friends coming from different cities

    • Trips that blend hotels, villas, cruises, private drivers, tours, and special experiences

    The Ambitious Adventures design fee covers the thinking and orchestration behind the trip, including:

    • A deep-dive intake and “trip game plan” based on your budget, vibe, and non-negotiables

    • Custom routing and pacing so the trip feels good in real life

    • Research and selection of stays, tours, transfers, and experiences that fit you

    • Coordination across multiple partners and a clear, organized digital itinerary

    For these, you’ll be charged one clear fee. For trips up to 11 days in one main region or country, design fees start at $1,000 per trip. More complex itineraries (multi-country, large groups, or extremely niche, customized experiences) are typically $2,000–$3,000. Of course, we’ll always discuss it with you up front before the work begins!

  • Typically we charge:

    • An additional $250 per day (after 11 days)

    • An additional $100 for each country

    • Broker fees if negotiating for exclusive experiences (e.g., private yachts)

    We want to help you create the trip of a lifetime, so we are very comfortable meeting up front for a free intake meeting to truly scope out your vision and agree on a fair fee.

  • Since we are an independent affiliate of Fora Travel (a Virtuoso travel agency), we get access to over 7,000 exclusive travel agency programs worldwide. Nearly every hotel, cruise line, luxury villa, and large excursion service participates, so you get the benefit of that global reach. You get the lowest available rate plus perks, and Rewire gets paid by the hotel, not the client.

    This access isn’t available to just anyone, and Rewire Travel had to go through a vetting process to be granted access to Fora’s programs and partnerships.

    But, not everything pays a commission. Some common exceptions include Airbnb, VRBO, and airlines. Those are not commission-paying groups typically, so we would discuss fees if applicable and be transparent throughout.

  • Yes, there are situations in which we do charge design fees.. Those include the following:

    • If Rewire Travel does not book commissionable accommodations on your behalf, we charge a 10% booking fee. But we’ll always be up front if a booking is not commissionable.

    • If you have overly complex logistics, require Rewire to communicate with a non-commissioned company on your behalf, etc., then we’ll discuss what’s fair.

    • If you partner with us in the ‘Ambitious Adventure’ tier, we still collect commissions from suppliers where applicable. Your design fee is separate.

    • We don’t book flights for you unless it is a bundled package with hotel, car, etc. through a major player like Expedia. In our experience it gets very complicated and people prefer to manage their own flights.

    • If you have reward points/miles for a hotel that you want to use, we get it! In that case, we would charge you a 10% fee on the cost of the booking since we would not be commission eligible for a reward booking.

    • If a trip is cancelled because you decide not to take the trip after it’s been planned, Rewire will calculate the time spent and charge a fee at our hourly rate.

    • If a trip is cancelled for reasons not in your control (hurricanes, job loss, etc.), no fee applies. Simple as that.

    • And don’t worry, we are always up front with pricing and won’t book anything without your written approval via email.