Do you charge planning fees?

In some cases, yes. A planning fee may apply for more detailed or customised itineraries, particularly where the travel arrangements extend beyond a simple point-to-point booking.

This typically includes itineraries involving multiple destinations, complex routing, extensive research, tailored recommendations, or more personalised trip design. The planning fee reflects the time, expertise, and care involved in researching and building a well-considered travel experience tailored to your needs.

Planning fees generally start from $250, depending on the complexity of the itinerary and the level of research involved. The fee is payable in advance and is non-refundable.

Where a planning fee applies, this will always be discussed transparently before any work begins so you understand exactly what is included and what to expect.

Terms and conditions relating to bookings, payments, supplier conditions, cancellations, planning fees, and other important travel information are provided throughout the booking process where relevant.

As travel arrangements can vary significantly depending on the supplier, destination, cruise line, tour operator, or style of travel involved, travellers are encouraged to carefully review all terms and conditions before confirming any booking.

You can review the Holidays Beckon terms and conditions here:
Terms & Conditions

If you have any questions about booking conditions, cancellation policies, planning fees, or supplier terms, I am always happy to explain these in more detail before you proceed.

Yes. Holidays Beckon has a privacy policy outlining how personal information is collected, stored, used, and protected when you interact with the business, submit enquiries, make bookings, or use the website.

You can review the privacy policy here:
Privacy Policy

If you have any questions about how your information is handled, I am always happy to discuss this further.

No. Planning fees are non-refundable as they reflect the time, research, expertise, and work involved in designing and preparing a personalised travel itinerary or providing more detailed travel planning services.

This work is typically completed before any bookings are confirmed and may involve researching destinations, comparing suppliers, refining itineraries, coordinating travel arrangements, and providing tailored recommendations based on your travel preferences and goals. The fee is payable in advance.

Where a planning fee applies, this will always be discussed clearly before any work begins so you understand what is included and what to expect throughout the planning process.

Yes. I can assist travellers with arranging travel insurance as part of their overall travel plans.

Travel insurance is an important consideration for most holidays and may provide cover for things such as cancellations, medical expenses, delays, lost luggage, and unexpected travel disruptions, depending on the policy selected and individual circumstances.

As every traveller and itinerary is different, I can help guide you towards suitable options based on your destination, style of travel, and the type of cover you may require. Travellers should always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully to understand the coverage, exclusions, terms, and conditions of any policy before purchasing.

The level of support provided during your travels can vary depending on the type of booking, itinerary, destination, and suppliers involved, however I remain available to assist where needed throughout your journey.

For more complex or customised itineraries, travellers may also receive access to the Pocket Travel App, which provides a convenient way to access travel documents, itinerary details, confirmations, contact information, maps, and important travel information while travelling.

The app also includes an online chat feature, allowing travellers to message me directly while travelling, provided internet access is available. This can also be useful for families, couples, or groups travelling together who may wish to access shared itinerary information or communicate while on the trip.

If unexpected issues arise during your travels, such as schedule changes, disruptions, or supplier-related concerns, I can often help guide you through the next steps and assist with communication or alternative arrangements where possible. Depending on the situation, the airline, cruise line, tour operator, hotel, or other supplier involved may also work directly with travellers to help resolve issues during the journey.

The goal is not simply to help you make a booking, but to help ensure you feel supported and better prepared throughout the overall travel experience.

Travel doesn’t always go exactly to plan and occasionally unexpected situations can arise such as delays, cancellations, schedule changes, weather disruptions, missed connections, or supplier-related issues.

If you are travelling as part of an escorted tour, cruise, or organised group experience, the tour operator, cruise line, airline, or supplier will often manage many issues directly as they arise during the journey.

For travellers on more independent itineraries, I remain available to assist where possible if you are unable to resolve an issue directly with the supplier yourself. This may include helping clarify booking details, assisting with communication, or guiding you through possible next steps depending on the circumstances.

For more complex itineraries, travellers may also have access to the Pocket Travel App, which can provide convenient access to itinerary details, travel documents, contact information, and direct messaging while travelling, provided internet access is available.

While some situations are ultimately controlled by the airline, cruise line, hotel, tour operator, or travel insurer involved, having someone familiar with your itinerary available to assist can often provide additional reassurance during unexpected disruptions.

After your booking is confirmed, you will receive documentation and information relevant to your trip, which may include booking confirmations, invoices, itineraries, payment schedules, supplier terms and conditions, and other important travel information.

Depending on the type of travel booked, I may also assist with additional arrangements such as flights, accommodation, transfers, travel insurance, pre- or post-cruise stays, tours, or other supporting travel services.

As your departure approaches, you may receive further updates, reminders, travel tips, or documentation relevant to your journey. For more complex itineraries, travellers may also receive access to the Pocket Travel App, allowing convenient access to itinerary details, travel documents, and communication while travelling.

I also remain available to assist with questions or support before departure and, where possible, during your travels if unexpected issues arise.

This can vary considerably depending on the destination, style of travel, season, and complexity of the itinerary, however many major trips benefit from being planned well in advance.

Cruises, small ship voyages, expedition cruises, popular escorted tours, and travel during peak seasons can often book out many months or even years ahead, particularly for preferred cabin categories, flight options, or limited departures.

Planning earlier can also provide greater choice, more time to research options carefully, and better opportunities to coordinate flights, accommodation, touring, and other travel arrangements in a more seamless way. In some cases, booking early may also provide access to early release pricing, bonus inclusions, or limited-time early booking offers depending on the supplier and style of travel.

That said, not every trip needs years of planning. Some travellers may only begin researching a few months before departure depending on the style of travel and flexibility involved.

That is perfectly fine. Many travellers contact me after already booking part of their holiday independently, particularly flights, accommodation, cruises, or specific tours.

Depending on the circumstances, I may still be able to assist with additional travel arrangements, itinerary planning, cruise extensions, accommodation, transfers, tours, rail journeys, travel insurance, or helping coordinate the remaining parts of the trip into a more seamless overall itinerary.

In some cases, travellers may begin researching or booking certain components themselves before realising the broader itinerary is becoming more complex or time-consuming to coordinate than initially expected.

The level of assistance available can vary depending on what has already been booked and which suppliers are involved, however I am always happy to discuss what support may still be possible.