Q – We are interested in planning a rather complex itinerary that will likely include time in New Zealand and Australia. This will involve meeting beer distributors (my field) meeting local artists (a passion of my wife and while also watching the All Blacks play, enjoying A private yacht for as few days including a sail around the Sydney Opera House, a few days of golf, and, finally, a day or two with a real estate agent in Adelaide.
I know I can’t walk into any travel agent’s office to have them work on this – or can I? Would you take us on as client’s and, if so, why would we be able to place our trust in you to handle all of these details? We live to Scranton, Pa. if that is any help and, as you may have guessed, cost for this likely 3-4 week journey is not a major issue? I understand I am asking some big questions but perhaps you can distill down your response. We are huge fans of traveltruth and we hope that you continue this project.
A – Thank you. We will try to offer a simplified response and if it is not sufficient always feel free to give us a call at 630-717-7777. As “fans” we trust you appreciate that tooting our own various horns is not the purpose of this site. Whether or not you are able to trust us is something only you can decide. We are fairly visible and easily Googled. Our work goes back 40 years, we’ve published several books, and our media group is fairly well-exposed. So, instead, let’s try to address this for others who might share your wish for a direction to turn when a rather complicated itinerary with many twists and turns is going to be required.
The most important thing the intelligent traveler can do is realize that the work won’t be done by a local travel advisor in Scranton or anywhere else. We would urge the consumer to seek out an established travel professional who is a member of one of the two or three most highly respected consortium groups. The consortium will have a working arrangement through the Member agency in the United Stated to work on projects such as the one you have described.
Virtuoso, the group that we happen to belong to, just announced 2025 revenue in excess of $34 Billion. That means that they are likely the largest group producer, by volume, for a majority of the very best cruise lines and tour operators. But that has nothing to do with your trip. What does have to do with your trip is the fact that a major consortium group also creates partnerships with the very best travel planners in countries all over the world. We meet with the owners and managers of these “on-site” offices once or twice each year. We know them and sometimes we know their families.
If you can find a firm that has these connections, the supervision of your arrangements will be handled by a trusted advisor in the States, but the actual planning and operations will be done on the ground in the countries you will be visiting. You will be privy to in-country wholesale accommodation rates and personal contacts in terms of golf arrangements, working with the best possible local realtor, and prize seats at an All-Blacks game.
Your trip will be planned by local experts on behalf of a member of a $34 Billion group – and no one down under wants to disappoint the Consortium and its members in any way.
That, stated simply, is the best way to do what you want to do. You need a trusted advisor in the US who has a close and long-term working history with the best local travel firm in the destinations you will be visiting. This is all human to human. Notice we did not mention doing this on TripAdvisor or trying to use TW (the name we use to more clearly define the term AI – TW stands for “Twisted Wires” – a more specific and accurate definition of what AI truly is)
