The Journal · Planning
How much does a luxury travel advisor cost? Our fees, published
Most advisors answer this question with "it depends." Ours are published. JAE charges a Trip Design & Concierge Fee priced by the scope of the itinerary, separate from the cost of the trip, and due before detailed research and proposals begin. The numbers below are current as of August 2026 and apply to every new engagement.
The three tiers
| Tier | Fee | Scope | Typical trip spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getaway Domestic | $1,000 per itinerary | One destination, up to 6 nights. Up to 2 rooms, or 1 villa or residence. Domestic and short-haul escapes. Two rounds of refinement. | From about $7,500, excluding flights |
| Signature International | $2,000 base, per itinerary | International, up to 2 destinations, 5–12 nights. Up to 4 rooms or 1–2 villas. Flight research, routing, and entry requirements. Concierge services added from the menu below, quoted before work begins. | From about $15,000, excluding flights |
| Ultra Multi-city · Group · Events | $3,500+ quoted after consultation | Multi-country journeys of 2 or more destinations. Groups of 8 or more travelers. Private aviation, yacht charters, multiple villas. Milestone celebrations and events. | From about $30,000, excluding flights |
The $500 deposit
Every engagement begins with a $500 planning deposit. It is applied in full toward the Trip Design & Concierge Fee, is non-refundable, and reserves your place on the design calendar. Work begins once it is received. The balance of the fee is confirmed in writing before any detailed proposal work starts.
What the fee does not include
The fee covers design and coordination. Trip costs are separate: hotels, villas, flights, yachts, chefs, drivers, and experiences are billed by each supplier under that supplier's own deposit and cancellation terms. Final trip payment is typically due 45 to 60 days before departure. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended and is not included.
Do hotels cost more through an advisor?
No — and if a hotel stay is all you need, the booking itself is complimentary: hotel-only bookings carry no planning fee, because the hotel compensates the advisor through Fora's partner commissions. As a Fora Travel advisor, JAE books hotels at the same rate you would pay booking direct. At participating preferred-partner properties (Four Seasons, Rosewood, Aman, Belmond, St. Regis, Auberge, and Waldorf Astoria among them), we request upgrades, daily breakfast, resort or spa credits, and early check-in or late checkout on top of the rate. These are subject to availability and confirmed at booking. The hotel compensates the advisor; you do not.
À la carte services
Clients who prefer to build their own scope, or add to a tier, can select services individually. Each is quoted per trip unless noted.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Destination consult and recommendation guide | $250 |
| Full day-by-day itinerary build | $500 |
| Add a city to an itinerary | $350 |
| Custom experience planning (tours, wellness, private guides) | $350 |
| Hotel shortlist (up to 3 options) | $450 |
| Villa shortlist (up to 3 options) | $650 |
| Additional hotel or villa option | $150 |
| Negotiation and preferred-partner perks request | $250 |
| Flight routing and options (up to 3 itineraries) | $350 |
| Award travel support (points strategy and routing) | $500 |
| Change handling and rebooking, per request | $150 |
| Airport transfer coordination | $125 |
| Private driver planning, per destination | $200 |
| Train planning and booking, per route | $150 |
| Restaurant shortlist and booking strategy | $250 |
| Reservation support (up to 6 bookings) | $200 |
Changes after the plan is approved
Each tier includes up to two rounds of refinement within the agreed destinations, dates, and scope. Planning beyond that scope, including date or destination changes after design or a rebuild of an approved plan, is billed at $250 per hour in 15-minute increments and is always discussed in advance.
Annual memberships
For clients who travel more than once a year and prefer one advisor already familiar with their preferences. Membership covers the calendar year, may be applied to a household, and discounts every planning fee within it. Discounts apply to planning fees only, not to supplier costs.
| Membership | Per year | Discount on planning fees | Designed for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | $1,800 | 20% | One to two considered trips a year; preferred-partner amenities via Fora where available |
| Tier II | $3,000 | 25% | Frequent travelers; priority response and first access to partner-rate calendars |
| Tier III | $5,000 | 30% | Families, multi-generational travel, and private-client arrangements; private-client rate negotiation on villas, yachts, and aviation |
How this compares
Independent luxury advisors in the United States generally charge in one of three ways: no fee (compensated by hotel commission only), a flat planning fee that commonly falls between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars per trip, or a percentage of total trip cost. JAE uses the flat-fee model because it keeps the recommendation independent of what a supplier pays. Commission-only advisors are paid more when you spend more; a flat fee is the same whether the villa is $8,000 or $30,000 for the week.
Worked examples
- A five-night Cabo villa week for two couples. Getaway tier, $1,000. The villa, private chef, half-day yacht, and transfers are billed separately by each supplier, coordinated by our team in Los Cabos through The Baja Concierge.
- Ten nights across Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Signature tier, $2,000 base, plus any à la carte additions quoted before work begins, such as train planning per route. Hotels at preferred-partner rates.
- A twelve-person bachelorette weekend in Cabo with a yacht day. Ultra tier, quoted after consultation, from $3,500.
Whether a fee is worth paying at all depends on the trip. When a travel advisor is worth the fee, and when it isn't covers that question directly. For the process itself, see how planning starts.
Tell us the trip. We'll confirm the tier in writing.
A complimentary consultation comes first. The fee is confirmed before you pay anything.